Chiefs 2023
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@Crucial said in Chiefs 2023:
Who has Alaimalo replaced?
No one, he is part of the WTG. Narawa didn't play against the Blues, Wrampling is returning from a long-term injury, and Punivai must be injured. So he and Coombes-Fabling have been used.
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@Bovidae said in Chiefs 2023:
@Crucial said in Chiefs 2023:
Who has Alaimalo replaced?
No one, he is part of the WTG. Narawa didn't play against the Blues, Wrampling is returning from a long-term injury, and Punivai must be injured. So he and Coombes-Fabling have been used.
I thought I saw a “welcome back” post with him in full kit as a posed photo.
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@Crucial said in Chiefs 2023:
@Bovidae said in Chiefs 2023:
@Crucial said in Chiefs 2023:
Who has Alaimalo replaced?
No one, he is part of the WTG. Narawa didn't play against the Blues, Wrampling is returning from a long-term injury, and Punivai must be injured. So he and Coombes-Fabling have been used.
I thought I saw a “welcome back” post with him in full kit as a posed photo.
When was that? I know there something when the team got together before Christmas. The Chiefs may shock us and update the status of the players.
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Pretty good hit out against the Blues, all the "name" players for the Chiefs looked good/had impact and the Chiefs as expected were very good around the field and in open play.
Set piece a bit of a worry, scrum and lineout both struggled and there appears to be a lack of depth in the tight 5. Hopefully we can plug some gaps and develop some depth there as the season goes on.
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@Windows97 said in Chiefs 2023:
Set piece a bit of a worry, scrum and lineout both struggled and there appears to be a lack of depth in the tight 5. Hopefully we can plug some gaps and develop some depth there as the season goes on.
You need to put the 1st half scrum problems into context. The Blues had two AB props playing while the Chiefs had a young NDC player (Kaivelata) and then Tukuafu, who is only the 3rd choice TH for Waikato playing TH. With no Ta'avao and Moli off early McMillan still saved Dyer for the 2nd half. The scrum will be tested against the Crusaders but Ryan should make a big difference.
I was a little disappointed with Selby-Rickit around the field. Depending on who plays at 6, I can see him missing out in the 23.
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@Windows97 said in Chiefs 2023:
Pretty good hit out against the Blues, all the "name" players for the Chiefs looked good/had impact and the Chiefs as expected were very good around the field and in open play.
Set piece a bit of a worry, scrum and lineout both struggled and there appears to be a lack of depth in the tight 5. Hopefully we can plug some gaps and develop some depth there as the season goes on.
Depth in the tight five is ample at lock. We are stacked in that area with Retallick, Vaa'i, Lord (all ABs) supported by Ah Kuoi, MSR (proven effective at this level) and McWhannell.
Three decent hookers as well. Until Angus comes back we are a bit light in the props.
I don't think there is a lack of depth overall (especially compared to some squads)
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@Crucial said in Chiefs 2023:
@Windows97 said in Chiefs 2023:
Pretty good hit out against the Blues, all the "name" players for the Chiefs looked good/had impact and the Chiefs as expected were very good around the field and in open play.
Set piece a bit of a worry, scrum and lineout both struggled and there appears to be a lack of depth in the tight 5. Hopefully we can plug some gaps and develop some depth there as the season goes on.
Depth in the tight five is ample at lock. We are stacked in that area with Retallick, Vaa'i, Lord (all ABs) supported by Ah Kuoi, MSR (proven effective at this level) and McWhannell.
Three decent hookers as well. Until Angus comes back we are a bit light in the props.
I don't think there is a lack of depth overall (especially compared to some squads)
Ollie Norris & George Dyer look very promising in addition to the more experienced Aiden Ross, Atu Moli.
McMillian will use Ah Kuoi at 6, little benefit having him fight McPhannell, Lord, MSR, over a second row spot.
-adding to the fact he was the best 6 in the tournament last year for the Bay makes it an obvious selection.
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@Crucial said in Chiefs 2023:
Depth in the tight five is ample at lock. We are stacked in that area with Retallick, Vaa'i, Lord (all ABs) supported by Ah Kuoi, MSR (proven effective at this level) and McWhannell.
Three decent hookers as well. Until Angus comes back we are a bit light in the props.
I don't think there is a lack of depth overall (especially compared to some squads)
I was impressed by Vaa'i (haven't been so much in the past) but he ran with intensity and made an impact when he came on.
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@kiwi_expat said in Chiefs 2023:
@Crucial said in Chiefs 2023:
@Windows97 said in Chiefs 2023:
Pretty good hit out against the Blues, all the "name" players for the Chiefs looked good/had impact and the Chiefs as expected were very good around the field and in open play.
Set piece a bit of a worry, scrum and lineout both struggled and there appears to be a lack of depth in the tight 5. Hopefully we can plug some gaps and develop some depth there as the season goes on.
Depth in the tight five is ample at lock. We are stacked in that area with Retallick, Vaa'i, Lord (all ABs) supported by Ah Kuoi, MSR (proven effective at this level) and McWhannell.
Three decent hookers as well. Until Angus comes back we are a bit light in the props.
I don't think there is a lack of depth overall (especially compared to some squads)
Ollie Norris & George Dyer look very promising in addition to the more experienced Aiden Ross, Atu Moli.
McMillian will use Ah Kuoi at 6, little benefit having him fight McPhannell, Lord, MSR, over a second row spot.
-adding to the fact he was the best 6 in the tournament last year for the Bay makes it an obvious selection.
Best 6 in the NPC? That's debatable.
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@Stargazer said in Chiefs 2023:
@kiwi_expat said in Chiefs 2023:
@Crucial said in Chiefs 2023:
@Windows97 said in Chiefs 2023:
Pretty good hit out against the Blues, all the "name" players for the Chiefs looked good/had impact and the Chiefs as expected were very good around the field and in open play.
Set piece a bit of a worry, scrum and lineout both struggled and there appears to be a lack of depth in the tight 5. Hopefully we can plug some gaps and develop some depth there as the season goes on.
Depth in the tight five is ample at lock. We are stacked in that area with Retallick, Vaa'i, Lord (all ABs) supported by Ah Kuoi, MSR (proven effective at this level) and McWhannell.
Three decent hookers as well. Until Angus comes back we are a bit light in the props.
I don't think there is a lack of depth overall (especially compared to some squads)
Ollie Norris & George Dyer look very promising in addition to the more experienced Aiden Ross, Atu Moli.
McMillian will use Ah Kuoi at 6, little benefit having him fight McPhannell, Lord, MSR, over a second row spot.
-adding to the fact he was the best 6 in the tournament last year for the Bay makes it an obvious selection.
Best 6 in the NPC? That's debatable.
Caleb Delany was pretty impressive for the Lions, and Dominic Gardiner for Canterbury.
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@Canes4life said in Chiefs 2023:
@Stargazer said in Chiefs 2023:
@kiwi_expat said in Chiefs 2023:
@Crucial said in Chiefs 2023:
@Windows97 said in Chiefs 2023:
Pretty good hit out against the Blues, all the "name" players for the Chiefs looked good/had impact and the Chiefs as expected were very good around the field and in open play.
Set piece a bit of a worry, scrum and lineout both struggled and there appears to be a lack of depth in the tight 5. Hopefully we can plug some gaps and develop some depth there as the season goes on.
Depth in the tight five is ample at lock. We are stacked in that area with Retallick, Vaa'i, Lord (all ABs) supported by Ah Kuoi, MSR (proven effective at this level) and McWhannell.
Three decent hookers as well. Until Angus comes back we are a bit light in the props.
I don't think there is a lack of depth overall (especially compared to some squads)
Ollie Norris & George Dyer look very promising in addition to the more experienced Aiden Ross, Atu Moli.
McMillian will use Ah Kuoi at 6, little benefit having him fight McPhannell, Lord, MSR, over a second row spot.
-adding to the fact he was the best 6 in the tournament last year for the Bay makes it an obvious selection.
Best 6 in the NPC? That's debatable.
Caleb Delany was pretty impressive for the Lions, and Dominic Gardiner for Canterbury.
I was about to mention those 2 who I though had great NPC's.
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@Canes4life And Marino Mikaele-Tu'u for the Magpies.
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@Crucial said in Chiefs 2023:
Isn't it more relevant how he performed in comparison to the other Chiefs options?
Exactly.
I am expecting Ah Kuoi to start at 6, based on McMillan's previous comments and that he played there in Pukekohe. That would allow the Chiefs to have two loose forwards on the bench, likely PGS and Boshier (to avoid having to use Jacobson at openside).
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@Crucial said in Chiefs 2023:
Isn't it more relevant how he performed in comparison to the other Chiefs options?
Yes, but I think the posts above are reacting to the claim he was the best 6 in the comp, not where his is placed amongst his fellow Chiefs.
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@Nepia said in Chiefs 2023:
@Crucial said in Chiefs 2023:
Isn't it more relevant how he performed in comparison to the other Chiefs options?
Yes, but I think the posts above are reacting to the claim he was the best 6 in the comp, not where his is placed amongst his fellow Chiefs.
Those feckers can feck off from this fecking Chiefs thread
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@Canes4life said in Chiefs 2023:
Caleb Delany was pretty impressive for the Lions, and Dominic Gardiner for Canterbury.
Yep, but I reckon Delany & Ah Kuoi look to have the greatest ceiling of those mentioned and probably be more effective than Gardiner at international level, Gardiner's your typical Crusaders player, honest hard grafter, clears rucks, makes his tackles, but probably isn't dynamic enough to dominate at the highest level - Thorne 2.0!
When talking player's ceiling more referring to how it's possible to coach things like work-rate, attitude, game smarts & awareness, into physically talented players, but it's hard to take limited players and get them playing above their physical limitations at test level. Thorne, Blackadder, Ralph, Bridge, Havili, Christie (is a tackling machine, but literally nothing else), so there's my little Crusaders rant for the day.
Anyway, I predicted Chiefs would win this season after the squads & news that Schmidt was leaving the Blues brain's trust, but since then Tito's joined the Blues so I'm not as confident, the Crusaders have lost Ryan and the best coached pack may end up winning, Blues & Chiefs can equally match Crusaders upfront, however I fear Tito could prove to be the difference, he could turn this Blues pack into something formidable.
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@kiwi_expat said in Chiefs 2023:
@Canes4life said in Chiefs 2023:
Caleb Delany was pretty impressive for the Lions, and Dominic Gardiner for Canterbury.
Yep, but I reckon Delany & Ah Kuoi look to have the greatest ceiling of those mentioned and probably be more effective than Gardiner at international level, Gardiner's your typical Crusaders player, honest hard grafter, clears rucks, makes his tackles, but probably isn't dynamic enough to dominate at the highest level - Thorne 2.0!
When talking player's ceiling more referring to how it's possible to coach things like work-rate, attitude, game smarts & awareness, into physically talented players, but it's hard to take limited players and get them playing above their physical limitations at test level. Thorne, Blackadder, Ralph, Bridge, Havili, Christie (is a tackling machine, but literally nothing else), so there's my little Crusaders rant for the day.
Anyway, I predicted Chiefs would win this season after the squads & news that Schmidt was leaving the Blues brain's trust, but since that Tito's joined the Blues I'm not as confident, the Crusaders have lost Ryan and the best coached pack may end up winning, Blues & Chiefs can equally match Crusaders upfront, however I fear Tito could prove to be the difference, he could turn the Blues pack into something scary.
Don't under estimate Dave Perrin as forward coach at the Crusaders he served under Ryan a fair bit and he will carry on where Ryan left off.
