Chiefs 2023
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@cliff said in Chiefs 2023:
@Bovidae perhaps most of them will be playing against the blues A in the curtain raiser before the main game
I didn't realise there was another Dev match, as the Chiefs don't publicise these games. I might go along earlier then.
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@ploughboy said in Chiefs 2023:
@Bovidae awesome to see wrampling and lord
Yes, it will be interesting to see how they go.
Punivai is another full squad member not involved.
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@Stargazer Chiefs dev 26 - 19 Blues A
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The Chiefs Dev led 14-0 at HT but conceded a late try to make it close in the last minute. Four tries to three in the end.
There was a serious injury to Essendon Tuitupou (I think) at 35 mins in the 1st half so the ref called an early HT break. It looked to be a neck injury as he was taken off the field using the St John buggy. This meant an extra 5 mins was played in the 2nd half. The Blues also lost Cashmore and Plumtree in the 1st half.
The Chiefs dominated in the scrums, Parker got a push-over try, and scored 2 tries from lineout drives. Lord played 50 mins, Wrampling looked solid and was replaced late in the 2nd half after spending 10 mins in the sinbin.
Also, Punivai was training with the main squad.
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All Blacks lock Josh Lord and one-cap midfielder Gideon Wrampling both made successful returns from long-term knee injuries for the Chiefs development side at the weekend, while former All Blacks prop Atu Moli (shoulder) should also be available for his first action of the season, and midfielder Alex Nankivell could be back from his concussion suffered against the Waratahs.
All Blacks midfielder Anton Lienert-Brown is likely to be back in round nine or 10, following his high ankle sprain in the season-opener against the Crusaders.
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After spending the best part of 11 months sidelined by a knee injury, the two-test lock is on the brink of a return for the Chiefs, targeting next Friday night’s clash against the Fijian Drua in Hamilton.
Having got through 40 minutes for the Chiefs Development side against the Blues Development in Hamilton a couple of weeks ago, then 60 minutes of club rugby for Coastal in Taranaki last Saturday, he now just needs to tick off an 80-minute stint this weekend, for either Coastal, or Taumarunui, and will be considered ready for Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan to inject him back into Super footy.
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@Yeetyaah said in Chiefs 2023:
@Bovidae stoked on that. He's built the team so well and they're still young so getting some continuity with the same head coach is great.
When the red and black messiah loses the Bled, Donk will be waiting to take over
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One thing not mentioned in the Chiefs press release is that McMillan will be stepping down as the Māori coach.
Also this is important:
On that note, McMillan admitted he had been in the ear of some of his players who were yet to recommit beyond this year so the team could, like him, put all their energy into the back half of the season. “So making an early commitment is a signal to them that I’m all in. And the direction that myself and the other coaches and leaders, the organisation, are taking the team, if they want to be part of the ride, then they know what it’s going to look like.”
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Not only is Rona uncontracted with the Hamilton-based club, he isn’t even a fulltime injury replacement player, either. In fact, he’s on such a short-term gig that he’s not even guaranteed to be with the team through till the end of the season.
