Chiefs squad

Bones

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="553414" data-time="1453259515">I was just reading an article about these injuries to Laulala and Bird. Both were freakish and resulted from players landing on them in different "non-contact" training sessions. It also appears that neither can be replaced at this stage although Rennie thinks that there aren't many options for a ready-made replacement TH prop when you already have the best 15 TH props spread across the 5 NZ teams.</blockquote>
Is Hames only a loosehead?

bobily

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bones" data-cid="553474" data-time="1453273496">
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Is Hames only a loosehead?
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I think so, but they were keen for Mitchell Graham to play a bit more tighthead, so they could switch him there permanently. They actually have three front rowers (at least) who can play either side of the scrum, so they have the versatility to bring in a loosehead like Hames if they want to.
 
As I see it:
 
Loosehead:
Pauliasi Manu
 
Tighthead:
Nepo Laulala (injured)
Siate Tokolahi
 
Either side:
Mitchell Graham
Atu Moli
Siegfried Fisiihoi

SammyC

Bit of a change in topic, but a mate of mine is a close family relation of Wayne Smith.
 
Spent Christmas up in Hamilton with the family and had a few discussions with Smithy about the makeup of the Chiefs.
 
There was a bit of a disagreement between Smith and Rennie over where they should play Damien MacKenzie.
 
Smithy reckons he is a natural 10, but Rennie is going to play him at 15 this year. Apparently Smithy was not that happy they signed Beaver as backup 10.

Hooroo

I'm glad to hear that they don't all think alike and have difference of opinion. Maybe that difference is whaat halped The Chiefs get their couple of titles.

Bovidae

As Cruden is co-captain he will start almost every game so it makes sense to play McKenzie at FB. The Chiefs coaches have always debated player selection in certain positions.

SammyC

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Hooroo" data-cid="553650" data-time="1453332066">
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I'm glad to hear that they don't all think alike and have difference of opinion. Maybe that difference is whaat halped The Chiefs get their couple of titles.
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you could almost call it a dynasty :)

mariner4life

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="553656" data-time="1453332807">
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you could almost call it a dynasty :)
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nah that's wanky, we would never do that

Bovidae

Rennie is looking at a local and an overseas player as Laulala's replacement. We'll find out who that is soon enough.

Stargazer

According to the Kobelco Steelers' website, the Chiefs have signed their 30 year old prop Hiroshi Yamashita for the 2016 Super Rugby season. After that, he will return to Kobelco Steelers. He was part of Japan's RWC squad.
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.kobelcosteelers.com/news/information/2016/02/post-205.html'>http://www.kobelcosteelers.com/news/information/2016/02/post-205.html</a>

taniwharugby

so there were no NZ props to come into the Chiefs squad?
 
Slippery slope?

bobily

Certainly not of that quality.

Hooroo

No good ones

Mister G

Moli looked very special last year.

taniwharugby

I guess if the view is he is to be a starting prop, then I can understand, but if he is more a squad prop, then I think it isn't that good for NZ Rugby and the next wave of players coming through.

Hooroo

Super Rugby is about Franchise success though rather than NZ Rugby.

taniwharugby

That is a very slippery slope if that is the case, which I don't believe it is given there are still restrictions on numbers of non-AB eligible players aren't there?
 
I thought the franchises were still bound to the NZRU and as such the success, viability and development of NZ Rugby

Hooroo

I have no idea, I just mean that if the option is to use a good prop or a NZ prop then the Super Franchises are going to choose the good prop every time.

bobily

I don't have a problem with overseas players when our options are not up to scratch. I don't think being shunted backwards 5m in every scrum is necessarily helpful for a young prop. However, there are still a few players that I would have thought might be able to fill in, without being world beaters. 
 
I haven't heard that he has headed elsewhere, so I'd assume that Kane Hames is still avaliable? Also Pingi Tala'apitaga. There are probably a couple others who have played some SupeRugby before, too. With the exception of Hames, they might not be great props, but at least if they hang around, it should provide a higher level of competition in the ITM Cup, improving the level that our young players are performing in until they reach SupeRugby.

Unco

The NZRU have the rights to turn down a signing if they want but why would they? It's one prop. If they were really going to be strict about it, they would've given the Blues a slapping a while ago because they've got more ineligible players than any of the other franchises.
 
Oh and Hames is a loosehead, they needed another tighthead to replace Laulala. Rennie presumably already had a look at Pingi and everyone else going around the NPC when they were first picking the squad and didn't think they were what they were looking for.

SammyC

I'm just waiting for someone to chime in and say "well if Rennie rates him then that's ok" :)
 
I've read that statement a few times on here.
 
But seriously............ Was this bloke one of the regular starting props? Because the Japanese scrum wasn't as good when they brought on the subs.
 
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Hooroo" data-cid="556454" data-time="1454616146">
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No good ones
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Strong statement, Plenty of promising young props around the scene

The Silver Fern

Chiefs squad