Chiefs vs Wales, June 14
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<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>
<p> </p>
<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>
<p> </p>
<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>
<p> </p>
<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>
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<p>Mitchell Brown played No.8 for NZ Schools in 2011, I think. He was a No.8, but has had trouble breaking into the Taranaki team as a loose forward, so has been playing at lock. At 194cm, he is probably a bit too short for lock at this level, but a reasonable size for blindside. He is reasonably good at the lineout, has a good workrate, but is nothing special on attack.</p>
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<p>Mitchell Brown</p>
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<p>16 first-class matches for Taranaki, 2012-2015</p>
<p>1 first-class game for Hurricanes Dev team, 2013</p> -
Chiefs hooker sounds like he should be in the Wales XV, great Welsh name Rhys ! <br>
I'd imagine the Welsh side in this game will be pretty poor. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pooler fan" data-cid="587097" data-time="1465720015">
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<p>Chiefs hooker sounds like he should be in the Wales XV, great Welsh name Rhys !<br>
I'd imagine the Welsh side in this game will be pretty poor.</p>
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<p>15 changes.</p>
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<p>Mike the Snow will be happy. Matthew Morgan gets a start.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/36510160'>http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/36510160</a></p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Catogrande" data-cid="587124" data-time="1465723747">
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<p>15 changes.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Mike the Snow will be happy. Matthew Morgan gets a start.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/36510160'>http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/36510160</a></p>
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<p>Very happy. About time.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Good mix of youthful exuberance and experience.</p>
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<p>Matthew Morgan, Scott Williams, Tom James, Rob Evans, Scott Baldwin and Luke Charteris playing for a possible 2nd Test place.</p>
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<p>Hopefully will have too much for The Chiefs and come away with one victory this summer.</p> -
Hope a few of them play well enough to force themselves into next weekends test side Mike.<br>
Looking like a shootout between James & Walker for George North's spot. Maybe a chance for them both as Amos was a little timid yesterday.<br>
Hope Scott Williams plays himself in, we'd be a stronger attacking threat with him over Roberts. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pooler fan" data-cid="587135" data-time="1465725309">
<div>
<p>Hope a few of them play well enough to force themselves into next weekends test side Mike.<br>
Looking like a shootout between James & Walker for George North's spot. Maybe a chance for them both as Amos was a little timid yesterday.<br>
Hope Scott Williams plays himself in, we'd be a stronger attacking threat with him over Roberts.</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>100%</p> -
<p>no haimes</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="bobily" data-cid="586954" data-time="1465695714"><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></blockquote>
I have no issues with players not being released. They were selected into the AB camp so the coaches could work with them for the current and upcoming test campaign. <br>
What are they going to achieve by having D Mac leaving the ABs and spending time back with the Chiefs to play a second string Wales side?
