Hurricanes v Chiefs
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@stargazer said in SRA Round 4: Hurricanes v Chiefs:
Joe Apikotoa
Is he any good? Our front row has been pretty shit so far, and with the shortish second row, I'm still worried about our set piece.
That backline looks good, but there doesn't appear to be much to fear on the bench (perhaps apart from Finau, but he's a pup). Tiatia appears to be a liability especially.
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@gt12 In his first year for the Magpies (2018), I didn't think much of Joe 'Apikotoa. Just another Wellington reject, I thought. He wasn't in the squad in 2019 (playing for Oridizia Rugby in Spain instead), but returned in 2020. He was much better and became our first choice TH prop. He's quite tall for a prop. Having seen photos of him at Chiefs' training, he's lost quite a bit of excess weight and looks very fit. He's only 24 years old. It will be interesting to see whether he's SR level, or not, but he'll still have a lot to learn.
He played rugby and league (for the Wellington Orcas) while at school (St. Patrick’s College Silverstream). For Hutt Old Boys Marist, he played at prop, blindside flanker and number 8 in his first year out of school. Then he was approached by both Cronulla Sharks and Melbourne Storm, who offered him a 2-year contract, but he left Melbourne early, being very unhappy and wanting to go home. So he did, changed back to rugby at HOBM and focused on that from then on. Got his first NPC contract for Wellington in 2015 (their youngstest player that year), but didn't get much game time.
He has played for New Zealand Rugby League Under-18s in 2013 and 2014.
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O'Neill has been rested.
“He has had a really big pre-season, and we’re really mindful that he’s broken down a couple of times over the last few years and we don’t want to keep pushing him so much that he actually falls over again, we can't afford that luxury,” McMillan said.
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@gt12 said in SRA Round 4: Hurricanes v Chiefs:
@stargazer said in [SRA Round 4: Hurricanes v Chiefs](/post/555215
Tiatia appears to be a liability especially.That’s why I was happy he signed for the Chiefs, played like two good games for the Canes and was a liability the rest of them with his miracle plays that hardly came off.
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@gt12 said in SRA Round 4: Hurricanes v Chiefs:
Tiatia appears to be a liability especially.
I was very happy when eh left the Canes. As our incompetent coaches liked him and he was, except for his very first start when he looked the goods, terrible.
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@chris said in SRA Round 4: Hurricanes v Chiefs:
That Chiefs team looks a bit stronger than the Canes IMO
Its one of the weakest Canes sides I can remember. Three only adequate NPC level forwards (RR, Prinsep and Blackwell). a limited HB 1st combination, a 2nd 5 that's out of form (why not try PUJ there instead)and a centre that has almost no attacking potency. Just far too many inadequate (esp Blackwell although Prinsep is trying hard to score high on this front) and limited players
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@stargazer said in SRA Round 4: Hurricanes v Chiefs:
@mikey07 I'd even rather have Toala at 10 than Ledger. He's played there before and he's a really good goal kicker.
Even he's rated ahead of McLutchie eh? 😉
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@arhs said in SRA Round 4: Hurricanes v Chiefs:
Like the Chiefs starting lineup but very weak bench except for Finau in my view.
I thought Harris might have made the bench. He can't throw any worse than Slater. Taukei’aho needs to play at least 60 mins.
Norris and Apikotoa will provide some mobility. Scrums - TBD. I rate Parker and he does provide more size than K Boshier or Karpik would have. As others have said, Tiatia is flaky, but so is Stevenson at this level.
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@winger said in SRA Round 4: Hurricanes v Chiefs:
@chris said in SRA Round 4: Hurricanes v Chiefs:
That Chiefs team looks a bit stronger than the Canes IMO
Its one of the weakest Canes sides I can remember. Three only adequate NPC level forwards (RR, Prinsep and Blackwell). a limited HB 1st combination, a 2nd 5 that's out of form (why not try PUJ there instead)and a centre that has almost no attacking potency. Just far too many inadequate (esp Blackwell although Prinsep is trying hard to score high on this front) and limited players
If the Chiefs were playing at home I would perhaps give them the edge, but they're not.
Both sides will be desperate for their first win, but I except the Hurricanes coaches to have the boys fired up at home, as was the case last year, when they beat the Chiefs 33-18.
If I remember correctly they also won against the Blues in Wellington last year, so I would expect the Canes to put on a better performance at home (as is often the case).
The Hurricanes bench is pretty stacked with likes of Umaga-Jenson, Flanders, Mitchell, Mafelio, Taumeitine, Goosen etc..
The Chiefs' bench is weak in comparison.
I except this game to be tight, but the Canes to break away in the last 20 minutes - due to their superior depth on the bench.
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@bovidae I wanted to see Harris Roe Mafileo O Neill L Boshier Wainui and maybe Poihipi given a run. Injuries and rest have taken a toll. If Tiatia can show his BOP form he may spark some things from the back. Hoping Finau gets full second half and the other 14 starters stay on deep into the game.
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I hope Chiefs win this for multiple reasons. I am a Chiefs fan firstly but as an AB fan I hate to see guys like PUJ and Flanders relegated to the bench while mediocre players like Blackwell, Prinsep and Leger are starting. Leger is a weak 10 in the Mitre 10 FFS.
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@winger said in SRA Round 4: Hurricanes v Chiefs:
@mikey07 said in SRA Round 4: Hurricanes v Chiefs:
two good games for the Canes
He played FB whenever Barrett was out. Certainly more than 2 times. Unfortunately.
It’s like we have the same opinion...I was merely meaning is two and only two good games as you said he was very average in the rest of them.
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Leger played well in preseason games, but i still worry hope he proves us all wrong. they will eventually move Jordy to 10 at some point during the game. the teams not that bad IMO hope Blackwell has a better game this weekend?. Glad Numia starting ahead of Armstrong hes lazy and gives away too much. TBH Prinsep has been adding some value and if the Canes win you can all eat a giant big fat one
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I had wondered if Clayton might have gone with Trask at 15 and DMac at 10, based only on him having used Trask at 15 and Black at 10 for the Bay.
Big season for Chase Tiatia. He's usually looked great at NPC level, but with a big question mark over his ability to step up consistently at the next level.
Am not sure about that Chiefs bench.
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@mofitzy_ said in SRA Round 4: Hurricanes v Chiefs:
I hope Chiefs win this for multiple reasons. I am a Chiefs fan firstly but as an AB fan I hate to see guys like PUJ and Flanders relegated to the bench while mediocre players like Blackwell, Prinsep and Leger are starting. Leger is a weak 10 in the Mitre 10 FFS.
Leger doesn’t even play 10 at provincial level. He’s being used as a stopgap cover because he showed in early Chiefs games last year that he can adequately run the cutter at this level.
He’s actually not as bad as some are making out here if you just need someone to catch pass and kick. -
