Chiefs v Drua

[Crazy Horse]

If Lord plays I am looking forward to seeing how he goes. Prior to his injury I thought he appeared like he was somewhat bigger than when he played for the ABs and he was winning his fair share of contact situations.

[Crucial]

@ploughboy said in Chiefs v Drua:

moli must be getting close

I'm sure I've seen that post for years now.

[ploughboy]

@Crucial said in Chiefs v Drua:

@ploughboy said in Chiefs v Drua:

moli must be getting close

I'm sure I've seen that post for years now.

i know but if he can get back to his best (im a pessimist)he is our missing link

[Bovidae]

@ploughboy said in Chiefs v Drua:

i know but if he can get back to his best (im a pessimist)he is our missing link

What role do you see for Moli? I agree that a fully fit and mobile Moli would be a great bench TH option, and provide more options and allow rotation. Dyer has made a huge difference to the stability of the scrum since he has started, but Moli would definitely offer more than Ryan around the field.

[ploughboy]

@Bovidae said in Chiefs v Drua:

@ploughboy said in Chiefs v Drua:

i know but if he can get back to his best (im a pessimist)he is our missing link

What role do you see for Moli? I agree that a fully fit and mobile Moli would be a great bench TH option, and provide more options and allow rotation. Dyer has made a huge difference to the stability of the scrum since he has started, but Moli would definitely offer more than Ryan around the field.

dyers been good but still has training wheels on. defilently need him on bench or starting

[ARHS]

Dyer is going well in my view. Thought Taukeiaho might have an enforced rest this week though.
Hoping to see Nankivell back to add some penetration on attack.

[ploughboy]

@ARHS said in Chiefs v Drua:

Dyer is going well in my view. Thought Taukeiaho might have an enforced rest this week though.
Hoping to see Nankivell back to add some penetration on attack.

mate im not anti dyer i think hes got the goods but we carnt expect him to carry the tighthead side by himself.in his first year in the side

[ARHS]

@ploughboy yes agreed. Just want someone to share the workload so hope Moli back soon and maybe Taavao before finals?

[Bovidae]

https://www.chiefs.co.nz/news-item/gallagher-chiefs-inject-fresh-talent-for-clash-against-the-fijian-drua

Gallagher Chiefs team to face the Fijian Drua:

1 Ollie Norris (35)
2 Samisoni Taukei'aho (70)
3 John Ryan (7)
4 Brodie Retallick (Captain, 121)
5 Manaaki Selby-Rickit (2)
6 Samipeni Finau (24)
7 Kaylum Boshier (15)
8 Pita Gus Sowakula (60)
9 Cortez Ratima (16)
10 Bryn Gatland (28)
11 Etene Nanai-Seturo (35)
12 Rameka Poihipi (21)
13 Daniel Rona (4)
14 Shaun Stevenson (74)
15 Damian McKenzie (102)

Reserves:
16 Tyrone Thompson (8)
17 Jared Proffit (1)
18 Solomone Tukuafu (1)
19 Josh Lord (15)
20 Tupou Vaa'i (36)
21 Simon Parker (4)
22 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (39)
23 Gideon Wrampling (1)

Players not considered due to injury: Angus Ta'avao, Anton Lienert-Brown, Quinn Tupaea, Xavier Roe (season), Alex Nankivell, Sam Cane, Luke Jacobson

[Bovidae]

The fact that Tukuafu is in the reserves tells us that Moli isn't fit to play. A 6:2 bench.

[ARHS]

@Bovidae Nice to see both Wrampling and Lord back.

[Stargazer]

Glad to see Thompson on the bench. Of course I have a black & white eye patch on, but I think he has a much higher ceiling than Slater, so the more game time he gets, the better.

[Stargazer]

https://drua.rugby/content/potential-debut-for-kalione-nasoko

[chimoaus]

@Bovidae What injuries to Cane and Jacobsen have?

[taniwharugby]

@chimoaus concussion

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/2023/04/rugby-all-blacks-captain-sam-cane-sidelined-by-concussion-suffered-during-chiefs-super-rugby-pacific-win-over-hurricanes.html

[Bovidae]

I think more precautionary. Cane self-reported his head knock and left the field in the Hurricanes game.

[Bones]

@Crazy-Horse said in Chiefs v Drua:

If Lord plays I am looking forward to seeing how he goes. Prior to his injury I thought he appeared like he was somewhat bigger than when he played for the ABs and he was winning his fair share of contact situations.

Yeah the way he was playing is very similar to Retallick eh. Does remind me a bit of Jones the way he runs though.

[ploughboy]

@Bovidae said in Chiefs v Drua:

The fact that Tukuafu is in the reserves tells us that Moli isn't fit to play. A 6:2 bench.

hopefully that means hes playing club rugby this weekend

[Yeahtheboys]

Chiefs have picked a pretty boring team

Will be a lot of kicking and mauling

Hope Dmac shift to 15 is to open him up this week but garland at 10 and a 6-2 bench split just screams kicking it all day

[Crucial]

@Yeahtheboys said in Chiefs v Drua:

Chiefs have picked a pretty boring team

Will be a lot of kicking and mauling

Hope Dmac shift to 15 is to open him up this week but garland at 10 and a 6-2 bench split just screams kicking it all day

Gatland does frustrate me in that he sets deeper but this selection smacks of contingency planning. Can't play DMac at 10 all season then cop an injury just before the finals and not have another practised 10.
DMac needs to be out there though as the senior back. There's no Weber or ALB to keep things in order.
On a positive, we get to see SS at 14 and presumably he will play a second fullback role with DMac often providing second playmaker options. That is a potential AB scenario that has been talked about.
Kicking game will need to be accurate or there will be a lot of ball running from deep by the Drua.