Fruean out 4-8 weeks with more heart trouble

[steblin]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/9834869/Fruean-out-of-Chiefs-trip-to-Australia-SA

Poor guy just can't catch a break!

 

[ABs2011]

Yeah, just read the article as well. Such a shame. I felt like he was going to have a breakout season for Waikato this year!

All the best to him for his op and recovery. Hope to see him back out on the field better and stronger than ever later this season.

 

[Jaguares]

C'mon Robbie! Good luck in your recovery

 

[nzlizard]

Yeah gutted for him he has to have the knife again.

Makes 3 key injuries in the backs for the Chiefs, not a good start to a 8-9 game streak.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Yeah gutted for him he has to have the knife again.

Makes 3 key injuries in the backs for the Chiefs, not a good start to a 8-9 game streak.

To be honest the only real 'key' players the Chiefs have are Messam, Retallick and Cruden. Everyone else can be replaced from within the squad reasonably easily.

 

[nzlizard]

To be honest the only real 'key' players the Chiefs have are Messam, Retallick and Cruden. Everyone else can be replaced from within the squad reasonably easily.

The reason I say key injuries is they are all outside backs, and Frurean and Ngatai are quite experienced players and have a lot to offer and Lowe is a real promising up and comer.

Yes they can all be replaced from the WTS easily but it will only take 1 more injury to someone like

Mils Muliaina
Tim Nanai-Williams
Gareth Anscombe
Asaeli Tikoirotuma

and that outside backs ranks may start to look a little thin.

The Chiefs are very damaging on the flanks attacking from out own 22 with ease, that is based around those outside backs being there to deliver, if we lose that we lose a key factor of our game, while I don't doubt our ability to deliver without them it will be a **** load harder and may be the difference in a few wins.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

The reason I say key injuries is they are all outside backs, and Frurean and Ngatai are quite experienced players and have a lot to offer and Lowe is a real promising up and comer.

Yes they can all be replaced from the WTS easily but it will only take 1 more injury to someone like

Mils Muliaina
Tim Nanai-Williams
Gareth Anscombe
Asaeli Tikoirotuma

and that outside backs ranks may start to look a little thin.

The Chiefs are very damaging on the flanks attacking from out own 22 with ease, that is based around those outside backs being there to deliver, if we lose that we lose a key factor of our game, while I don't doubt our ability to deliver without them it will be a **** load harder and may be the difference in a few wins.

Well we need to make a five man backline out of Muliaina, TNW, Anscombe, Tiks, Marshall and Horrell. We've got an extra man there, even with all the injuries. It certainly wouldn't help to lose anymore players, but we're not really in any worse a position than the likes of the Hurricanes or Blues are during any point in their seasons. We're just so blessed with depth that we start to stress when our backline is no longer a team of Super Rugby starters, when in reality what we put out (even if we had to play Lienert-Brown or Payne) will likely still be just as good, if not better than most of the other teams in the competition.

I'd also like to think that the WTG guys are no slouches, based on the fact that the coaches have selected them in the first place! How many dud players have we seen from Rennie and co in the past three years? Nemani was average, but didn't really get much game time anyway, but other than him all the backs have been very successful. I'm hoping that these two young guys are equally as successful!

 

[ABs2011]

I hope it doesn't come to it, but out of interest, if the Chiefs (or any NZ squad for that matter) had to make an addition to their squad to cover centers and outsides who do you think they would pick up?

 

[Larksea]

No disrespect but I honestly dont think the chiefs will miss Fruen much and I think they should just expect not to have him now. Lets be brutally honest he was supposed to be in his best shape for a long time and that was good enough for him to have 1 good game before he went down hill and now hes out for an extended period. It sucks for him but hes just not going to be a player the chiefs can rely on.

ngatai on the other hand is a big loss, With Aki out he became the senior mid fielder at the chiefs.

But look at the options that are left

marshal, Mils, TNW, Horrell

lowe is out as well but he can be covered too no problems

The fact Anscombe had a blinder in his comeback match sure makes the situation easier.

kinda getting to the point where one or two more injuries could stretch things but as we have seen in the past the chiefs just seem to keep performing. Cruden and Messam seem to be a peppermint fixture in the team, Just behind them is Retalick and as long as they are there they get the job done. I think we are already seeing that Fitzgerald and Symons can do the job in Clarke's absence.

The only real weakness I see in the chiefs compared to last year is the Front Row. I think they miss Hikas energy around the park, They Miss Toby Smith all round and bee sting Ben doesn't seem at his best yet at scrum time. Mackintosh is doing ok around the park but hes no Toby Smith at the scrums.

 

[Larksea]

I hope it doesn't come to it, but out of interest, if the Chiefs (or any NZ squad for that matter) had to make an addition to their squad to cover centers and outsides who do you think they would pick up?

Whats Richard kahui up to?

well Anton Lienert-Brown (Waikato) is listed as chiefs wider training group for midfield

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

Whats Richard kahui up to?

well Anton Lienert-Brown (Waikato) is listed as chiefs wider training group for midfield

Richard Kahui playes in japan just now

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Whats Richard kahui up to?

well Anton Lienert-Brown (Waikato) is listed as chiefs wider training group for midfield

Yep Lienert-Brown is first cab of the ranks for the Chiefs (he's just turned down trialing for the U20's to travel with the Chiefs squad), and behind him is Jordan Payne, who's an ex-Aucklander and also in his very early twenties.

 

[Larksea]

I know what kahui is up to, but I fully expect to hear some news regarding him and the chiefs at some point. Weather or not he is returning for 2015 I expect to see news either way hoping a couple years of first XV rugby (what many compare Japanese club rugby to) has done him a world of good.