RugbyRebels

Tuesday night will be a big one in the 'Tron. Touring international sides have often struggled in Hamilton but I think this is the first such match for the Chiefs Super Rugby Franchise rather than the Waikato Rugby Union provincial team (or, in the early, days, combined teams from Waikato and neighbouring unions).

The Chiefs have 20 players missing (on duty for the All Blacks, NZ 7s or U20s). Wales will be fielding their dirt-trackers although some are backing up from the bench in last Saturday's test.

Rugby World Cup WInner Stephen "Beaver" Donald rightly leads the 2-time Champion Chiefs.

Chiefs:
1. Mitchell Graham (23)
2. Rhys Marshall (30)
3. Hiroshi Yamashita (7)
4. Dominic Bird (5)
5. Michael Allardice (17)
6. Mitchell Brown*
7. Lachlan Boshier (2)
8. Tom Sanders (9)
9. Brad Weber (36)
10. Stephen Donald (87) Captain
11. Sam Vaka (3)
12. Andrew Horrell (53)
13. Anton Lienert-Brown (18)
14. Toni Pulu (7)
15. James Lowe (31)
RESERVES:

16. Hika Elliot (98)
17. Siegfried Fisi’ihoi (5)
18. Atu Moli (5)
19. Taleni Seu (12)
20. Tevita Koloamatangi (7)
21. Kayne Hammington (6)
22. Sam McNicol (6)
23. Latu Vaeno (2)

( ) = Gallagher Chiefs caps in brackets
*denotes Gallagher Chiefs debut

Not considered for selection: Nepo Laulala, Mitchell Karpik, Johan Bardoul, Pauliasi Manu, Sam Henwood, Glen Fisiiahi, Chase Tiatia, Michael Leitch, Maama Vaipulu, James Tucker, Augustine Pulu (All Blacks Sevens) and Shaun Stevenson (New Zealand U20s).
All Blacks: Charlie Ngatai, Brodie Rettalick, Sam Cane, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Seta Tamanivalu, Nathan Harris, Aaron Cruden and Damian McKenzie


Wales:
Wales: Matthew Morgan (Bristol); Eli Walker (Ospreys), Tyler Morgan (Newport Gwent Dragons), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Tom James (Cardiff Blues); Rhys Priestland (Bath) Gareth Davies (Scarlets); Rob Evans (Scarlets), Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Luke Charteris (capt, Racing 92), Josh Turnbull (Cardiff Blues), James King (Ospreys), Ellis Jenkins (Cardiff Blues).

Replacements: Kristian Dacey (Cardiff Blues), Aaron Jarvis (Ospreys), Rhodri Jones (Scarlets), Bradley Davies (Wasps), Ross Moriarty (Gloucester), Aled Davies (Scarlets), Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), Rhys Patchell (Cardiff Blues).

Welsh must love all the pre-game kapa haka shenanigans.

Am also surprised this isn't a sell out.

Check that shit out.


Hook it fast from the scrum, get it of the top of the line out, and onwards. Nice.

Has James Lowe ever been brought in to touch when not trying to score a try? Seriously. He never seems to die with the ball.

Taleni you lanky, trolling, mofo. Am very glad that you stopped mucking around with basket-bouncy-ball, and started playing rugby seriously.

Wailures.

Hammy, please rename rename thread "Chiefs v Fails: All Hail Captain Beaver"

Chur. Blitzkreig.

With character, of course.

That was very nearly as much fun as Waikato v Lions, 1993.

Donald for ABs starting 10?

J Dory wrote:Donald for ABs starting 10?

That break and offload for Webbers try looked like something Carter would do. Priestland comprehensively outplayed by Donald

Webber looks tidy too. Zippy wee pass. Aaron Smith Mk2.

Donald showed why he was an AB. Webber showed why he will be.

Weber probably deserved a call-up for this series based on his current form as well.

Weber looked particularly good compared to his opposite number. He made two good breaks and then ran like he was stuck in treacle. The first one in particular should easily have been a try for anyone with determination and moderate foot speed.

So are we going to have haka's for each franchise next year?

Also...

I guess it's to Wales' credit that we've not yet heard any bleating from that direction about an unfair surprise Haka.

Lizard wrote:I guess it's to Wales' credit that we've not yet heard any bleating from that direction about an unfair surprise Haka.

True. 'Twas a good one, though, and the syncronisation was spot on. If they struggle to crack the 1stXV then Britain's Got Talent awaits.

Can anyone tell us anything about Rhys Marshall? He just signed for Munster for 3 years.

He's ok. Played NZ U20s, signed to Super Rugby quite young. Didn't quite kick on in that environment and was not really part of the "post-Mealamu" discussion. Probably a good signing. He's still very young for a hooker (23?) and could still make a real name for himself.


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Lizard wrote:He's ok. Played NZ U20s, signed to Super Rugby quite young. Didn't quite kick on in that environment and was not really part of the "post-Mealamu" discussion. Probably a good signing. He's still very young for a hooker (23?) and could still make a real name for himself.


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yeah, 24 next week. signed as a project player, meaning you may see him in green some day....... alongside payne, bleyendaal, aki, mccartney, heenan and gibson-park.

That must be quite demoralising for young actually Irish players.


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Shame that he's leaving, because he's got potential, but he did end up getting lost in the shuffle behind Codie Taylor and Liam Coltman. With the sudden rise of Ricky Riccitelli at the Hurricanes as well, I guess he figured the writing was on the wall.

Lizard wrote:That must be quite demoralising for young actually Irish players.

Rule needs changing for sure.

Cheers cashead