Chiefs v Drua

[ARHS]

@ploughboy yes agreed. Just want someone to share the workload so hope Moli back soon and maybe Taavao before finals?

[Bovidae]

https://www.chiefs.co.nz/news-item/gallagher-chiefs-inject-fresh-talent-for-clash-against-the-fijian-drua

Gallagher Chiefs team to face the Fijian Drua:

1 Ollie Norris (35)
2 Samisoni Taukei'aho (70)
3 John Ryan (7)
4 Brodie Retallick (Captain, 121)
5 Manaaki Selby-Rickit (2)
6 Samipeni Finau (24)
7 Kaylum Boshier (15)
8 Pita Gus Sowakula (60)
9 Cortez Ratima (16)
10 Bryn Gatland (28)
11 Etene Nanai-Seturo (35)
12 Rameka Poihipi (21)
13 Daniel Rona (4)
14 Shaun Stevenson (74)
15 Damian McKenzie (102)

Reserves:
16 Tyrone Thompson (8)
17 Jared Proffit (1)
18 Solomone Tukuafu (1)
19 Josh Lord (15)
20 Tupou Vaa'i (36)
21 Simon Parker (4)
22 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (39)
23 Gideon Wrampling (1)

Players not considered due to injury: Angus Ta'avao, Anton Lienert-Brown, Quinn Tupaea, Xavier Roe (season), Alex Nankivell, Sam Cane, Luke Jacobson

[Bovidae]

The fact that Tukuafu is in the reserves tells us that Moli isn't fit to play. A 6:2 bench.

[ARHS]

@Bovidae Nice to see both Wrampling and Lord back.

[Stargazer]

Glad to see Thompson on the bench. Of course I have a black & white eye patch on, but I think he has a much higher ceiling than Slater, so the more game time he gets, the better.

[Stargazer]

POTENTIAL DEBUT FOR KALIONE NASOKO | Fijian Drua

First Super Rugby Pacific start for Naitokani as Drua gets ready for Chiefs in Hamilton

[chimoaus]

@Bovidae What injuries to Cane and Jacobsen have?

[taniwharugby]

@chimoaus concussion

Apr 18, 2023  /  Sport

Rugby: All Blacks captain Sam Cane sidelined by concussion suffered during Chiefs' Super Rugby Pacific win over Hurricanes | Newshub

The openside flanker already has a worrying history of head injuries.

[Bovidae]

I think more precautionary. Cane self-reported his head knock and left the field in the Hurricanes game.

[Bones]

@Crazy-Horse said in Chiefs v Drua:

If Lord plays I am looking forward to seeing how he goes. Prior to his injury I thought he appeared like he was somewhat bigger than when he played for the ABs and he was winning his fair share of contact situations.

Yeah the way he was playing is very similar to Retallick eh. Does remind me a bit of Jones the way he runs though.

[ploughboy]

@Bovidae said in Chiefs v Drua:

The fact that Tukuafu is in the reserves tells us that Moli isn't fit to play. A 6:2 bench.

hopefully that means hes playing club rugby this weekend

[Yeahtheboys]

Chiefs have picked a pretty boring team

Will be a lot of kicking and mauling

Hope Dmac shift to 15 is to open him up this week but garland at 10 and a 6-2 bench split just screams kicking it all day

[Crucial]

@Yeahtheboys said in Chiefs v Drua:

Chiefs have picked a pretty boring team

Will be a lot of kicking and mauling

Hope Dmac shift to 15 is to open him up this week but garland at 10 and a 6-2 bench split just screams kicking it all day

Gatland does frustrate me in that he sets deeper but this selection smacks of contingency planning. Can't play DMac at 10 all season then cop an injury just before the finals and not have another practised 10.
DMac needs to be out there though as the senior back. There's no Weber or ALB to keep things in order.
On a positive, we get to see SS at 14 and presumably he will play a second fullback role with DMac often providing second playmaker options. That is a potential AB scenario that has been talked about.
Kicking game will need to be accurate or there will be a lot of ball running from deep by the Drua.

[Stargazer]

Why didn't Poihipi pass to his left?

[Stargazer]

Way too easy. Stevenson in.

[Bones]

@Stargazer said in Chiefs v Drua:

Why didn't Poihipi pass to his left?

You talking about Rona? Or was there another stuff up?

Finau has basically shown everything in 8 minutes. Pace, brutality, workrate.

Gatland making some bizarre decisions. Grubbering for touch from 5 metres out, pretending he can step.

[Stargazer]

@Bones It may have been Rona.

[mikedogz]

A cuple of times Rona has held when he should have passed.

[KiwiMurph]

Entertaining stuff given the conditions

[KiwiMurph]

One rule I find weird.

If Finau had done that in goal it's a 5 metre scrum.