Chiefs 2023
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Was listening to the Aotearoa Rugby Pod this morning and they mentioned Tevita Li. He has a contract in Japan for next year so won't be playing Super. Contracts are weird nowadays but I wouldn't say he's someone worth a battle for a contract over.
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@Yeetyaah said in Chiefs 2023:
Was listening to the Aotearoa Rugby Pod this morning and they mentioned Tevita Li. He has a contract in Japan for next year so won't be playing Super. Contacts are weird nowadays but I wouldn't say he's someone worth a battle for a contract over.
That's a pity because firepower on the fringe was badly missing last year. It was almost a case of brilliant work being done to create an opportunity out wide then........nothing there.
The balance in the backs will be the big question next year. If DMac is at 10 do all the other 10s sit on the bench in rotation or take the 15?
If DMac is at 15 primarily then who is the power on the edge?
I would prefer Stevenson at 15 myself. Gatland and Trask can play backups.
There were early rumours about Zarn Sullivan. Is he locked at the Blues? If so, wasted talent. NZ rugby needs that boy playing. -
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@Bovidae said in Chiefs 2023:
The biggest failure of McMillan and co this year was not playing outside backs in their best positions. We saw Trask, Tiatia, Narawa and even Ioane used at fullback at different times but never Stevenson. Puzzling.
Lack of trust in Reihana as well. His cameos showed promise.
Stevenson was 15 in the warmup games though and played well.
I just think that the thinking around the back three got very muddled. The coaches said at the start that they wanted to give opportunities and hope someone stuck their hand up strongly so that the positions were nailed down in first choice. Trouble is that didn't work out for a variety of reasons such as injury, games not being suitable to show out etc. Whole thing got messy. Our best wing for a while was QT when he filled in. -
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@Crucial said in Chiefs 2023:
@Bovidae said in Chiefs 2023:
The biggest failure of McMillan and co this year was not playing outside backs in their best positions. We saw Trask, Tiatia, Narawa and even Ioane used at fullback at different times but never Stevenson. Puzzling.
Lack of trust in Reihana as well. His cameos showed promise.
Stevenson was 15 in the warmup games though and played well.
I just think that the thinking around the back three got very muddled. The coaches said at the start that they wanted to give opportunities and hope someone stuck their hand up strongly so that the positions were nailed down in first choice. Trouble is that didn't work out for a variety of reasons such as injury, games not being suitable to show out etc. Whole thing got messy. Our best wing for a while was QT when he filled in.I just posted in the Northland/Bay match thread about Reihana. I thought he looked very useful at 10.
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@Donsteppa said in Chiefs 2023:
Wasn’t Stevenson injured for most of the Super Rugby season?
He got injured in the Rd 9 game against MP.
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@Yeetyaah So the Chiefs could potentially lose two 1st 5s after 2023 (assuming Gatland isn't re-signed). At his age Gatland should take the money up north.
I don't see that as a bad thing either, provided they have locked up the young(er) 1st 5s.
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@Stargazer said in Chiefs 2023:
I don't understand why Clayton isn't the head coach in this particular situation?
Most recently Leon has the most stacked roster in NZ each season, with star players in virtually every position & has been the most propped-up Blues coach in memory, with 3rd party deals & unparalleled resources at his disposal, yet he constantly gets found severely lacking as a coach tactically (and mentally) against quality opposition when it really matters.
I'm been a lot more impressed with Clayton's body of work with Bay Of Plenty, NZ Maori & the Chiefs over last 5-6 years compared to what McDonald has achieved (it should be noted, with the help of world-class assistants, such as Coventry, Schmidt etc..)
