'We aren't going to get a break': How a cruel quirk of the draw has forced massive changes to the Chiefs
Clayton McMillan has made twenty positional changes to the Chiefs’ match-day team for this evening’s clash from the Blues and while the first-year coach isn’t expecting his young side to roll over against the comparative experience of their opposition, it’s a decision that’s effectively been forced by this year’s unusual draw.
While the Chiefs had their two Super Rugby Aotearoa byes in the fifth and tenth rounds of the competition last year, they’ve come in the first and sixth rounds in 2021.
That handed them an extra week of preparation at the start of the season but means they’ll have to face a relentless gauntlet of matches as their campaign progresses.
There are no byes in Super Rugby Trans-Tasman, which kicks of immediately after the Aotearoa final.
Had the Chiefs not made the final, they’d be able to enjoy a rest next weekend and then roll out close to their top side for the remaining five or six matches of the season.
That’s not how the cards have fallen, however, with last year’s cellar dwellers coming back from two losses to kick off the season and winning five on the trot, catapulting them into the final alongside the ever-classy Crusaders.
While that’s obviously exactly where the Chiefs want to be, it does make things tricky for McMillan and his charges.
“Where our byes have fallen, we’ve not only had to play finals rugby for the last five or six weeks but we aren’t going to get a break from this point either,” McMillan said after naming his time to take on the Blues.
“It would be nice to have a week off but I guess most other teams are having that next week, aren’t they? We’re certainly not disappointed about having to play next week so it is what it is.
“If the Blues had got a bonus point last week it certainly would have forced our hand a little bit more to keep rolling the guys out. We’ve been fortunate – but I reiterate that our guys are pretty dinged up and it’s not just this week and next week, it’s another five or six weeks straight after that.”
Huge news out of New Zealand! The @LosPumas and @JaguaresARG captain is returning to #SuperRugby.https://t.co/sFMFQV4Ydh
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 30, 2021
The Chiefs’ opening Trans-Tasman matches are against the three sides that have qualified for the Super Rugby AU finals, the Western Force, Brumbies and Reds. There will be few opportunities amongst those matches to rest players, with means today’s dead-rubber clash with the Blues is really the final chance that some senior Chiefs will have to take a break before everything goes back on the line again from next weekend.
As such, McMillan has made a huge number of changes, handing potential Chiefs debuts to six players and naming 11 men who are in their inaugural year of Super Rugby.
There’s some experience on the bench in the form of All Blacks Nathan Harris and Liam Messam, who have more Super Rugby caps between them than the rest of the side altogether.
While it could just be ‘coach speak’ from McMillan, he’s hopeful that his youthful side can still front up against a Blues team boasting seven All Blacks.
“This game on the weekend gives those who haven’t played a significant amount an opportunity to one, demonstrate that they’re good enough to play in the final the following week and two, put their hand up for regular selection through Trans-Tasman.
“I’ve made it really clear that there’s probably seven spots up for grabs in the match-day 23 against the Crusaders in a week’s time. Everybody that plays on the week has a massive amount to play for.
“There’s no guarantee that they’re in there any longer than the next couple of weeks but a bit like the other fellas, a good performance might force our hand to keep them in.
“That’s not to say that we won’t get a result this week by rolling out the team that we’ve done. [Winning is] certainly our intention.”
The Chiefs have made 20 changes to their match-day squad for their dead rubber clash with the Blues. That's no surprise, given how important every single game of #SuperRugbyAotearoa has been up until this point. #BLUvCHI
?? @TomVinicombehttps://t.co/hH9Fv443rB
— The XV Rugby (@TheXV) April 30, 2021
McMillan reiterated what assistant David Hill has said earlier in the week, all the Chiefs attentions have been on today’s match – not looking forward to the final against the Crusaders.
“We respect that the Blues are going to be a formidable opposition up there,” he said. “They’ll obviously be hurting that they’re not going to be playing the final week.
“We need to ensure a young team that’s going out this week are given every opportunity to put their best foot forward and if we’ve got out our eyes or our thoughts too far forward, we’re just setting them up for failure and that’s not us.”
Tonight’s match kicks off at 7:05pm NZT, with Blues and Chiefs Women’s selections going head to head in the curtain-raiser at 4:35pm.
Comments on RugbyPass
“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to comments