Hurricanes v Chiefs

No Quarter

The way Jordie is playing this year reminds me of his debut for the ABs against the Lions where he was one of the best on the park. He's always had the ability but probably wasn't ready for the rigors of test rugby week in week out, coupled with being scrutinised in the fish bowl atmosphere in NZ.

I'm not convinced the AB coaches managed him particularly well. Kind of the opposite of Akira where they kept throwing him in despite his confidence being down.

So awesome to see him maturing into a world class 15. It adds so much depth to our backline. With his experience on the wing chucking him and Beauden in the back 3 with Mo'unga at 10 gives us play making options all over the park.

Chris B.

@pukunui said in Hurricanes v Chiefs:

Heard the commentators mention that Dmac hasn’t scored a try in RUgby Aotearoa. So out of form it’s not funny. Will still get selected for the AB’s though.

I guess it depends a bit on the squad size - and whether they're going to persist with Beauden as a second play-maker at fullback (I think they will) - but I'm not sure how they fit him in unless they pick a very big squad.

If you've got Beauden, Jordie and Will Jordan as fullback options, I'm not sure you need a fourth fullback - and if you do, David Havili was playing good rugby before his injury. Would be a travesty if they picked DMac ahead of Jordan.

Maybe the large amount of utility value among our backs will leave a place for him?

pukunui

@Chris-B said in Hurricanes v Chiefs:

@pukunui said in Hurricanes v Chiefs:

Heard the commentators mention that Dmac hasn’t scored a try in RUgby Aotearoa. So out of form it’s not funny. Will still get selected for the AB’s though.

I guess it depends a bit on the squad size - and whether they're going to persist with Beauden as a second play-maker at fullback (I think they will) - but I'm not sure how they fit him in unless they pick a very big squad.

If you've got Beauden, Jordie and Will Jordan as fullback options, I'm not sure you need a fourth fullback - and if you do, David Havili was playing good rugby before his injury. Would be a travesty if they picked DMac ahead of Jordan.

Maybe the large amount of utility value among our backs will leave a place for him?

Totally agree and I wouldn’t select him if it was me choosing the team. But the selectors leaving him out would surprise me more than if they picked him.

Yeetyaah

Sam Cane given all clear after neck injury scare against the Hurricanes

Concern for Cane stems from the neck fracture he suffered in South Africa playing for the All Blacks that almost ended his career two years ago.

Cane is fine

Frank

Winner of Worst NZ Super Rugby Coach of all time:
Warren Gatland.

Honorable Mentions:
Tana Umaga
Mark Hammett

nzzp

@Frank jk?

Crucial

@nzzp said in Hurricanes v Chiefs:

@Frank jk?

Jed Rowlands?

Whoever else you add, Gatland has arrived back and quickly claimed the mantle.
He hasn't simply failed to revive an ill patient, he has taken a healthy one and sent them to intensive care.

Frank

@Crucial said in Hurricanes v Chiefs:

@nzzp said in Hurricanes v Chiefs:

@Frank jk?

Jed Rowlands?

Whoever else you add, Gatland has arrived back and quickly claimed the mantle.
He hasn't simply failed to revive an ill patient, he has taken a healthy one and sent them to intensive care.

Even ALB has lost form.
That takes some doing.

Duluth

@nzzp said in Hurricanes v Chiefs:

@Frank jk?

Bad but not as bad as Umaga

Also, this Gatland 8-0 is against NZ teams only. Umaga finished with a record of 1 win from 20 against NZ sides

That win was the first match. 19 games in a row with no win. There was a draw in the middle though

Gatland is about halfway to matching Umaga

So happy we got MacDonald after the Kirwan/Umaga disasters

Winger

@Duluth said in Hurricanes v Chiefs:

@nzzp said in Hurricanes v Chiefs:

@Frank jk?

Bad but not as bad as Umaga

Also, this Gatland 8-0 is against NZ teams only. Umaga finished with a record of 1 win from 20 against NZ sides

That win was the first match. 19 games in a row with no win. There was a draw in the middle though

Gatland is about halfway to matching Umaga

So happy we got MacDonald after the Kirwan/Umaga disasters

And the Chiefs did beat the Crusaders this year. And thrashed the Waratahs. But forward injuries seemed to knock them for a 6. And they never had the luxury of playing 2nd rate non NZ teams to get the winning feeling back