1. Mason Tupaea (21)
2. James Mullan (14)
3. Marcel Renata (78)
4. Josh Beehre (37)
5. Sam Darry (46)
6. Torian Barnes (11)
7. Anton Segner (c) (51)
8. Malachi Wrampling (7)
9. Sam Nock (88)
10. Stephen Perofeta (79)
11. Caleb Clarke (86)
12. Pita Ahki (25)
13. Xavi Taele (18)
14. AJ Lam (71)
15. Zarn Sullivan (54)

Reserves: 16. Eli Oudenryn (debut), 17. Joshua Fusitu’a (39), 18. Flyn Yates (3),19. Laghlan McWhannell (29), 20. Hoskins Sotutu (89), 21. Finlay Christie (81), 22. Corey Evans (27), 23. Codemeru Vai (9)

Players unavailable due to injury: Ben Ake (ankle), Beauden Barrett (quad), James Cameron (legs, season), Cameron Christie (knee, season), Hemopo Cunningham (foot, season), Taufa Funaki (shoulder), Jordan Lay (concussion), Sam Matenga (neck), Dalton Papali’i (jaw), Bradley Slater (concussion), Patrick Tuipulotu (neck)

A lot of injuries

Excited to see Oudenryn at this level

Fusitua returning is a big boost before the playoffs

A lot of players rested, and a debut.

UNAVAILABLE DUE TO INJURY
Leroy Carter – Hamstring – QF
Damian McKenzie – Concussion – QF
Ollie Norris – Knee – QF
Emoni Narawa – Foot – SF
Xavier Roe – Hamstring – TBC
Reuben O’Neill – Concussion – TBC
Etene Nanai-Seturo – Foot – TBC
Isaac Hutchinson – Concussion – TBC
Jayden Sa – Shoulder – Season

@Duluth said in Chiefs v Blues:

A lot of injuries

Excited to see Oudenryn at this level

Fusitua returning is a big boost before the playoffs

Ofa doesn't seem to be in the injured list.

I think we can win this game though 10s are a bit sketchy.

@brodean said in Chiefs v Blues:

Ofa doesn't seem to be in the injured list.

Or Eklund

Had hoped to see ONeill Narawa and Hutchinson playing. Will not travel across to Hamilton now. Could be a tight one with so many injured Blues also.

@brodean bit of saving some ahead .
Ofa, Beauden, they aren't a concern.

outside backs being decimated
will struggle if we carnt a most back before quarters let alone a semi

Disappointing not to see any of the injured outside backs returning. Not sure what the best approach will be going into the finals, whether to roll out the likes of ENS, Carter and Narawa or to stay faithful to the guys who've done the job to date. Hutchinson's concussion could have an impact too.

A bit of a glimpse into the future here for the Blues. Great to see Oudenryn get a go, also a massive opportunity for Mullan to stake a claim going forward.

Interesting to see Tyrone Thompson as the preferred starter to All Black Brodie McAlister. Looking forward to the hooker duels.

@brodean said in Chiefs v Blues:

Interesting to see Tyrone Thompson as the preferred starter to All Black Brodie McAlister. Looking forward to the hooker duels.

Yeah bit weird, almost like the Chiefs aren't putting out their top team?

Though it does perhaps hint to Thompson being retained for next year. Now would've been the perfect opportunity to give Taine Kolose a run off the bench.

But maybe the Chiefs were burnt from having to start Thompson in the final a couple of years ago with very little minutes under his belt and bring in Mils Sanerevi on the bench.

@African-Monkey said in Chiefs v Blues:

A bit of a glimpse into the future here for the Blues. Great to see Oudenryn get a go, also a massive opportunity for Mullan to stake a claim going forward.

Indeed and a must win game. We need the 4-5 points to have a chance against Crusaders at home.

@Mr-Fish said in Chiefs v Blues:

@brodean said in Chiefs v Blues:

Interesting to see Tyrone Thompson as the preferred starter to All Black Brodie McAlister. Looking forward to the hooker duels.

Yeah bit weird, almost like the Chiefs aren't putting out their top team?

Though it does perhaps hint to Thompson being retained for next year. Now would've been the perfect opportunity to give Taine Kolose a run off the bench.

But maybe the Chiefs were burnt from having to start Thompson in the final a couple of years ago with very little minutes under his belt and bring in Mils Sanerevi on the bench.

Would have thought McAlister as the back up hooker would need more minutes after only two starts this year and a handful of games off the bench?

Only just noticed Segner as captain. Good transition step to his All Black captaincy

@brodean said in Chiefs v Blues:

@Mr-Fish said in Chiefs v Blues:

@brodean said in Chiefs v Blues:

Interesting to see Tyrone Thompson as the preferred starter to All Black Brodie McAlister. Looking forward to the hooker duels.

Yeah bit weird, almost like the Chiefs aren't putting out their top team?

Though it does perhaps hint to Thompson being retained for next year. Now would've been the perfect opportunity to give Taine Kolose a run off the bench.

But maybe the Chiefs were burnt from having to start Thompson in the final a couple of years ago with very little minutes under his belt and bring in Mils Sanerevi on the bench.

Would have thought McAlister as the back up hooker would need more minutes after only two starts this year and a handful of games off the bench?

Yeah I can't entirely wrap my head around it either. As I say, would've probably had Taine Kolose involved in some shape or form. He and Aisake Vakasiuola will be the sole members of the original squad who haven't played any minutes this year (other than the injured Jayden Sa) but I suppose hooker and lock are positions where the Chiefs have more than enough players to select from.

Regardless, the Chiefs should go into the finals with three fit hookers with sufficient minutes under their belt...

Also Wallace Sititi's first time captaining the Chiefs.

It could be that Gibbes wants the more experienced hooker with the less experienced props. I hope Cook-Savage gets some meaningful minutes on the field, whether at 10 or 15.

And the best scrummaging hooker.

Interesting game this. The Chiefs are a much better side, but if the Blues maintain discipline and defence I could see them getting up, as the Chiefs once in their own 22 will struggle to exit. Good test for the young Blues pack.

@reprobate said in Chiefs v Blues:

Interesting game this. The Chiefs are a much better side, but if the Blues maintain discipline and defence I could see them getting up, as the Chiefs once in their own 22 will struggle to exit. Good test for the young Blues pack.

Touche that. My biggest issue with Ratima and Jacomb is the errorprone endeavours to exit. Seems a bit too complicated at times. Hopefully the coaches will modify the approach here with their halves more assertive

@ARHS said in Chiefs v Blues:

@reprobate said in Chiefs v Blues:

Interesting game this. The Chiefs are a much better side, but if the Blues maintain discipline and defence I could see them getting up, as the Chiefs once in their own 22 will struggle to exit. Good test for the young Blues pack.

Touche that. My biggest issue with Ratima and Jacomb is the errorprone endeavours to exit. Seems a bit too complicated at times. Hopefully the coaches will modify the approach here with their halves more assertive

They are just poor kickers - unfortunately much like many other halves in Super Rugby.

@brodean said in Chiefs v Blues:

@ARHS said in Chiefs v Blues:

@reprobate said in Chiefs v Blues:

Interesting game this. The Chiefs are a much better side, but if the Blues maintain discipline and defence I could see them getting up, as the Chiefs once in their own 22 will struggle to exit. Good test for the young Blues pack.

Touche that. My biggest issue with Ratima and Jacomb is the errorprone endeavours to exit. Seems a bit too complicated at times. Hopefully the coaches will modify the approach here with their halves more assertive

They are just poor kickers - unfortunately much like many other halves in Super Rugby.

Jacomb doesn't have a very long boot, but I think he also errs on the side of being way too conservative with his exits - finds touch but barely clears the 22 - possibly not confident of his accuracy? When you get the chance, you really need to get out of there, otherwise the sustained pressure will lead to both points and cards.
Combine him with Ratima, whose kicking is his weak point, and LCF who doesn't have a huge boot, and a newbie in Paul and it's easy to see them getting stuck if the Blues win their lineouts and don't give away relieving penalties.

Jacomb gets a lot of height in his kicks at the expense of distance.

My issue with Ratima is he seems robotic/overcoached in the way he plays. He doesnt seem to have a feel for how to infuence himself on a game and just plays the same way all the time.

Vern said at a pinch all the guys with niggles could have played.

@Mr-Fish said in Chiefs v Blues:

Yeah I can't entirely wrap my head around it either. As I say, would've probably had Taine Kolose involved in some shape or form. He and Aisake Vakasiuola will be the sole members of the original squad who haven't played any minutes this year

Gibbes is quoted today in saying that Kolose is injured and Vakasiuola "was still on a learning curve at this level".

Quite fascinated to see how we go with Segner as captain. As good as he has been playing he just doesn't have the tackle workrate of Papali'i. (Not many players do tbf)

Papali'i is the key to the Blues defence. He is close to the top of the those stats and rucks year in year out across Super Rugby.

Players waiting to pilfer all the time usually aren't making the same amount of tackles.

We've won 40% of games this year when Segner is playing openside and 75% when Papali'i has been playing openside.

It's a positive that Barnes is being partnered with Segner. Barnes is close to Papali'i in tackle work rate and 2nd of the loose forwards in this facet. Barnes also has the highest amount of dominant tackles for the Blues.

Looking forward to seeing how this trio with Wrampling go again together. This combo worked well defensively against the Drua.

Geez that was a bit shit Sullivan

Good crowd in Hamilton

Boom boom Barnes! Go you good thing

Nice work Barnes

Interesting to see Sullivan kicking. Guess he'll be joining Barnes...

Clarke does all the hard work and then spills it

Barnes is impressive

That was an atrocious scrum. Luckily for the blues... Jacomb

Guess I shouldn't have expected much from this game but it's still irritating to o watch

That's a better kick Zarn

That’s a poor throw from Mullan he can’t throw deep