Chiefs 2019
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Interesting discussion of the Chiefs woes on the Shortball podcast today. Apparently (new defence coach) Neil Barnes came up with a new defensive system, and trained the players with it. When the AB's returned it was found that "it would take too long to get them up to speed with it", so it was abandoned. Hence their defence is truly shit.
Problems with returning ABs not getting with the program are vintage Blues stuff. This also goes along with the rumours of senior players and coaches not seeing eye-to-eye. Perhaps it is a player attitude problem?
Something sounds very amateur about that.
It can't be that the ABs aren't professional enough to learn, so it could be attitude, but they still have Cane and BBBR - can't seem them being problematic and they are senior enough to take others with them.
So, it is more likely that the system had some problems - perhaps pointed out by the returning players, or that it takes too long for training, in which case it's too complex (but what kind of defence is that complicated).
And this is also separate to them straight up missing tackles - which is why I assume ENS has been sat down - I think he has been missing 3-4 a game.
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Something sounds very amateur about that.
It can't be that the ABs aren't professional enough to learn, so it could be attitude, but they still have Cane and BBBR - can't seem them being problematic and they are senior enough to take others with them.
So, it is more likely that the system had some problems - perhaps pointed out by the returning players, or that it takes too long for training, in which case it's too complex (but what kind of defence is that complicated).
And this is also separate to them straight up missing tackles - which is why I assume ENS has been sat down - I think he has been missing 3-4 a game.
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What do you mean by that?
I would have thought that the AB coaches would be liaising with the franchises and I can't see how the Chiefs couldn't have just rested the ABs until they worked out the new system.
On reflection, I think it has to be something else, like perhaps the players seeing through the coaches and wondering why the fuck they are being trained by people not good enough to be there? If there is a player attitude problem, I'll bet it starts with that - many of these guys had Rennie and Smith and Coventry and may quite simply think that these guys are muppets. That's what the evidence suggests so far.
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What do you mean by that?
I would have thought that the AB coaches would be liaising with the franchises and I can't see how the Chiefs couldn't have just rested the ABs until they worked out the new system.
On reflection, I think it has to be something else, like perhaps the players seeing through the coaches and wondering why the fuck they are being trained by people not good enough to be there? If there is a player attitude problem, I'll bet it starts with that - many of these guys had Rennie and Smith and Coventry and may quite simply think that these guys are muppets. That's what the evidence suggests so far.
@gt12 Frankly, the NZRU has been pulling players out of games and preseason training in Super Rugby and the NPC, and it's really showing it's effect this year. Those competitions are not treated as first class, and it damages the product. I was really pissed off with how they pulled players out of the NPC playoffs, and put AB's back into them, with zero regard for how it affected the competition.
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What do you mean by that?
I would have thought that the AB coaches would be liaising with the franchises and I can't see how the Chiefs couldn't have just rested the ABs until they worked out the new system.
On reflection, I think it has to be something else, like perhaps the players seeing through the coaches and wondering why the fuck they are being trained by people not good enough to be there? If there is a player attitude problem, I'll bet it starts with that - many of these guys had Rennie and Smith and Coventry and may quite simply think that these guys are muppets. That's what the evidence suggests so far.
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@gt12 Frankly, the NZRU has been pulling players out of games and preseason training in Super Rugby and the NPC, and it's really showing it's effect this year. Those competitions are not treated as first class, and it damages the product. I was really pissed off with how they pulled players out of the NPC playoffs, and put AB's back into them, with zero regard for how it affected the competition.
I see. I agree that these competitions get the short-end sometimes, but I'm not as worried about it or at least what I want to say is that as long as the Abs keep winning, I have n problem with it. I'll happily have a winless Chiefs season if it ends up with the ABs winning the world cup.
Right now though the Chiefs problems aren't, IMO, a problem of the ABs or treatment of teams by the NZRU - it's simpler than that - just shitty coaching and selecting.
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I see. I agree that these competitions get the short-end sometimes, but I'm not as worried about it or at least what I want to say is that as long as the Abs keep winning, I have n problem with it. I'll happily have a winless Chiefs season if it ends up with the ABs winning the world cup.
Right now though the Chiefs problems aren't, IMO, a problem of the ABs or treatment of teams by the NZRU - it's simpler than that - just shitty coaching and selecting.
@gt12 The problem is, that if the NZRU's stewardship of the sub-AB game stays like this, then you aren't going to have as many fans watching, and supporting the bottom line. There's a hell of a lot more non-AB viewing hours.
Look at the North Shore - rugby's popularity has really slid there, despite a fast growing population. My and my friends' nephews and sons don't give a shit about rugby.
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i beleive the cheifs have been trying to get another coach in to help with the defence.barnes did well with the forwards last year but is strugling with defence this year.
i thought a canterbury poster here said that matson was shit and were happy to see the back of him.last year i thought we went backwards in our back play and this year is worse so if that poster looks to be corect -
@gt12 The problem is, that if the NZRU's stewardship of the sub-AB game stays like this, then you aren't going to have as many fans watching, and supporting the bottom line. There's a hell of a lot more non-AB viewing hours.
Look at the North Shore - rugby's popularity has really slid there, despite a fast growing population. My and my friends' nephews and sons don't give a shit about rugby.
I'm not completely disagreeing with your point - those competitions are important - only arguing that I don't see that as the problem here. I'm not being turned off the Chiefs right now because of NZRU, I'm being turned off because we plan like a team with no offensive nor defensive planning or systems. As @ploughboy has mentioned, that seems to be a coaching issue, and if we need help then that's where I'd be unhappy with the NZRU if they didn't step in and start throwing their weight around to get these players being developed.
Certainly, so far, our back play and offense has been 'pass it to Dmac', so WTF Matson is doing, I don't know. Plus of course, our defense (Barnes), and our skills (Strawbridge)...
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Chiefs Development team named to play a New Zealand Under 20 Selection XV in Palmerston North on Saturday:
1 Shigure Takao (Kobelco Steelers)
2 Donald Maka (Taranaki)
3 Sue Asomua (Counties Manukau)
4 Aaron Carroll (Bay of Plenty)
5 Damon Leasuasu (Counties Manukau)
6 Tom Florence (Taranaki)
7 Jeriah Mua (Bay of Plenty)
8 Pita Gus Sowakula (Taranaki)
9 Ranieraa Takarangi (Waikato)
10 Tom Jordan (Waikato)
11 Valynce Te Whare Crosby (Waikato)
12 Charlie Lawrence (Kobelco Steelers)
13 Matt Garland (Bay of Plenty)
14 Tomoyuki Ochiai (Kobelco Steelers)
15 Tyler Campbell (Waikato)Reserves:
16 Zuriel Togiamata (Counties Manukau)
17 Haraiti Hetet (Waikato)
18 Wesley Tapueluleu (Waikato)
19 Zane Kapeli (Bay of Plenty)
20 Quade Tapsell (Waikato)
21 Gordie Lloyd (Bay of Plenty)
22 Cortez Lee Ratima (Waikato)
23 Issie Shige (Kobelco Steelers)
24 Taniela Filimone (Bay of Plenty)
25 Broc Hooper (Counties Manukau)Unavailable for selection due to injury or other commitments: Pisi Leilua (Counties Manukau), Brandon Mudzekenyedz (Waikato), Sekope Lopeti Moli (Waikato), John Inoue (Kobelco Steelers).
Unavailable for selection due to NZU20 trials: Benet Kumeroa (Bay of Plenty)
Kicking off at 12.00pm the Splice Construction Chiefs Development side will be bolstered with the inclusion of Gallagher Chiefs number eight Pita Gus Sowakula and the return of Counties Manukau tighthead prop Sue Asomua. Six players from the University of Waikato Chiefs Under 20’s team have also been included to take the field against the New Zealand Under 20 selection XV. Following two comfortable wins over the University of Waikato Chiefs Under 20’s and Blues Development the Splice Construction Chiefs Development side will be wanting to deliver another positive performance against the New Zealand Under 20’s Selection XV which will feature 17 University of Waikato Chiefs Under 20’s players. -
Surely you cannot call this team the Chiefs Development Team when jersey numbers 1, 12, 14 and 22 are presumably not eligible to play for the Chiefs. They are not even listed with a New Zealand team affiliation for starters. Has someone slung a bit of money around to get them selected?
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Surely you cannot call this team the Chiefs Development Team when jersey numbers 1, 12, 14 and 22 are presumably not eligible to play for the Chiefs. They are not even listed with a New Zealand team affiliation for starters. Has someone slung a bit of money around to get them selected?
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With former Melbourne Rebels pivot Jack Debreczeni available again after an illness that ruled him out last week, the Chiefs have a selection conundrum to solve ahead of announcing their team on Thursday night (NZ time). Debreczeni was set for his first Chiefs start against the Hurricanes but Marty McKenzie took his place alongside his younger brother, who looked like his electric self again after an indifferent spell at first-five. "Having a world class fullback at the back made a difference and we'll probably be looking to do that again," Matson said of All Black Damian McKenzie.Either Debreczeni or Marty McKenzie will start at first-five should Damian McKenzie, as expected, remain at fullback, while the Chiefs are further boosted by the return of outside back Solomon Alaimalo after recovering from a head knock. Matson said Alaimalo's availability was "critical" and he would be a likely starter to help combat the commanding kicking game of Bulls and Springboks first-five Handre Polland, who is the competition's leading points scorer with 74, which is 28 more than any other player. -
Chiefs Development team to play Blues A in Hamilton tomorrow (2.30pm, Beetham Park)
1 Chris Grawler (Taranaki)
2 Zuriel Tongiamata (Counties Manukau)
3 Jeff Thwaites (Bay of Plenty)
4 Laghlan McWhannell (Waikato)
5 Damon Leasuasu (Counties Manukau)
6 Tom Florence (Taranaki)
7 Jeriah Mua (Bay of Plenty)
8 Pita Gus Sowakula (Taranaki)
9 Jonathan Taumateine (Counties Manukau) (Captain)
10 Rivez Reihana (Waikato)
11 Brandon Mudzekenyedz (Waikato)
12 Quinn Tupaea (Waikato)
13 Bailyn Sullivan (Waikato)
14 Mosese Dawai (Waikato)
15 Shaun Stevenson (Chiefs)Reserves:
16 Donald Maka (Taranaki)
17 Sean Bagshaw (Counties Manukau)
18 Shigure Takao (Kobelco Steelers)
19 Sue Asomua (Counties Manukau)
20 Tupou Vaa’i (Taranaki)
21 Savelio Ropati (Counties Manukau)
22 Hugo Nankivell (Waikato)
23 Carlos Price (Waikato)
24 Charlie Lawrence (Kobelco Steelers)
25 Issie Shige (Kobelco Steelers)
26 Tomoyuli Ochiai (Kobelco Steelers) -
Chiefs Development team to play Blues A in Hamilton tomorrow (2.30pm, Beetham Park)
1 Chris Grawler (Taranaki)
2 Zuriel Tongiamata (Counties Manukau)
3 Jeff Thwaites (Bay of Plenty)
4 Laghlan McWhannell (Waikato)
5 Damon Leasuasu (Counties Manukau)
6 Tom Florence (Taranaki)
7 Jeriah Mua (Bay of Plenty)
8 Pita Gus Sowakula (Taranaki)
9 Jonathan Taumateine (Counties Manukau) (Captain)
10 Rivez Reihana (Waikato)
11 Brandon Mudzekenyedz (Waikato)
12 Quinn Tupaea (Waikato)
13 Bailyn Sullivan (Waikato)
14 Mosese Dawai (Waikato)
15 Shaun Stevenson (Chiefs)Reserves:
16 Donald Maka (Taranaki)
17 Sean Bagshaw (Counties Manukau)
18 Shigure Takao (Kobelco Steelers)
19 Sue Asomua (Counties Manukau)
20 Tupou Vaa’i (Taranaki)
21 Savelio Ropati (Counties Manukau)
22 Hugo Nankivell (Waikato)
23 Carlos Price (Waikato)
24 Charlie Lawrence (Kobelco Steelers)
25 Issie Shige (Kobelco Steelers)
26 Tomoyuli Ochiai (Kobelco Steelers) -
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