Menu
Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
New posts
Latest activity
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles and first posts only
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Help Support The Rugby Forum :
Forums
Rugby Union
Super Rugby
[2018 Super Rugby] Round 7: Chiefs vs. Highlanders (30/03/2018)
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Radsy" data-source="post: 897749" data-attributes="member: 74902"><p>This will be a nice clash. Can't take anything from last week's results into this one. Chiefs won the only meeting last year, but generally the Highlanders have given them big problems. Naholo especially. I'm glad Osbourne is gone at least. </p><p></p><p>For the Chiefs...</p><p></p><p>Ngatai will possibly be back for this one. His inclusion would be a huge boost, as he is by far the most experienced back in the squad and Marty McKenzie is a terrible option at 15. If Ngatai can't go, Cooper will be tempted to slot Falcon back in at flyhalf. Weber will likely start based on experience, but TTT is in better form. Dom Bird is out for the year, so the rampaging Canuck Tyler Ardron will likely start at lock again. Cooper has clearly made mauling and red zone offense a major point of emphasis for this season (which was always terrible under Rennie), and it's paying dividends. </p><p></p><p>For the Highlanders...</p><p></p><p>The question remains- who up front will give the Highlanders stellar backline front foot ball? Cohesion and tremendous work rate can only get you so far. Coltman should be less banged up this week. Whitelock and Dixon need to carry the ballcarrying load better. Hunt and Hemopo are great prospects that struggle with bigger opposition, but are dangerous with a gap. Sapoaga and Smith tend to do a great job of insulating their forwards with great direction and territorial play around the park, and game management is an area where they should have the advantage over the Chiefs. Another area is in the back 3- Naholo looks back to full speed (see him leave Perenera in the dust last week?) and could bump off Alaimalo a few times. Tevita Li is very hit or miss, so the battle with a rusty (but dangerous) Toni Pulu could go a long way in deciding the score.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Radsy, post: 897749, member: 74902"] This will be a nice clash. Can't take anything from last week's results into this one. Chiefs won the only meeting last year, but generally the Highlanders have given them big problems. Naholo especially. I'm glad Osbourne is gone at least. For the Chiefs... Ngatai will possibly be back for this one. His inclusion would be a huge boost, as he is by far the most experienced back in the squad and Marty McKenzie is a terrible option at 15. If Ngatai can't go, Cooper will be tempted to slot Falcon back in at flyhalf. Weber will likely start based on experience, but TTT is in better form. Dom Bird is out for the year, so the rampaging Canuck Tyler Ardron will likely start at lock again. Cooper has clearly made mauling and red zone offense a major point of emphasis for this season (which was always terrible under Rennie), and it's paying dividends. For the Highlanders... The question remains- who up front will give the Highlanders stellar backline front foot ball? Cohesion and tremendous work rate can only get you so far. Coltman should be less banged up this week. Whitelock and Dixon need to carry the ballcarrying load better. Hunt and Hemopo are great prospects that struggle with bigger opposition, but are dangerous with a gap. Sapoaga and Smith tend to do a great job of insulating their forwards with great direction and territorial play around the park, and game management is an area where they should have the advantage over the Chiefs. Another area is in the back 3- Naholo looks back to full speed (see him leave Perenera in the dust last week?) and could bump off Alaimalo a few times. Tevita Li is very hit or miss, so the battle with a rusty (but dangerous) Toni Pulu could go a long way in deciding the score. [/QUOTE]
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Rugby Union
Super Rugby
[2018 Super Rugby] Round 7: Chiefs vs. Highlanders (30/03/2018)
Top