Chiefs 2022
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@Crucial if Gats Sr was to go he could take Bryn with him, then in 5 years donning the Eagles 10 jersey would be Bryn out of Huntly.. now residing in Houston!
@FakatavaFuture said in Chiefs 2022:
@Crucial if Gats Sr was to go he could take Bryn with him, then in 5 years donning the Eagles 10 jersey would be Bryn out of Huntly.. now residing in Houston!
Yeah. Not having a crack at him but Gats' time in NZ will have had him identify quite a few upcomers and experienced players that won't probably make the ABs but could very well add a lot to, not only an Eagles squad, but the internal US competition to get better quality games happening.
I fear more for the Pasifika teams. Just as they have a pathway to strengthen their national sides they could potentially lose layers to a lucrative US market.
The US RWC is a long way off in playing terms but there will need to be a build up period and I can see a number of 'fringe' NZ (and Chiefs) players plying their trade in the states through the mid 2020s -
McMillan told NZME that around eight or nine players are currently infected with Covid-19.
@Tim said in Chiefs 2022:
McMillan told NZME that around eight or nine players are currently infected with Covid-19.
Geez when will this end.
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Without knowing which players (and positions) it could be a big problem or something that can be managed. Hopefully none of the players that didn't travel to Melbourne are in that group.
@Bovidae said in Chiefs 2022:
Without knowing which players (and positions) it could be a big problem or something that can be managed. Hopefully none of the players that didn't travel to Melbourne are in that group.
The article mentions that they are players not previously affected.
In the round against MP that was covid hit, among the non-covid players that took the field wereNorris
BBBR
Slater
Vaa'i
PGS
Weber
Gatland
Poihipi
Nanks
Lowe
Narawa
Trask
Finau
Ioane
QTCould be a very makeshift side
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@Bovidae said in Chiefs 2022:
Without knowing which players (and positions) it could be a big problem or something that can be managed. Hopefully none of the players that didn't travel to Melbourne are in that group.
The article mentions that they are players not previously affected.
In the round against MP that was covid hit, among the non-covid players that took the field wereNorris
BBBR
Slater
Vaa'i
PGS
Weber
Gatland
Poihipi
Nanks
Lowe
Narawa
Trask
Finau
Ioane
QTCould be a very makeshift side
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@Bovidae said in Chiefs 2022:
I forget how young he is. Plenty of upside there for development too. Helps that he is with 3 AB locks at training.
Funny how our areas of depth concern can get filled quickly in NZ. Lots of young locks looking promising and it was only a season or so back we were fretting over halfbacks yet we now have four that have test experience plus a couple more that look like they could step up without much effort.
From a Chiefs perspective locks and halfacks look pretty healthy for while. -
@Bovidae said in Chiefs 2022:
I forget how young he is. Plenty of upside there for development too. Helps that he is with 3 AB locks at training.
Funny how our areas of depth concern can get filled quickly in NZ. Lots of young locks looking promising and it was only a season or so back we were fretting over halfbacks yet we now have four that have test experience plus a couple more that look like they could step up without much effort.
From a Chiefs perspective locks and halfacks look pretty healthy for while. -
@Crucial I mentioned previously that McWhannell is the oldest of the other 4 Chiefs locks, and he turns 24 later in the year. Once BBBR goes, there is the nucleus of a strong locking contingent for many years to come.
@Bovidae said in Chiefs 2022:
@Crucial I mentioned previously that McWhannell is the oldest of the other 4 Chiefs locks, and he turns 24 later in the year. Once BBBR goes, there is the nucleus of a strong locking contingent for many years to come.
Here's hoping that the days of using the likes of Mitch Brown in the second row are behind us.
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@Bovidae I'm such a massive fan of his, I've seen him around a few times at the supermarket and shit but I never say anything when I see players out as they're just humans. Mum's met him at games and says he's the loveliest guy out. Always a big fan of players personalities coming out rather than the standard "full credit to the boys" shit. Defs a future All Black.
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@Bovidae I'm such a massive fan of his, I've seen him around a few times at the supermarket and shit but I never say anything when I see players out as they're just humans. Mum's met him at games and says he's the loveliest guy out. Always a big fan of players personalities coming out rather than the standard "full credit to the boys" shit. Defs a future All Black.
@Yeetyaah said in Chiefs 2022:
@Bovidae I'm such a massive fan of his, I've seen him around a few times at the supermarket and shit but I never say anything when I see players out as they're just humans. Mum's met him at games and says he's the loveliest guy out. Always a big fan of players personalities coming out rather than the standard "full credit to the boys" shit. Defs a future All Black.
Awesome, agree, agree, and no way.
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@Yeetyaah said in Chiefs 2022:
@Bovidae I'm such a massive fan of his, I've seen him around a few times at the supermarket and shit but I never say anything when I see players out as they're just humans. Mum's met him at games and says he's the loveliest guy out. Always a big fan of players personalities coming out rather than the standard "full credit to the boys" shit. Defs a future All Black.
Awesome, agree, agree, and no way.
@gt12 said in Chiefs 2022:
@Yeetyaah said in Chiefs 2022:
@Bovidae I'm such a massive fan of his, I've seen him around a few times at the supermarket and shit but I never say anything when I see players out as they're just humans. Mum's met him at games and says he's the loveliest guy out. Always a big fan of players personalities coming out rather than the standard "full credit to the boys" shit. Defs a future All Black.
no way.
Why?
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@gt12 said in Chiefs 2022:
@Yeetyaah said in Chiefs 2022:
@Bovidae I'm such a massive fan of his, I've seen him around a few times at the supermarket and shit but I never say anything when I see players out as they're just humans. Mum's met him at games and says he's the loveliest guy out. Always a big fan of players personalities coming out rather than the standard "full credit to the boys" shit. Defs a future All Black.
no way.
Why?
@Yeetyaah said in Chiefs 2022:
@gt12 said in Chiefs 2022:
@Yeetyaah said in Chiefs 2022:
@Bovidae I'm such a massive fan of his, I've seen him around a few times at the supermarket and shit but I never say anything when I see players out as they're just humans. Mum's met him at games and says he's the loveliest guy out. Always a big fan of players personalities coming out rather than the standard "full credit to the boys" shit. Defs a future All Black.
no way.
Why?
He’s a bits and pieces player who is great at Super level but not good enough at either to make the next step in my opinion.
The lock/six spot is one where you have to be world class in one and really serviceable in the other.
So, he’d be well behind Vaa’i, Barrett, Robinson, and likely Grace right now, for me. The key one is Vaa’i who is basically the same thing but better, and already capped. He’s need an injury to Vaa’i to get the opportunity in my opinion, plus the selectors to ignore Robinson, and not use Barrett as a potential 6.
Too many dominos in my opinion.
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The Chiefs, and All Blacks, can breathe a sigh of relief, with Sam Cane having been cleared of any major injury. There were fears the Chiefs co-captain and ABs skipper could be facing an extended spell on the sidelines after copping a blow to his right knee in his side’s 51-24 Super Rugby Pacific win over the Force in Hamilton on Saturday evening. However, Stuff understands the veteran openside flanker has avoided any big damage and instead been diagnosed with just a strain.
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Shaun Stevenson is listed to be playing at centre for Hamilton Old Boys tomorrow. A positive sign.
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@Stargazer said in Chiefs 2022:
@Bovidae Tyrone Thompson will be playing for Napier Tech.
Yeah, I saw your post. I would have thought that a 3rd hooker and halfback would have been taken to Fiji.
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Now the dust has settled, does anyone want to write a 2022 Chiefs review/summary like we've had for the Canes/Highlanders?
@Duluth said in Chiefs 2022:
Now the dust has settled, does anyone want to write a 2022 Chiefs review/summary like we've had for the Canes/Highlanders?
Chiefs 2022. A case of playing to their ceiling?
Did they underperform or simply reach their peak based on the players they had? Were fans over expecting given the limitations that were obvious from the start?
There is no doubt the the Chiefs assembled a formidable forward pack with depth this season and despite injuries to big name players along the way, more than held their own in the trenches and set pieces. The scrum was not only solid but, at times, dominated some big names. There was no excuse for the platform provided to the backs and no blame can go the way of the front rowers at all.
Depth at lock is seriously good and only the pending retirement of BBBR will keep others from being snapped up elsewhere. Even then maybe McWhannell's agent might be shopping around.
The loose forwards managed all sorts of shuffles well and all had their moments. They never really had a chance to settle on a first choice combination with different players either in form or not available at different times.
Disruptions and depth. In general this was handled well by the coaches and the 'Chiefs Mana' approach and culture served them well. That's what a season and a squad is all about so no excuses there.
Selections. While we aren't party to all niggles and training ground performances there have been a few head scratchers along the way. The reluctance to try Reihana at fullback even though he showed out in a very brief cameo from the bench was one. The preference of Roe as reserve halfback at the pointy end of the season despite the find of the season being Ratima, another. Most of the fan questions have been around the back three and I don't doubt that it was the same for the coaches.
If forwards were the strength of the side, backs were the weakness. Weber didn't have his best showing in the semi but overall for the season deserved his place as first choice halfback. Ratima took every opportunity that came his way and is a must keep and Roe, while not doing anything wrong, didn't do much. An 'achieved' pass mark for the smallest backs.
Midfield rates as a 'could have done better' on this report card. While things weren't helped by the loss of the experience and class of ALB both Tupaea and Nankivell had some very good performances marred by some poor ones (QT notably in the biggest game of the season). Maybe some blame could go on ALB not being there as an old head but personal responsibility is what we need.
The real problem areas are the playmaker and the outside backs.
At the key pivot position there were high hopes going in that Josh Ioane would regain form and bring some spark along with good decision making. However, when Gatland was given a chance he surprised everyone to start with by adding some running to his game and keeping defences honest. He put in some good showings and looked like he may be good enough to scrape us home. Ioane then tried too hard to come back and lost his spot at first receiver, becoming a DMac lite off the bench. However, Gatland seems to have poor patches during games that he can't overcome and once he hits that wall he reverts to being a shoveller and throws pressure on those outside him. He isn't the long term answer but won't be going anywhere while dad is around.
No one can win this comp without a class 10 and the Chiefs need DMac back refreshed and wiser badly.The back three were always the big question from squad selection. ENS has never kicked on and looks for the step instead of the line or gap way to much. Narawa had flashes but never screamed selection while the other options put in nothing more than the journeyman performances at their ceiling. As mentioned, there was a possibility of Reihana being a Perofeta like option that was never explored.
Stocks on the rise
Ratima, Finau, Vai'i (still),Stocks that plummeted
Trask, ENS, Narawa, Reihana (for reasons unknown)
