Chiefs squad
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Unco" data-cid="553455" data-time="1453268466">
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<p>News to me that KiwiMurph and Smudge are Chiefs fans. Your Waikato jerseys are in the mail!</p>
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<p>Excellent. We're always in need of firestarters down here. </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Smudge" data-cid="553459" data-time="1453269554">
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<p>Excellent. We're always in need of firestarters down here. </p>
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<p>Yes I've worn a Blues jersey around during the Kirwan years - clearly i'll wear anything.....</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="553414" data-time="1453259515"><p>I was just reading an article about these injuries to Laulala and Bird. Both were freakish and resulted from players landing on them in different "non-contact" training sessions. It also appears that neither can be replaced at this stage although Rennie thinks that there aren't many options for a ready-made replacement TH prop when you already have the best 15 TH props spread across the 5 NZ teams.</p></blockquote>
Is Hames only a loosehead? -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bones" data-cid="553474" data-time="1453273496">
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<p>Is Hames only a loosehead?</p>
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<p>I think so, but they were keen for Mitchell Graham to play a bit more tighthead, so they could switch him there permanently. They actually have three front rowers (at least) who can play either side of the scrum, so they have the versatility to bring in a loosehead like Hames if they want to.</p>
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<p>As I see it:</p>
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<p>Loosehead:</p>
<p>Pauliasi Manu</p>
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<p>Tighthead:</p>
<p>Nepo Laulala (injured)</p>
<p>Siate Tokolahi</p>
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<p>Either side:</p>
<p>Mitchell Graham</p>
<p>Atu Moli</p>
<p>Siegfried Fisiihoi</p> -
<p>Bit of a change in topic, but a mate of mine is a close family relation of Wayne Smith.</p>
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<p>Spent Christmas up in Hamilton with the family and had a few discussions with Smithy about the makeup of the Chiefs.</p>
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<p>There was a bit of a disagreement between Smith and Rennie over where they should play Damien MacKenzie.</p>
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<p>Smithy reckons he is a natural 10, but Rennie is going to play him at 15 this year. Apparently Smithy was not that happy they signed Beaver as backup 10.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Hooroo" data-cid="553650" data-time="1453332066">
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<p>I'm glad to hear that they don't all think alike and have difference of opinion. Maybe that difference is whaat halped The Chiefs get their couple of titles.</p>
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<p>you could almost call it a dynasty :)</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="553656" data-time="1453332807">
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<p>you could almost call it a dynasty :)</p>
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<p>nah that's wanky, we would never do that</p> -
<p>According to the Kobelco Steelers' website, the Chiefs have signed their 30 year old prop Hiroshi Yamashita for the 2016 Super Rugby season. After that, he will return to Kobelco Steelers. He was part of Japan's RWC squad.</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.kobelcosteelers.com/news/information/2016/02/post-205.html'>http://www.kobelcosteelers.com/news/information/2016/02/post-205.html</a></p> -
<p>so there were no NZ props to come into the Chiefs squad?</p>
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<p>Slippery slope?</p> -
<p>I guess if the view is he is to be a starting prop, then I can understand, but if he is more a squad prop, then I think it isn't that good for NZ Rugby and the next wave of players coming through.</p>
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<p>That is a very slippery slope if that is the case, which I don't believe it is given there are still restrictions on numbers of non-AB eligible players aren't there?</p>
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<p>I thought the franchises were still bound to the NZRU and as such the success, viability and development of NZ Rugby</p>
