Crusaders v Chiefs
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Squad Announcement | Crusaders vs Chiefs
Our first squad for Super Rugby Aupiki 2023 is here! The Crusaders take on the Chiefs this Friday at Orangetheory Stadium in Christchurch at 7:05pm.
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@Bovidae said in Crusaders v Chiefs:
I am a little surprised that Sowakula is starting as I thought he would be used for impact.
The backline is as expected.
Nice to see DMac confirmed at 10 and I wasn't sure if Alaimalo would be a starter given that we can't find if he is fully contracted.
Two excellent lineups. Almost an AB trial game in many areas.
Bring it on.
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@Bovidae said in Crusaders v Chiefs:
The backline is as expected.
Is it? Alaimalo isn't even listed in the squad, I expected Narawa at 14. He surely must be injured as he was in career best form last season on the right wing.
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@Crucial said in Crusaders v Chiefs:
Nice to see DMac confirmed at 10 and I wasn't sure if Alaimalo would be a starter given that we can't find if he is fully contracted.
I expected Alaimalo to start given the injuries to the other wingers, unless Stevenson wasn't going to start at fullback.
Players not considered because of injury: Angus Ta’avao (season), Atu Moli, Josh Lord, Quinn Tupaea, Emoni Narawa, Ngatungane Punivai.
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@Stargazer said in Crusaders v Chiefs:
I expected Nankivell at 12 and ALB at 13.
ALB was at 12 and Nankivell was 13 against the Blues, so that combo seemed obvious to me.
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@Bovidae said in Crusaders v Chiefs:
@Crucial said in Crusaders v Chiefs:
Nice to see DMac confirmed at 10 and I wasn't sure if Alaimalo would be a starter given that we can't find if he is fully contracted.
I expected Alaimalo to start given the injuries to the other wingers, unless Stevenson wasn't going to start at fullback.
Players not considered because of injury: Angus Ta’avao (season), Atu Moli, Josh Lord, Quinn Tupaea, Emoni Narawa, Ngatungane Punivai.
isn't the Ruakura training field notoriously uneven? heard it's been source of injuries in the past.
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@Bovidae said in Crusaders v Chiefs:
https://www.chiefs.co.nz/news-item/gallagher-chiefs-side-named-for-opener
Alaimalo managed one game in two years for the landers start back into the chiefs starting lineup
where is gatland? he and Ioane go from fighting it out for the Highlanders 10 jersey...to one of them being on the bench and the other not even in the squad
what are we doing wrong down south
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Whitelock to miss Crusaders' opener against Chiefs due to head knock
Coach Scott Robertson says All Blacks and Crusaders veteran Whitelock will sit out round one of Super Rugby Pacific as a precaution.
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@kiwi_expat said in Crusaders v Chiefs:
isn't the Ruakura training field notoriously uneven? heard it's been source of injuries in the past.
I haven't heard that before. The Chiefs spent a lot of money on the field and it's looked good whenever I've seen the field up close.
We'd need to know what type of injury Narawa and Punivai have. Narawa played MP in the first pre-season game but Punivai hasn't been involved in either pre-season game.
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This article answers the question about Alaimalo and the other wingers:
The backline also features the return of 47-cap Chief Solomon Alaimalo on the right wing, the 27-year-old having last represented the club in 2020 prior to joining the Highlanders, but playing just two games for them before taking an extended period out of the game due to mental health issues. He isn’t part of the 38-man contracted squad but with Emoni Narawa sick and Ngane Punivai copping an injury in an internal hitout, a chance has come quickly.
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@Bovidae said in Crusaders v Chiefs:
@kiwi_expat said in Crusaders v Chiefs:
isn't the Ruakura training field notoriously uneven? heard it's been source of injuries in the past.
I haven't heard that before. The Chiefs spent a lot of money on the field and it's looked good whenever I've seen the field up close.
We'd need to know what type of injury Narawa and Punivai have. Narawa played MP in the first pre-season game but Punivai hasn't been involved in either pre-season game.
I remember reading it was originally a cricket oval built over a boggy swamp, often waterlogged and didn't drain properly, ground very soft & uneven in places (maybe it was a factor towards those massive injury tolls during the Rennie/Cooper era?) which contributed to leg injuries. think they've since done work to make the ground firmer.
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@Yeetyaah said in Crusaders v Chiefs:
Fuck me dead what a great starting Chiefs team.
Impressive side, hopefully they can do the business.
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@Canes4life well the crusaders look pretty fucking impressive to
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Chiefs by a thousand
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@kiwi_expat said in Crusaders v Chiefs:
@Bovidae said in Crusaders v Chiefs:
@kiwi_expat said in Crusaders v Chiefs:
isn't the Ruakura training field notoriously uneven? heard it's been source of injuries in the past.
I haven't heard that before. The Chiefs spent a lot of money on the field and it's looked good whenever I've seen the field up close.
We'd need to know what type of injury Narawa and Punivai have. Narawa played MP in the first pre-season game but Punivai hasn't been involved in either pre-season game.
I remember reading it was originally a cricket oval built over a boggy swamp, often waterlogged and didn't drain properly, ground very soft & uneven in places (maybe it was a factor towards those massive injury tolls during the Rennie/Cooper era?) which contributed to leg injuries. think they've since done work to make the ground firmer.
Everything in Waikato is built on a boggy swamp. The original “oval” has been there for a very long time. Probably from the days of being NZs first farm school.
Looks mint to me
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@Machpants said in Crusaders v Chiefs:
@Canes4life well the crusaders look pretty fucking impressive to
That they do. Should be a cracker.
