Chiefs v Crusaders (Suva)
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BNZ Crusaders team to play the Chiefs
The BNZ Crusaders will play the Chiefs in Suva, Fiji this Friday night. Head Coach Scott Robertson has made just two changes to the team that beat the Hurricanes last week.
Captain Sam Whitelock returns at lock, replacing the injured Scott Barrett, and halfbacks Mitchell Drummond and Bryn Hall rotate so that Hall takes the starting spot this week.
The sight of Fijian-born uncle and nephew, Seta Tamanivalu and Manasa Mataele, storming down the wing will no doubt be something that the local fans are looking forward to. Kick-off at Suva's International Stadium is at 7:35pm this Friday night.
CRUSADERS team to play the Chiefs:
1 Joe Moody, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Owen Franks, 4. Luke Romano, 5. Sam Whitelock (C), 6. Pete Samu, 7. Matt Todd (VC), 8. Jordan Taufua
9 Bryn Hall, 10. Richie Mo'unga, 11. George Bridge, 12. Ryan Crotty (VC), 13. Jack Goodhue, 14. Seta Tamanivalu, 15. David HaviliRESERVES
16 Ben Funnell, 17. Wyatt Crockett, 18. Michael Alaalatoa, 19. Quinten Strange, 20. Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, 21. Mitchell Drummond, 22. Mitchell Hunt, 23. Manasa MataeleLooks like good news for Todd: he's in the line-up, so no concussion.
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Gallagher Chiefs team named to play the BNZ Crusaders in tropical contest
The balmy climate of Suva, Fiji is an apt venue for this Friday evenings Round 13 Investec Super Rugby fixture between the Gallagher Chiefs and the BNZ Crusaders. It was at the same ANZ Stadium in Suva that these top two-placed New Zealand teams last met, with the Gallagher Chiefs fending off their southern foes 23-13 in a spirited contest in July 2016.
Gallagher Chiefs head coach Dave Rennie has named a formidable line-up to face the Crusaders for the first time this season. It features five changes to the starting fifteen that defeated the Reds 46-17 in New Plymouth in Round 11.
There’s just one change in the forwards with Nathan Harris making his first start of the year at hooker. 25-year-old Harris, who re-signed this week with the Gallagher Chiefs until 2019, made a welcome return to Super Rugby two weeks ago following a long injury layoff.
There are four changes to the backs with co-captain Aaron Cruden returning to start at first five-eighth. Anton Lienert-Brown, who also re-signed with the Chiefs this week, moves to second five-eighth from centre. Sam McNicol is promoted from the bench to start in jersey 13 and Tim Nanai-Williams has fully recovered from a shoulder injury sustained against the Hurricanes in Round 3 to start on the right wing.
The Gallagher Chiefs team to play the BNZ Crusaders at 7.35pm this Friday 19 May is:
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Kane Hames (18)
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Nathan Harris (24)
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Nepo Laulala (7)
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Dominic Bird (21)
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Brodie Retallick (80)
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Mitchell Brown (10)
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Sam Cane (co-captain) (89)
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Michael Leitch (30)
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Tawera Kerr-Barlow (76)
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Aaron Cruden (co-captain) (82)
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James Lowe (46)
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Anton Lienert-Brown (34)
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Sam McNicol (16)
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Tim Nanai-Williams
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Damian McKenzie (43)
RESERVES:
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Hika Elliot (114)
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Siegfried Fisi’ihoi (20)
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Atu Moli (20)
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Taleni Seu (27)
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Liam Messam (155)
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Jonathan Taumateine (4)
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Stephen Donald (98)
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Shaun Stevenson (17)
() = Gallagher Chiefs caps in brackets
Unavailable for selection: Brad Weber, Mitchell Graham, Glen Fisiiahi, Liam Polwart, Toni Pulu and Charlie Ngatai.
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More on Dagg and Todd:
Fullback/wing Israel Dagg, who played 40 minutes of club rugby last weekend to test the knee he injured against the Reds on March 11, travelled to Fiji but wasn't named in the match-day 23. Robertson said he wanted to give the All Black more exposure to trainings, allowing him to work on combinations after such a lengthy lay-off. This means Dagg will be hoping to play the Rebels and Highlanders, giving him the chance to impress the national selectors ahead of the test series against the British and Irish Lions. Openside flanker Matt Todd, who left the field last weekend because of concussion, will be monitored to ensure he is fully recovered and he has shown no ill-effects from the head knock. -
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that is not good at all!
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RS interviewed Rennie and they asked him and apparently after training Monday he said he had a headache so they made the decision to leave him behind then, whats worse is they reviewed game footage and could not find any sign of a knock
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@taniwharugby Plus they had a bye last weekend, so if Rennie means this Monday that's more than a week after the game.
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@taniwharugby said in Chiefs v Crusaders (Suva):
RS interviewed Rennie and they asked him and apparently after training Monday he said he had a headache so they made the decision to leave him behind then, whats worse is they reviewed game footage and could not find any sign of a knock
Same issue with Dane's headaches. I guess they can only trust in the protocols.
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@KiwiMurph he did, as he said they were flying out the following day so had to make the decision then to leave him
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This, and Coles' issue could well be over cautiousness and playing safely.
FFS I can get a headache after doing something but it doesn't mean I have a head injury.
Combine a headache with a known previous concussion and you play it carefully just in case they are related.
They had to make a call on taking him and decided is was less disruptive to preparation if they didn't have the possibility of a late withdrawal. Fair call and I don't think it warrants people without the inside knowledge of the situation making judgement calls on his playing future -
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@Stargazer said in Chiefs v Crusaders (Suva):
@Crucial Who is making judgement calls in this thread?
Openly wondering if he should be playing rugby at all?
Certainly heading down that path.
Apologies if that wasn't your intention but that's how it reads to me.
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