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Chiefs eager not to let history repeat as they name team for Reds
The Chiefs are one of three undefeated teams as they head into round three of Super Rugby Pacific, but they know that perfect record is under threat as they face the one team that bested them during the 2023 regular season.
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The Reds have had a strong start to the season, and will be feeling a potent mix of confidence from dismissing the Waratahs in round one and bitterness from their golden point loss to the Hurricanes in Super Round.
The Chiefs themselves have that exact concoction on a different scale, having proven themselves to be the best team in the competition throughout their 2023 campaign before getting tipped at the final hurdle by serial winners the Crusaders.
To ensure the Reds don’t get the same satisfaction out of this year’s matchup, the Chiefs have named much of their top squad for the contest.
All Black hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho gets his first start of the season while Rameka Poihipi and Daniel Rona assume the midfield roles as Quinn Tupaea and Anton Lienert-Brown sit out.
Josh Ioane steps into the fullback role, moving Shaun Stevenson to the right wing while Etene Nanai-Seturo-Seturo will look to back up his superb effort against the Brumbies on the left wing.
“The Reds are a formidable opponent and have been impressive through the early rounds. They play an abrasive style and have the athletes to challenge through the middle of the park and through their tactical kicking game. We are under no illusion how tough this game will be and are preparing for a real dogfight,” said coach Clayton McMillan.
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Chiefs team to face the Reds
1. Aidan Ross
2. Samisoni Taukei’aho
3. George Dyer
4. Tupou Vaa’i
5. Naitoa Ah Kuoi
6. Samipeni Finau
7. Simon Parker
8. Luke Jacobson
9. Cortez Ratima
10. Damian McKenzie
11. Etene Nanai-Seturo
12. Rameka Poihipi
13. Daniel Rona
14. Shaun Stevenson
15. Josh Ioane
Reserves
16. Tyrone Thompson
17. Ollie Norris
18. Reuben O’Neill
19. Manaaki Selby-Rickit
20. Wallace Sititi*
21. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi
22. Josh Jacomb*
23. Anton Lienert-Brown
Unavailable for selection: Quinn Tupaea, Kaleb Trask, Jared Proffit.
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Comments on RugbyPass
Danny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
2 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
34 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
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