Moana Pasifika vs Chiefs

ARHS

Must be huge numbers out at other nz franchises if Chiefs can play with 17 players ruled out.

Crucial

Must be huge numbers out at other nz franchises if Chiefs can play with 17 players ruled out.

I think they have made a real effort (at a little risk) to get this game played and deserve some kudos for that.
Risk is a loss or loss of a bonus point. Positive is that it (hopefully) gets rid of the 3 games in 8 days scenario.

Bovidae

Without knowing exactly who the 7 players that were ruled out last were, most seem to be back, while a lot from the Crusaders game are now missing. The Chiefs won't want any late defections as I doubt there are many other options in the forwards.

Duluth

The round two game was meant to be in Hamilton. So this is a Chiefs home game at Mt Smart? Then later in the year it's a Pasfika home game which is also at Mt Smart?

Bovidae

I think/expect that the return fixture (April 16) will now be a Chiefs home game. It would have been the midweek game otherwise. Good to get MP playing again, and to give them a home game.

The Super Rugby Aupiki games are to be played at FMG Stadium Waikato on Sunday so it would make sense not to play there the night before.

Tim

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/super-rugby-pacific-chiefs-forced-into-reshuffle-with-17-players-unavailable-for-clash-against-moana-pasifika/3C2SRFAVB3BEVBHGVKYI436XWU/

Bovidae

Paul Williams is the ref.

Crazy Horse

@yeetyaah said in Moana Pasifika vs Chiefs:

Weird af. Reihana covering halfback? After the way Moana played v the Crusaders idk if it's wise putting out a half-assed squad.

I reckon it was more that the Crusaders were poor, but I guess we will get more of an idea from this game. Crusader depth is not what it once was.

Higgins

@tim said in Moana Pasifika vs Chiefs:

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/super-rugby-pacific-chiefs-forced-into-reshuffle-with-17-players-unavailable-for-clash-against-moana-pasifika/3C2SRFAVB3BEVBHGVKYI436XWU/

There is a bit of an error here. Angus Ta'avao clearly belongs in the "Six All Blacks" part of the headline rather than the "several key All Blacks" caption under the photo.

Bovidae

“When we found out that we were going to be playing Moana, because of their situation, we really committed to going deep into the well to try and make this game happen,” he said.

“Some people might say that’s a little bit silly of us, because there’s an absolute risk that we could go up there and get beaten by a team that’s really hungry, we don’t know what they’ve been doing behind closed doors the last three or four weeks.
“So that creates a certain amount of anxiety. But we’ve got to put our own desires to the sideline and just do what we think is best for the competition.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/128087076/put-our-own-desires-to-the-sideline-why-chiefs-wanted-to-face-moana-pasifika

Bovidae

Solomone Tukuafu will be the latest player to debut in SR before playing in the NPC.

Bovidae

A couple of late changes.

Stargazer

@bovidae So Poihipi and Brown out of the match day 23, Tupaea moving from the bench to the starting line-up and Lord and Tiatia coming onto the bench.

Yeetyaah

Broken record but holy fuck Nisbo is past it

gt12

That was shit Nankivell

Yeetyaah

Slater fucked a couple already

gt12

Fucking hell Slater cant throw

gt12

Christ ref, they’re just diving over it.

At least we are in.

Crucial

@gt12 said in Moana Pasifika vs Chiefs:

Christ ref, they’re just diving over it.

At least we are in.

So on the breakdown last week it was pointed out that our cleaners aren’t staying on their feet like the NH and that teams should trust the ref to stop defenders being off their feet.
Nope. Defenders flopping and the only way you can get the ball is clean low.

gt12

Was that straight through Slater? He’s having a mare.

The Silver Fern

Moana Pasifika vs Chiefs