Waratahs v Chiefs

Duluth

Waratahs
Kurtley Beale (c), James Ramm, Alex Newsome, Karmichael Hunt, Jack Maddocks, Will Harrison, Mitch Short, Jack Dempsey, Michael Hooper, Lachlan Swinton, Tom Staniforth, Ryan McCauley, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Robbie Abel, Angus Bell

Reserves: Damien Fitzpatrick, Rory O’Connor, Tetera Faulkner, Pat Tafa, Jed Holloway, Michael McDonald, Lalakai Foketi, Siosifa Lisala

NSW captain Rob Simmons has been ruled out of Friday’s Super Rugby date with the Chiefs in Wollongong after failing to overcome a sprained ankle.

For the first time Kurtley Beale will lead the Waratahs, who are also missing prop halfback Jake Gordon (knee) and winger Mark Nawaqanitawase (back) through injury.

Ryan McCauley, Mitch Short and James Ramm come into the starting lineup.

Reserve prop Tom Robertson is also out with a back injury and there are three potential debutants on the bench in Pat Tafa, Michael McDonald and Siosifa Lisala

Machpants

Should see the chiefs bounce back from their last disappointing performance here, the bottom of the SR table is full of very average teams, the Tahs are one of them.

Hooroo

@Machpants said in Waratahs v Chiefs:

Should see the chiefs bounce back from their last disappointing performance here, the bottom of the SR table is full of very average teams, the Tahs are one of them.

That's a lovely set of jingly jinxy chains you have there!

Duluth

Chiefs:
Solomon Alaimalo, Shaun Stevenson, Tumua Manu, Anton Lienert-Brown, Sean Wainui, Aaron Cruden, Brad Weber, Pita Gus Sowakula, Sam Cane (c), Lachlan Boshier, Tyler Ardron, Michael Allardice, Ross Geldenhuys, Samisoni Taukei'aho, Aidan Ross

Reserves: Donald Maka, Ryan Coxon, Reuben O'Neill, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Mitchell Karpik, Lisati Milo Harris, Kaleb Trask, Alex Nankivell.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/119958120/super-rugby-damian-mckenzie-takes-a-break-as-chiefs-name-team-to-face-waratahs

Yeetyaah

Good to see Manu back from injury. Here's hoping he pops off. Also having Boshier on the field will be good. Don't wanna be too cocky after the last game but should be a good win.

Bovidae

Those are the best locking and loose forward combinations available. I did notice on the TV news that McWhannell was training so maybe he will be available soon.

Nepia

@Yeetyaah said in Waratahs v Chiefs:

Good to see Manu back from injury. Here's hoping he pops off. Also having Boshier on the field will be good. Don't wanna be too cocky after the last game but should be a good win.

I'm not a Manu fan, didn't see anything from him last year that made me think he was a starter (and still bemused he has a bit of hype), I'd prefer Nankivell and ALB, but hope he has a good one.

Yeetyaah

@Nepia the earlier games last year, much like everyone else in the Chiefs, he didn't impress too much and showed some real promise during the second half of the comp. While I agree that Nankivell is a good player, he hasn't showed up this year too much.

Bones

@Yeetyaah Nankivell hasn't showed up? He's been bloody good.

Bovidae

@Bones I don't think Nankivell's form is close to what it was for Ta$man last year but he took a while to get going last season for the Chiefs too. The fact that ALB is playing more at 2nd 5 probably doesn't help his cause either.

antipodean

@Duluth Can't say I'm entirely happy with those changes as they seek to address last week's performance.

NTA

Chiefs by a thowwwwwwwwwwwsand

Bovidae

I am surprised that the Chiefs haven't beaten NSW in Aust since 2007. They have often found ways to lose matches they should have won in Sydney.

Hopefully Wollongong brings better luck.

mariner4life

@Bovidae said in Waratahs v Chiefs:

I am surprised that the Chiefs haven't beaten NSW in Aust since 2007. They have often found ways to lose matches they should have won in Sydney.

Hopefully Wollongong brings better luck.

pretty sure i went to that one. played subbies for Balmain the next day, still half pissed, and under the name Richie Collins.

Hooroo

@Bovidae said in Waratahs v Chiefs:

I am surprised that the Chiefs haven't beaten NSW in Aust since 2007. They have often found ways to lose matches they should have won in Sydney.

Hopefully Wollongong brings better luck.

That is an astounding stat given we have had some good years in that time. I was surprised at Aucklands home loss streak but this is pretty impressive

Bones

Hey wait a minute....Swinton is it? Has the ARU cloned Finegan?

Jailbreak7

Uh and my mood hasn't improved watching the Chiefs.
The Aus comms team are the fluffiest of fluffybunnies aren't they?

antipodean

Well this should put to bed any talk of Cruden making it back to the All Blacks.

Jailbreak7

@antipodean Huh absolutely.

hydro11

@antipodean said in Waratahs v Chiefs:

Well this should put to bed any talk of Cruden making it back to the All Blacks.

TBF, Mo'unga wouldn't make it either based on tonight.

The Silver Fern

Waratahs v Chiefs