Hopefully McMillan has got the extreme rotation out of his system and settles on a more consistent 23 now, with just a few changes. It would be good if Lord and Narawa are back in contention for this game before a couple of NZ derbies. Florence had a game for Hautapu over the weekend so could be the most likely of the other squad players to be involved.

The Drua won't be lacking in confidence after their win over the Crusaders. It's up to the Chiefs' pack to step up and dominate the collisions.

@Bovidae any news on lord?

@ploughboy said in Chiefs v Drua:

@Bovidae any news on lord?

I've heard nothing but a Stuff article last week said both he and Narawa were close to returning.

What about nanai seturo and Quinn tupaea last week we lacked any real punch in the backs

This should be fun to see.

Fans at FMG Stadium Waikato will witness 200 drones illuminated to depict Middle-Earth and Chiefs-inspired imagery in a nod to the match day sponsor Hobbiton Movie Set. Scenes for the audience below will include Gollum reaching for the one ring, the eye of Sauron gazing at the crowd below and Gandalf blowing a billowing smoke ring. The drone show will last for eight minutes before fading into the darkness.

Sounds well cool! If you're a rugby and LotR nerd, even better

Naitoa Ah Kuoi has an injury. Tupou Vaa’i on an All Blacks load management week.

They've listened to me about using Rona on the wing.

@Bovidae

As long as it isn’t in the midfield, fuck those guys looked like they needed Braille to communicate last week.

We really need Lord back and fit. I’m very pleased to him there.

Haereiti Hetet, Mesulame Dolokoto, Jone Koroiduadua, Mesake Vocevoce, Ratu Leone Rotuisolia, Etonia Waqa, Vilive Miramira, Meli Derenalagi (c), Simione Kuruvoli, Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, Junior Ratuva, Michael Naitokani, Iosefo Masi, Selestino Ravutaumada, Ilaisa Droasese

Reserves: Zuriel Togiatama, Emosi Tuqiri, Samuela Tawake, Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, Elia Canakaivata, Peni Matawalu, Kemu Valetini, Taniela Rakuro

Does anyone else get impression maybe Byrne as falgged this as a loss , so now a good time to rest a few?

@Dan54 I don't know enough about the squad to comment, but I do see that test player Nasilasila is out of the 23 for the second week in a row.

@Dan54 With Ravutaumanda there, anything is possible haha. He is some player.

@Tim yep mate, I same, just thought he had made a few changes from last week, and thought that maybe part of it. @African-Monkey no argument there mate he can rip and defence to pieces.

Jacomb is on the bench. Ioane with a late injury?

I've witnessed what appears to be an epidemic of players flinging the ball aimlessly back into the field without accepting the certainty of forcing a set piece contest as a result of going out.

ALB looks really sluggish this season

Geez awful support there from the chiefs

Thought it might have been a knock on by Ravutaumanda but Masi runs 50 metres to score.

Drua 7-0

Shows how important good kick chase is and the value of contesting. A bad look in the defensive shape for the Chiefs.