Chiefs 2021
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@Bovidae I haven't seen a complete list of players, but BOP and Taranaki have posted the names of their U20 playersin the Chiefs U20s wtg.
BOP
Kali Vaipulu
Mason Leaver
Cassius Misa
Jona Mataiciwa
Nikora Broughten
Melino Fotu
Kane O’Connor
Lucas Cashmore
Te Hemara Gardiner Toi
Josh Bartlett
Curtis Palmer
Veveni Lasaqa
Nephi Sanerive
Tama Te Aute
Arana Millar
Bernie Hati
James Porter (Resource Coach)
Scott Joblin (Strength & Conditioning Trainer)Taranaki
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@Stargazer Don't be expecting Waikato to do the same.
A few of the Waikato players I can recognise are Hakaraia Richards-Coxhead, Mason Tupaea and Campbell Robb (all front rowers). Also looks like Te Rama Rueben, who I thought would be BOP. Obviously not.
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https://www.chiefs.co.nz/news-item/gallagher-chiefs-complete-2021-squad-signing-rameka-poihipi.
The Chiefs Rugby Club are pleased to announce Māori All Black Rameka Poihipi will complete the Gallagher Chiefs 2021 squad.
A product of Hamilton Boys' High School, Poihipi will join the Gallagher Chiefs for the upcoming Super Rugby Aotearoa and Trans- Ta$man Competitions. -
What are the Chiefs first choice forwards going to be? Will Moli be available?
Something like:
1 Ross
2 Harris
3 Ta'avao
4 Vaa'i
5 Brown
6 Jacobson
7 Cane
8 Sowakula16 Taukei'aho
17 O'Neill
18 Mafileo
19 Ah Kuoi
20 BoshierDepth will be a bit better than last year due to a better start with injuries and Vaa'i's development?
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If everyone is fit and available I would select:
1 Ross
2 Harris
3 Mafileo
4 Vaa'i
5 Ah Kuoi
6 Jacobson
7 Cane
8 Sowakula16 Taukei'aho
17 Moli
18 Ta'avao
19 Brown
20 BoshierMafileo would be best as the starter if in the 23, and Moli and Ta'avao more suited as the impact props.
Brown might be preferred at 6 with Jacobson at no.8 (Sowakula to the reserves). I don't think Boshier should start with Cane based on the options for no.8.McMillan will have his own ideas so it's hard to know at this stage.
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Some points of interest:
The Chiefs are reverting to co-captains this season and an announcement on the new skipper is due next week. Weber, Lienert-Brown and 14-test prop Angus Ta’avao, who has captained Taranaki and Auckland in the Mitre 10 Cup, are among those in contention but Chiefs assistant coach David Hill confirmed they were still deciding.
Hill also indicated the Chiefs would be changing the way they play but wouldn’t specify how, saying “I can't give you all the secrets” with a grin, but said McMillan has particularly highlighted the need to tweak their defensive systems.
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Placeholder who shouldn't be starting, and, if I were honest, should take the money overseas and turn out for Fiji. He's a fantastic athlete (originally a Basketballer) and does a reasonable job for us at this level, but he won't be an AB.
Further, IMO Jacobson is a better 8, is younger, and has a bigger future. Sowakula off the bench would be my preferred way of using him, but perhaps Jacobson 6, Cane 7, and Sowakula at 8 will be needed - especially if we have to run out a short and light second row again (i.e., basically running out five loose forwards).
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Agree with @gt12
Sowakula has the physical attributes (big, fast) but hasn't shown any consistency yet. His biggest issue is ball control, often losing the ball in contact. Watch the start of the Moana Pasifika-Maori game as an example.
The Chiefs have selected two young no.8s in the squad (Parker, K Boshier) but neither are ready yet.
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@Bovidae said in Chiefs 2021:
Agree with @gt12
Sowakula has the physical attributes (big, fast) but hasn't shown any consistency yet. His biggest issue is ball control, often losing the ball in contact. Watch the start of the Moana Pasifika-Maori game as an example.
The Chiefs have selected two young no.8s in the squad (Parker, K Boshier) but neither are ready yet.
He does have a bit Shield's disease (i.e., tits for hands).
I didn't realize that he was also converted winger, which might be another reason why he isn't as comfortable with his handling in traffic.If we had a few better pieces around the forward pack (e.g. one more quality prop, BBBR back), I could see PGS as a really valuable role player, which will had plenty of 10 years ago when we were a Championship side.
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Sky have replayed the 2012 and 2013 SR finals over recent months so I recorded both. I watched the 2012 final last week and the likes of Kane Thompson were very important pieces of that team. But that side was based around no-name players plucked from the regions.
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Bay dreams
