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Super Rugby: Highlanders vs. Chiefs in Dunedin (22/02/2013)
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<blockquote data-quote="TRF Mr Fish" data-source="post: 551166" data-attributes="member: 20892"><p>I think Chiefs will be slight favourites going into the game, but I wouldn't expect there to be more than 10 points separating the teams. Both teams have a few injury concerns (Robinson, Horrell and Kahui for the Chiefs, which will mean you'll have a couple of new players/players in unfamiliar positions, and some loosies plus Tamati Ellison for the Highlanders), which coupled with it being the first game for both teams will mean the match is quite scrappy. </p><p></p><p>The Highlanders have one main weakness, and that's their loose forward trio. Manu is a great 8, but the other two (whoever Joseph uses) will only be passable players, and they have suffered in the preseason accordingly (particularly against the Chiefs and the Blues). If the Highlanders can lay down a strong platform, they will be very difficult to beat, but that's a big IF. On the other hand, the Chiefs are probably one of the most complete teams in the competition, with no glaring weaknesses. </p><p></p><p>If the game was later in the season I'd be more comfortable picking the Chiefs to win, but as it's the first game I'm much less certain. You just need to take a look at what happened in the first game last year to see what could happen.</p><p></p><p>Teams will probably be:</p><p>Smith, Schwalger, Afeaki, Clarke, Retalick, Messam, Cane, Lee, Kerr-Barlow, Cruden, Tikoirotuma, Aki, Nanai-Williams, Masaga, Anscombe</p><p>Woodcock, Mitchell, King, Thorn, Bekhuis, Wheeler, Hardie, Manu, Smith, Sopoaga, Gear, Nonu, Burleigh, Poki, Smith</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="TRF Mr Fish, post: 551166, member: 20892"] I think Chiefs will be slight favourites going into the game, but I wouldn't expect there to be more than 10 points separating the teams. Both teams have a few injury concerns (Robinson, Horrell and Kahui for the Chiefs, which will mean you'll have a couple of new players/players in unfamiliar positions, and some loosies plus Tamati Ellison for the Highlanders), which coupled with it being the first game for both teams will mean the match is quite scrappy. The Highlanders have one main weakness, and that's their loose forward trio. Manu is a great 8, but the other two (whoever Joseph uses) will only be passable players, and they have suffered in the preseason accordingly (particularly against the Chiefs and the Blues). If the Highlanders can lay down a strong platform, they will be very difficult to beat, but that's a big IF. On the other hand, the Chiefs are probably one of the most complete teams in the competition, with no glaring weaknesses. If the game was later in the season I'd be more comfortable picking the Chiefs to win, but as it's the first game I'm much less certain. You just need to take a look at what happened in the first game last year to see what could happen. Teams will probably be: Smith, Schwalger, Afeaki, Clarke, Retalick, Messam, Cane, Lee, Kerr-Barlow, Cruden, Tikoirotuma, Aki, Nanai-Williams, Masaga, Anscombe Woodcock, Mitchell, King, Thorn, Bekhuis, Wheeler, Hardie, Manu, Smith, Sopoaga, Gear, Nonu, Burleigh, Poki, Smith [/QUOTE]
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Super Rugby: Highlanders vs. Chiefs in Dunedin (22/02/2013)
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