Chiefs- Hurricanes at Waikato Stadium this Friday

[Amobokoboko]

Chiefs side announced, boy so excited about this. It looks like ages since the last Chiefs game: Pretty solid team.

1. Pauliasi Manu
2. Hika Elliot
3. Ben Afeaki
4. Craig Clarke ©
5. Brodie Retallick
6. Liam Messam
7. Tanerau Latimer
8. Matt Vant Leven
9. Tawera Kerr-Barlow
10. Aaron Cruden
11. Asaeli Tikoirotuma
12. Bundee Aki
13. Tim Nanai-Williams
14. Lelia Masaga
15. Robbie Robinson
    
    
16. Mahonri Schwalger
17. Ben Tameifuna
18. Michael Fitzgerald
19. Sam Cane
20. Augustine Pulu
21. Andrew Horrell
22. Charlie Ngatai

 

[lynam1104]

Glad super rugby is coming back been missing it.

 

[Adakins]

Kinda bummed I will just be getting to work when this gets going hope the Chiefs can bring home a win.

 

[Gena_ZA]

Hurricanes – 15 James Marshall, 14 Matt Proctor, 13 Conrad Smith (c), 12 Reynold Lee-Lo, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Karl Lowe, 6 Brad Shields, 5 James Broadhurst, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Ben May, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Ben Franks.
Subs: 16 Ash Dixon, 17 Reggie Goodes, 18 Mark Reddish, 19 Faifili Levave/Blade Thompson, 20 Chris Smylie, 21 Tusi Pisi, 22 Alapati Leiua.

 

[nickdnz]

Ok. So we lose.

 

[Larksea]

actually a very strong looking chiefs side, couple of players coming back from injury.

Interesting that when you look at this chiefs lineup there is only one player considered first choice starting 15 for the All Blacks disregarding injury (Messam), yet it's the best side in NZ and really in super rugby.

I think it has a lot to do with Renee rotating players fact is really only a few chiefs are sure fire regular starters in this side and also the injuries the chiefs have had don't help.

Anyway.. sidetracked..

Chiefs to win, will be a shame for the hurricanes as a chiefs win would end their season but the fact is they ended last years round robin the form team but simply have not carried that form on to this year. Opposition maybe smarter to their tactics and players form a bit up and down. Andre Taylor is a shadow of the player he was last year when he seemed to cut opposition defenses at will. Jason Eaton has not been as good either - I do wonder if the fact they were overlooked for the All Blacks last year after such great seasons has hurt their motivation.

ok sidetracked again.

I still think Perenara and Barrett have more potential than any other 9-10 combination in the competition. They will be the key as always.

 

[Amobokoboko]

I think besides the fact that the Chiefs look stronger on paper the Canes will give a good fight

 

[Gena_ZA]

Chiefs
1.Pauliasi Manu , 2.Hika Elliot , 3.Ben Afeaki , 4.Craig Clarke (c) , 5.Brodie Retallick , 6.Liam Messam , 7.Tanerau Latimer , 8.Matt Vant Leven , 9.Tawera Kerr-Barlow , 10.Aaron Cruden , 11.Asaeli Tikoirotuma , 12.Bundee Aki , 13.Tim Nanai-Williams , 14.Lelia Masaga , 15.Robbie Robinson
, 16.Mahonri Schwalger , 17.Ben Tameifuna , 18.Michael Fitzgerald , 19.Sam Cane , 20.Augustine Pulu , 21.Andrew Horrell , 22.Charlie Ngatai

http://super15.com/39572/1/nanai-williams-returns-for-chiefs-against-hurricanes#.UcvCKpyvC38

 

[Amobokoboko]

Hangover Friday morning super rugby sessions. Gotta love it. Go Chiefs, kick off minutes away

 

[Amobokoboko]

Try van Leven. Chiefs lead with 3 points

 

[Amobokoboko]

Try Aki, Chiefs on fire

 

[donmcdazzle]

Barrett and Cruden are having a great battle here.

 

[austingtir]

ATM Cruden is twice the player Carter is in attacking situations. Will be intresting to see if Hansen can resist not picking him as first choice soon. Carter trying to save himself for the next WC is in lala land I suspect he's going to get passed by young guys before he gets there.

Barrett has also suprised me in this game.

 

[donmcdazzle]

I wish I could put money on Thrush never playing for the ABs ever again. God he is rubbish. Clarke should have been put in that squad even if he going overseas.

 

[Amobokoboko]

Very entertaining game, both teams played very well. Happy with the win.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Quite a good game - I was a bit frustrated at the referee for some weird calls, but probably no more than usual

 

[Larksea]

really good result for the chiefs

some barrett brilliance kept the canes in the game but then a mistake (not a really bad one though, just a missed touch) of his gave the chiefs the chance they needed to win the game.

I know I keep harping on about it but how was Vant Leven? 2nd game head to head in a row he's been clearly better than Vito. He's become an important player for the chiefs.

Ben Tamifuna is awesome off the bench. When you think about it actually with the two prop reserves in test rugby he would be an asset for the All Blacks. I mean how often does Ben Franks get toyed with at scrum time?

 

[Larksea]

well just to back me up:

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"Technically [Vant Leven] is a wider training group member who is now starting ahead of three of our other loose forwards who are back from injury."

"He's been rewarded for doing the job for us and the more he plays the better he gets. We're really rapt with him and I guess it does highlight the new system of being able to utilise the wider training group if they're playing well enough," - Dave Renee

------

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/8860108/Chiefs-Vant-Leven-making-good-on-opportunity



Vant Leven is now starting #8 for the chiefs even though Lee, Crosswell and Filipo are fit again after injury breaks. I think he's close to being the form #8 in NZ with Read having a rough patch.

well I did say before the season kicked off that it was a travesty that he was not picked as a full squad member somewhere. It's really no surprise to me that he's doing well but I dont think he should have had to "get lucky" to get his chance. He was awesome in ITM cup, but so was Alex Bradley who isn't even in super rugby...

 

[nickdnz]

Ben Tamifuna is awesome off the bench. When you think about it actually with the two prop reserves in test rugby he would be an asset for the All Blacks. I mean how often does Ben Franks get toyed with at scrum time?

I totally agree. I don't want him startinmg but I'm pretty satisfied that he can hold the scrum better than just about any tighthead in NZ other than Owen Franks - he has good hands, is very powerful with his pick and goes, doesn't miss many tackles. Not a bad guy to bring on at all with 15-20 minutes left. I'd personally take him as an impact sub over Ben Afeaki - who is probably a better all round player but makes less of an impact from the bench.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

I totally agree. I don't want him startinmg but I'm pretty satisfied that he can hold the scrum better than just about any tighthead in NZ other than Owen Franks - he has good hands, is very powerful with his pick and goes, doesn't miss many tackles. Not a bad guy to bring on at all with 15-20 minutes left. I'd personally take him as an impact sub over Ben Afeaki - who is probably a better all round player but makes less of an impact from the bench.

Tameifuna needs to work on his discipline before he is called into the All Blacks.