Chiefs vs Waratahs - Super Rugby Round 16 2014

[JSRF10]

A losing bonus point would be acceptable in this given our dire record in BNZ. That said we've yet to beat a top side away from home under Cheika and it would be a massive boost going into finals to get that off the back.

 

[qwerty51]

I'm afraid if we lose this we can just about kiss our chances goodbye. There's no way we could win in Durban.

 

[FilthRugby]

I reckon the Tahs will win.

Even as a Queenslander, I really hope the Tahs perform for the rest of this season. Australian Rugby needs another Super Rugby title. At this stage it looks like the Tahs are our best hope.

 

[Hawko]

I'm concerned about Chris Pollock for this one.

Me too. His last outing I saw was pretty awful and overlaying inconsistency over home ground advantage could get very ugly.

I also think the Sharks at Durban are a bridge too far; there'll likely be a non-neutral referee for the final, (pray it isn't Peyper, that bloke doesn't actively set out to allow a free flowing game and that will naturally advantage the Sharks) and I reckon the crowd will be worth around 7-10 points too.

 

[Brumby Jack]

Chiefs team

1. Jamie Mackintosh
2. Nathan Harris
3. Ben Tameifuna
4. Matt Symons
5. Brodie Retallick
6. Liam Messam
7. Sam Cane
8. Liam Squire
9. Tawera Kerr-Barlow
10. Aaron Cruden ©
11. Asaeli Tikoirotuma
12. Andrew Horrell
13. Tim Nanai-Williams
14. Dwayne Sweeney
15. Tom Marshall
16. Mahonri Schwalger
17. Pauliasi Manu
18. Josh Hohneck
19. Michael Fitzgerald
20. Tanerau Latimer
21. Brad Weber
22. Gareth Anscombe
23. Bundee Aki

 

[Braveheart81]

Interesting that Cruden has taken over as captain.

Plenty of class in that team. The Tahs backs have to threaten the 13 channel of Tim Nanai-Williams. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) has been awesome this year and TNW's defence isn't overly flash.

Big call to leave Latimer on the bench but there is probably better balance having Squire at number 8 than Latimer at 6 and Messam at 8. Cane, Latimer and Messam are all excellent players but not the most balanced backrow when they are all starting.

Nathan Harris was named in the first All Blacks squad after playing few minutes and his excellent lineout throwing was cited as a huge plus. In the last couple of weeks he's played a lot more minutes and his throwing has struggled. The Tahs lineout was much improved against the Rebels and if Harris doesn't get things right, this could be an area the Waratahs can target.

Of course, the Tahs lineout can fall apart in the blink of an eye so anything could happen.

 

[Braveheart81]

Waratahs: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Alofa Alofa, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Rob Horne, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Dave Dennis, 5 Kane Douglas, 4 Jacques Potgieter, 3 Paddy Ryan, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Benn Robinson.

Replacements: 16 Hugh Roach, 17 Jeremy Tilse, 18 Sekope Kepu, 19 Will Skelton, 20 Stephen Hoiles, 21 Brendan McKibbin, 22 Jono Lance, 23 Matt Carraro.

Same team as last week. Loving the continuity.

 

[Richo]

Tough for Crawford to be on the outer, but Horne too good and Carraro too flexible.

 

[Pfitzy]

That's a good Chiefs bench. Calling this game is a 50/50 exercise.

 

[Lindommer]

Not a bad Tahs bench either, two Wallabies and two future Wallabies. Cheika's got to give Crawford a sniff of an opportunity or we'll lose him. With Horne on the paddock and Carraro on the bench surely the centres're are covered for spares. I really like Cam's size and his monster boot.

 

[qwerty51]

Who's the 2nd future Wallaby?

 

[Lindommer]

The two fWs are Tilse and Lance.....











Roach.

 

[I like to watch]

Not a bad Tahs bench either, two Wallabies and two future Wallabies. Cheika's got to give Crawford a sniff of an opportunity or we'll lose him. With Horne on the paddock and Carraro on the bench surely the centres're are covered for spares. I really like Cam's size and his monster boot.

You think he wants to keep Crawford?
Seems to me he put a line through his name early this year.
Ben V also seems to be right out of favour as well.
Maybe he is willing to punt on Kellaway and/or Harry Jones in the future?

 

[Richo]

You think he wants to keep Crawford?
Seems to me he put a line through his name early this year.
Ben V also seems to be right out of favour as well.
Maybe he is willing to punt on Kellaway and/or Harry Jones in the future?

I don't think this is quite right. Crawford was very slow coming back from injury, which enabled others to get ahead of him in the pecking order. He also came out of nowhere last year, so it's not surprising to have him backslide a bit, especially after an injury. Carraro offers a much-needed level head to close out games -- rarely does he make an avoidable error. Volavola is a project.

My view is that the selections so far speak to the strength of the backs in the squad, and are not a reflection on Crawford or Volavola as such.

 

[qwerty51]

Volavola is an odd one, he's one of the few Cheika personally signed after a couple of weeks trailing against other 10s he picked him.

I really can't see how Carraro is a better player than Crawford but whatever it's not much of a biggie.

 

[Braveheart81]

Here's my match preview.

http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/preview-waratahs-v-chiefs/

 

[I like to watch]

I don't think this is quite right. Crawford was very slow coming back from injury, which enabled others to get ahead of him in the pecking order. He also came out of nowhere last year, so it's not surprising to have him backslide a bit, especially after an injury. Carraro offers a much-needed level head to close out games -- rarely does he make an avoidable error. Volavola is a project.

My view is that the selections so far speak to the strength of the backs in the squad, and are not a reflection on Crawford or Volavola as such.

Crawford did not set the world alight in the Next Gen series of games,and if you were within 100 metres from the sheds after one game you would have heard the unflattering critique of his game.
I think it speaks volumes that he is using 2 centres on the wing,in preference to these 2 back three players.
Bear in mind,the Parra 12 had his cameo on the wing as well.
But it wouldn't be the first time I came up with seven after adding two and two!

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Won't get to see this live as it's my " on" Saturday, will have to record it & hope no-one blabs the score. Can't make up my mind result-wise, every time I convince myself the Chiefs'll get the job done I look at the 'Tahs team sheet & have second thoughts. TAB (NZ version) have Chiefs $1.65 'tahs $2.15 with a line of +3.5 so clearly I'm not alone in thinking this is gonna be a tight one. Chiefs to win, 'tahs a BP, possibly 2.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Go Tahs. A win would be great for the Aus conference and a confidence builder for the Wallabies. And it just might be the Tahs' long awaited title this year.

 

[boyo]

3-3 after 9