Chiefs v Blues

Bovidae

DMac and Jacobson are back training. I assume that Ross, McAlister and Brown were only rested for the Drua game and are available for selection.

cliff

Perhaps Stevenson will move to fullback with Mackenzie at 10

Duluth

There's a few hints from Blues training

Dalton is back and it appears Perofeta is back too. Cotter said after the last game the Perofeta won't start at ten immediately. So on the bench or at fullback.. Forbes dropped a lot of ball

Taele was wearing a blue jersey which sometimes lines up with the 23

There was a short clip on the news that showed McWhannell and Eklund taking part in training and wearing the blue jerseys too

Duluth

https://www.blues.rugby/blues-rugby-news/team-naming-chiefs-rd5

Jordan Lay (22)
Kurt Eklund (64)
Ofa Tu’ungafasi (153)
Patrick Tuipulotu (116)
Laghlan McWhannell (13)
Cameron Christie (2)
Dalton Papali’i (86)
Anton Segner (27)
Sam Nock (75)
Harry Plummer (79)
Caleb Clarke (68)
Xavi Taele (Debut)
Rieko Ioane (116)
Mark Tele’a (71)
Corey Evans (17).

Reserves:
16. Nathaniel Pole (2)
17. Joshua Fusitu’a (25)
18. Angus Ta’avao (70)
19. Josh Beehre (15)
20. Cameron Suafoa (28)
21. Finlay Christie (58)
22. Stephen Perofeta (68)
23. AJ Lam (47)

Players not considered with injury: PJ Sheck (shoulder), Zarn Sullivan (foot), Ben Ake (shoulder), Hoskins Sotutu (suspended), James Mullan (head injury), Beauden Barrett (hand), Adrian Choat (knee), Taufa Funaki (shoulder), Reon Paul (shoulder), Ricky Riccitelli (chest), Sam Darry (shoulder, season).

Bovidae

https://chiefs.co.nz/news-item/injured-duo-named-to-return-for-blues-clash-in-hamilton/

GALLAGHER CHIEFS INJURY UPDATE AHEAD OF ROUND 5
Josh Lord, Knee, Mid-term (4-6 weeks)
Rameka Poihipi, Knee, Season
Kaleb Trask, Hamstring, Mid-term (4-6 weeks)
Etene Nanai-Seturo, Hamstring, Long-term
Liam Coombes-Fabling, Knee, Mid-term (4-6 weeks)
Fiti Sa, Shoulder, Long-term
Wallace Sititi, Knee, Long-term
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Shoulder, Short-term

Duluth

Good to see Taele. I'm sure the Chiefs will be testing out his small frame on defence

Forbes paid the price for dropping so much ball. Evans has a decent boot on him and I think his defence is less of a problem than when he plays midfield. You'd assume Perofeta will be taking that spot next week and they'll want to have a look at Spencer at some stage.. Evans needs to show something

Segner needs to do more than tackle

Some good ball runners on the bench for the last quarter

We're really missing Funaki

Bovidae

McMillan has reverted back to starting Roe and finishing with Ratima. I think that is the best use of both players.

KiwiMurph

Meihana Grindlay not listed as injured.

He has presumably been passed by Taele.

brodean

@KiwiMurph said in Chiefs v Blues:

Meihana Grindlay not listed as injured.

He has presumably been passed by Taele.

That's nuts in my opinion. Taele often looked out of his depth at NPC level. He had a high error rate. I understand there is a lot of hype around him but he's going to get dominated by Tupaea. At least Grindlay has some size to compat Tupaea. Grindlay has a lot more composure and lower error rate than Taele too.

mikedogz

https://www.facebook.com/share/16DJrH2o8a/

African Monkey

Nice start from the Blues. Taele looks OK so far.

antipodean

Blues look so much better with the fast ball Nock is providing from the start. Until Ta'avao aimlessly throws it backwards to no one.

antipodean

That was fantastic from SS.

Stockcar86

Blues defence blaming each other for that try

African Monkey

Good hands from Stevenson.

African Monkey

@Stockcar86 said in Chiefs v Blues:

Blues defence blaming each other for that try

No need haha, was well taken.

taniwharugby

Vaai...

African Monkey

Mark Telea really does play like the jersey they have on. Represents this jersey with pride.

hydro11

Good call - no foul play there.

African Monkey

Bugger. Hope Va'ai is OK

The Silver Fern

Chiefs v Blues