Chiefs sign Mils Muliaina and Robbie Fruean

[Jaguares]

The Chiefs have signed Mils Muliaina and Robbie Fruean:

http://www.chiefs.co.nz/news/chiefs-sign-mils-muliaina-and-robbie-fruean.html

 

[Darwin]

Wow, interesting signings for the Chiefs! There were rumors that Fruean was going to the Chiefs, but I'm surprised they turned out to be true! He is obviously a bit of a risk (given his health concerns), but he can be a very valuable player at Super Rugby level when he is fit. Muliaina is a surprise too. The Chiefs have no shortage of options at fullback, so I assume Muliaina will be looked at largely as a centre. He will certainly bring a huge amount of experience to the Chiefs backline - I just wonder how he will go at Super Rugby level after a couple of seasons in Japan (and at 33 he will be one of the older backs in Super Rugby).

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

I'm very happy with these signings. I think Rennie and Smith can turn Fruean into the fantastic player he has always threatened to be. Mils is obviously a brilliant experienced addition who will help keep the Chiefs at the top of the table.

 

[Larksea]

kinda holy **** where did that come from signings.

I dont know what this means other than after this surely there is no room for Nonu.

Personally I dont think Fruen is right for the chiefs at his best he looked like a lost sheep on defense. I guess if anyone can help him in that area its the cheifs coaches.

man it will be good to see mills back. Some old school chiefs flava

 

[steblin]

Fruen to the Chiefs had been on the cards hadn't it? Muliaina certainly seems a bolt from the blue.

As you said, that must almost confirm Nonu to the Blues, didn't the Chiefs have three roster spots to fill with two of those in the backs?

 

[Kiwiwomble]

wow, this is how you build a squad, if they have managed to win with a great team which included only a sprinkling of "superstars" (SBW here and Cruden there)..now they are adding even more dimensions THEY CANT LOOSE!

yes...i admit it...i'm trying to jinx them

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

wow, this is how you build a squad, if they have managed to win with a great team which included only a sprinkling of "superstars" (SBW here and Cruden there)..now they are adding even more dimensions THEY CANT LOOSE!

yes...i admit it...i'm trying to jinx them

This is a very good Chiefs team now, with a tonne of depth.

Hookers - Schwalger, Elliot, Marshall
Props - Manu, Mackintosh, Afeaki, Tameifuna
Locks - Retallick, Fitzgerald, Symons
Loose Forwards - Messam, Latimer, Cane, Croswell, Filipo, Thompson, Squire
Halfback - Kerr-Barlow, Pulu
First Fives - Cruden, Anscombe
Centres - Aki, Horrell, Ngatai, Fruean
Outside Backs - Robinson, Tikoirotuma, Marshall, Lowe
Utility - Muliaina, Nanai-Williams

It will be interesting to see who's named in the WTS. I'd imagine Webber from Otago/Waikato may be the third halfback, and it's quite possible Joe Webber is brought into the squad too. Rory Grice from Waikato will likely be thereabouts too.

The coaches will have a hard time coming up with a top 23, though given the nature of the competition and the high attrition rate I'm sure all players will see a lot of game time. I'd love to see Squire starting by season end. I'd imagine it will start out something like the below...

1 Manu
2 Schwalger
3 Afeaki
4 Fitzgerald
5 Retallick
6 Messam
7 Latimer
8 Thompson
9 Kerr-Barlow
10 Cruden
11 Tikoirotuma
12 Horrell
13 Fruean
14 Nanai-Williams
15 Robinson

16 Elliot/Marshall
17 Mackintosh
18 Tameifuna
19 Symons
20 Cane
21 Pulu
22 Anscombe
23 Muliaina

And that still leaves out guys like Tom Marshall, Aki and Ngatai! This team has a heap of depth, with a slew of experienced and/or X-factor players on the bench. I just hope we're able to build some good combinations, particularly in the midfield, which is something we didn't really accomplish last year. With Horrell's quick passing (I'm actually inclined to believe he may have the quickest hands in the competition, you only have to watch some of the Chiefs 2012 highlights to bare witness to it) and Fruean's line breaking abilities, it could be a combination to be reckoned with.

I'm getting excited! These last two signings have made up for the disappointment of not getting SBW back.

 

[Amobokoboko]

This is great news Milsie is finally coming back. after the rumors last year our koro has signed. This squad looks killer.

 

[Darwin]

This is a very good Chiefs team now, with a tonne of depth.

Hookers - Schwalger, Elliot, Marshall
Props - Manu, Mackintosh, Afeaki, Tameifuna
Locks - Retallick, Fitzgerald, Symons
Loose Forwards - Messam, Latimer, Cane, Croswell, Filipo, Thompson, Squire
Halfback - Kerr-Barlow, Pulu
First Fives - Cruden, Anscombe
Centres - Aki, Horrell, Ngatai, Fruean
Outside Backs - Robinson, Tikoirotuma, Marshall, Lowe
Utility - Muliaina, Nanai-Williams

It will be interesting to see who's named in the WTS. I'd imagine Webber from Otago/Waikato may be the third halfback, and it's quite possible Joe Webber is brought into the squad too. Rory Grice from Waikato will likely be thereabouts too.

The coaches will have a hard time coming up with a top 23, though given the nature of the competition and the high attrition rate I'm sure all players will see a lot of game time. I'd love to see Squire starting by season end. I'd imagine it will start out something like the below...

1 Manu
2 Schwalger
3 Afeaki
4 Fitzgerald
5 Retallick
6 Messam
7 Latimer
8 Thompson
9 Kerr-Barlow
10 Cruden
11 Tikoirotuma
12 Horrell
13 Fruean
14 Nanai-Williams
15 Robinson

16 Elliot/Marshall
17 Mackintosh
18 Tameifuna
19 Symons
20 Cane
21 Pulu
22 Anscombe
23 Muliaina

And that still leaves out guys like Tom Marshall, Aki and Ngatai! This team has a heap of depth, with a slew of experienced and/or X-factor players on the bench. I just hope we're able to build some good combinations, particularly in the midfield, which is something we didn't really accomplish last year. With Horrell's quick passing (I'm actually inclined to believe he may have the quickest hands in the competition, you only have to watch some of the Chiefs 2012 highlights to bare witness to it) and Fruean's line breaking abilities, it could be a combination to be reckoned with.

I'm getting excited! These last two signings have made up for the disappointment of not getting SBW back.

The midfield and outside backs look like the most competitive positions for me as Aki, Ngatai, Horrell, Fruean, Muliaina, Tikoirotimu, Nanai-Williams, Marshall, Anscombe and Robinson have all proven themselves as capable starters at Super Rugby level (and Lowe certainly has the potential to be very effective at this level). The fact many of them are very versatile too makes predicting these positions all the more difficult!

 

[Chikwa]

The midfield and outside backs look like the most competitive positions for me as Aki, Ngatai, Horrell, Fruean, Muliaina, Tikoirotimu, Nanai-Williams, Marshall, Anscombe and Robinson have all proven themselves as capable starters at Super Rugby level (and Lowe certainly has the potential to be very effective at this level). The fact many of them are very versatile too makes predicting these positions all the more difficult!

It baffles more that Ryan crotty of the crusaders is on the fringes of the all blacks yet robbie fruen who baring illness or injury was picked before him at the crusaders is not.The Super 15 champions have added him to their squad.Why are the AB's not interested in him?

 

[Darwin]

It baffles more that Ryan crotty of the crusaders is on the fringes of the all blacks yet robbie fruen who baring illness or injury was picked before him at the crusaders is not.The Super 15 champions have added him to their squad.Why are the AB's not interested in him?

Fruean is a poor defender (at best) who tends to drift in an out of games. Unless he makes massive improvements in defense he will not be considered at test level...

 

[Larksea]

Watch Fruen on defense, he often looks totally lost, and never seems to do what he needs to do.

so... who plays 15?

Horrell?
Anscombe?
Mills?
Marshall?

All have played it with distinction

I really think an awesome midfield combo for the chiefs would be Horrell and Ngatai. Horrell is all class and Ngatai is starting to look like future all black material.\

Strange the squad just seems to have endless depth yet isn't packed full of all blacks. Considering blues and Crusaders sides of the past have fielded 12-14 all blacks in the starting 15 and not been as good as this chiefs side with like half or less than half that.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Watch Fruen on defense, he often looks totally lost, and never seems to do what he needs to do.

so... who plays 15?

Horrell?
Anscombe?
Mills?
Marshall?

All have played it with distinction

I really think an awesome midfield combo for the chiefs would be Horrell and Ngatai. Horrell is all class and Ngatai is starting to look like future all black material.\

Strange the squad just seems to have endless depth yet isn't packed full of all blacks. Considering blues and Crusaders sides of the past have fielded 12-14 all blacks in the starting 15 and not been as good as this chiefs side with like half or less than half that.

The great thing about Super Rugby is you never have all your players available due to injury I think Robinson will probably start with the 15 jersey, with Anscombe on the bench and Marshall on one wing (probably Tiks on the other). Muliaina will probably not appear til the second or third week, at the earliest. He's really the perfect bench option due to his ability to play anywhere except halfback. I see Horrell as a second five/centre, and based on an interview with Rennie in the papers it looks like he tends to favour him there too.

Of course at the end of last year 12 and 13 were Horrell and Ngatai, so it's likely we'll start the year with something similar.

EDIT: Oh and I forgot about TNW too This team is stacked with depth.

 

[Chikwa]

Watch Fruen on defense, he often looks totally lost, and never seems to do what he needs to do.

so... who plays 15?

Horrell?
Anscombe?
Mills?
Marshall?

All have played it with distinction

I really think an awesome midfield combo for the chiefs would be Horrell and Ngatai. Horrell is all class and Ngatai is starting to look like future all black material.\

Strange the squad just seems to have endless depth yet isn't packed full of all blacks. Considering blues and Crusaders sides of the past have fielded 12-14 all blacks in the starting 15 and not been as good as this chiefs side with like half or less than half that.

Would nanai Williams not make it at no 13 in your starting 15.I think this is a make or break season for robbie fruen.His partnership with sonny bill was a nightmare for opposing super rugby teams.I think because of who he is superb performances and particularly eye catching performances are expected of him.I would love to see his defence statistics.Anscomb or Marshall at 15?

 

[jessta]

It would be dissapointing to be a player at the chiefs these days. So much depth, dunno how coaches are going to balance it all. Welcoming headache to have!

 

[austingtir]

If the Chiefs get Nonu aswell as these two they are going to be almost unbeatable imo. They will have players in that backline for any situation or suitable for the way other teams play. If Fruen turns up fit.... man thats crazy a Nonu and Fruen midfield.... WOW.

The only weakness i can see is possibly the loss of Craig Clarke.

 

[jessta]

If the Chiefs get Nonu aswell as these two they are going to be almost unbeatable imo. They will have players in that backline for any situation or suitable for the way other teams play. If Fruen turns up fit.... man thats crazy a Nonu and Fruen midfield.... WOW.

The only weakness i can see is possibly the loss of Craig Clarke.

They wont pick up nonu now. They have one spot left and tgat will go to a forward

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Just waiting on one last forward to be named, probably a prop, given that Filipo and Thompson can cover lock.

Hooker
Mahonri Schwalger (Counties Manukau)
Hika Elliot (Counties Manukau)
Rhys Marshall (Taranaki)

Prop
Pauliasi Manu (Auckland)
Jamie Mackintosh (Southland)
Ben Afeaki (North Harbour)
Ben Tameifuna (Waikato)

Lock
Mike Fitzgerald (Manawatu)
Brodie Retallick (Bay of Plenty)
Matt Symons (Canterbury)

Loose Forwards
Liam Messam (Waikato)
Tanerau Latimer (Bay of Plenty)
Sam Cane (Bay of Plenty)
Nick Croswell (Manawatu)
Ross Filipo (Wellington)
Kane Thompson (Unattached)
Liam Squire (Tasman)

Halfback
Tawera Kerr-Barlow (Waikato)
Augustine Pulu (Counties Manukau)

First Five
Aaron Cruden (Manawatu)
Gareth Anscombe (Auckland)

Midfield
Bundee Aki (Counties Manukau)
Andrew Horrell (Hawke's Bay)
Charlie Ngatai (Wellington)
Robbie Fruean (Canterbury)

Outside Backs
Asaeli Tikoirotuma (Manawatu)
James Lowe (Tasman)
Tim Nanai-Williams (Counties Manukau)
James Marshall (Tasman)
Robbie Robinson (Southland)
Mils Muliaina (Unattached)

Just missing a player from Northland and a player from Otago, and the squad would have a representative from every ITM Cup team.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

16 Elliot/Marshall
17 Mackintosh
18 Tameifuna
19 Symons
20 Cane
21 Pulu
22 Anscombe
23 Muliaina

That bench. How many test teams would be glad to have that bench!? That depth will stand the Chiefs in good stead to push for a 3rd consecutive ***le, the ********.

 

[William18]

That is a scary Chiefs team! Imagine if they got SBW. The impressive thing is that they don't actually have a lot of so called star players. Rennie knows how to fashion a aquad with a lot of good players who will work 100% for the jersey.