Super 15: Chiefs vs Blues. Waikato Stadium (2/3/2012, 06:35 GMT)

[Darwin]

Waikato Stadium, Hamilton (2/3/2012, 06:35 GMT)

Referee: Keith Brown
AR1: Jonathon White
AR2: Richard Kelly
TMO: Nick Briant​

 

[FlukeArtist]

If The Blues can't win this one, they may as well pack it in for the season

 

[Darwin]

If The Blues can't win this one, they may as well pack it in for the season

You would have to think they should win this pretty easily given all the injuries the Chiefs have to key players.

It will be interesting to see whether Blues decide to rush Ma'a Nonu straight back into the starting lineup to counter the powerful Chiefs midfield, or whether they ease him back from the bench. If he does start in the midfield they also have to decide whether to leave Ranger at centre, or move Ranger to the wing (in place of Raikuna) and pair Stanley and Nonu in the midfield. Likewise Lam has to decide whether now is the right time to start Weepu (whether at 9 or 10) or whether to give him another week or so to work on his fitness.

I can't see them making many changes in the forward pack. McCartney held his own reasonably well against Ben Franks so will likely remain at loosehead. The only change I'd like to see in the tight-forwards is on the bench, where I think Liaki Moli should come in to replace Brad Mika, who was even more ponderous than I expected him to be against the Crusaders. I think Luke Braid needs to come into the loose-forwards, either ahead of his brother at 7, or ahead of Lowrey at 6 (with the Blues simply playing left/right flankers). I actually thought both Dan Braid and Lowrey had pretty good games against the Crusaders, but Luke Braid showed his class when he came on.

For the Chiefs it may well be the case of simply finding 22 fit players. With Afeaki and Smith out, I expect the font-row will be Taumololo-Elliot-Cleaver (with Schwalger and Tameifuna on the bench), and I think they will stick with the same locks (Rettalick and Clarke). There are certainly options in the loose-forwards - I would like to see Waldrom at openside (though Cane did a good job against the Highlanders), and I would seriously consider playing Latimer at blindside and Messem at 8, as Lee was very error-prone against the Highlanders (though I think they will stick with Lee at 8).

Kerr-Barlow will start at 9 (with Pulu) on the bench, and the quality trio of Cruden, SBW, and Kahui remain, but they need to find someone to replace Masaga. I expect O'Donnell will be given a chance here, but I wouldn't mind if Nemani was given a shot, as he has the ability to in someways replicate the speed/power that Masaga provides for the Chiefs.

 

[Larksea]

I cant see the chiefs doing it miing those 4 frontline players they lost last weekend. Leonard, Masanga, Smith & Afeaki

Losing two front rowers is a serious kick in the balls.

I'd bring in Waldrum and also consider moving Messam to 8 and latimer to 6

Saw some flashes of a very impressive pick and go game by the chiefs spearheaded by Messam who semed to be the one to start the ball rolling for them in that area. If they can build on that and try and protect their scrum and lineout they will do ok. Mostly they need to be composed and get the basics right like holding onto the ball - before you run you need to be able to catch!

As for the blues, I dont think they need to panic after last weekend. Just stick to their guns and build on the foundation they made. The chiefs front row wont trouble them as much as the crusaders did and the presence of stanley and Toeava should be their defencive pillars in the backs. Wulf and Raikuna both looked dangerous and the Toeava & Ranger combo will be on show again. Those two work really well together Toeava runs a curved line and draws defenders and sets Ranger away on a straight hard line and it works magic...

Blues would be silly if they don't target the Chiefs lineout.

Chiefs vs. Blues is always a classic contest. Comes way back from Auckland vs Waikato contests, waring neighbors.

But this year chiefs have serious injury issues - I just dont think they can recover fast enough after losing 4 key players.

 

[Icemn]

The chiefs will be desperate for a win... hell so will the blues be...

gonna be a good one!!!

 

[FlukeArtist]

Thanks Psychic Duck.

Thats so weird, because over here, he really wasn't able to match it with the best.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Thanks Psychic Duck.

Thats so weird, because over here, he really wasn't able to match it with the best.

I don't think that's true... Just like Mike Harris, he's just overlooked for unbeknownst reasons. Basically, if you want to do well in NZ rugby, don't play for Harbour.

 

[big ginger 8]

Thanks Psychic Duck.

Thats so weird, because over here, he really wasn't able to match it with the best.

The Pro D2 ain't exactly "the best".

 

[cyRil]

The Pro D2 ain't exactly "the best".

Huw Bennett dislikes this.

 

[Sam Owen]

Just like Larky and Invictus, I too think the Blues will THRASH the Chiefs this week lol.

 

[Darwin]

Blues team named:
Isaia Toeava, David Raikuna, Rene Ranger, Benson Stanley, Rudi Wulf, Michael Hobbs, Alby Mathewson; Jerome Kaino, Daniel Braid, Chris Lowrey, Ali Williams, Anthony Boric, Tevita Mailau, Keven Mealamu (captain), Tom McCartney.
Reserves: Pauliasi Manu, Angus Ta'avao, Brad Mika, Luke Braid, Piri Weepu, Gareth Anscombe, Sherwin Stowers.

One change in the starting lineup from last week, with Mailau replacing the injured Faumuina (meaning the Blues, like the Chiefs, are missing their top two props). This is good news for the Chiefs, as Mailau though solid, isn't a destructive scrummager (and is better at loose-head rather than tight-head). I'm still not sure why Brad Mika is on the bench ahead of Moli (or even Paulo). Lam has resisted the temptation to bring in Nonu straight away, with the only backline change being the inclusion of Anscombe onto the bench.

EDIT: Chiefs team named too:
1. Arizona Taumalolo, 2. Mahonri Schwalger, 3. Ben Tameifuna, 4. Craig Clarke, 5. Brodie Retallick, 6. Liam Messam, 7. Tanerau Latimer, 8. Kane Thompson, 9. Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 10. Aaron Cruden, 11. Tim Nanai-Williams, 12. Sonny Bill Williams, 13. Richard Kahui, 14. Asaeli Tikoirotuma,15. Robbie Robinson
Reserves: 16. Hika Elliot, 17. Shane Cleaver, 18. Fritz Lee, 19. Sam Cane, 20. Augustine Pulu, 21. Andrew Horrell, 22. Declan O'Donnell

Six changes to the starting lineup - three injury enforced. A couple of really strange selections for me too. Tameifuna gets his debut at tighthead (which is not a big surprise), but strangely Mo Schwalger has been brought into the starting lineup to replace Hika Elliot. Schwalger is not a bad player, but surely the Chiefs would have been better sticking with Elliot, as he is very familiar with Taumalolo and Tameifuna as they all play together for Hawkes' Bay. I'm not sure about Latimer at 7 - he is a good player, but I would have preferred Cane or Waldrom (where is Waldrom????), while the selection of Kane Thomson at 8 is strange selection for me. He's a good hard-working player, but he generally plays his best rugby at lock in my opinion. If they were unhappy with Lee's work last week I think they would have been much better playing Latimer on the blindside, Cane/Waldrom at openside, and move Messem to 8. The Chiefs should at least have plenty of targets at lineout time...

The backline is a bit more stable. Kerr-Barlow needs to step-up at 9 - he is in my opinion the most talented halfback in the country, he just needs to calm down a bit and focus on doing the basics right. Not too surprised to see Tikoirotuma on the wing - I would have preferred Nemani or O'Donnell though (as Tikoirotuma is better at centre).

 

[Larksea]

yeah bit strange but there is always more than meets the eye with selections. Alot will be put on how the guys train and you always hear about how latimer is one of the most dedicated when it comes to training and being a team player. he did look pretty good when he came off the bench last week.

At the end of the day when there are three top shelf openside flankers in the squad someone is always going to miss out.

Always good to see an nz u20 player come in, going to be interesting to see Tameifuna get a run. big ask against a blues pack full of all blacks though.

Kane Thompson at lock too. one of Renee's turbo boys gets his chance at the big time and Bradly drops out while lee pay for a quiet and in some ways inaccurate game.

Blues have the luxury of an unchanged team which I agree with. As i said I think all they need to do is stick to the formula they had against the crusaders and they will beat the chiefs.

Chiefs I think are screwed with the injury hit they took. Early in the season you need continuity in the lineup to build combinations and get the gameplan sorted only making subtle changes before you rotate & rest players.

losing three of thier genuine frontliners like that means they lose continuity and cant build on their performances as well as other teams.

 

[TNT88]

How do you tip this one?

 

[Darwin]

How do you tip this one?

You after the vBookie? I will get it up soon..

 

[Darwin]

vBookie: Chiefs v Blues

VBookie added.

 

[Feicarsinn]

VBookie added

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lP2pz7E7hm4

 

[Darwin]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lP2pz7E7hm4

Thanks.... you have to make sure you merge the threads the correct way around though

 

[TRF_Olyy]

This match is well good so far.
Robbie Robinson is on fire.

 

[Tricia McMillan]

What the hell is going on out there. Seriously.

 

[Black Heart]

Two points of interest so far:

The Chiefs' rush defence is what's dictating the game, I would like to see the Blues' game breakers at second reciever hitting the midfield with depth i.e. Where the heck is Rene Ranger hiding?

I would also like to see Hobbs stab a few chips in behind their backline to get them turning.