Chiefs 2021

[Bovidae]

None of those figures look to be locks based on their relative heights. Tall players to the back!

[Yeetyaah]

This post is deleted!

[Yeetyaah]

https://www.chiefs.co.nz/team

Looking at the link which provides the photos. The five in the middle from left to right are: Luke Jacobson, Brad Weber, Sam Cane, Aaron Cruden, Damian McKenzie.

In between Weber and Cane is Ardron, probably nothing to look into and they're just using the silhouettes for effect.

[ARHS]

Yeehah - Darth Vader is the new Number 8 - standing at the back

[Bovidae]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/123578519/he-found-out-after-i-did-bryn-gatlands-chiefs-offer-kept-secret-from-dad

[Bovidae]

Reading this article I assume the Hurricanes were one of the other teams that made an offer to Gatland.

[Bones]

How good. Head coach has no idea what's going on with his roster.

[Yeetyaah]

https://www.chiefs.co.nz/news-item/2021-gallagher-chiefs-squad-announced?mc_cid=f4f9ba32b4&mc_eid=1e9a925fe3

2021 Gallagher Chiefs Squad:
Hookers:
Nathan Harris (Bay of Plenty, 58)
Bradley Slater (Taranaki, 15)
Samisoni Taukei’aho (Waikato, 36)

Props:
Sione Mafileo (North Harbour, * )
Atunaisa Moli ( Ta$man, 43)
Ollie Norris (Waikato, 4)
Reuben O’Neill (Taranaki, 10)
Aidan Ross (Bay of Plenty, 36)
Angus Ta’avao (Auckland, 35)

Locks:
Naitoa Ah Kuoi (Wellington, 12)
Josh Lord (Taranaki, * )
Laghlan McWhannell (Waikato, * )
Tupou Vaa’i (Taranaki, 7)

Loose Forwards:
Kaylum Boshier (Taranaki, * )
Lachlan Boshier (Taranaki, 56)
Mitchell Brown (Taranaki, 45)
Sam Cane (Bay of Plenty, 122)
Pita Gus Sowakula (Taranaki, 28)
Luke Jacobson (Waikato, 25)
Mitchell Karpik (Bay of Plenty, 29)
Simon Parker (Waikato, 1)

Halfbacks:
Xavier Roe (Waikato, * )
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (Bay of Plenty, 38)
Brad Weber (Hawke’s Bay, 85)

First five-eighths:
Bryn Gatland (North Harbour, * )
Rivez Reihana (Waikato* )
Kaleb Trask (Bay of Plenty, 9)

Midfielders:
Anton Lienert-Brown (Waikato, 81)
Alex Nankivell ( Ta$man, 32)
Bailyn Sullivan (Waikato, 4)
Quinn Tupaea (Waikato, 12)

Outside backs:
Jonah Lowe (Hawke’s Bay, * )
Damian McKenzie (Waikato, 84)
Etene Nanai-Seturo (Counties Manukau, 14)
Shaun Stevenson (North Harbour, 52)
Chase Tiatia (Bay of Plenty, 1)
Sean Wainui (Taranaki, 38)

Brackets denote players’ provincial union and Gallagher Chiefs caps.

• denotes a player that is yet to debut for the Gallagher Chiefs
  Bolded players denotes a rookie, those who have signed their first full-time Sky Super Rugby contract.

One player is still to be named to complete the 38-man 2021 Gallagher Chiefs squad

[Yeetyaah]

My only gripe is Chase Tiatia. Pretty stoked on Jonah Lowe as a signing.

[Bovidae]

I wasn't far off with my squad prediction but didn't expect Kaylum Boshier in the forwards.

Moli back to being a TH. That would be the youngest locking group in SR.

Happy that the Chiefs have largely recruited within the region.

[Yeetyaah]

@Bovidae yeah McWhannell being the oldest at like 22 I think?

[Bovidae]

@Yeetyaah said in Chiefs 2021:

My only gripe is Chase Tiatia.

This will be a McMillan signing.

Pretty stoked on Jonah Lowe as a signing.

I expect he will get more chances than he did at the Canes.

[Yeetyaah]

@Bovidae also isn't Lowe more of a midfielder?

[Bovidae]

@Yeetyaah said in Chiefs 2021:

@Bovidae also isn't Lowe more of a midfielder?

He can play both, but then so can Wainui.

[mikey07]

Woohoo Tiatia is gone from the Canes I wonder if he didn’t get offered a new contract as I thought he was seen by the coaching staff as something special. It’s going to be weird seeing Lowe in a chiefs jersey saying that it’s not like he got a lot of opportunities in the Canes jersey

[Bovidae]

Comparing to the 2020 squad:

Norris replaces Coxon.
Boshier and Parker for Nel and a lock.
Leger, McNicol and Naholo miss out in the backs.

[Yeetyaah]

Also no Fletcher Smith is a bit of a gripe for me, but in saying that, I have a soft spot for Rivez Reihana so I'm not too bothered, I just hope another team has picked him up.

[Yeetyaah]

@Bovidae forgot about Naholo. Not worried about any of those guys being replaced.

[Bovidae]

@Yeetyaah said in Chiefs 2021:

@Bovidae yeah McWhannell being the oldest at like 22 I think?

Yes. Hopefully McWhannell stays fit because I rate him as a lock. He might be the best option to start with Vaa'i.

It was always going to be Smith or Reihana once Gatland was signed.

[Bovidae]

@Yeetyaah said in Chiefs 2021:

One player is still to be named to complete the 38-man 2021 Gallagher Chiefs squad

Kept open for BBBR I think.