Crusaders v Chiefs

[Duluth]

Looking forward to seeing that midfield

[KiwiMurph]

Be good to watch Bower to see his development with this opportunity as a starter after time in AB camp and a big offseason/preseason.

[taniwharugby]

@duluth as much as JG could end up being a vg 12, right now, 13 is where he should be playing.

[Yeetyaah]

Gallagher Chiefs:

1. Reuben O’Neill (11)
2. Samisoni Taukei’aho (37)
3. Angus Ta’avao (36)
4. Tupou Vaa’i (8)
5. Josh Lord**
6. Mitchell Brown (46)
7. Sam Cane (123) (cc)
8. Luke Jacobson (26)
9. Brad Weber (86) (cc)
10. Bryn Gatland (1)
11. Etene Nanai-Seturo (15)
12. Quinn Tupaea (12)
13. Sean Wainui (39)
14. Shaun Stevenson (53)
15. Damian McKenzie (85)

Reserves:
16. Bradley Slater (16)
17. Aidan Ross (36)
18. Sione Mafileo (1)
19. Naitoa Ah Kuoi (13)
20. Kaylum Boshier**
21. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (32)
22. Anton Lienert-Brown (82)
23. Chase Tiatia (1)

() = Gallagher Chiefs caps in brackets
*denotes Gallagher Chiefs debut
**denotes Sky Super Rugby debut

Unavailable for selection:
Atu Moli (hips), Laghlan McWhannell (knee), Lachlan Boshier (foot), Pita Gus Sowakula (knee), Kaleb Trask (knee)

https://www.chiefs.co.nz/news-item/gallagher-chiefs-named-to-challenge-the-crusaders-at-orangetheory-stadium

[Yeetyaah]

Gatland at 10 and Wainui at 13 again is nuts considering how shit they were. No Lowe who was actually a bright spark last week. We're fucked, we're so fucked.

[mariner4life]

@yeetyaah said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

Gatland at 10 and Wainui at 13 again is nuts considering how shit they were. We're fucked.

haha this will suck. i ain't watching

[Bovidae]

McMillan's selections are all over the place. He's obviously got a hard-on for Wainui at centre.

Looking forward to seeing how Lord goes. There seems to be a "plan" to give most of the squad a game over the first few rounds. With K Boshier on the bench I think Jacobson will move into no.7.

[antipodean]

Crusaders are paying 1.62 for 13+ on tab.com.au

Looks like easy money.

[Bovidae]

The article says that ALB picked up a niggle last week and hasn't trained much, so starts from the bench.

[KiwiMurph]

Tupaea at 12 is great to see.

[Stargazer]

Great to see Tupaea in that backline, but insane to drop Roe and Lowe. Good luck to Josh Lord for his debut against that pack.

[Stargazer]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/300249874/super-rugby-crusaders-move-david-havili-to-less-preferred-midfield-position

[Stargazer]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/124503830/super-rugby-aotearoa-weve-got-a-lot-of-faith-in-him--chiefs-back-bryn-gatland-at-no-10

[ARHS]

Bizarre selection by Chiefs

[Bovidae]

@stargazer said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

Good luck to Josh Lord for his debut against that pack.

He played against a lot of them when Taranaki beat Canterbury to win the Ranfurly Shield last year. Taylor, Whitelock, Christie and Grace were in that pack. And Moody.

[Stargazer]

@bovidae It wasn't the Taranaki pack that won that game for them though.

[Bovidae]

@stargazer Boshier won't be happy with that assessment.

[KiwiMurph]

I can understand the TTT selection - going with experience of an AB against the best team instead of a rookie (plus Stuff said TTT was injured last week) but dropping Lowe is just plain weird - he got bugger all chances and showed remarkable speed to nearly run down Nareki - meanwhile Stevenson added nothing off the bench last week.

[Bones]

@kiwimurph yeah pretty weird. Roe and Lowe were two standouts from last week. I feel like Lowe is cursed for super selection.

Be interesting to see how Lord goes.

[Winger]

@arhs said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

Bizarre selection by Chiefs

It compares with the Canes bizarre selections. Gatland is likely an unwillingness to admit a shocking recruitment decision just right now. And maybe an unwillingness to risk upsetting next years head coach. So if he plays like a fool again this week (in a game they will lose barring a miracle) kick him into touch for a game they can win next week