Chiefs 2019
-
Article about Brad Weber below.
But while he talks about his role as captain and the way the team has been performing at length, he only has two words when it comes to whether he's had any correspondence from the All Blacks on his big season: "Nah, nothing." On the surface, that's not that unheard of. There's been plenty of guys over history that have played out of their skin and not even turned the heads of the All Black selectors. But this would have to be the first time in a long, long time that said player was starting ahead of the very man the selectors will pick. Not just starting but finishing too: Weber put in a rare 80 minute shift on Saturday night in a position that is religiously substituted in the professional era. It also shows that perhaps Steve Hansen doesn't have quite the sway over Super Rugby coaches that everyone presumes he does. Cooper's plan for the Chiefs is now revolving around Weber, now that Damian McKenzie (a player that seemed to be getting shifted between positions at Hansen's behest) is out for the rest of the season. Weber said that while he has a year left on his contract with the Chiefs, he can opt out and cash up overseas. Tahuriorangi re-signing with the team through to 2022 is a pretty clear indication that may well be the case. If it is, it would end a unique New Zealand rugby career for Brad Weber, a man destined to only wear the All Black jersey once, then spend the rest of his time making people wonder why he never got to do it again.@Stargazer said in Chiefs 2019:
Article about Brad Weber below.
But while he talks about his role as captain and the way the team has been performing at length, he only has two words when it comes to whether he's had any correspondence from the All Blacks on his big season: "Nah, nothing." On the surface, that's not that unheard of. There's been plenty of guys over history that have played out of their skin and not even turned the heads of the All Black selectors. But this would have to be the first time in a long, long time that said player was starting ahead of the very man the selectors will pick. Not just starting but finishing too: Weber put in a rare 80 minute shift on Saturday night in a position that is religiously substituted in the professional era. It also shows that perhaps Steve Hansen doesn't have quite the sway over Super Rugby coaches that everyone presumes he does. Cooper's plan for the Chiefs is now revolving around Weber, now that Damian McKenzie (a player that seemed to be getting shifted between positions at Hansen's behest) is out for the rest of the season. Weber said that while he has a year left on his contract with the Chiefs, he can opt out and cash up overseas. Tahuriorangi re-signing with the team through to 2022 is a pretty clear indication that may well be the case. If it is, it would end a unique New Zealand rugby career for Brad Weber, a man destined to only wear the All Black jersey once, then spend the rest of his time making people wonder why he never got to do it again.If Jamie Wall wants to wonder why Webber won't get picked, he can open his eyes and watch Webber's passing. That Cooper selects him over anyone else is not an argument in his favour.
-
@Stargazer Where is James Tucker?
I can only assume he's injured if these guys are getting called up instead of him.
-
@Dice He was in the crowd at the Chiefs vs Sharks game and he seemed fine, no braces on any limbs or anything like that. I also wondered the same thing when I saw him.
-
@Yeetyaah It's strange if there's nothing wrong with him and he's not called up, because he was one of the best locks/blindsides in the NPC. I don't think anyone has heard of the two guys called up.
-
So it's not only the Crusaders having their awards night before the SR finals; the Chiefs had their awards night, tonight:
2019 University of Waikato Under 20 Player of the Year - Kaylum Boshier
2019 Splice Construction Development Player of the Year - Aaron Carroll
First Windows & Doors 2019 Rookie of the Year - Etene Nanai-Seturo
2019 @waikatodraught Fans’ Player of the Year - Brad Weber
2019 Personality of the Year - Angus Ta’avao
2019 Mana Kotiate - Tyler Ardron
2019 Players’ Player of the Year - Anton Lienert-Brown
2019 Coaches’ Player of the Year - Brad Weber -
I'm still thinking we'll see a fair bit of a Cane Savea Read back 3 in the big RWC games
-
He was listed as a reserve to play club rugby for Rangatau In Tauranga last weekend.
-
He was listed as a reserve to play club rugby for Rangatau In Tauranga last weekend.
@Snollygoster Thanks! So, he's back from injury then. I'll look out for this weekend's line-ups to be sure.
-
-
-
freeing him up for the top job...
-
@taniwharugby Or not. I just can't see him as an ABs head coach. Assistant?
@Stargazer Tews job
-
Was Cooper really that bad? The initial woes for the Chiefs were DMac at first five. The team just couldn't gel with him there. It was mostly on the up after that.
Sure they didn't over achieve but they finished about where they should for the squad and injuries they had.
