Chiefs v Reds, Hamilton 5.05 PM AEDST 4th April

[Strewthcobber]

I don't understand having Tom on the bench after last weeks game.

Only thing I can think of - Lynagh played the full 80, with HMP getting zero minutes despite being on the bench. Must just a load management thing/giving HMP a run?

 

[Adam84]

Kiss said at the start of season he would adjust fly-half selection based on opposition.

I think ragging on HMP for previous starting effort misses the other changes and injuries which were forced that game magnifying the change.

what HMP doesn’t have though is a long kicking game, his range is about 10-20m shorter which causes issues in clearing the ball. So will be interested to see how they manage that.

 

[emuarse]

Odd as Tom already had some time off with his concussion a few weeks ago.

With only one 10 in HMP, it would be suicide to rest Lynagh.

Kiss could be wanting to give HMP starting time against a powerful NZ side to make sure he has suficient backup in the fly half position should Lyngh incur an injury toward the finals, assuming the reds make the cut, which is a very safe bet.

 

[PhilClinton]

HMP has only played 7mins in the past two games - Lynagh has played a lot.

Really shitty timing to be putting him on the bench but I'd also rather he play 80mins in a semi-final rather than a round game. We are in a good ladder spot.

 

[Wilson]

I think I'd be a lot more comfortable with this change if Campbell was back starting. He's been a key player in our previous victories over the chiefs and offers a lot of the control at the back that helped us get their.

 

[TSR]

I’m more comfortable with it with Lynagh on the bench. Kiss has the option to bring him on at half time if he needs to.

HMP is only going to get better with exposure and he has a pretty solid squad around him. It also has to be good for his confidence that Kiss backs him to start.

 

[Adam84]

HMP played 30 minutes against the Chiefs last year in the Super Rugby regular season and did pretty dam well in helping close out the game for a win

 

[dru]

What is the story with Zane? Coming back from injury? If it has been rotation/rest why would you start him from the bench?

 

[Spamnoodle]

HMP played 30 minutes against the Chiefs last year in the Super Rugby regular season and did pretty dam well in helping close out the game for a win

Exactly. I don't know what people are getting all wound up about.

 

[Wilson]

What is the story with Zane? Coming back from injury? If it has been rotation/rest why would you start him from the bench?

No injury, I imagine it's more about what they want out of their props at different stages of the game. There's not a huge difference in how many minutes they'll play, starting or on the bench.

 

[Major Tom]

What is the story with Zane? Coming back from injury? If it has been rotation/rest why would you start him from the bench?

I think it’s just how they do the rotations. Rotate from bench to starter next game. Starter has the next game off.

 

[PhilClinton]

Exactly. I don't know what people are getting all wound up about.

I think it’s because Lynagh seems to have progressed so much in terms of game management in 2025.

At the end of 2024, there were still lots of fans saying HMP should have played more and be starting.

Lynagh has proved himself as the best option this year, by a decent margin I reckon. Kiss obviously agrees judging by the time he’s spent on the field recently.

 

[TSR]

I think it’s because Lynagh seems to have progressed so much in terms of game management in 2025.

At the end of 2024, there were still lots of fans saying HMP should have played more and be starting.

Lynagh has proved himself as the best option this year, by a decent margin I reckon. Kiss obviously agrees judging by the time he’s spent on the field recently.

I agree with your take on the form - but then I look at Meredith at the Brumbies. 1st game he was so/so, second game better and third game pretty good. Time in the saddle does make a difference. Hopefully HMP shows on Friday night the gap actually isn’t that much.

 

[Spamnoodle]

I think it’s because Lynagh seems to have progressed so much in terms of game management in 2025.

At the end of 2024, there were still lots of fans saying HMP should have played more and be starting.

Lynagh has proved himself as the best option this year, by a decent margin I reckon. Kiss obviously agrees judging by the time he’s spent on the field recently.

And then when Lynagh goes down injured and Harry's thrown into the deep end with no game time they'll all be saying, why didn't he get more experience.
People were saying the exact same things about Lynagh last couple of seasons, I recall cabbages saying he was only there because of his lineage FFS.
Giving him tough gigs early is paying off in spades now. The same will happen with Harry. Let the boy play!

There is no doubt about Lynagh being the first choice, it's about having a Plan B. Along with keeping HMP invested in the team.

 

[Wilson]

I think it’s because Lynagh seems to have progressed so much in terms of game management in 2025.

At the end of 2024, there were still lots of fans saying HMP should have played more and be starting.

Lynagh has proved himself as the best option this year, by a decent margin I reckon. Kiss obviously agrees judging by the time he’s spent on the field recently.

To be fair, I thought those fans were wrong then, and while Lynagh has progressed that game management difference was always there. For mine the worry is more the combination of an away came and the Chiefs taking as very bloody seriously this time around. I don't think it's the end of the world with HMP out there at all, particularly with an almost full strength side around him, but I'd love it if we were coming in with Lynagh's game which is key to beating them.

The other aspect is that this has become my favourite game of the season and I'm just a bit disappointed to see it artificially limited like this (potentially, maybe Kiss has something up his sleeve). Hopefully come the 21st of June we'll be sitting at Suncorp to watch the re-match with no thought of rest or rotation in the selectors mind on either side.

 

[dru]

I don't think it's the end of the world with HMP out there at all,

No obviously. It is however #1 v #2 at a key time in the season. Really not something to be half-cocked about. I don't like it but do wish HMP all the best and hope he plays the house down.

 

[emuarse]

No obviously. It is however #1 v #2 at a key time in the season. Really not something to be half-cocked about. I don't like it but do wish HMP all the best and hope he plays the house down.

With Damian McKenzie as the opposing fly half, I would be evaluating who is the better defender between Lynaugh & HPM?
HPM should'nt be underestimated.

 

[Derpus]

No

Well now look - some backwater Welsh town have stolen him.

 

[Wilson]

Well now look - some backwater Welsh town have stolen him.

Wrong lock and they're only in the hunt, nothing signed yet.

Either way that probably says more about the New South if your lot can't beat out someone in the Old North on the player market, given how poorly things are going up their.

 

[Derpus]

Wrong lock and they're only in the hunt, nothing signed yet.

Either way that probably says more about the New South if your lot can't beat out someone in the Old North on the player market, given how poorly things are going up their.

Ah yep so it is.

do you mean to say the broke wooden spooners arent an attractive proposition? Surely not..