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'That man is a genius on many levels': Opponents heap praise on Damian McKenzie
Les Kiss won’t leave you unsure of his thoughts on the Chiefs as the injury-hit Queensland Reds prepare to welcome the Super Rugby Pacific leaders to town.
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Brilliant, scary, genius and firepower were all words the coach used ahead of Saturday’s third-round clash at Suncorp Stadium.
“Everyone else will be chasing them this year,” he goes on.
Kiss, fresh off a decade coaching in Europe and South Africa but with six years under his belt as a NSW Waratahs assistant, has watched plenty of tape on the Chiefs since taking over from Brad Thorn at Ballymore.
Two games in particular were on rotation.
The Reds’ incredible, hoodoo-busting 25-22 win in New Plymough that ended a 21-game losing streak in the country and kept their season alive.
And an equally-competitive 29-20 quarter-final loss that ended the Thorn era.
“Our boys went toe to toe with them a couple of times last year,” Kiss said.
“They’re (the Chiefs) on the Gold Coast this week; it shows they’ve put a bit of weight on it and we’re really looking forward to it.”
Kiss is without concussed strike pair Jordan Petaia and Hunter Paisami but has Isaac Henry and Jock Campbell at his disposal to replace them and the fire in the belly from a golden-point loss to the Hurricanes last week.
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He said players might also hold on to memories of last year’s clashes but felt tactically they’ve moved on.
“This game moves pretty quickly; it’s apples and oranges,” he said.
“We’ve got our mission and they’ve got theirs, but what I saw last week they’re absolutely brilliant, the top team in the competition without doubt at this stage.”
One constant remains Chiefs playmaker Damian McKenzie, who is a frontrunner to wear the No.10 for the All Blacks after continuing his fine 2023 form this season.
“That man is a genius on many levels,” Kiss said.
“But it’s not just about him. The guys that move around the park give him the opportunity.”
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Campbell will switch to fullback for the hosts, where he was impressive in the off-season, while former All Blacks prop Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 33, will come off the bench in his first Super contest since leaving for European rugby in 2019.
Sef Fa’agase will start in the front row to replace the injured Alex Hodgman (shoulder) while Junior Wallabies winger Tim Ryan has been selected on the bench for a potential Super Rugby Pacific debut.
Comments on RugbyPass
“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.
37 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…
1 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 …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
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