Chiefs 2018

[Hooroo]

Thanks.

I didn't see their positions under their names!

[Bovidae]

@tim said in Chiefs 2018:

Who's in your XXIII, Chiefs fans?

1. Hames

2. Harris

3. Laulala

4. Retallick

5. Bird

6. Brown

7. Cane

8. Messam

9. Weber (to start with)

10. DMac

11. Alaimalo

12. Ngatai

13. ALB

14. Pulu

15. Stevenson

16. Taukei'aho

17. Graham

18. Moli

19. Seu

20. Boshier

21. TTT

22. Falcon

23. TNW

[Hooroo]

@bovidae That is a very very sexy midfield!!!

[Hooroo]

@bovidae and even sexier front row!

[Tim]

@bovidae Cheers. Strong first XV. Probably questions over squad depth though?

[Hooroo]

@tim said in Chiefs 2018:

@bovidae Cheers. Strong first XV. Probably questions over squad depth though?

Agreed. Is Moli the hopeless Auckland lock?

[Hooroo]

Nope! prop I see. I really can answer most of my own questions

[Tim]

@hooroo No, he is the solid tighthead prop from Waikato who trained with the ABs this year.

[Bovidae]

My guess for the squad wasn't too far off the mark.

I think Cooper may have MMac on the bench to cover 10/15 and TNW could start on the right wing ahead of Pulu. Just don't use him in the midfield.

Barnes wanted Ardron so he could be the no.8 with Messam moving to 6. I rate Brown so I would like him to be in the 23.

The battle at halfback will be interesting as the season unfolds.

[Bovidae]

Just thinking about who was available for selection but missed out from the 2017 squad.

Only Tucker, Donald, Tiatia and Fisiiahi.

[gt12]

Well, at least Fisiiahi foodbill is gone. Pretty average squad beyond a strong first 15. A few injuries and we'll really struggle.

Fucking Marty Mckenzie is back. Bloody hell. Fucking TNW is back too. If I see him in midfield, I'm going to drive to Colin Coopers house and throw my beer through his TV.

As much as I love him, I can't see how Messam deserves a starting spot. I would have given him the tap and asked him to leave. At least, I hope to see Seu starting and Messam off the bench. We're heavy on opensides, so I wonder if we might see Cane not at 7, in order to get the three best loosies on the field.

[KiwiPie]

Could be a long year for the Chiefs. Only 10 with experience is Marty Mac and he shouldn't be in any squad. Ardron is a mystery, Canadian skipper but a nonentity for the Bay this season, Parete was picked ahead of him and consistently played better than him.

[Bovidae]

@gt12 said in Chiefs 2018:

We're heavy on opensides, so I wonder if we might see Cane not at 7, in order to get the three best loosies on the field.

Who are they?

I think Seu is better coming off the bench, either at lock or 6. His defence can be hit and miss.

Boshier is a great backup to Cane, and Sam has ended games at no.8.

Who plays at no.8 is an unknown at this stage. Messam, Brown, Ardron and Jacobson can all play there.

[gt12]

@bovidae said in Chiefs 2018:

@gt12 said in Chiefs 2018:

We're heavy on opensides, so I wonder if we might see Cane not at 7, in order to get the three best loosies on the field.

Who are they?

I think Seu is better coming off the bench, either at lock or 6. His defence can be hit and miss.

Boshier is a great backup to Cane, and Sam has ended games at no.8.

Who plays at no.8 is an unknown at this stage. Messam, Brown, Ardron and Jacobson can all play there.

No idea, but I don't think Messam should be in that list, and if he is then we really are weak there. I think that Seu should be the 6 to develop, unless Brown (who I don't know much about) becomes that guy.

With Cane, Boshier, and Karpik, I think we have plenty of 7s - and I'm personally a big fan of Boshier - so I wouldn't mind seeing Cane at 8 if needed.

[GagaBoy]

Some lack of depth beyond the first XV... Ardron is an under performer as already stated by KiwiPie. Reminds me of Pierre Spies - looks like Tarzan, play like... Shame Parete didn't get a look in, got so go that young fella.

MMac, TNW, even Messam (yes I know, needed for the mana!) - not even sure how Fin Hoeata got a gig. I assume Cooper has a soft spot for him, but I haven't seen much him for a while. Didn't he have concussion issues?

Weak squad in my opinion, but I thought that a couple of years ago and they won the bloody thing... twice!

[Bovidae]

@gagaboy

Hoeata was involved with the Chiefs this year but got injured at the Brisbane 10s - ankle ligament damage.

He's young but is definitely a hometown selection. Hoeata wasn't even starting for Taranaki and neither starting locks (both 30+) are playing Super rugby.

[ARHS]

@gagaboy
Bit disappointed at the overall quality of the new signings, with no real standouts (perhaps Tahuriorangi will prove me wrong). But, hoping Aumua can make an impact out wide as limited power in the outside backs. Glad McNicol is back. Would be much happier if Delany or Donald was in there to add to mentoring. Feel sorry for Manihera and Parete, Tucker and Mewett re the Ardron and Hoeata selections. Hope they justify their selections.

For me Cane, Seu, Boshier and Messam would make a very useful loosie quartet, with some positional flexibility. Quite surprised Boshier was not mentioned in openside considerations for ABs with Lentjes, Gibson and Hunt.

[Bovidae]

Out of the 38-man squad only 6 weren't involved this year. So the player turnover isn't as great as in previous years. That said, the loss of experience/class with Elliot, TKB, Cruden and Lowe cannot be underestimated.

[gt12]

@bovidae

That's really the point, isn't it - a lot of class has gone, and we are banking on young players coming through and showing class, because we haven't really signed any. Sadly, I don't see us making the playoffs. I hope I'm wrong.

[cgrant]

@bovidae said in Chiefs 2018:

@tim said in Chiefs 2018:

Who's in your XXIII, Chiefs fans?

1. Hames

2. Harris

3. Laulala

4. Retallick

5. Bird

6. Brown

7. Cane

8. Messam

9. Weber (to start with)

10. DMac

11. Alaimalo

12. Ngatai

13. ALB

14. Pulu

15. Stevenson

16. Taukei'aho

17. Graham

18. Moli

19. Seu

20. Boshier

21. TTT

22. Falcon

23. TNW

11. McNicol
12. Alaimalo