Chiefs vs Wales, June 14
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<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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<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>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>
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<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>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>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>
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<p>So that means Weber and Beaver will get a start. </p>
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<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>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>
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<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> -
<p>start kane haimes</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Don Frye" data-cid="584124" data-time="1464614554"><p>
Mitchell Graham<br>
Nathan Harris / Hika Elliot (c) <br>
Hiroshi Yamashita<br>
Dominic Bird <br>
Taleni Seu <br>
Johan Bardoul<br>
Tevita Koloamatangi / Maama Vaipulu<br>
Tom Sanders<br>
Brad Weber <br>
Stephen Donald<br>
James Lowe <br>
Anton Lienert-Brown <br>
Seta Tamanivalu / Charlie Ngatai (c)<br>
Toni Pulu <br>
Damian McKenzie / Glen Fisiiahi <br><br>
Hika Elliot / ?<br>
Kane Hames <br>
Siegfried Fisi’ihoi / Atu Moli<br>
Michael Allardice / James Tucker<br>
Sam Henwood / Lachlan Boshier<br>
Kayne Hammington / TKB<br>
Andrew Horrell <br>
Sam Vaka / Chase Tiatita / Glen Fisiiahi</p></blockquote>
Using Don's team as as starting point ...<br><br>
Firstly is Bardoul available? He could also pkay lock. Could swap with Seu?<br><br>
Am assuming TKB is with the ABs so not released.<br><br>
Midfield looks to be an issue. Can Vaka play there?<br><br>
Anyways options as follows:<br><br>- Graham / Hames / Moli<br>
- Elliot / Marshall<br>
- Yamashita / Fisi'ihoi / Moli<br>
4.5. Bird / Allardice / Tucker / Seu / Bardoul<br>
6.7.8. Seu / Bardoul / Vaipulu / Sanders / Henwood / Boshier<br> - Weber / Hammington<br>
- Donald <br>
12.13. Lienert-Brown / Horrell / Donald<br>
11.14. Lowe / Pulu / Vaka / Fisiiahi / Tiatita<br> - Horrell / Pulu / Fisiiahi
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<p>Bardoul and Fisiiahi are done for the season, Chase Tiatia is also now injured.</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/80932270/chiefs-suffer-injury-blows-as-glen-fisiiahi-and-johan-bardoul-ruled-out-for-season'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/80932270/chiefs-suffer-injury-blows-as-glen-fisiiahi-and-johan-bardoul-ruled-out-for-season</a></p> -
<p>The Gallagher Chiefs team to play Wales is:<br><br>
- Mitchell Graham (23)<br>
- Rhys Marshall (30)<br>
- Hiroshi Yamashita (7)<br>
- Dominic Bird (5)<br>
- Michael Allardice (17)<br>
- Mitchell Brown*<br>
- Lachlan Boshier (2)<br>
- Tom Sanders (9)<br>
- Brad Weber (36)<br><strong>10. Stephen Donald (87) Captain</strong><br>
- Sam Vaka (3)<br>
- Andrew Horrell (53)<br>
- Anton Lienert-Brown (18)<br>
- Toni Pulu (7)<br>
- James Lowe (31)<br>
RESERVES:<br><br> - Hika Elliot (98)<br>
- Siegfried Fisi’ihoi (5)<br>
- Atu Moli (5)<br>
- Taleni Seu (12)<br>
- Tevita Koloamatangi (7)<br>
- Kayne Hammington (6)<br>
- Sam McNicol (6)<br>
- Latu Vaeno (2)</p>
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<p>Not considered for selection: Nepo Laulala, Mitchell Karpik, Johan Bardoul, Pauliasi Manu, Sam Henwood, Glen Fisiiahi, Chase Tiatia, Michael Leitch, Maama Vaipulu, James Tucker, Augustine Pulu (All Blacks Sevens) and Shaun Stevenson (New Zealand U20s).<br>
All Blacks: Charlie Ngatai, Brodie Rettalick, Sam Cane, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Seta Tamanivalu, Nathan Harris, Aaron Cruden and Damian McKenzie</p>
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<p>A few surprises here. Who is Mitchell Brown?</p>
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<p>A bit disappointed that no Chiefs players have been released. I think it would have made sense for Codie Taylor to be the bench hooker and Nathan Harris to get game time. Additionally, it doesn't look like Damian McKenzie will be getting game time any time soon, so why not let him get a chance against some reasonable opposition?</p>
