Chiefs 2021

[Higgins]

@mikedogz Is that the Counties B Team or is it the best of the non Super Rugby players still floating round in your province?

[Stargazer]

@higgins I always assume (and that may be entirely wrong), that several provinces giver their wider training group the name of their development team. Like Hawke's Bay Saracens up until the Magpies squad is named; Manawatu Evergreens; etc.

[mikedogz]

@higgins Best of the rest who are playing club rugby.

[Bovidae]

Here are the updated squads for the games tomorrow.

https://www.chiefs.co.nz/news-item/chiefs-country-centurion-cup-squad-lists

Poihipi, Van Den Hoven and Kapeli are in the BOP squad.

[Stargazer]

@bovidae And Hetet seems to have moved from BOP to Waikato.

[Bovidae]

@stargazer Hetet plays for Otorohanga so was basically loaned to BOP last year (or not wanted by Waikato).

[Bovidae]

Like Alaimalo at the Chiefs, Tiatia also got out of the last year of his contract with the Canes.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/124624149/super-rugby-aotearoa-the-reason-chase-tiatia-quit-the-hurricanes-for-the-chiefs

[Yeetyaah]

@bovidae

Instead, he is embracing the ‘super-sub’ role – one which looks set to continue for him against the Blues in Hamilton on Saturday night, with the Chiefs likely to stick with Kaleb Trask and McKenzie as their starting 10-15.

No McKenzie at 10 this weekend then. Article also mentioned that Tiatia signed a. 2 year deal.

[Crucial]

@yeetyaah said in Chiefs 2021:

@bovidae

Instead, he is embracing the ‘super-sub’ role – one which looks set to continue for him against the Blues in Hamilton on Saturday night, with the Chiefs likely to stick with Kaleb Trask and McKenzie as their starting 10-15.

No McKenzie at 10 this weekend then. Article also mentioned that Tiatia signed a. 2 year deal.

I think moving DMac during a game is a good option. He doesn’t do as well at 10 when he starts there. Starting at 15 gives him a chance to watch the pattern of play from the opposition and take advantage of it later on.

[Bovidae]

@yeetyaah I'm expecting a similar starting XV for the Blues game. Maybe Wainui back in the mix.

[Stargazer]

@bovidae Leave ENS out, move Lowe to the left wing, to allow Wainui to play on the right wing?

[Bovidae]

@stargazer Nah, ENS is the only Chiefs winger who has looked threatening with the ball so far. Wainui is more likely to be at centre or in the reserves (my preference if he is in the 23) than on the wing.

[Yeetyaah]

@bovidae but ENS has huge defensive issues. I think Lowe has looked pretty good tbh.

[Bovidae]

@yeetyaah I was going to mention that defence is still a work-on for ENS. Ironically, the opposition have been scoring most of their tries on the other flank.

As I said, I'd keep ENS and Lowe as the wingers.

[mikedogz]

https://www.chiefs.co.nz/news-item/chiefs-development-named-to-face-blues-at-fmg-stadium-waikato?fbclid=IwAR2boCQ0mx1AetXNLSEfQyclYw8KEteGLoUJcsXPFR8GxNsoki7JG1iBMrA

[Bovidae]

As a graphic

[Bovidae]

Having a scan through the squads from last Sat, I can't see Kumeroa listed in any team. A LH prop obviously.

Lowe can't be that ill if he is meant to be playing in this game.

[ploughboy]

@bovidae google tells be ex weightlifter and current nz u20s trailist from bop

[Yeetyaah]

@bovidae I'm a bit pissed off about the Lowe situation. Funny he's actually just turned up to the coffee club Te Rapa where I'm having breakfast. I don't know why he's "sick" and can't play vs the Blues but he can play the u20s.

[ploughboy]

@bovidae not current u20 last year