[2017 Super Rugby] Round 4: Rebels vs. Chiefs (17/03/2017)

[TRF_heineken]

Venue: AAMI Park
Time: 10:45 CAT (SA, GMT+2)​

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

The Rebels have surprised a few NZ teams in the past but this Chiefs side just doesn't seem to know how to lose.

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The Rebels have surprised a few NZ teams in the past but this Chiefs side just doesn't seem to know how to lose.

 

[Radsy]

Watch for the Chiefs starting to heavily rotate their lineup in the next 7 games (6 of which are against non-playoff teams from 2016) starting with this game.

Shaun Stevenson will likely be in for James Lowe. Finlay Christie will likely get his first start in place of Kerr-Barlow. I wouldn't be surprised to see Damien McKenzie start at flyhalf either. I'd expect to see Messam come back in at 8, with Mitchell Brown and Lochlan Boshier at 6 and 7 respectively. Fa'auli gets another shot at the 12 jersey, and needs to show better offensive prowess.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

The Rebels have surprised a few NZ teams in the past but this Chiefs side just doesn't seem to know how to lose.

- - - Updated - - -

The Rebels have surprised a few NZ teams in the past but this Chiefs side just doesn't seem to know how to lose.

The Rebels could surprise the Chiefs here...

if they keep it within 60 points.

 

[Radsy]

Haha, it won't get that out of hand with the Chiefs B team

 

[Larksea]

rebels have been a banana skin team but I don't think this is the same rebels team. They have lost some key players and they are not the same threat that has been building the last few years.

The chiefs have to take them seriously, you cant go into any game lightly. But the reality is they will be looking to rest/protect some key players and bag 5 points. And complete what would be an absolute dream start to the season. 4 wins and 3 bonus points going into their bye week.

Chiefs have had 3 brutal local derby games on the trot and have started to pick up injuries. They will welcome a chance to start rotating players, in that tight 5 in particular. The chiefs tight 5 has been amazing, the loosies have been as well but they have already been rotated and changed around, messam played 80 in the first 2 and got rested, the rest have been managed as well. But the Tight 5 has been pretty settled - Hames, Elliot, Laulala, Bird, Retalick. Interesting to see the chiefs develop to a point where they have a tight 5 of all blacks and they have been brilliant. Maybe the best tight 5 in the comp right now, certainly one of the major positives of the teams performance so far.

 

[Radsy]

rebels have been a banana skin team but I don't think this is the same rebels team. They have lost some key players and they are not the same threat that has been building the last few years.

The chiefs have to take them seriously, you cant go into any game lightly. But the reality is they will be looking to rest/protect some key players and bag 5 points. And complete what would be an absolute dream start to the season. 4 wins and 3 bonus points going into their bye week.

Chiefs have had 3 brutal local derby games on the trot and have started to pick up injuries. They will welcome a chance to start rotating players, in that tight 5 in particular. The chiefs tight 5 has been amazing, the loosies have been as well but they have already been rotated and changed around, messam played 80 in the first 2 and got rested, the rest have been managed as well. But the Tight 5 has been pretty settled - Hames, Elliot, Laulala, Bird, Retalick. Interesting to see the chiefs develop to a point where they have a tight 5 of all blacks and they have been brilliant. Maybe the best tight 5 in the comp right now, certainly one of the major positives of the teams performance so far.

Absolutely. Fantastic to see Laulala come back from a triple ligament and quad tear on the same leg in only a year. Especially in this kind of form. Every attacking scrum is stable, and he an intelligent player in the loose. Elliott has never played better, and is remarkably fitter. Hames`scrummaging is vastly improved as well, and he has induced a few penalties along the way. Bird is doing a much better job jumping off the line defensively and refusing front foot ball from the opposition. Brodie is a terror, as per usual, but also seemingly fitter. Just wait until Harris is back.

I wonder how deep the rotation will go this week. I think we could see Fisiìhoi-Siataga (excellent debut last week)- Moli (future AB)- Bird - Seu.

 

[Makos]

Yeah it'd be good to see Damien McKenzie get a start at first five, with Sopoaga injured and Cruden going offshore I think he needs some more game time there, he's our future

 

[Larksea]

Yeah, Laulala has come back really well, so far he is showing 2015 wasn't a fluke. He's the real deal.
Hames was a bit of a surprise last year and I think hes even better so far this year. Elliot is doing good too though he has been super consistent since he came back from his injury so its not a surprise.
I dont remember a chiefs tight 5 this strong. And to think harris is still to come back. he was dead set #2 hooker in NZ to coles, at the time I was thinking how is this guy starting ahead of Elliot and Marshall, but then see him play and he was on an absolute tear. I think in the tight and as a big physical player he has some genuine strengths in comparison to Coles. Coles is a phenomenal player for his size and is very unique, almost has the skills of a good midfielder on attack. Harris is different, bit more traditional but IMO he is right up there with coles in terms of ability, maybe has a bit more to offer in the genuine tight stuff.

I'm going to go on and on about it but the Bird and Retalick combination is phenomenal. Having two genuinely giant locks who are so mobile and skillful is so rare, Bird is big. I mean he makes Tuipulotu look small, yet he and Retalick are both flying around the field for the full 80 if needed with insane work rates and execution. Both excellent in the lineout, excellent ball carriers and defenders and they can both pass. You could sense when Bird signed with the chiefs that he and Retalick had the potential to be an epic combination, that's turned out to be absolutely true.

As far as All Black selection goes...
I like tuipulotu a lot hes been a great prospect and done well off the bench. Romano has been solid when needed. Scott Barrett did really well on the EoY tour.
But with the big English locks on their way with the lions and England being our biggest threat up to the next world cup... Bird is a great option to counter that.
Hes 6-7cm taller than Tuipulotu & Romano and almost 10cm taller than Scott Barrett who is on the small side as far as test locks go. Yet hes proving to be accurate, mobile and physical.

I dont think its enough to think we will be to fit and mobile for the English pack. At times in the past that has been enough. We need to match their size and be fitter and more mobile at the same time. Retalick is the obvious point of difference, I think Bird is right there as well.

 

[Makos]

Chiefs: Shaun Stevenson, Toni Pulu, Anton Lienert-Brown, Stephen Donald, Solomon Alaimalo, Damian McKenzie, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Liam Messam, Sam Cane, Tom Sanders, Brodie Retallick, Dominic Bird, Nepo Laulala, Sabastian Siataga, Kane Hames.

Reserves: Hika Elliot, Siegfried Fisi'ihoi, Atu Moli, Mitchell Brown, Mitchell Karpik, Finlay Christie, Aaron Cruden, Johnny Faauli.


Damien McKenzie starting at 10, this will be pretty exciting to watch.

 

[Radsy]

Watch out for Alaimalo. Tall and fast.

Rebels Lineup
1. Fereti Sa'aga , 2. James Hanson3. Laurie Weeks, 4. Culum Retallick ,5. Steve Cummins ,6. Jordy Reid ,7. Colby Fainga'a ,8. Amanaki Mafi ,9. Nic Stirzaker (Captain) ,10. Jackson Garden-Bachop , 11. Marika Koroibete ,12. Reece Hodge ,13. Tom English ,14. Sefa Naivalu ,15. Jack Debreczeni

I think Garden-Bachop is awful. Damien is going to run circles around him. Debreczeni showed inexperience last season, but a lot more promise than that joker. Volavola also has miles more potential. Timani is out with a knee injury. Anyone ever notice how terrible and cynical the Fainga'a brothers are? The Chiefs have at least 6 loose forwards better than him.

 

[Larksea]

warms the heart to see beaver get a start lol

part of me would like the balance of the backline better if Beaver was at 13 and ALB came into 12. Allow ALB to focus on the attack and creating chances whole Donald runs things on defense. But I think Beavers main role in the squad is as a 12 who can backup 10.

Garden-Bachop has been a bit rough but he has the potential to recover. he must be showing some promise if they have resisted dumping him and putting Jack Debreczeni in at 10.

Either way its not a team that will scare the chiefs. If the chiefs forwards get some traction that allows McKenzie to fire there could be a hiding on the cards.

 

[Radsy]

Haha yeah, I'm the same age as Beaver, and cling to my playing days in much the same way. He's my spirit animal. Not that the Rebels attack is worrisome, but he would struggle in space at 13. Lienart-Brown is much more comfortable at 12 though, for sure.

 

[KeyboardWorrier]

I just have to say, well bloody done to The Chiefs. Obviously, this is a strategic ploy to keep the Rebels in the game and keep the Rebels club alive. Well done boys.

 

[Cruz_del_Sur]

Quite an entertaining game so far.
(Arg) Ref talking too much.

It feels as if the Chiefs will shift gears in the last 5 minutes and steal this for some reason.

 

[KeyboardWorrier]

Quite an entertaining game so far.
(Arg) Ref talking too much.

It feels as if the Chiefs will shift gears in the last 5 minutes and steal this for some reason.

It's a setup. The Chiefs could win this easy, but they've been instructed not to and, unbeknownst to them, so has the ref.

 

[Cruz_del_Sur]

Nah, the ref has been terrible for both sides.

How ****ing annoying are those seagulls? I'm watching it on a laptop and several times i couldn't tell the difference between a flying bird and the ball ffs!

 

[KeyboardWorrier]

Yes, they are annoying. Put off a few kickers IMO.

 

[Car]

Nah, the ref has been terrible for both sides.

How ****ing annoying are those seagulls? I'm watching it on a laptop and several times i couldn't tell the difference between a flying bird and the ball ffs!

Not for the first time. Why does he always have to talk that much? Less talking, more correct calls would be greatly appreciated.

I didn't have that problem, but they definitely were annoying. If they want to watch some rugby, can't they just stay on the seats? There were more than enough empty ones.

 

[Cruz_del_Sur]

His body language suggested he was a bit nervous. I can understand that. Give him a couple of games. It's not as if his bad calls decided the game. We need a few Argentine refs.