Chiefs v Blues

ploughboy

1. Mitchell Graham (17) 2. Hika Elliot (92) 3. Atu Moli (3) 4. Dominic Bird* 5. Brodie Retallick (61) 6. Maama Vaipulu (16) 7. Sam Cane (71) co-captain 8. Michael Leitch (18) 9. Brad Weber (30) 10. Aaron Cruden (62) co-captain 11. James Lowe (27) 12. Charlie Ngatai (37) 13. Anton Lienert-Brown (14) 14. Shaun Stevenson (2) 15. Damian McKenzie (22) RESERVES: 16. Rhys Marshall (28) 17. Siate Tokolahi (23) 18. Siegfried Fisiâ€™ihoi (2) 19. Taleni Seu (6) 20. Sam Henwood (1) 21. Tawera Kerr-Barlow (60) 22. Seta Tamanivalu (12) 23. Sam McNicol (3)

taniwharugby

I think if Francis was outside a 10 who was running things better, he might be OK, but West probably isn't pulling the strings well enough.

Higgins

The Gallagher Chiefs team to play the Blues is:
15. Damian McKenzie, 14. Shaun Stevenson, 13. Anton Lienert-Brown, 12. Charlie Ngatai, 11. James Lowe, 10. Aaron Cruden, 9. Brad Weber, 8. Michael Leitch, 7. Sam Cane, 6. Maama Vaipulu, 5. Brodie Retallick, 4. Dominic Bird, 3. Atu Moli, 2. Hika Elliot, 1. Mitchell Graham. 
RESERVES: 16. Rhys Marshall, 17. Siate Tokolahi, 18. Siegfried Fisiâ€™ihoi, 19. Taleni Seu, 20. Sam Henwood, 21. Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 22. Seta Tamanivalu, 23. Sam McNicol.

SammyC

Blues midfield defence was a lot better last week with Francis there.

No Quarter

The Blues aren't that bad, beat the Landers (who get a heap of love on here) and narrowly lost to the Canes. The Chiefs are on fire but this isn't an easy game (like, say, the Farce at home). They will have to play well to win.

Hooroo

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Higgins" data-cid="570090" data-time="1459916513">
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The Gallagher Chiefs team to play the Blues is:
15. Damian McKenzie, 14. Shaun Stevenson, 13. Anton Lienert-Brown, 12. Charlie Ngatai, 11. James Lowe, 10. Aaron Cruden, 9. Brad Weber, 8. Michael Leitch, 7. Sam Cane, 6. Maama Vaipulu, 5. Brodie Retallick, 4. Dominic Bird, 3. Atu Moli, 2. Hika Elliot, 1. Mitchell Graham. 
RESERVES: 16. Rhys Marshall, 17. Siate Tokolahi, 18. Siegfried Fisiâ€™ihoi, 19. Taleni Seu, 20. Sam Henwood, 21. Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 22. Seta Tamanivalu, 23. Sam McNicol.
 
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Oh! Retallick and Bird are back!! So now we have forwards and backs! 
 
We Win!

mariner4life

I had a feeling these games are always closer than everyone expects, so i had a quick squiz at the results.
 
Over the last 3 years, where it has been generally accepted that the Blues have been shit, they have played 6 times. The Chiefs are 6-0.
 
BUT, the average score is 23-16 (which is the exact score finished at twice).

African Monkey

I can see us giving the Chiefs more of a run that people think but we'll still go down 33-20 or something like that. Seeing Sam Prattley there is a bit cringeworthy too. He's like the guy who never goes away.

Unco

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Higgins" data-cid="570090" data-time="1459916513">
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The Gallagher Chiefs team to play the Blues is:
15. Damian McKenzie, 14. Shaun Stevenson, 13. Anton Lienert-Brown, 12. Charlie Ngatai, 11. James Lowe, 10. Aaron Cruden, 9. Brad Weber, 8. Michael Leitch, 7. Sam Cane, 6. Maama Vaipulu, 5. Brodie Retallick, 4. Dominic Bird, 3. Atu Moli, 2. Hika Elliot, 1. Mitchell Graham. 
RESERVES: 16. Rhys Marshall, 17. Siate Tokolahi, 18. Siegfried Fisiâ€™ihoi, 19. Taleni Seu, 20. Sam Henwood, 21. Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 22. Seta Tamanivalu, 23. Sam McNicol.
 
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BBBR, Bird and TKB back, Moli gets a start and Allardice gets a deserved rest. I like.
 
If Henwood's on the bench, I guess they're planning on giving Cane a rest if it's a blow-out score like the last two ones? Otherwise I don't really see the point putting the fourth choice openside on the bench over Sanders.

nzzp

As a blues fan, I have that sense that the Jaws music is playing in the background.... just building up to a shark eating our forward pack
 
If we get anything out of this game but injuries I'll be happy.
 
Fark, if we win, I'll get smashed. There, I said it.

kiwiinmelb

I can remember the days when the Blues used to be strong favourites in these clashes and the Chiefs used to rise to the occasion and make a game of it, cant see that happening with the Blues , Im tipping it could get ugly, hope im wrong

Wreck Diver

BBBR, Bird being back should sure up the Chiefs scrum that was looking under real pressure last week.

JayCee

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="kiwiinmelb" data-cid="570158" data-time="1459934991">
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I can remember the days when the Blues used to be strong favourites in these clashes and the Chiefs used to rise to the occasion and make a game of it, 
cant see that happening with the Blues , 
Im tipping it could get ugly, hope im wrong
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yep - these clashes use to be our final - shit season, but at least we beat the Blues

Crucial

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Wreck Diver" data-cid="570162" data-time="1459939459">
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BBBR, Bird being back should sure up the Chiefs scrum that was looking under real pressure last week.
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...against a very strong pack and it didn't stop them thrashing the shit out of the opposition everywhere else on the park.
 
 
Blues aren't half as bad as some are making them out to be. They are struggling to construct tries sure, and that is hampering them on the scoreboard but they are forcing turnovers, making metres, the lineout is working well.....
The building blocks are all there and if they manage to put them together they can trouble anyone.
 
The most telling Blues stat is the amount of tries they are scoring from turnover ball. They aren't transitioning from D to A with any bite. That is a confidence thing as much as anything. They slightly hesitate or look like they place themselves under pressure to do something with the ball.

taniwharugby

well hopefully with minimal changes the Blues can start to get some continuity and partnerships going, as you say, they have the raw ingredients.

No Quarter

Prediction: All those changes will hurt the Chiefs momentum. Blues by 1 - 12.

SammyC

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="No Quarter" data-cid="570196" data-time="1459975503">
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Prediction: All those changes will hurt the Chiefs momentum. Blues by 1 - 12.
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Further to that prediction, this thread will be at 10 pages by this time next week. Full of <strike>Chiefs fans</strike> Crucial crying about refereeing decisions that went against them.

Crucial

'Discussing' not 'crying about' ;)

Unco

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="No Quarter" data-cid="570196" data-time="1459975503">
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Prediction: All those changes will hurt the Chiefs momentum. Blues by 1 - 12.
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Yup, Chiefs are the underdogs going into this game.

KiwiMurph

To confirm the above - it is actually Jaimee Nutbrown's debut Super Rugby refereeing assignment - i'd much prefer Pollock in the middle and Nutbrown as AR (Pollock is AR for this game).

The Silver Fern

Chiefs v Blues