Super Rugby: Kings vs. Chiefs in Port Elizabeth (15/03/2013)

[Darwin]

Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

This will be a very interesting game, and the Chief's squad will be debated long and hard I'm sure.

Messam could become the first Chief to play 100 games, if he is involved in the match. It sounds like he sure as heck wants to be, but the coaches may want to rest him (and give him his hundredth cap in Hamilton next week).

The Chiefs can't afford to slip up here, and the Kings are still a bit of an unknown. It's hard to take a whole lot out of last week's match - the Kings were superb on defence against the Sharks, but the SA derbies tend to end up as forward orientated contests. The Kings won against the Force, but that's not exactly a mean feat. All things said and done, the Chiefs will need to rest a couple of players, but won't want to weaken the team too much. Had Tameifuna been available he likely would've replaced Afeaki at tight head, but he has returned home on bereavement leave. Toby Smith will surely get a start at loose head, with either Kainga or Manu taking the bench spot.

Elliot will be at hooker, with Marshall on the bench. Potentially Retalick could be rested, with Fitzgerald given another start. I'm impartial to what happens here - Fitzgerald needs more game time with Clarke off at the end of the year. Retalick could still make a good impact (as much impact as a tight forward can make, anyway) off the bench.

In all likelihood, Messam will start. That means Cane and Latimer will probably contest the 7 jersey (I think Latimer may get the spot this week), and either Lee or Filipo will be given the other vacant spot with the loser riding the pine. Kerr-Barlow and Cruden should partner up in the halves. The rest of the backline should remain almost unchanged, though Horrell will be fitted in somewhere. Nanai-Williams could do with a rest, after a heavy work load in the centres, but Rennie may not want to tamper with the centres again so early.

Likely 22:
1 Smith*
2 Elliot
3 Afeaki
4 Clarke
5 Fitzgerald*
6 Messam
7 Latimer
8 Lee*
9 Kerr-Barlow
10 Cruden
11 Tikoirotuma
12 Ngatai
13 Horrell*
14 Masaga
15 Anscombe

16 Marshall
17 Kainga
18 Retalick
19 Filipo
20 Pulu
21 Nanai-Williams
22 Osborne

That would be four changes, which would be reasonable to me.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

This will be a very interesting game, and the Chief's squad will be debated long and hard I'm sure.

Messam could become the first Chief to play 100 games, if he is involved in the match. It sounds like he sure as heck wants to be, but the coaches may want to rest him (and give him his hundredth cap in Hamilton next week).

The Chiefs can't afford to slip up here, and the Kings are still a bit of an unknown. It's hard to take a whole lot out of last week's match - the Kings were superb on defence against the Sharks, but the SA derbies tend to end up as forward orientated contests. The Kings won against the Force, but that's not exactly a mean feat. All things said and done, the Chiefs will need to rest a couple of players, but won't want to weaken the team too much. Had Tameifuna been available he likely would've replaced Afeaki at tight head, but he has returned home on bereavement leave. Toby Smith will surely get a start at loose head, with either Kainga or Manu taking the bench spot.

Elliot will be at hooker, with Marshall on the bench. Potentially Retalick could be rested, with Fitzgerald given another start. I'm impartial to what happens here - Fitzgerald needs more game time with Clarke off at the end of the year. Retalick could still make a good impact (as much impact as a tight forward can make, anyway) off the bench.

In all likelihood, Messam will start. That means Cane and Latimer will probably contest the 7 jersey (I think Latimer may get the spot this week), and either Lee or Filipo will be given the other vacant spot with the loser riding the pine. Kerr-Barlow and Cruden should partner up in the halves. The rest of the backline should remain almost unchanged, though Horrell will be fitted in somewhere. Nanai-Williams could do with a rest, after a heavy work load in the centres, but Rennie may not want to tamper with the centres again so early.

Damn i am sweating now; ITO fantasy rugby I already have 5 Blues players, JOC and some Stormers sitting out on the bye and now you're saying I have to worry about some of my 5 Chiefs players also sitting out potentially. Gonna be a tough round and I'm gonna struglle to put out a complete and/or competitive team. I've already lost two match ups T_T.

 

[Amobokoboko]

NZ Herald confirms that it's not sure if Messam get's a go this Friday article here

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

The Herald confirms they aren't sure?

 

[Amobokoboko]

A bit of humor on this snowy day never harms anybody

I wonder contract wise how long the chiefs still can keep him.

At the end of the month he's turing 29, changes of AB selection are realistic but moneywise an escapade to Europe or Japan wouldn't be a bad move for him.

 

[cyclone101]

The Kings have no experience with the chiefs style of playing, and while their loosies are ok, they will leak tries on the wings. I predict a cricket score.

 

[SomeOke]

Can't see the Kings getting close to a win, as much as the side is performing well as a unit, we ultimately don't have the fire power to pull off anything aggressive against the Chiefs. Ultimately I feel Chiefs will take it by about 10 points but never look like losing and have most of the territory and possession, if the Chiefs play it a bit looser the scoreboard may be higher in their favour but the Kings useful outside backs may get a try or two on the counter.

 

[Darwin]

This will be a very interesting game, and the Chief's squad will be debated long and hard I'm sure.

Messam could become the first Chief to play 100 games, if he is involved in the match. It sounds like he sure as heck wants to be, but the coaches may want to rest him (and give him his hundredth cap in Hamilton next week).

The Chiefs can't afford to slip up here, and the Kings are still a bit of an unknown. It's hard to take a whole lot out of last week's match - the Kings were superb on defence against the Sharks, but the SA derbies tend to end up as forward orientated contests. The Kings won against the Force, but that's not exactly a mean feat. All things said and done, the Chiefs will need to rest a couple of players, but won't want to weaken the team too much. Had Tameifuna been available he likely would've replaced Afeaki at tight head, but he has returned home on bereavement leave. Toby Smith will surely get a start at loose head, with either Kainga or Manu taking the bench spot.

Elliot will be at hooker, with Marshall on the bench. Potentially Retalick could be rested, with Fitzgerald given another start. I'm impartial to what happens here - Fitzgerald needs more game time with Clarke off at the end of the year. Retalick could still make a good impact (as much impact as a tight forward can make, anyway) off the bench.

In all likelihood, Messam will start. That means Cane and Latimer will probably contest the 7 jersey (I think Latimer may get the spot this week), and either Lee or Filipo will be given the other vacant spot with the loser riding the pine. Kerr-Barlow and Cruden should partner up in the halves. The rest of the backline should remain almost unchanged, though Horrell will be fitted in somewhere. Nanai-Williams could do with a rest, after a heavy work load in the centres, but Rennie may not want to tamper with the centres again so early.

Likely 22:
1 Smith*
2 Elliot
3 Afeaki
4 Clarke
5 Fitzgerald*
6 Messam
7 Latimer
8 Lee*
9 Kerr-Barlow
10 Cruden
11 Tikoirotuma
12 Ngatai
13 Horrell*
14 Masaga
15 Anscombe

16 Marshall
17 Kainga
18 Retalick
19 Filipo
20 Pulu
21 Nanai-Williams
22 Osborne

That would be four changes, which would be reasonable to me.

It will be interesting to see what sort of team the Chiefs put out. At the start of the tour the said they were going to rest Messam for this match, and I reckon the will go through with this. I'm picking a 6. Latimer, 7. Cane, 8. Lee trio, though they could use Crosswell (or even Filipo) at 6. I'm hoping to see Toby Smith start at prop too. I like the look of the backline you have suggested. They need to see Nanai-Williams out of 13 as soon as possible, and they need to get Horrell into the starting lineup. I would probably opt for Nanai-Williams on the wing rather than Tikoirotimu though.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

I'd prefer Nanai-Williams on the wing in the top team, but for this game I'm happy to see him given a rest. Filipo will be in the 22 one way or another, Rennie has said he will get some game time on the tour.

 

[Amobokoboko]

Normally Filippo should get some game time:

article here

 

[Larksea]

Chiefs:- Gareth Anscombe, Lelia Masaga, Tim Nanai-Williams, Andrew Horrell, Asaeli Tikoirotuma, Aaron Cruden, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Ross Filipo, Tanerau Latimer, Liam Messam, Michael Fitzgerald, Craig Clarke (c), Ben Afeaki, Hika Elliot, Toby Smith. Reserves: Rhys Marshall, Pauliasi Manu, Brodie Retallick, Sam Cane, Augustine Pulu, Charlie Ngatai, Patrick Osborne.


Bringing in Horrell does take some size out of the backline with Ngatai going to the bench, toby smith finally gets a start, Retalick gets rested, messam gets 100, Filipo gets Chiefs debut (Bullshit, where is Bradley)

 

[bobbilycious]

After my argument with Larksea about Ross Filipo and where he'd start, I would just like to put my hand up and admit I was wrong and you were right. I didn't expect him to be played at 8 at all. Personally, I would've put Messam there.

 

[Larksea]

that was probably me!

I pointed out some time ago that Filipo was going to be mainly #8 cover in the squad - basically replacing Alex Bradley.

I'm still really ****** they booted Waikato's star player and captain for Ross Fricken Filipo. After I think Bradley showed that he was more than capable at super rugby.

who would have thought we would have a chiefs squad with so few waikato players in it

 

[bobbilycious]

Yea, I think it was you. I've edited the above post.
I still don't agree that Bradley was more deserving of a spot than Filipo, however.

Hasn't Bradley just recently retired, by the way? I'm looking forward to seeing Rory Grice get some more game time for Waikato. A strong season could see him selected for a SupeRugby squad next year.

 

[Larksea]

so your saying that Ross Filipo is more deserving of selection in the 2013 Chiefs squad as a #8 than Inspirational Waikato Captian and specialist #8 and 2012 Chief Alex Bradly??

Grice started to look pretty good last ITM cup

 

[bobbilycious]

I haven't seen him play 8 so I wouldn't know. As a utility forward, I think he is more deserving of a spot.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Yep Bradley has retired from ALL rugby - including club (though he's said he could return to club in a couple of years).

Fairly predictable XV, few tweaks to the one I posted earlier.

The one thing I worry about is that combinations aren't being kept together much. This is the third different centre pairing (and it will change again within a couple of weeks, with Kahui back), and the third different loose forward trio.

Chiefs should in theory be too strong for the Kings.

 

[Darwin]

A pretty good looking Chiefs side, though as has been mentioned it looks to lack a bit of power in the midfield without Ngatai.

Like bobbilycious I'm slightly surprised to see Filipo in the 8 jersey, though I don't think it will be a major issue. I think he will fulfill a similar role that Kane Thomson did for the Chiefs last season - even though he has an 8 on his back he will play the role of a 6, with Messam doing the 'backfield work' of an 8. If he has strong game it wouldn't surprise me to see him stay at 8 for some time. Filipo had a very good ITM Cup for Wellington last season (I would be more than happy to have him in the Highlanders squad!), so I'm not quite sure what Larksea has against him!

As I have mentioned before Bradley was not good enough for Super Rugby, and was out of his depth when he played for the Chiefs last season. He is an inspirational 8 at ITM Cup level, but struggled with the pace of Super Rugby. He is painfully slow moving laterally (slower than than most props!), meaning he is a liability in defense - something you can't afford from a loose-forward! I do like the look of Rory Grice, and he should get a chance to shine during the next ITM Cup season with Bradley retired.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

The midfield isn't huge, but it's no smaller than when the Chiefs played the Highlanders (and they had Nonu at 12). Ideally I would've had Ngatai and Horrell there, until Kahui returns. That being said, Horrell will play at 12 for the majority of the season (all things going to plan), so it's not bad to have him there now too.