Chiefs v Rebels
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McMillan has commented that there will be some rotation due to tiredness and to provide opportunities for others.
I am not expecting too many changes as the Rebels look to be a handy team. Obviously Vaa'i is out so they can use this time as part of his AB break. It sounds like BBBR would have been rested but I doubt that happens now. Selby-Rickit is due a game so I think he'll start and McWhannell or Ah Kuoi will be on the bench. Maybe Thompson is back in place of Slater. Boshier to be in the 23?
In the backs, Ioane or Gatland at 1st 5 if Stevenson/Dmac are rested. Malimali hasn't played yet either. We'll see.
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More changes than I expected.
The team is (Chiefs caps in brackets):
1 Aidan Ross (63)
2 Tyrone Thompson (6)
3 John Ryan (3)
4 Naitoa Ah Kuoi (36)
5 Manaaki Selby-Rickit (Debut)
6 Samipeni Finau (20)
7 Luke Jacobson (52) (Captain, 139)
8 Pita Gus Sowakula (56)
9 Cortez Ratima (12)
10 Bryn Gatland (49)
11 Etene Nanai-Seturo (31)
12 Rameka Poihipi (17)
13 Alex Nankivell (61)
14 Emoni Narawa (9)
15 Shaun Stevenson (70)Reserves:
16 Samisoni Taukei’aho (66)
17 Ollie Norris (31)
18 George Dyer (10)
19 Laghlan McWhannell (4)
20 Kaylum Boshier (13)
21 Te Toiroa Tahurioangi (38)
22 Josh Ioane (10)
23 Peniasi Malimali (Debut)Players not considered because of injury: Angus Ta’avao (season), Atu Moli, Josh Lord, Quinn Tupaea, Anton Lienert-Brown, Tupou Vaa’i.
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Matt Gibbon, Alex Mafi, Sam Talakai, Tuaina Taii Tualima, Trevor Hosea, Josh Kemeny, Brad Wilkin (c), Richard Hardwick, Ryan Louwrens, Carter Gordon, Monty Ioane, Stacey Ili, Reece Hodge, Lachie Anderson, Nick Jooste
Reserves: Anaru Rangi, Cabous Eloff, Pone Fa’amausili, Vaiolini Ekuasi, Angelo Smith, James Tuttle, David Feliuai, Lukas Ripley
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Rebels media release:
Rugby Victoria | News | Fixtures & Results
Rugby Victoria is a member and founding union of Rugby Australia. It is the governing body Rugby Union in Victoria.
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@gt12 said in Chiefs v Rebels:
Yikes, the Rebels are a not a bad team, this looks like a banana skin or we'll find out if we have real depth. I'd be pissed to lose this after the games so far.
I can't see the Rebels beating a New Zealand team other than the Highlanders.
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i never like a coaching decision where on the same week you rest 4 high profile players, and move one to the bench, all 5 of which are probably in your top 6 in player of the year voting.
But there are some positives.
Finau and Ah Kuoi have at least been playing, so has Ratima
ST is on the bench to help, as is Ioane who has so far done well.
11-15 are intact -
I am surprised to see all the ABs apart from Taukei’aho sit out this game, rather than rest a few and play a few. He'll probably miss the NSW game next week to be ready for the Blues the following round.
And, yes, it was a very close game in Melbourne last year which required a Norris try on FT to win it.
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I was going to head over for this from cricket, but am gutted that DMac and Webber are not playing, so will not. I wonder if others will feel the same. I expected 2 of the AB forwards, maybe 3, to be rested. But resting these two from outside the AB's group with 6 AB's injured and unavailable and 3 others rested from the 23 is a bit gutting. So, do AB protocols apply to Weber and DMac?
i.e. is this set up around the expected squad this year, or is it based on workload at end of last season?
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@ARHS I assume they were either going to rest them for this game or the next (away to NSW) so everyone is available for the Blues game. The bye is the following week in Rd 7. Weber and Retallick have been back in the Hawke's Bay. So was Thompson, who is starting.
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Ah Kuoi to lock, so MSR for me becomes target for 90% which he will handle with ease if thrown straight.
Not too concerned about the resting or line up and quite confident actually about this game
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@bayimports said in Chiefs v Rebels:
Ah Kuoi to lock, so MSR for me becomes target for 90% which he will handle with ease if thrown straight.
Not too concerned about the resting or line up and quite confident actually about this game
Ah Kuoi is a good lineout operator. Hope the Rebels think they way you do and mark up on MSR
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@Crucial said in Chiefs v Rebels:
@bayimports said in Chiefs v Rebels:
Ah Kuoi to lock, so MSR for me becomes target for 90% which he will handle with ease if thrown straight.
Not too concerned about the resting or line up and quite confident actually about this game
Ah Kuoi is a good lineout operator. Hope the Rebels think they way you do and mark up on MSR
wooo.. lol .. I honestly think MSR is better than a lot rate him, mark him up bro, I don't think it will make a difference. He might fail peoples favourite person criteria but as a lock it will take a lot to stop him. I am going to assume he is fit it will be Laghlan McWhannell and him to finish which is going to be a very strong combo. (probably a starting line up elsewhere).
Not saying that Finau or Ah Kuoi aren't options just believe if he is intended target and throw is straight he will nail it. Famous last words obviously ..
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@cgrant said in Chiefs v Rebels:
The Chiefs options at lock are ridiculous : BBBR, Vai'i, MSR, McWhannell, Lord (when back from injury), Finau, Ah Kuoi. They could have given a few to the Blues ...
Yep give them James Tucker for pete's sake.
