Sunwolves v Chiefs

[Stargazer]

@Duluth

[Stargazer]

Chiefs

1 Aidan Ross (27)
2 Bradley Slater (4)
3 Atu Moli (40)
4 Tyler Ardron (28)
5 Michael Allardice (42)
6 Adam Thomson*
7 Lachlan Boshier (46)
8 Dylan Nel**
9 Brad Weber (74)
10 Kaleb Trask (1)
11 Solomon Alaimalo (40)
12 Alex Nankivell (24)
13 Quinn Tupaea (2)
14 Shaun Stevenson (45)
15 Damian McKenzie (73)

Reserves:
16 Samisoni Taukei’aho (24)
17 Ross Geldenhuys (1)
18 Reuben O’Neill**
19 Naitoa Ah Kuoi (2)
20 Mitchell Brown (35)
21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (34)
22 Tiaan Falcon (3)
23 Orbyn Leger (2)

() = Gallagher Chiefs caps in brackets
*denotes Gallagher Chiefs debut
**denotes Investec Super Rugby debut

Unavailable for selection:
Angus Ta’avao (knee), Laghlan McWhannell (knee), Luke Jacobson, Nathan Harris (shoulder), Nepo Laulala (knee) and Tumua Manu (shoulder).

https://www.chiefs.co.nz/news-item/Gallagher-Chiefs-ready-to-face-Sunwolves

[Duluth]

Sunwolves
James Dargaville, Siosaia Fifita, Keisuke Moriya (co-c), Ben Te’o, Tautalatasi Tasi, Garth April, Naoto Saito, Jake Schatz (co-c), Mitch Jacobson, Shunsuke Nunomaki, Kotaro Yatabe, Michael Stolberg, Conraad van Vuuren, Jaba Bregvadze, Jarred Adams

Reserves: Efi Ma’afu, Chris Eves, Hencus van Wyk, Justin Downey, Tevita Tupou, Takahiro Kimura, Shogo Nakano, JJ Engelbrecht

[Stargazer]

I don't know whether anyone has noticed, but the Sunwolves keep on adding players to their squad. There are currently 46 players on their squad page. It wouldn't surprise me if they'll have over 50 players by the end of the season again. Last year, the preparation of the RWC was their excuse. Not sure what it is now.

[Machpants]

Honestly no one gives a fuck as they are gone next year!

SANZAAR are all, like

Shut the door and turn off the lights as you leave

[Yeetyaah]

Thomson at 6. Can't wait to see him debut for the Chiefs.

[Jingisukan]

Seems harsh on Sowakula who has hardly got a look in this year so far.

[Crucial]

@Jingisukan said in Sunwolves v Chiefs:

Seems harsh on Sowakula who has hardly got a look in this year so far.

Gatland has been very clear that he has targeted certain early games to get the whole squad some playing time. Sowakula has had good minutes to show up as an impact forward and has done well. He is certainly in the mix for the season

[cgrant]

Boshier has been very good as a blindside flanker so far but openside is his best position IMO. Who will play where when Jacobson comes back ?

[Machpants]

Reasonably competitive so far, 12-7 chiefs at 20 mins

[Duluth]

It probably won’t matter but there’s been a lot of missed tackles by the Chiefs. Currently tackling at 79%

[Machpants]

Nice run by DMac

[Crucial]

@Duluth said in Sunwolves v Chiefs:

It probably won’t matter but there’s been a lot of missed tackles by the Chiefs. Currently tackling at 79%

They seem to need a while to bed in Gats system. This is a fresh centre combo under the new system. They will fix as the game goes on

[Crazy Horse]

Chiefs have mastered the art of fooling the refs into thinking they are supporting their own bodyweight at the ruck.

[gt12]

Anyone who happens to have a link to this game, please pm me.

My usual alternative has stopped working as Nord VPN no longer supports access to RP.

[Crucial]

@Crazy-Horse said in Sunwolves v Chiefs:

Chiefs have mastered the art of fooling the refs into thinking they are supporting their own bodyweight at the ruck.

To be fair every team has been getting away with that so far this season. Refs seem to be lenient on it.

[Crucial]

SANZAR have screwed the pooch regarding the Sunwolves. Packed stadium in the fastest growing country rugby wise and they are getting ditched

[Tim]

Any scrums so far?

[Crazy Horse]

@Crucial and good on the Chiefs for exploiting it well.

[Yeetyaah]

@Crucial but then they don't develop their own players and become a super rugby barbarians team. I agree that the crowd and atmosphere is good but they need Japanese players and because they have the top league, there's really no point.