Three All Blacks unavailable as Chiefs eye up Crusaders
Bench All Blacks played a big role in the Chiefs’ come-from-behind win over the Blues in last weekend’s Super Rugby opener, but the Chiefs may not have quite the same luxury against the Crusaders on Saturday.
The Chiefs have confirmed that they will have to cope without three All Blacks this week, with Damian McKenzie, Angus Ta’avao and Nepo Laulala all likely to miss the massive derby.
Infamous for their seemingly endless slew of injuries, the Chiefs entered the pre-season with almost all of their players fit and ready for the season. Importantly, their key All Blacks were all injury-free.
Then came the month from hell.
First, Nathan Harris was ruled out for the season due to a damaged rotator cuff.
Continue reading below…
Then, Damian McKenzie – who missed most of 2019 due to a ruptured ACL – was scratched before the game against the Blues due to a strained abductor, despite initially being named at fullback.
Finally, during last Friday’s match, Nepo Laulala and Angus Ta’avao both left the park, forcing starting loosehead, Aidan Ross, to play the full 80 while Atu Moli was called upon to cover the tighthead.
“Because we were under pressure, we could’ve easily said, ‘let’s go to golden oldies’ because we’ve used our two [designated] tightheads and both have picked up injuries,” said head coach Warren Gatland following the win. “But we said no, [Atu Moli] has played there before and we didn’t want to take that soft option.”
“I thought he was brilliant for us. Someone who hasn’t trained there a lot and hasn’t been in the environment a huge amount probably got us out of a hole.”
The @BluesRugbyTeam have suffered a series of potentially crippling blows to their Super Rugby campaign. #SuperRugby https://t.co/3AnckZ5Diy
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 4, 2020
Gatland also didn’t expect any repercussions out of the match.
“I don’t think [the injuries] are massive. I think they’ve both taken knocks or dead legs so I don’t think it’s anything that’s long term.
“In fairness to Angus, he said at halftime he wasn’t 100%. He got a bit of a knock at training during the week and we brought Ryan Coxon up as cover, just in case he didn’t get through the warmup, but he said he felt alright.”
Despite Gatland’s initial thoughts, it appears that the Chiefs will have to dig deep into their propping stocks this week.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B8Hvg6KAsaU/
Ta’avao is still dealing with concussion symptoms – which was presumably initially caused by the knock at last week’s training, while Laulala is undergoing scans on his leg this week and is almost certainly not going to feature over the weekend.
That leaves Moli as the senior prop, while the likes of Ryan Coxon and Reuben O’Neill could be supported by any of Ross Geldenyhuys, Ollie Norris or Robb Cobb, who are on training contracts with the team.
McKenzie, who was expected to be available for Saturday, is now looking like an unlikely selection. His place was taken by Shaun Stevenson last week and would likely be called upon to start in the 15 jersey again against the Crusaders.
From starting the season with an almost full bill of health to now having to search high and low for fit players, January’s injury-toll could have a major impact on the Chiefs’ year ahead.
WATCH: Featuring a host of international stars including Dan Carter, Samu Kerevi, Duane Vermuelen, Brodie Retallick, Andy Ellis, Matt Giteau, RG Snyman, Tevita Li and more! Catch up on all the highlights from Round 4 of the Japanese Top League.
Comments on RugbyPass
The 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?
3 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
3 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!
3 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 …
30 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
3 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.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to comments