Chiefs 2023
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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.
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@kiwi_expat said in Chiefs 2023:
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.
To me the Chiefs and Crusaders packs look a level above the Blues pack. Blues have serious issues at lock and hooker.
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@KiwiMurph said in Chiefs 2023:
@kiwi_expat said in Chiefs 2023:
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.
To me the Chiefs and Crusaders packs look a level above the Blues pack. Blues have serious issues at lock and hooker.
You may be right, but I imagine Tito will significantly improve the Blues lineout and maul defense, one of their major weak points last season.
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@kiwi_expat said in Chiefs 2023:
@KiwiMurph said in Chiefs 2023:
@kiwi_expat said in Chiefs 2023:
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.
To me the Chiefs and Crusaders packs look a level above the Blues pack. Blues have serious issues at lock and hooker.
You may be right, but I imagine Tito will significantly improve the Blues lineout and maul defense, one of their major weak points last season.
I keep hearing this. Can you please enlighten me are to why Tito is the new messiah? Not disputing it, just have a knowledge gap.
Edit: I know his history and results, my comment is more around the Blues having Coventry already who is a very highly rated forwards coach. I can't see that Tito is filling a void or will make a huge difference. It's not like he has brought along a van of Georgian props.
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@KiwiMurph said in Chiefs 2023:
@kiwi_expat said in Chiefs 2023:
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.
To me the Chiefs and Crusaders packs look a level above the Blues pack. Blues have serious issues at lock and hooker.
Very serious issues at lock with only two specialists fit.
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@george33 said in Chiefs 2023:
@Crucial Cameron suafoa and Patrick tuipolotu to start at lock both big bodies with even bigger guy of bench if he is given the nod ,Sam darry injured still have James tucker in squad
Tucker, Darry and PT the only specialist locks though. Also the only ones I would count as experienced at this level.
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@george33 said in Chiefs 2023:
@Crucial true but most squads have 2 or 3 experienced locks at most then some younger guys and blues have 2 big locks in reserve which will get game time I'd say
I think you are missing the point that the Blues have only 3 locks in total. Suafoa (or any other big guy) are loosie/locks .
Someone will now argue that Robinson is a lock/loosieChiefs - 5 locks (3 ABs), 1 Lock/Loosie. All six experienced at lock in Super
Canes - 3 locks, 2 Lock/Loosies. All 5 experienced at lock in Super
Crusaders - 5 locks (2 ABs), 1 Lock/Loosie, 1 Loosie/Lock. 6 experienced at lock in SuperI don't think a comment that the Blues are light in the lock department is far off the mark when you look at that.
Blues - 3 locks (1 AB), 2 loosie/locks
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@Crucial said in Chiefs 2023:
I hope so. I think the only team who might beat the Crusaders to the title is a full strength Chiefs. With DMac in top form.
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@Dan54 said in Chiefs 2023:
@mariner4life said in Chiefs 2023:
that photo...
this is supposed to be a professional organisation right? look at that photo. That's park football right there.
You do know that rugby is usually played and trained on parks in NZ don't ya Mariner??
It's preseason, man I went to a Reds preseason training a few years back, and when I saw everyone in daggy shorts and singlets kind of made me realise yeah it's preseason etc.He's been in QLD too long, has forgotten what real grass looks like
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@Crazy-Horse said in Chiefs 2023:
@kiwi_expat said in Chiefs 2023:
@Bovidae said in Chiefs 2023:
@Crucial Let's see who plays where next week. I see the selections at 10 and 15 about giving those players 40 mins. At least Stevenson starts at fullback in the 2nd half.
God I hope you're right because McKenzie has all attributes to be the best 10 in NZ, cautiously awaiting a Dmac Jordie 10-12 axis for 2024. Sullivan or Love should cover 10 off the bench unless Mo'unga returns for the 2027 event, then it'll be anyone's guess..
I am as keen as anyone to see Sullivan at 10 because I suspect he may be pretty useful there, but to say he should be bench cover at 10 for the ABs next year is big call. We don't actually know if he is any good at 10 or not.
Next year could be a big space at AB 10!
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@Winger said in Chiefs 2023:
@Crucial said in Chiefs 2023:
I hope so. I think the only team who might beat the Crusaders to the title is a full strength Chiefs. With DMac in top form.
Compared directly to Crusaders our forwards should at least be able to hold their own and our backs have the potential to be much better.
Injuries, form, coaching and strategies will then take the driving seat. -
Posted here as well.
https://www.chiefs.co.nz/news-item/chiefs-u20-squad-to-play-development-xv
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The Chiefs Development-Chiefs U20s game really was men against boys. You forget about the size difference between 18/19 yr olds and fully professional players with a few more years of S&C behind them. The Dev team dominated physically - at the breakdown, in the tackle and in the scrum.
For the Chiefs, McWhannell continues to impress and made plenty of metres as a midfield runner. The midfield combo of Rona and Tuhakaraina also looked good. TTT came back on the field for the last quarter on the wing and scored the final try.
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