Highlanders
Ben Smith (c), Waisake Naholo, Malakai Fekitoa, Rob Thompson, Tevita Li, Lima Sopoaga, Aaron Smith, Liam Squire, James Lentjes, Gareth Evans, Tom Franklin, Alex Ainley, Siate Tokolahi, Liam Coltman, Daniel Lienert-Brown.
Reserves: Adrian Smith, Craig Millar, Guy Millar, Jackson Hemopo, Elliot Dixon, Kayne Hammington, Fletcher Smith, Matt Faddes.
That might be the best backline in Super rugby right there
The Gallagher Chiefs team to play the Pulse Energy Highlanders at 7.35pm on Friday is:
RESERVES:
() = Gallagher Chiefs caps in brackets
*denotes Gallagher Chiefs debut
**denotes Investec Super Rugby debut
the good old "on paper" match up is interesting. I really like the Highlanders 8-15, while i reckon we look better at 1-5.
@mariner4life said in Highlanders vs Chiefs:
the good old "on paper" match up is interesting. I really like the Highlanders 8-15, while i reckon we look better at 1-5.
+1
The big question is whether Brown can get the most out of a no-name forward pack. Will be very interesting to see what difference Joseph's absence makes.
Bloody good Highlanders backline. That Faauli guy will be under a lot of pressure. This is a huge year for McKenzie. Will he show consistent form at 15? I wouldn't rate him in the top 4 in NZ there.
Hames and Tokolahi in a scrum battle against their former teams.
Hika should make a big difference to the Chiefs scrum. Cane is obviously a huge loss. I will be interested to see how Karpik goes because while he looks good at NPC level his size might be an issue in Super rugby.
The choice at reserve hooker and halfback are filled by a 19 and 20 yr old who weren't part of the original squad.
That Chiefs backline looks pretty decent, but the Landers one has the makings of something special. Experience, speed to burn, plenty of robust attackers that like to offload in the tackle, accurate goal kicker in Lima, the best passing halfback, excellent defensive midfield.
Their pack isn't too different to last year and am expecting continued improvement from the likes of DLB, Ainley and Squire.
Should be a great game to watch I reckon.
@ACT-Crusader said in Highlanders vs Chiefs:
That Chiefs backline looks pretty decent, but the Landers one has the makings of something special. Experience, speed to burn, plenty of robust attackers that like to offload in the tackle, accurate goal kicker in Lima, the best passing halfback, excellent defensive midfield.
Their pack isn't too different to last year and am expecting continued improvement from the likes of DLB, Ainley and Squire.
Ainley is 35. Not sure how much improvement you're going to get...
@Frye said in Highlanders vs Chiefs:
@ACT-Crusader said in Highlanders vs Chiefs:
That Chiefs backline looks pretty decent, but the Landers one has the makings of something special. Experience, speed to burn, plenty of robust attackers that like to offload in the tackle, accurate goal kicker in Lima, the best passing halfback, excellent defensive midfield.
Their pack isn't too different to last year and am expecting continued improvement from the likes of DLB, Ainley and Squire.
Ainley is 35. Not sure how much improvement you're going to get...
LOL! 
@mariner4life said in Highlanders vs Chiefs:
the good old "on paper" match up is interesting. I really like the Highlanders 8-15, while i reckon we look better at 1-5.
If anyone is having difficulty with your tips for this fixture, bet on the team with the better spine...
@Frye said in Highlanders vs Chiefs:
@ACT-Crusader said in Highlanders vs Chiefs:
That Chiefs backline looks pretty decent, but the Landers one has the makings of something special. Experience, speed to burn, plenty of robust attackers that like to offload in the tackle, accurate goal kicker in Lima, the best passing halfback, excellent defensive midfield.
Their pack isn't too different to last year and am expecting continued improvement from the likes of DLB, Ainley and Squire.
Ainley is 35. Not sure how much improvement you're going to get...
Don't be so ageist...
He only made his debut back in 2015 and last season made a big step up at this level. A sign of things to come.
@ACT-Crusader said in Highlanders vs Chiefs:
@Frye said in Highlanders vs Chiefs:
@ACT-Crusader said in Highlanders vs Chiefs:
That Chiefs backline looks pretty decent, but the Landers one has the makings of something special. Experience, speed to burn, plenty of robust attackers that like to offload in the tackle, accurate goal kicker in Lima, the best passing halfback, excellent defensive midfield.
Their pack isn't too different to last year and am expecting continued improvement from the likes of DLB, Ainley and Squire.
Ainley is 35. Not sure how much improvement you're going to get...
Don't be so ageist...
He only made his debut back in 2015 and last season made a big step up at this level. A sign of things to come.
True, true. Basically a spring chicken.
@ACT-Crusader Big hardworking engine on Alex!
Fekitoa, what a tool! It may have been ASmith's pass that was intercepted, but it was the result of that stupid flick backwards from Feki. Do that kind of fancy stuff when you're leading by 17 points or more!
@Tim said in Highlanders vs Chiefs:
Was that a high tackle from Fekitoa?
He'd be third best of the current Auckland centres
