Force v Chiefs
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The Gallagher Chiefs have named a 26-man squad to travel to Perth to play the Western Force on Saturday 15 May at HBF Park at 8.05pm (AUST)/12.05am (NZT). The 26-man squad departed for Perth this morning, Wednesday 12 May from Auckland International Airport.
Gallagher Chiefs Travelling Squad:
Forwards:
Aidan Ross
Angus Taāavao
Bradley Slater
Joe Apikotoa
Josh Lord
Lachlan Boshier
Liam Messam
Luke Jacobson
Nathan Harris
Ollie Norris
Pita Gus Sowakula
Samisoni Taukeiāaho
Sione Mafileo
Tupou Vaaāi
Zane KapeliBacks:
Alex Nankivell
Anton Lienert-Brown
Bailyn Sullivan
Brad Weber
Bryn Gatland
Chase Tiatia
Damian McKenzie
Jonah Lowe
Rameka Poihipi
Shaun Stevenson
Xavier RoeThe Gallagher Chiefs team to face the Western Force will be named on Thursday 13 May at 4.30pm (NZT).
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I feel like at some stage in a game previously Gus has ended up in the second row.. or am I just imagining that?!
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@arhs The coaches must believe Van den Hoven isn't ready, especially with the locking crisis. I thought that Taulani would have been in the touring party as he could provide locking cover if required.
@WillieTheWaiter Kapeli went into lock but Sowakula is used as a lineout target.
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@bovidae said in Force v Chiefs:
@arhs The coaches must believe Van den Hoven isn't ready, especially with the locking crisis. I thought that Taulani would have been in the touring party as he could provide locking cover if required.
@WillieTheWaiter Kapeli went into lock but Sowakula is used as a lineout target.
I feel like I've defo seen him on the field playing lock at some stage. But I'm too lazy to google any further than this..
Sowakula was signed short-term for the Chiefs in their 2018 Super Rugby season. He joined during the sides injury crisis after season-ending injuries to Dominic Bird, Mitchell Brown and Fin Hoeata.[2] Sowakula was named in the reserves against the Highlanders in Hamilton in cover of locks Brodie Retallick and Tyler Ardron.
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I'm sure Sowakula has been used at lock before, along with other loose forwards. He is taller than Brown.
But for this particular match:
That means Bay of Plenty and Tonga loose forward Zane Kapeliās sudden rise is set to continue, having come from nowhere to be a standout in the Chiefsā āBā side against the Blues a fortnight back, including an hour at lock, and earning his spot on the bench for last weekendās final. āWeāll probably use Zane Kapeli again as a bit of a hybrid,ā McMillan said. Going over to play in Perth ā hard grounds, good weather, it may serve us actually pretty well. He did the job pretty well the last couple of weeks and heās loving his opportunity in the environment.ā -
@bovidae said in Force v Chiefs:
I'm sure Sowakula has been used at lock before, along with other loose forwards. He is taller than Brown.
But for this particular match:
That means Bay of Plenty and Tonga loose forward Zane Kapeliās sudden rise is set to continue, having come from nowhere to be a standout in the Chiefsā āBā side against the Blues a fortnight back, including an hour at lock, and earning his spot on the bench for last weekendās final. āWeāll probably use Zane Kapeli again as a bit of a hybrid,ā McMillan said. Going over to play in Perth ā hard grounds, good weather, it may serve us actually pretty well. He did the job pretty well the last couple of weeks and heās loving his opportunity in the environment.āYeah, I've seen PGS slot in at lock as well.
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1 Aidan Ross, 2 Nathan Harris, 3 Angus Taāavao, 4 Josh Lord, 5 Tupou Vaaāi, 6 Pita Gus Sowakula,7 Lachlan Boshier, 8 Luke Jacobson, 9 Brad Weber, 10 Damian McKenzie, 11 Jonah Lowe, 12 Alex Nankivell, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 14 Shaun Stevenson, 15 Chase Tiatia
Reserves: 16 Samisoni Taukeiāaho, 17 Ollie Norris, 18 Joe Apikotoa, 19 Zane Kapeli, 20 Liam Messam, 21 Xavier Roe, 22 Bryn Gatland, 23 Bailyn Sullivan
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That's possibly a better team than we ran out last week. There is at least an attempt to have three real line out options there, plus we have a bit more firepower (very rocks n diamonds of course) in the backline. Hope Harris has figured out how to throw again.
The bench is pretty meh though - but it will be awesome to see Messam out there again. I hope he doesn't look too old.
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) and their injuries - Force will be feeling confident at home
