Chiefs 2025

[Mr Fish]

@Bovidae said in Chiefs 2025:

The teams for each half have been named. It's good to see some players return from injury and the ABs.

Corey Flynn  /  Feb 5

All Blacks group set for game time in second pre-season clash  - Chiefs

Damian McKenzie, Cortez Ratima and Tupou Vaa’i are among the Gallagher Chiefs’ All Blacks representatives set to see game time in the club’s second and final pre-season match against Moana […]

Tupaea on the wing and Mataele at centre for the second half seems a unusual choice.

[Bovidae]

Ha! The graphic is correct, so Tupaea and ALB in the midfield.

[Bovidae]

I look forward to crayfish at the game.

Corey Flynn  /  Feb 6

Chiefs Rugby Club welcome Ngāti Porou East Coast Rugby Union as provincial affiliate  - Chiefs

Following approval from New Zealand Rugby and an agreement being reached with the Hurricanes, the Chiefs Rugby Club are honoured to welcome Ngāti Porou East Coast Rugby Union into its […]

[Yeetyaah]

@Bovidae can't say I was expecting another provincial defector but I'll take it.

[Nepia]

Sheesh, even the coast beat us to defecting from the Horror-canes,

[Machpants]

At least, unlike Taranaki, they have been part of a SR title winning franchise

[Daffy Jaffy]

Audio interview with CMcM-

ZB

'We showed some good signs': Chiefs braced for 2025 Super Rugby season

The Chiefs are feeling hopeful ahead of the 2025 Super Rugby season.

[Bovidae]

ENS, Dyer, McAlister and Ross were all rested against MP with minor niggles.

TTT's shoulder injury is not season-ending but he will be out for a while. Trask didn't play as his partner had a baby. He hasn't played any pre-season games so I doubt he makes the 23 for Rd 1.

[Bovidae]

I hope there is a return fixture next month.

Salabiau is back. No Poihipi or M Wrampling. A lot of U20 players on the bench.

[African Monkey]

@Bovidae said in Chiefs 2025:

I hope there is a return fixture next month.

Salabiau is back. No Poihipi or M Wrampling. A lot of U20 players on the bench.

That's a very experienced B team.

[Daffy Jaffy]

@African-Monkey Final score Blues A 26-27 Chiefs A

[Bovidae]

@Daffy-Jaffy Did you go to the game?

The Chiefs had an 18 yr old halfback starting and a 19 yr old on the bench. They will be the Chiefs U20s halfbacks.

[Daffy Jaffy]

@Bovidae No sorry. Info from Blues Instagram.
Steven Harris was at the game. He posted a report on the Blues thread.

[gt12]

Very pleasant first game. I’m pretty surprised that the starters kept it that close and we could get the ABs to finish it that strongly, so hats off to Donk for the selections.

What to do next week?

[Bovidae]

I certainly hope that McAlister is fit, as starting with Slater and him having to play big minutes makes me nervous.

It was interesting to hear McMillan say that he didn't want to play DMac but injuries meant he had to.

I think there may be some minor rotation with the Brumbies the following week in a tough opening 5 game schedule. I'm sure there will be plenty of sore bodies from both teams.

[Bovidae]

McMillan has done well to give almost all of the available players some playing time across the first two games. Of the fit players, only Ahio and Tupou haven't featured yet. Injuries to Jacobson and Poihipi will mean more changes for the Brumbies game, and I think some players will be rested for the Drua game in Fiji.

We wait to hear the extent of Poihipi's injury.

[Mr Fish]

Been quite impressed with Xavier Roe in his first two games this year.

He's not the quickest passer but his running and kicking games and decision making have always been his strengths. He's typically been good for at least two or three dopey errors per game - knocking the ball on at the base of the ruck and the like, but haven't really seen those errors (so far) this year, and his tactical kicking has been excellent. The one-two punch with Cortez Ratima has been working so far and provided Roe can keep pinning opposition teams back, I think bringing Ratima off the bench is a strategy that McMillan should stick with for the near future.

[Bovidae]

From a Stuff article:

Jacobson - passed the HIA2 and HIA3 tests but does have a broken nose
Poihipi - had scans on his knee yesterday and awaiting full results

[Bovidae]

The worst news for Poihipi.

[ploughboy]

New Munster head coach all but confirmed

Munster look to be close to appointing their next boss after bookies suspended the market following a flurry of bets on Clayton McMillan...