@Machpants said in Chiefs v Blues:

@nzzp said in Chiefs v Blues:

all that said, I think Perofeta is a better option at 10 these days than BB. But I'm an internet dude on the couch, not a selector

Yup, nice little look at ex-headless chook DMac vs ex-tin arse/ball on string BB

Hmm. Contest of the sideways runners. One who may take the ball to the line and throw a great pass or alternatively a shit one to no one, versus a player that won't take it to the line, but will hand a hospital pass to a player standing still if he hasn't already attempted a kick pass to the winger.

With the predicted wet weather I expect the Chiefs will win due to superior tight 5 and 10.

No matter how well Perofeta plays at 10 or how poorly BB plays at 10 Leon is too soft to make a change. Predictable yet still annoying.

@KiwiMurph very clever

Surprised to see a non-squad member Coombes-Fabling named on the bench over other utility backs (Ioane, Punivai, Wrampling, Reihana, who are all 2023 squad members) Are these guys perennially injured or poor trainers?

@kiwi_expat Just because they aren't listed as injured doesn't mean they are all ready to play.

Ioane's father has just died, so I doubt rugby is his no.1 priority at the moment.

As I've said before, Wrampling is to return via club rugby which only starts this weekend for the Waikato competition. No idea about Reihana, who hasn't played at all, but he often plays for Melville so could be involved too.

@Bovidae said in Chiefs v Blues:

@kiwi_expat Just because they aren't listed as injured doesn't mean they are all ready to play.

Ioane's father has just died, so I doubt rugby is his no.1 priority at the moment.

As I've said before, Wrampling is to return via club rugby which only starts this weekend for the Waikato competition. No idea about Reihana, who hasn't played at all, but he often plays for Melville so could be involved too.

After signing Reihana they just haven’t given him a go. Seem to have written him off.

Will hopefully be a cracker. Supposed to piss down on Saturday. Can't shake the feeling that the Blues will win it by 3 or so.

@Yeetyaah said in Chiefs v Blues:

Will hopefully be a cracker. Supposed to piss down on Saturday. Can't shake the feeling that the Blues will win it by 3 or so.

Blues feel like the classic canes - some backline firepower, but a weak tight 5 that keeps costing games. No one puts tight forwards on promotional material, but they're everything in rugby.

Chiefs by a thowwwsand

@nzzp pulling no punches I see, Chiefs are the underdogs, Blues by a million

Chiefs will win this one. Blues have a horrible record in Hamilton don't they? Also, Beaudy is back at 10 so that pretty much seals it for the Chiefs.

@Yeetyaah said in Chiefs v Blues:

@nzzp pulling no punches I see, Chiefs are the underdogs, Blues by a million

Chiefs are favourites at TAB and for good reason. WE've got a light tight 5, a converted flanker at lock, and a beanpole beside him. Our starting prop is out for the season and we're playing an immobile aging scrummager beside a discarded hooker.

@nzzp The Chiefs are missing their starting TH prop too, as well as the top 3 midfielders.

The last time the Blues played in Hamilton they won convincingly, so the Blues must be favourites.

@Crucial said in Chiefs v Blues:

After signing Reihana they just haven’t given him a go. Seem to have written him off.

It would be good to know what the situation is with Reihana. He didn't play in the pre-season games, or for the Chiefs Dev team in their game against the Chiefs U20s. There has to be a reason for his continued absence.

@Bovidae said in Chiefs v Blues:

The last time the Blues played in Hamilton they won convincingly, so the Blues must be favourites.

I'm still dirty about the maul try that got overturned and a penalty awarded a couple of years ago. Cost us a place in the final. Still a ropey call given how mauls get reffed, but that's life. Still - like Lions 2, it wasn't just the penalty but the fact we then imploded afterwards that pisses me off even more.

I'm off to the Grumpy thread now

@Canes4life We've won 2 of the last 3 there and beat them 25-0 last year with Barrett having a blinder in both victories.

@nzzp Yup, would have been 3 victories in a row in Hamilton, and 7 in a row against the Chiefs if it weren't for that.

Still got a poor record against the Chiefs though according to some.

@Bovidae said in Chiefs v Blues:

@Crucial said in Chiefs v Blues:

After signing Reihana they just haven’t given him a go. Seem to have written him off.

It would be good to know what the situation is with Reihana. He didn't play in the pre-season games, or for the Chiefs Dev team in their game against the Chiefs U20s. There has to be a reason for his continued absence.

Not a lot of time last season either.
I recall him coming off the bench at first-five in one game and playing well but then wasn’t seen again.

I think the Chiefs are due a loss and the Blues will edge this in a close game.

Chiefs by 15..

Blues forwards to give away too many penalties early while the smiling assassin will walk up and kick the Chiefs into a early lead, Beaudy with a 3 man overlap will try and kick pass instead... but alas will go to Stevenson who appears to have Will Jordan like capabilities lately get a magic bounce and put ENS away for a try. Blues subs to add impact but in chasing the game Rieko will break through a gap but ignore support to go himself ..fail..and the margin cant be reduced..

Close?

@bayimports said in Chiefs v Blues:

Chiefs by 15..

Blues forwards to give away too many penalties early while the smiling assassin will walk up and kick the Chiefs into a early lead, Beaudy with a 3 man overlap will try and kick pass instead... but alas will go to Stevenson who appears to have Will Jordan like capabilities lately get a magic bounce and put ENS away for a try. Blues subs to add impact but in chasing the game Rieko will break through a gap but ignore support to go himself ..fail..and the margin cant be reduced..

Close?

You forgot that Caleb Clarke will break through a couple of tackles, get in the clear, trip over his own feet then spill the ball