[2015 Super Rugby] Highlanders vs. Chiefs (Round 16) 30/05/2015

[TRF_stormer2010]

Date : Saturday 30 May 2015
Venue : Rugby Park, Invercargill
Kick Off local: 19:35 local, 17:35 AEST, 09:35 SAST
Referee: Nick Briant
Assistant Ref 1:Shane McDermott
Assistant Ref 2:Mike Lash
TMO : Glenn Newman

Highlanders: Ben Smith (c), Waisake Naholo, Malakai Fekitoa, Richard Buckman, Patrick Osborne, Lima Sopoaga, Aaron Smith, Dan Pryor, John Hardie, Elliot Dixon, Tom Franklin, Alex Ainley, Josh Hohneck, Liam Coltman, Brendon Edmonds. Reserves: Ash Dixon, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Ross Geldenhuys, Joe Latta, Gareth Evans, Fumiaki Tanaka, Marty Banks, Jason Emery.

Chiefs: Damian McKenzie, Hosea Gear, Charlie Ngatai, Anton Lienert-Brown, Bryce Heem, Marty McKenzie, Augustine Pulu; Michael Leitch, Sam Cane (c), Maama Vaipulu, Michael FitzGerald, Ross Filipo, Ben Tameifuna, Hika Elliot, Pauliasi Manu.Reserves: Quentin MacDonald, Siate Tokolahi, Mitchell Graham, Brian Alainu'uese, Mitchell Crosswell, Brad Weber, Andrew Horrell, Tim Nanai-Williams.​

 

[Kiwi_]

Crunch game, I think we will win this. Cold night in Invercargil, they won't be ready for it. 28 - 24 Highlanders.

 

[Ossau]

Crucial game for the Highlanders, can't afford to lose it.

I know the All Blacks have to rest for 2 games this season. When will Ben Smith, Aaron Smith and Malakai Fekitoa be rested for the 2nd time?
Only 3 (big) games remain and the Highlanders will need them surely!

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Highlanders team announced, still no Nasi Manu:

Highlanders: Ben Smith, Waisake Naholo, Malakai Fekitoa, Richard Buckman, Patrick Osborne, Lima Sopoaga, Aaron Smith, Dan Pryor, John Hardie, Elliot Dixon, Tom Franklin, Alex Ainley, Josh Hohneck, Liam Coltman, Brendon Edmonds. Reserves; Ash Dixon, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Ross Geldenhuys, Joe Latta, Gareth Evans, Fumiaki Tanaka, Marty Banks, Jason Emery.

 

[Kiwi_]

Highlanders team announced, still no Nasi Manu:

Highlanders: Ben Smith, Waisake Naholo, Malakai Fekitoa, Richard Buckman, Patrick Osborne, Lima Sopoaga, Aaron Smith, Dan Pryor, John Hardie, Elliot Dixon, Tom Franklin, Alex Ainley, Josh Hohneck, Liam Coltman, Brendon Edmonds. Reserves; Ash Dixon, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Ross Geldenhuys, Joe Latta, Gareth Evans, Fumiaki Tanaka, Marty Banks, Jason Emery.

Dan Pryor is good cover, he's had a good season, big game for him to step up in, which I think he will.

I think we will rest the All Blacks in the Hurricanes game and put it all into the Blues game.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Pretty injury ravaged Chiefs teams being fielded this week.

Chiefs: Damian McKenzie, Hosea Gear, Charlie Ngatai, Anton Lienert-Brown, Bryce Heem, Marty McKenzie, Augustine Pulu; Michael Leitch, Sam Cane (c), Maama Vaipulu, Michael FitzGerald, Ross Filipo, Ben Tameifuna, Hika Elliot, Pauliasi Manu. Reserves: Quentin MacDonald, Siate Tokolahi, Mitchell Graham, Brian Alainu'uese, Mitchell Crosswell, Brad Weber, Andrew Horrell, Tim Nanai-Williams.

 

[Kiwi_]

Pretty injury ravaged Chiefs teams being fielded this week.

Chiefs: Damian McKenzie, Hosea Gear, Charlie Ngatai, Anton Lienert-Brown, Bryce Heem, Marty McKenzie, Augustine Pulu; Michael Leitch, Sam Cane (c), Maama Vaipulu, Michael FitzGerald, Ross Filipo, Ben Tameifuna, Hika Elliot, Pauliasi Manu. Reserves: Quentin MacDonald, Siate Tokolahi, Mitchell Graham, Brian Alainu'uese, Mitchell Crosswell, Brad Weber, Andrew Horrell, Tim Nanai-Williams.

In all seriousness, I have no idea how that side took the Hurricanes to the wire and smashed the Bulls. Sam Cane is really stepping up. If he continues this quality into the World Cup, it's great news for us if Richie is having a rough game.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

Dan Pryor is good cover, he's had a good season, big game for him to step up in, which I think he will.

I think we will rest the All Blacks in the Hurricanes game and put it all into the Blues game.

you would think so, more likely to get something out of the blues game than the canes. At the start of the season i assumed we rest them on the RSA tour

Pryor is good, would have though dixon at 8 would have been a more natural fit

 

[Kiwi_]

Pretty nervous, this is a massive game for us. I feel we have a real chance vs the Hurricanes as well after their result vs the Crusaders.

 

[Kiwi_]

Osbourne you beast! Chiefs giving away endless penalties, like they have all season.

 

[austingtir]

Osbourne has got to have backup to Savea locked down. I actually think he's playing better than Savea at this stage of the year.


Gears attempt at tackle seemed pretty pathetic. There was loads of cover coming across there was no need for him to panic and try make that rush tackle which missed.

 

[Kiwi_]

Gears been good in attack past few weeks, but like always has been suspect in defense.

- - - Updated - - -

Nice nearly try from the Mckenzies.. They should be playing for the Highlanders as well, Southland boys.

 

[smartcooky]

Nice try from the Mckenzies.. They should be playing for the Highlanders as well, Southland boys.

No try, and correctly ruled by the match officials. The ball went forward off his forearm.

The commentator (Cooper) is showing his Chiefs bias....again!

 

[Kiwi_]

No try, and correctly ruled by the match officials. The ball went forward off his forearm.

The commentator (Cooper) is showing his Chiefs bias....again!

I see his daughter out in Queenstown sometimes. He used to be our coach.

Honestly the Chiefs give away so many penalties, they must have the highest count in SR.

Unreal try from Naholo!! How fast..

 

[austingtir]

Kinda refreshing to see the Refs just ignore that Elliot and Smith nothing that went on there.

 

[Kiwi_]

Kinda refreshing to see the Refs just ignore that Elliot and Smith nothing that went on there.

Yeah for sure, just shoulder to shoulder stuff, if anything Smith was in wrong.

Knew the cold of Invercargil would be too much for them!! It's been so cold down South.

 

[Bluemoon]

Highlanders are really turning the screw here, playing some smart positional play. Smothering the Chiefs attack and keeping them in their 22 really well.

Feel it's a matter of time before a Highlanders score.

 

[Kiwi_]

Barracuda!!! Killing the Chiefs!!

 

[austingtir]

Another try thats a really really good win.

The Chiefs better hope they can put their best side out during the finals or they've got no chance. I honestly cant see them beating any of the other finalists the way they've been playing.


And I hope the HL manage to hold onto second spot in the NZ conference imo they deserve it.

 

[Kiwi_]

Yes!! bonus point and who better to score than Ben Smith!! Legend