[2017 Super Rugby] Round 9: Force vs. Chiefs (22/04/2017)

[TRF_heineken]

Venue: nib Stadium
Time: 11:45 CAT (SA, GMT+2)​

Teams

Force: 15 Dane Haylett-Petty, 14 Curtis Rona, 13 Marcel Brache, 12 Bill Meakes, 11 Luke Morahan, 10 Luke Burton, 9 Ian Prior, 8 Richard Hardwick, 7 Matt Hodgson (captain), 6 Isi Maisarani, 5 Ross Haylett-Petty, 4 Lewis Carmichael, 3 Tetera Faulkner, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Ben Daley

Substitutes: 16 Heath Tessmann, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Pek Cowan, 19 Onehunga Havilli, 20 Brynard Stander, 21 Mitch Short, 22 Jono Lance, 23 Alex Newsome

Chiefs: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Shaun Stevenson, 13 Sam McNicol, 12 Anton Lienert-Brown, 11 James Lowe, 10 Aaron Cruden (captain), 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Michael Leitch, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Liam Messam , 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Dominic Bird, 3 Atu Moli, 2 Brayden Mitchell, 1 Siegfried Fisi’ihoi

Substitutes: 16 Hika Elliot, 17 Aidan Ross, 18 Sosefo Kautai, 19 Taleni Seu, 20 Lachlan Boshier, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Stephen Donald, 23 Toni Pulu

 

[Caitlyn Jenner]

7 all at h-t. A little bit sloppy from the Chiefs but credit to the Force they are playing with a lot of heart and hanging in there well. The Waratahs should be taking notes. A part of me is actually rooting for them lol, they've got a big passionate crowd in and are clearly out to prove a point. Very interesting game so far...

 

[nik]

Force have been playing with purpose and desire all season. Something thats missing with nsw and qld.

Its a double edge sword - Chiefs might pull away at the end if they can hang on to their passes however the travel may be a factor

 

[galumay]

Chiefs just showing all their class, a night they looked tired and well off their best, but they adjusted to the reality of the situation, took the points when they were available and took the points- which is all that matters in the end.

 

[Larksea]

yeah I only watched most of the first half but it was interesting to see he chiefs go for goal with penalties a few times early on when you would expect them to for the line and push for a try. That to me kinda indicated that the road trip was factoring in their decisions and they were looking to bank the win.

that did allow the canes to level with the chiefs on 33 points.

The chiefs now have the Sunwolves then the Reds at home where they should look to bank 10 points

Then they have a bye

Them a massive game against the Crusaders at home. Its really this game and the later one away to the Hurricanes which will define the season. All 3 teams are sure to make the finals but getting the #1 spot and home advantage will be huge as always.

5 of the chiefs last 7 games are home games. No trips to Aussie left either. But the last 5 games are all against tough opposition. Ok tah's maybe not so much but I think they will be tricky late season opposition. Out of playoff contention but with players wanting to prove a point and earn test selection....

 

[Radsy]

Keep in mind that "home" game against the Crusaders is in Suva, Fiji. Not sure why that's had to be a wasted Chiefs' home game two years in a row- you'd think it would go back and forth.