Chiefs vs Wales, June 14
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Chiefs have had a run of injuries and now they will be without their frontline ABs. <br><br>
Retallick, Cane, TKB and Cruden will definitely be out IMO. <br><br>
But will Harris, DMac, Tamanivalu be released?<br><br>
What will the status of Ngatai be? <br><br>
Chiefs will be calling on their WTG to fill in and step it up. <br><br>
Any predictions of a lineup? -
<p>Assuming no-one's released, I'd guess:</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Graham</p>
<p>Elliot</p>
<p>Yamashita</p>
<p>Bird</p>
<p>Allardice</p>
<p>Seu</p>
<p>Boshier</p>
<p>Sanders</p>
<p>Weber</p>
<p>Donald</p>
<p>Lowe</p>
<p>Horrell</p>
<p>ALB</p>
<p>Pulu</p>
<p>???</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Marshall</p>
<p>Hames</p>
<p>Fisi'ihoi</p>
<p>Tucker</p>
<p>Vaipulu</p>
<p>Hammington</p>
<p>???</p>
<p>Vaka</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Most of the positions won't be too hard to figure out a replacement for (Elliot for Harris, Allardice for BBBR, etc) but cover does run pretty thin within the outside backs, what with Stevenson off with the U20s and McNicol and Fisiiahi injured. You'd hope at least McKenzie will be made available, as he probably won't get much game time in the tests, but if not then I guess Lowe at fullback, Vaeno on the left wing and then maybe Chase Tiatia called up from the development squad?</p> -
<p style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Not sure what the injury status is currently of a lot of players. But with a two week break we should see a few players come back into contention.</p>
<p style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">You would hope that Harris, DMac and one of Seta or Charlie got released. Good opportunity to regain some pride against touring teams after the Crusaders got thumped by England a couple of years back.</p>
<p style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> </p>
<div> Mitchell Graham</div>
<div> Nathan Harris / Hika Elliot (c) </div>
<div> Hiroshi Yamashita</div>
<div> Dominic Bird </div>
<div> Taleni Seu </div>
<div> Johan Bardoul</div>
<div> Tevita Koloamatangi / Maama Vaipulu</div>
<div> Tom Sanders</div>
<div> Brad Weber </div>
<div> Stephen Donald</div>
<div> James Lowe </div>
<div> Anton Lienert-Brown </div>
<div> Seta Tamanivalu / Charlie Ngatai (c)</div>
<div> Toni Pulu </div>
<div> Damian McKenzie / Glen Fisiiahi<span> </span></div>
<div> </div>
<div> Hika Elliot / ?</div>
<div> Kane Hames </div>
<div> Siegfried Fisi’ihoi / Atu Moli</div>
<div> Michael Allardice / James Tucker</div>
<div> Sam Henwood / Lachlan Boshier</div>
<div> Kayne Hammington / TKB</div>
<div> Andrew Horrell </div>
<div> Sam Vaka / Chase Tiatita / Glen Fisiiahi</div> -
<p>Unco's team will be close to the mark although I think Vaipulu will start at 7. Kolomatangi has a long-term injury and hasn't been sighted all year. The likes of Moli should be back (not sure what's happening with Tokolahi either), and the outside back combo will depend on whether McNicol is also available. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Also, TKB is targeting this game or the Waikato-Thames Valley RS game on June 6 for his return. So if it's the former, expect to see him in the 23.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="584160" data-time="1464641069">
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<p>Unco's team will be close to the mark although I think Vaipulu will start at 7. Kolomatangi has a long-term injury and hasn't been sighted all year. The likes of Moli should be back (not sure what's happening with Tokolahi either), and the outside back combo will depend on whether McNicol is also available. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Also, TKB is targeting this game or the Waikato-Thames Valley RS game on June 6 for his return. So if it's the former, expect to see him in the 23.</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>Yeah, Tokolahi's a weird one. Either rested or dropped, I guess, and it's hard to tell which because they haven't mentioned him for a while.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Great to hear about Moli and TKB though, McNicol too if he makes it back.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="584172" data-time="1464644515">
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<p>It'll be a good old fashioned team of dirty dirties from Wales though won't it ? none of their test stars will front for this game I'm sure.</p>
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<p>The Welsh have named a 35-man squad so 11 of their test 23 will need to play the Chiefs, i.e., some could be playing 3 games in 7 days.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="584160" data-time="1464641069">
<div>
<p>Unco's team will be close to the mark although I think Vaipulu will start at 7. Kolomatangi has a long-term injury and hasn't been sighted all year. The likes of Moli should be back (not sure what's happening with Tokolahi either), and the outside back combo will depend on whether McNicol is also available. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Also, TKB is targeting this game or the Waikato-Thames Valley RS game on June 6 for his return. So if it's the former, expect to see him in the 23.</p>
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<p>I'd start Horrell and 10, and move Donald to the bench</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="584172" data-time="1464644515">
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<p>It'll be a good old fashioned team of dirty dirties from Wales though won't it ? none of their test stars will front for this game I'm sure.</p>
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<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="584192" data-time="1464650475">
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<p>The Welsh have named a 35-man squad so 11 of their test 23 will need to play the Chiefs, i.e., some could be playing 3 games in 7 days.</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>To take that a bit further, it would likely be that Wales' bench for the Chiefs game will be 8 of the 1st test team (and presumably 2nd test team) and they might play 20-30 minutes - or not at all - against the Chiefs. Only three guys will play 3 games in 7 days, and those 3 guys will probably not be in Wales' top XV (i.e. will be on the bench in the tests). I'm not sure what the positional distribution of the 35 players is, but it seems very unlikely that any guy would start 3 times in 7 days.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>But the point remains that it's a crowded and particularly tough schedule.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stockcar86" data-cid="584207" data-time="1464652182">
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<p>I'd start Horrell and 10, and move Donald to the bench</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>Or could DMac get a run at 10 with Donald on the bench?</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stockcar86" data-cid="584207" data-time="1464652182">
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<p>I'd start Horrell and 10, and move Donald to the bench</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>Who are you playing at 12 then? Vaka in his first start? Hansen didn't release any Saders players when they played England a couple years ago, so I wouldn't bet on Ngatai or Tamanivalu being available.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Mokey" data-cid="584142" data-time="1464633195">
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<p>I'm going to this game - really looking forward to it. (just hope we can field a decent line up and don't get thumped...)</p>
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<p>Yep Mokey I will be at game too, actually coming over from Aus with Welsh mate to follow the tour through country</p> -
<p><em>Today's news:</em></p>
<p><em>Foster also confirmed no All Blacks would be released for the Chiefs match against Wales in Hamilton on June 14.</em></p>
<p> </p>
<p>So that means Weber and Beaver will get a start. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I went over to Paeroa yesterday to watch the Waikato-Thames Valley Ranfurly Shield game, paying particular interest in Moli. He was a beast around the field so it would be safe to assume his shoulder injury is OK now and he will be involved in this game.</p> -
What's the story on revenue for this match? Is it being shared?<br><br>
I'm a believer in the NZRU scheduling one per tour for the ABs like v Munster a few years ago, as a revenue generating midweek game. <br><br>
But I concede the current generation at NZRU HQ seem to be quite competent so maybe it doesn't stack up.<br><br>
But you'd think a share of a Leicester gate or a Stade Francais gate would be worthwhile for both parties financially, plus get game time in hostile environment for some young guys, plus bring back a bit of the old days magic. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="584324" data-time="1464678509">
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<p>There should be a good crowd despite being a midweek fixture and the early start. I remember the 1988 clash between Waikato (featuring Gatland and Foster) and Wales - a repeat of that result would be nice. :)</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>The Crusaders mid week game against England a couple of years ago was a great night out (despite the result obviously) glad they are doing it again</p> -
<p>I like the idea of international teams playing midweek games too. Gatland was the big driver of this fixture due to his Waikato/Chiefs connection. To answer IR's question, I assume both teams will get a % of the gate takings. The Chiefs are obviously confident enough in getting a large crowd, allowing them to give up a home game vs the Crusaders - historically one of the biggest crowds of the season. One would also assume that the ticket prices are higher than normal too - it's part of my season ticket so I haven't looked at the price comparison.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>As to the game, expectations won't be too high for the Chiefs but it will be a great experience for the players and a valuable game for the coaches during the international break.</p>
