SuperRugby: Chiefs v Bulls. 25/05/2012

[Amobokoboko]

Waikato Stadium, Hamilton - 07:35 GMT, 25/05/2012

​

Chiefs squad announced:

1. Toby Smith 2. Hika Elliot 3. Ben Afeaki 4. Craig Clarke (c) 5. Brodie Retallick 6. Liam Messam - 90th game 7. Tanerau Latimer 8. KaneThompson 9. Tawera Kerr-Barlow 10. Aaron Cruden 11. Asaeli Tikoirotuma 12. Sonny Bill Williams 13. Jackson Willison 14. Lelia Masaga 15. Andrew Horrell 16. Mahonri Schwalger 17. Arizona Taumalolo 18. Michael Fitzgerald 19. Sam Cane 20. Brendon Leonard 21. Robbie Robinson 22. Maritino Nemani

Welcome back Ben Afeaki!!!Congrats to Messam as well for being the highest capped Chief of all time. Hope he can reach his 100th game really soon and sticks around for a couple of more seasons.

Should be a really good game.

 

[Bull]

Bulls РZane Kirchner, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Morn̩ Steyn, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Pierre Spies (c), 7 CJ Stander, 6 Dewald Potgieter, 5 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Dean Greyling.
Subs: 16 Willie Wepener, 17 Rayno Gerber, 18 Juandré Kruger, 19 Arno Botha, 20 Jano Vermaak, 21 Louis Fouché, 22 JJ Engelbrecht.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

You'd think with a week's rest Rennie would've stuck with Taumaifuna or Taumalolo for another week and have Afeaki come off the bench.

We have good depth going into the last rounds, in most positions at least. Kahui is a big loss, but good to have a number of key players back lately...

 

[Amobokoboko]

I think it's a good cause to give Sona and big Taumaifuna some extra rest. Still a couple of tough games on the calendar.

 

[TRF_heineken]

This is gonna be a cracker!!

My pick of the Weekend, and the Bulls will go into this game with the incentive that if the Stormers can pick up 13 points on tour, then so can we... Just hope their foot isn't already halfway on the plane on their way home...

 

[sonnench]

I think it's a good cause to give Sona and big Taumaifuna some extra rest. Still a couple of tough games on the calendar.

But this is the sort of game that they should of been rested for, it's a pretty big one imo.

 

[Amobokoboko]

Smith and Afeaki will be able to do some of the hard work themselves.
If the Highlanders can beat the Bulls, The Chiefs should give it a shot as well.

 

[blue b]

I think the Chiefs are in great form this year, and it will be a tough one!!! The only thing counting in the Bulls favour is the fact that Kahui is not there. After Kahui's departure against the Reds the Chiefs slipped BIG TIME! But like Heineken said, lets hope the Bulls are mentally still in Waikato.

 

[Larksea]

I think this is must win for both teams, like an early final. Super rugby is not about just scraping into the finals if you want to win you need to be top two on the table going into the finals to get home advantage. For at least the first couple of games.

chiefs will really miss Kahui and it's a massive call to leave out Taumaifuna and bring in Afeaki though I don't think they would make a change like this unless he was ready and looking good in training. And lets not forget that he has been considered the best 3 in NZ behind the franks brothers. Also a massive call to start Barlow again after Leonard has been doing so well.

I know some will call blasphemy but Toby smith ahead of Taumalolo should become the norm. As good as Sona has been Smith's a better player and in my view smith is the future for the chiefs and I think the All Blacks too.

But I guess it has been what I've been asking for, I do think they need to rotate players a bit now and it will pay off in the long run. I don't think Bye weeks are enough rest for players who have a big workload.

Interesting Horrell is still starting ahead of Robinson, he's been very impressive hardly puts a foot wrong and comes into the attack really well.

Great milestone for Messam, I really hope he has a blinder and forces All Black selection, he deserves it and this is the game he needs against a top team to do it.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

vBookie Chiefs-Bulls

A replay of the 2009 final, this time in Hamilton. Both teams have been amazing this year in their own ways. I feel the Chiefs will win it. According to the odds, it seems they are favorites.

I added the vBookie for the gamblers.

 

[Cave Dweller]

Chiefs are going to destroy them. 20+ points.

 

[Spooony]

Waikato or Noord Transvaal?

WTF?

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Have to keep some diversity in naming the teams hey. Otherwise it gets boring haha

Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using Tapatalk

 

[Gena_ZA]

lol, think the Chiefs are to strong fir the Bulla at the end of a long tour

 

[Darwin]

I think this is must win for both teams, like an early final. Super rugby is not about just scraping into the finals if you want to win you need to be top two on the table going into the finals to get home advantage. For at least the first couple of games.

chiefs will really miss Kahui and it's a massive call to leave out Taumaifuna and bring in Afeaki though I don't think they would make a change like this unless he was ready and looking good in training. And lets not forget that he has been considered the best 3 in NZ behind the franks brothers. Also a massive call to start Barlow again after Leonard has been doing so well.

I know some will call blasphemy but Toby smith ahead of Taumalolo should become the norm. As good as Sona has been Smith's a better player and in my view smith is the future for the chiefs and I think the All Blacks too.

But I guess it has been what I've been asking for, I do think they need to rotate players a bit now and it will pay off in the long run. I don't think Bye weeks are enough rest for players who have a big workload.

Interesting Horrell is still starting ahead of Robinson, he's been very impressive hardly puts a foot wrong and comes into the attack really well.

Great milestone for Messam, I really hope he has a blinder and forces All Black selection, he deserves it and this is the game he needs against a top team to do it.

Agree with all that Larksea - I'm really looking forward to seeing how the Chiefs front-row goes (as this was probably the first choice front-row at the start of the season before Afeaki and Smith got injured).

If the Bulls are to win this week they will need to execute their game-plan much better than the did vs the Highlanders. For some reason their kicking against the Highlanders was particularly aimless - if they are going to maintain this game-plan (which I'm sure they will), they will need to improved the accuracy of their kicking and (equally important) have a much better chasing game.

I'm picking the Chiefs to take it by 5-10.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

8 - 16 to the Bulls at halftime.

Bulls win a penalty right before halftime for player holding on, when the Bulls player never releases the Chiefs player - directly leading to the try. What the hell to AR's even do? Jesus it's disgraceful.

 

[Darwin]

Chiefs look very flat - I expect to see the likes of Taumalolo and Cane to come on pretty soon to try to add a bit of impact (perhaps for Afeaki and Thomson).

 

[donmcdazzle]

Chiefs have been very flat alright I agree Darwin.

Is it just me or is kirshner the most boring fullback in world footy? How does he ever make the boks?! What are you bulls' fans views on him?

 

[Darwin]

Chiefs have been very flat alright I agree Darwin.

Is it just me or is kirshner the most boring fullback in world footy? How does he ever make the boks?! What are you bulls' fans views on him?

Yes. Yes he is.

EDIT: Geez Horrell is playing well considering he is out of position.

 

[donmcdazzle]

Chiefs need sona on there he would've scored on these pick and go movements.