Another Kiwi derby in round 8 and for the Chiefs, this is really a must win if they’re to avoid falling further back into the also-rans.
Last year’s finalists started the season in dream fashion, recording three good wins on the road, but have fallen alarmingly off the pace, losing at home to the Reds and the Crusaders and away to the Brumbies in recent weeks. They simply have to pick up a bonus points win against the Highlanders to keep themselves in touch, but will be forced to do so without a number of key players, including start hooker Aled de Malmanche, who may be out for the season.
This visitors are up against it in a big way and will be without stalwart prop Jamie Mackinstosh and lock Tom Donnely.
Ref: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
ARs: Garratt Williamson (New Zealand), Shane McDermott (New Zealand)
TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)
Venue:Baypark Stadium, Mount Maunganui
Kick-off: 08h35 SA Time, 07h35 BST
Chiefs: 15 Mils Muliaina (captain), 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Richard Kahui, 12 Stephen Donald, 11 Dwayne Sweeney, 10 Mike Delany, 9 Brendon Leonard, 8 Sione Lauaki, 7 Luke Braid, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Culum Retallick, 4 Craig Clarke, 3 Ben Afeaki, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Sona Taumalolo.
Replacements: 16 Vern Kamo, 17 Toby Smith, 18 Jarrad Hoeata, 19 Colin Bourke 20 Junior Poluleuligaga, 21 Jackson Willison, 22 Tim Nanai-Williams.
Highlanders: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Kenny Lynn, 12 Jason Shoemark, 11 Fetu’u Vainikolo, 10 Robbie Robinson, 9 Jimmy Cowan (captain), 8 Steven Setephano, 7 Alando Soakai, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Hayden Triggs, 4 Josh Bekhuis, 3 Clint Newland, 2 Jason Rutledge, 1 Chris King.
Replacements: 16 Jason Macdonald, 17 Bronson Murray, 18 Joe Tuineau, 19 Tim Boys/John Hardie, 20 Sean Romans, 21 Mat Berquist, 22 James Paterson.
Tweet
LMS PICKS
CHIEFS – 27
H’LANDERS – 2
Go Chiefs ❗ ❗ ❗
@JarsonX (Comment 2) : I picked Chiefs on LMS
Guys running out now
H’landers taking the 1st kick-off
1st penalty 2 mins in, Donald going at goal and…… Miss
Chiefs on attack and concedes a penalty 🙄
H’lander’s 11 lost the ball forward just short of the line, TMO agrees with me, ‘NO TRY’
H’lander’s 10 scores a dropgoal
3 – 0
11mins gone
H 3 – 3 C
15mins
Both teams are knocking the ball forward so much, it makes me wanna sing ”Knock knock knocking on heaven’s door”
Can someone tell the Chiefs that if the ball goes forward from their hands its wrong 🙄
H’landers try in the corner!!
Dagg misses the kick
8 – 3 H’landers
27mins
H’landers dominating territory: 54%
Chiefs dominating possesion: 66%
Donald Starting XV captain try!!!
And Donald converts his own
8 – 10 Chiefs
34mins gone
Vainikolo try in the same corner as the 1st one 🙁
Dagg converts
15 – 10 H’landers
36mins
Halftime
H’landers 15 – 10 Chiefs
The Chiefs had better lift their game or they’ll be charged with genocide 👿
2nd Half on!
Chiefs on attack
Lauaki try!!!
Donald converts
17 – 15 Chiefs
45mins
Mike Delany seems to have some clever moments
Donald converts a 45m penalty
20 – 15 Chiefs
53mins
Dagg converts a penalty
20 – 18 Chiefs
56mins
Chiefs loosehead scores a try!!!
@JarsonX (Comment 29) : TMO agrees with me 😀
@JarsonX (Comment 22) : My threats are not taken lightly 😈
27 – 18 Chiefs
60mins Gone
Masaga knocks the ball forward AND out 🙄
Lauaki and Leonard subbed and Messam is immitating Waylon Murray when catching the ball 🙄
Subs are being brought on all over the place now
Issie Dagg going at goal for a penalty and its over
27 – 21 Chiefs
68mins
Donald kicks out on the full. Scrum time 🙄
Donald now subbed 👿 got a bit of a niggle
Highlanders not playing that bad 😕
27 – 21 Chiefs
74mins
Delany going at goal from 55meters out and its miss to the right
2mins remaining
6point margin
FULLTIME
CHIEFS 27 – 21 HIGHLANDERS
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😎 😎 😎
@JarsonX (Comment 22) : 😛
Hehehehehhehe I was following at work and was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO hoping for a Highlanders win. 😛