I'm expecting more changes to the Chiefs team, including the inclusion of a few players returning from long-term injury like Mitch Brown. Hopefully Roe, Vaa'i and Mafileo are also back. Moli probably needs a start if he is to be involved more in the backend of the competition.
I would also look at resting both Taukei’aho and Weber. Weber has been ordinary in recent weeks anyway.
I haven't watched the Chiefs-Blues game on Sky but I think I heard TJ say on my SportsEars at the stadium that Stevenson played NH club rugby earlier in the day.
He hasn't been listed as unavailable. Stevenson should definitely be playing this weekend if fit. This is the perfect game to look at the options for fullback.
@bovidae said in Chiefs vs Moana Pasifika:
I haven't watched the Chiefs-Blues game on Sky but I think I heard TJ say on my SportsEars at the stadium that Stevenson played NH club rugby earlier in the day.
That's right, Sky comms did mention that. Assume he would have played for Silverdale.
Gallagher Chiefs to face Moana Pasifika
1. Ollie Norris
2. Bradley Slater
3. Angus Ta’avao
4. Josh Lord
5. Tupou Vaa’i
6. Mitch Brown
7. Kaylum Boshier
8. Luke Jacobson 
9. Cortez Ratima
10. Bryn Gatland
11. Etene Nanai-Seturo
12. Rameka Poihipi
13. Alex Nankivell
14. Shaun Stevenson
15. Emoni Narawa
Reserves:
16. Tyrone Thompson
17. Aidan Ross
18. George Dyer
19. Naitoa Ah Kuoi
20. Samipeni Finau
21. Brad Weber (cc)
22. Rivez Reihana
23. Chase Tiatia
Unavailable for selection:
Reuben O’Neill, Gideon Wrampling, Simon Parker, Xavier Roe, Brodie Retallick, Josh Ioane, Sione Mafileo, Laghlan McWhannell, Anton Lienert-Brown, Kaleb Trask
Not too far off what I was expecting.
No Moli, and he isn't listed as being unavailable. Lowe is also not involved. He was subbed early against the Blues but, again, doesn't appear to be injured.
If the Chiefs have a good lead in the 2nd half I'd like to see Reihana spend some time at 1st 5.
@ploughboy said in Chiefs vs Moana Pasifika:
doe anyone know what injury Wrampling had. I was really looking forward to seeing him play.
The Chiefs haven't released much information about the long-term absentees, but I seem to remember reading that Wrampling had off-season surgery (no details given).
Stevenson is not one of my favorite players, but I find it strange that he hasn’t been given a chance at FB (which he prefers I believe). His height, kicking game, and high ball ability are probably all better than Narawa, and on the wing Narawa might be more dangerous.
Without the height, we could probably say the same for ENS who is going OK but is basically turning into a poor man’s Nareki on the left wing, where I guess he’ll stay.
The selections seem to be heavily restricted by the large number of player unavailabilities - as per usual for the Chiefs. As posters suggest, the lack of information flowing out about availabilities makes it frustrating for followers.
Happy to see Taukeiaho, Tupaea and Cane get a rest. Will be interesting to see how Boshier and Ratima step up in their starting roles and hopefully create the momentum the Chiefs need to regain in recycling the ball.
I would have preferred Stevenson at fullback, to get length into our clearing kicks. Hope to see Wrampling in Australia as I like his quick thinking and directness, which our back 3 are not strong on.
@yeetyaah said in Chiefs vs Moana Pasifika:
Gallagher Chiefs to face Moana Pasifika
1. Ollie Norris
2. Bradley Slater
3. Angus Ta’avao
4. Josh Lord
5. Tupou Vaa’i
6. Mitch Brown
7. Kaylum Boshier
8. Luke Jacobson
9. Cortez Ratima
10. Bryn Gatland
11. Etene Nanai-Seturo
12. Rameka Poihipi
13. Alex Nankivell
14. Shaun Stevenson
15. Emoni NarawaReserves:
16. Tyrone Thompson
17. Aidan Ross
18. George Dyer
19. Naitoa Ah Kuoi
20. Samipeni Finau
21. Brad Weber (cc)
22. Rivez Reihana
23. Chase TiatiaUnavailable for selection:
Reuben O’Neill, Gideon Wrampling, Simon Parker, Xavier Roe, Brodie Retallick, Josh Ioane, Sione Mafileo, Laghlan McWhannell, Anton Lienert-Brown, Kaleb Trask
They have changed the line-up on the Chiefs website:
15 Chase Tiatia
23 Jonah Lowe
Narawa has been added to the unavailable list.
@gt12 said in Chiefs vs Moana Pasifika:
Without the height, we could probably say the same for ENS who is going OK but is basically turning into a poor man’s Nareki on the left wing, where I guess he’ll stay.
Last week was the first time I saw in ENS what I am guessing got him ear marked as a youngster. I thought he looked pretty bloody sharp. He also looked a bit bigger than I remembered.
McMillan, however, said he hadn’t specifically eyed up this game to rest his big guns. After all, this is a make-up fixture from the round two one which was cancelled due to Moana’s Covid situation, which in turn meant the Chiefs would play a gruelling 13 games on the trot before the quarterfinals with no bye.
The article also says that Ioane could be available next week, but nothing on the other missing players.
Lots of chopping and changing in that MP line-up again, which is understandable. I hope that from next weekend on, they're going to be able to have more consistent selections and that they're going to find out what their strongest line-up is, because until now, we have not seen it, yet. They must have capped the highest number of players of all squads.
Including this weekend's coming match against the Chiefs, they will have called up 50 players this season (including a few guys named in their initial squad who haven't yet featured). The Hurricanes have called up 49 (by the same metric).
In terms of actual players used, MP will be sitting on 47 after the Chiefs match (assuming no changes), with Isi Tuungafasi, Don Lolo and Lote Inisi not yet used this season. For the Hurricanes, that total will sit at 44 after the weekend (Owen Franks, Dom Bird, Tyler Laubscher, Pepesana Patafilo all unused).
