The Highlanders and Chiefs start the first real weekend of Super Rugby action this morning, in what should be a close New Zealand derby as the players and the referee find their feet.
The Highlanders usually start the season strong and then slowly fade in the latter half due to injuries and squad problems, but this year I have a feeling it will be different. They have one of the weaker sides in the New Zealand conference and my thoughts are that they will struggle today.
The Chiefs on the other hand, are defending champions, and even though they have a young looking squad, it is mostly the outside backs which are untried, the halfback pairing of Kerr-Barlow and Cruden should give this Chiefs team the kick it needs to win.
Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Kade Poki, 13 Phil Burleigh, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Hosea Gear (captain), 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Nasi Manu, 7 John Hardie, 6 Joe Wheeler, 5 Josh Bekhuis, 4 Jarrad Hoeata, 3 Ma’afu Fia, 2 Brayden Mitchell, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Liam Coltman, 17 Bronson Murray, 18 Elliot Dixon, 19 Tim Boys, 20 Fumiaki Tanaka, 21 Hayden Parker, 22 Buxton Popoali’i.
Chiefs: 15 Gareth Anscombe, 14 Patrick Osborne, 13 Tim Nanai-Williams, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Fritz Lee, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Craig Clarke (captain), 3 Ben Afeaki, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Pauliasi Manu.
Replacements: 16 Rhys Marshall, 17 Ben Tameifuna, 18 Michael Fitzgerald, 19 Tanerau Latimer, 20 Augustine Pulu, 21 Charlie Ngatai, 22 Lelia Masaga.
Tweet
Halfback pairing of Smith and Cruden? 😉
What ever happened to that ‘Arizona’ master try scoring prop?
went off to france I believe
Got Chiefs by 2
@SteelShark (Comment 1) :
Not sure what you are talking about 😉
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 5) : 😛
Chiefs lead 3 – 0
These refs look urgh in pink
What try
Landers try! TMO pending.
EXCELLENT TRY by the Landers….
High 7 -3 Chiefs
13mins
Highlanders 7 Chiefs 3 12mins
@SteelShark (Comment 8) : Its Steve Walsh – not sure any colour would work 😛
What a great pick up and try
Chiefs try!!!
What a reply from the Chiefs!
Great reply by the chiefs
Anscombe doing the kicking.
High 7 – 10 Chiefs
17mins
Nonu not going to make that mistake again….
Penalty Chiefs
High 7 – 13 Chiefs
21mins
Eish – I did not think that the Chiefs would do so well after losing SBW…but it looks like they haven’t missed a beat! 🙁 I picked the Highlanders…..*tears*
Another Chiefs penalty
High 7 – 16 Chiefs
25mins
Chiefs 16 Highlanders 7 25mins
Have to say the Chaps are looking tired already….
Somebody pushed ‘reset’ on the scoreboard 😈
Has there been any kicking so far? Attacking or defencive? I havent seen any.
Penalty Highs missed
High 7 – 16 Chiefs
30mins…ish
Scoreboard back on!
34mins
@SteelShark (Comment 27) : Not seen ANY….Guys are running themselves rugged/
Landers try!!!
High 14 – 16 Chiefs
38mins
HALFTIME
Half Time: Chiefs 16 Highlanders 14
Fark, I forgot to make my picks this morning.
Highlanders 17 Chiefs 16 44mins
And the Chiefs hit straight back with another well worked try….
Chiefs 21 Highlanders 17 47mins
UNBELIEVABLE try from the the Highlanders….
Chiefs 21 Highlanders 24 50mins
Think the guys from both sides are either slow to react or they don’t want to put their bodies on the line to tackle….both defenses being sliced….
my word I seem to be way out with my superbru score 🙁 Had Chiefs by 10 lol
cHIEFS 21 hIGHLANDERS 27 57Mins
Chiefs 28 HIghlanders 27 62mins
@Just a Fan (Comment 44) : wow close game
Bonus point try for the chiefs
Chiefs 35 Highlanders 27 67mins
@Uli (Comment 45) : It’s like a yoyo….haven’t counted the amount of times the lead has changed during the game.
@Just a Fan (Comment 48) : Seems like its Seven’s rugby going on there?
Chiefs 38 Highlanders 27 70mins.
Chiefs showing their championship character. *lots of tears*
@Uli (Comment 49) : Yeah…as fun as it has been…Will be great to watch proper rugby tonight 😀
@Just a Fan (Comment 51) : hehe
Chiefs 41 Highlanders 27 74mins
@Just a Fan (Comment 53) : ok chiefs I only want you to win by 10 😉
damn – looks like my predictions wasn’t so spot on here…
@robdylan (Comment 55) : Well I was very worried there for a bit 🙂
Full time: Bonus point win to Chiefs 41: Highlanders 27
@Uli (Comment 54) : 😈 Well done….
What a game!
Well done Chiefs and well done to me for getting the first game of the season right in about 5 years. Last weeks Ausie games don’t count.
@Viking (Comment 60) : *CLAPPING*….but since i lost THIS game…last weeks game count for me 😛
@Viking (Comment 60) : 3 from 3 for me 😀
My SB is 3/3 so far this season. Go Brumbies
welcome to Super Rugby, friends 🙂