[2017 Super Rugby] Round 13: Chiefs vs. Crusaders (19/05/2017)

[TRF_heineken]

Venue: ANZ National Stadium, Suva​

Time: 09:35 CAT (SA, GMT+2)​

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Now that last week's curtain raiser is done with we can prepare for the real show!

 

[Ground We Won]

Crusaders to win it again. Chiefs seem to have lost momentum. But they have done well vs NZ opposition this season. Another tight arm wrestle which the Crusaders will win in the forwards.

 

[Caitlyn Jenner]

Hope they put on a good spectacle for the Fijians... I strongly suspect that it'll be more free-flowing than last week, unless of course a tropical storm blows in. I'm gonna take a stab and back the Chiefs to take it.... they look to be building back to form after that mid season slump and are almost back to full strength.... the Saders are have had a harder run-in, but nothing seems to be bothering them this season so I won't look much into that.
As I said last week, if weather conditions aren't ideal I'll back the Saders to take it built on their dominance up front, but if it's a beautiful Suva day then my money's on a Chiefs upset.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Chiefs team named, Ngatai has been listed as unavailable, which isn't a great sign.

1. Kane Hames (18)
2. Nathan Harris (24)
3. Nepo Laulala (7)
4. Dominic Bird (21)
5. Brodie Retallick (80)
6. Mitchell Brown (10)
7. Sam Cane (co-captain) (89)
8. Michael Leitch (30)
9. Tawera Kerr-Barlow (76)
10. Aaron Cruden (co-captain) (82)
11. James Lowe (46)
12. Anton Lienert-Brown (34)
13. Sam McNicol (16)
14. Tim Nanai-Williams
15. Damian McKenzie (43)

RESERVES:

16. Hika Elliot (114)
17. Siegfried Fisi'ihoi (20)
18. Atu Moli (20)
19. Taleni Seu (27)
20. Liam Messam (155)
21. Jonathan Taumateine (4)
22. Stephen Donald (98)
23. Shaun Stevenson (17)

 

[Caitlyn Jenner]

Happy to see Nanai-Williams and Harris getting starts. Will also be interesting to see how that midfield combo will go, just a shame about why it has come about... Ngatai suffering concussion symptoms again after his first super rugby game for a year, gotta feel for the guy...

 

[Larksea]

big game for the chiefs back from a bye
again its the game of the season so far given the result of the canes/crusaders game last weekend
few big names back for the chiefs but no Ngatai really hurts... To stay positive I think they are being very cautious with Ngatai and hopefully that works out as a good thing either way it has too. But more serious questions will start being asked.
On recent form I'd much prefer Messam at 8 over Leitch but hopefully Leitch's form has improved.
But so much of the game is going to be about that tight 5, Harris back starting is a good sign too. TNW needs a big return as well.

Crusaders have to be favorites on recent form but the chiefs have only been their best when playing other NZ teams which makes this game fairly unpredictable. Chiefs are off a bye so should be in better shape but it doesn't always work that way.

 

[Caitlyn Jenner]

I'm actually really looking forward to the battle up front, 2 all AB tight-fives going at it will be great to watch. It's a good chance for those Chiefs boys to really put their hands up for ABs selection.

Here's the 'Saders team btw:
Forwards
1. J Moody
2. C Taylor
3. O Franks
4. L Romano
5. SL Whitelock
6. P Samu
7. M Todd
8. J Taufua
Backs
9. B Hall
10. R Mo'unga
11. G Bridge
12. R Crotty
13. J Goodhue
14. S Tamanivalu
15. D Havili

Bench
B Funnell
W Crockett
M Alaalatoa
Q Strange
H Bedwell-Curtis
M Drummond
M Hunt
M Mataele

Interesting that Hall's got the start.

 

[Ground We Won]

Peter Samu will surely will get a Wallabies call up.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Great game.

 

[Captain_Az]

Such a good game.

Was the game I was hoping for last weekend.

Crusaders played excellent but man the Chiefs are lethal with their tries McKenzie, Cruden and Lowe can score from anywhere at anytime.

A bounce of the ball another way and Cruden kicking well Cheifs could have easily won the match.

Richie Mo'Unga is an excellent player really impressed with him probably my man of the match.

 

[galumay]

Absolute cracker of a game, and a great exhibition for Fiji. I thought the Chiefs had the wood on the Saders, but the kicking really let them down. To be fair the Saders suffered more with the pre game injuries. All in all you couldn't begrudge either side winning the game. 2 of the best sides in the world going toe to toe!

 

[Ground We Won]

You have to say Richie Mo'Unga is really overtaking Lima Sopoaga, yes Lima has been injured, but his form this season has been questionable, where as Richie has been excellent.

Cruden was good with ball in hand, but his place kicking was abysmal and probably cost the Chiefs the game.

 

[Cruz_del_Sur]

Nice game. I hate to fingerpoint, but Cruden's having a bad day might have cost the Chiefs the game. It wasn't just his kicking. It happens.

Still, credit where credit is due, the Crusaders are so bloody good at timing their oponents and their effectiveness is superb. They know exactly when and as a team when to hold and when to push and they do so cohesively. They are clynical on defense (cruden,s try being the exception) and every break they get ends up with points on the board. Their composure under pressure is outstanding too.

 

[unrated]

The Crusaders seem unstoppable at the moment. No one will want to face them in the playoffs. Surely they have to lose eventually?

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

The Crusaders seem unstoppable at the moment. No one will want to face them in the playoffs. Surely they have to lose eventually?

That's the other issue I have with the competition set up. I can only see a Kiwi team beating the Crusaders and the playoffs, but they quite possibly won't get the chance to play them.

 

[Ground We Won]

That's the other issue I have with the competition set up. I can only see a Kiwi team beating the Crusaders and the playoffs, but they quite possibly won't get the chance to play them.

Lions could in South Africa.

 

[SomeOke]

Lions could in South Africa.

If the Crusaders don't lose any games they won't have to worry about playing away in the play-offs .

 

[Cruz_del_Sur]

Oddly enough, and i can understand how this might not be a popular opinion, i think the Lions have a decent shot at beating them. Not saying they'd be favourites, but if i were a Lions fan, i'd be more comfortable facing the Crusaders than the Chiefs or the Hurricanes. Style wise, the Lions are better equipped to counter them.
Let me rephrase: if i were a lions fan and had to pick one of these two options

a) vs Hurricanes away and vs Crusaders at home
b) vs Hurricanes at home and vs Crusaders away

I'd pick b).
Also, the Crusaders are at their peak right now. The Lions appear to be cruising. Don't think we've been the best of them yet. Then again, they didn't show up in last year's final, so who knows.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Surprised to see this played in Fiji, particularly a big derby match. What is the motivation behind it? And is it a Chiefs thing or a NZ thing?

On the face of it a generous gesture.