Waratahs v Chiefs

[Darwin]

Important game for both teams. The Chiefs will be hoping to play in some good weather, as they have played in some truly horrible weather over the last two weeks.

The Chiefs have been named:
Tim Nanai-Williams, Lelia Masaga, Richard Kahui, Dwayne Sweeney, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Mike Delany, Brendon Leonard, Liam Messam (captain), Tanerau Latimer, Scott Waldrom, Isaac Ross, Craig Clarke, Nathan White, Hika Elliot, Toby Smith. Reserves: Aled de Malmanche, Sona Taumalolo, Culum Retallick, Fritz Lee, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Tana Umaga, Save Tokula.

Good to see minimal changes again for the Chiefs. Two changes to the starting lineup, with Sweeney replacing Umuga, and Toby Smith in for Taumalolo. Umuga is probably being rested, as he has started a number of games in a row (4?), but I'm not convinced Sweeney is the right man to replace him - I'd have given Willison the start at 12 (assuming he is not injured?). Great to see Toby Smith back starting and Kerr-Barlow back on the bench replacing Moa.

 

[Shaggy]

Important game for both teams. The Chiefs will be hoping to play in some good weather, as they have played in some truly horrible weather over the last two weeks.

The Chiefs have been named:
Tim Nanai-Williams, Lelia Masaga, Richard Kahui, Dwayne Sweeney, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Mike Delany, Brendon Leonard, Liam Messam (captain), Tanerau Latimer, Scott Waldrom, Isaac Ross, Craig Clarke, Nathan White, Hika Elliot, Toby Smith. Reserves: Aled de Malmanche, Sona Taumalolo, Culum Retallick, Fritz Lee, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Tana Umaga, Save Tokula.

Good to see minimal changes again for the Chiefs. Two changes to the starting lineup, with Sweeney replacing Umuga, and Toby Smith in for Taumalolo. Umuga is probably being rested, as he has started a number of games in a row (4?), but I'm not convinced Sweeney is the right man to replace him - I'd have given Willison the start at 12 (assuming he is not injured?). Great to see Toby Smith back starting and Kerr-Barlow back on the bench replacing Moa.

The inclusion of Toby Smith should add some steel to the Chiefs Forward pack, and may cause some disruption to the Warratahs scrum ... I agree with the Kerr-Barlow/Moa comment too ... after last week, the Chiefs must be considering send Moa back to the Blues

... Haven't heard the Tahs line up yet, but heard that Al Baxter is out, but Polota-Nau, and Robinson might be back in

 

[northharbour]

Im Surprised they have chosen Sweeney at 12. Agree Willison would have been better. (he is not injured)

The Chiefs really need Kahui to step up this week and lead this back line. With out Umaga there, they loose that leadership that has given them a pretty good defensive line.

Also Sitivini Sivivatu has been linked to Clermont on a 2 year deal after the world cup. Hopefully he will go out with a bang.

Go the Chiefs!!!

 

[northharbour]

... Haven't heard the Tahs line up yet, but heard that Al Baxter is out, but Polota-Nau, and Robinson might be back in

Beale is starting at 10 with Barnes out.

 

[Darwin]

Waratahs named:
Lachie Turner, Atieli Pakalani, Ryan Cross, Tom Carter, Drew Mitchell, Kurtley Beale, Luke Burgess, Wycliff Palu, Phil Waugh (capt), Ben Mowen, Pat O'Connor, Dean Mumm, Sekope Kepu, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson. Reserves: Damien Fitzpatrick, Paddy Ryan, Dave Dennis, Sitaleki Timani, Pat McCutcheon, Brendan McKibbin, Daniel Halangahu.

Quite a few changes for the Tahs due to injuries to the likes of Al Baxter, Kane Douglas, and Berrick Barnes. As expected Beale moves into 10, with Turner switching to fullback. Interesting to see that they have gone with a 5/2 split on the bench.

The Waratah's are bound to start as favourites, but I think it could be quite close. Up front I'd expect Toby Smith will cause Sekope Kepu a lot of troubles at scrum time, but the Tahs do have an edge in the remaining from row positions, as both Polota-Nau and Robinson are excellent players. The battle between the loose-forwards will be great to watch, particularly the battle between Phil Waugh and Scott Waldrom. The backlines look pretty evenly matched, but much will depend on how Beale goes at first-five.

Overall I'm picking the Waratahs to take it by 5-10 points..

 

[smartcooky]

Waratahs by the length of the straight.

Mind you, I said that about Hurricanes v Rebels last week.... and look what happened!!!

 

[donmcdazzle]

Chiefs in a boilover.

 

[Larksea]

yeah you pretty much echo my comments in the thread I made:

"really worried about Sweeny at 12 for Tana. Dwayne's passing just hasn't been happening this season and having him so close in could starve the chiefs classy outside 4 players of some much needed ball. I'd sooner play Kahui at 12 and Tokula at 13 or bring jackson-willison in to play 12. Good to see toby smith back starting and Barlow back in the squad. Moa has not impressed coming off the bench. No backup 10 on the bench so nanai will cover 10, big call for a guy who should really be concentrating on improving his defence and positional play.

Good thing about this 22 is the firepower on the bench. Aled, Sona, Fritz, barlow and tokula can all add genuine impact late in the game if conditions suit."

I think the chiefs will win this one. Though I'm worried about sweany I just dont think he should be starting at 12 at this level against a "top" side. The chiefs have huge strength from 13 - 15 and sweany has been running too much ball into the ground. What they need is Kahui sending that deadly back 3 away.

 

[Cassie]

This one is going to go down to the wire I think Chiefs to edge Waratahs in a gruelling match.

 

[Amobokoboko]

Important game for the Chiefs,, they have their bye next week and then the clash with the Crusaders.
Also lots of negative media attention on Foster which will influence the atmo in Hamilton. So fingers crossed and goo Chiefs.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Anyone watching this? 30 minutes played and a penalty try to the Tahs which makes it a 17-6 lead for the Tahs. Right before the penalty try, the Chiefs had to go on with 14 men for 10 after a yellow...

 

[TRF_Olyy]

That scrum series for the penalty try was ridiculous,
Took over 4minutes of resets, and the "touch......................pause.............................engage" was the longest I've ever head, especially inbetween "pause" and "engage"

 

[niedermayer]

Yeah, they didn't show the reverse angle on that scrum so it was impossible to tell whether there was an infringement or not. The Chiefs players looked really ****** off though.

The Chiefs forwards look average, which is a shame considering their play in the last few weeks. Have they even had the ball inside the Tah's half tonight?

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

It's not a nice match to watch so far. Nathan White is coming back on now. Let's see what the Chiefs can do now. I am afraid the Tahs will win this by a big margin

 

[niedermayer]

That long gap between the scrum commands seems to be a pretty common theme this year in Super 15. They wait far too long between the "pause" and "engage" commands. And there seem to be more reset scrums than ever. Not a great start by the referees so far this year from what I've seen.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

What bugs me the most is the big wait between the 2 calls (Pause....Engage) is that you see too many early engagements which result in penalties. That is frustrating

 

[niedermayer]

The Chiefs are pretty consistent at handing the ball back to the Waratahs every time they get it

 

[niedermayer]

And now the referee hits the Chiefs when they are down...oh well. I think the 'Tahs are about to open the floodgates

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Try by Nanai-Williams... If they convert, they are within 7 points (Bonuspoint)

 

[niedermayer]

The Chiefs do pretty well when they can actually hang on to the ball. Too bad their players are turnover machines. Will be interesting to see how this plays out now.