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Chiefs v Brumbies LIVE | Super Rugby

Chiefs v Brumbies Live Match Centre

Follow all the action on the RugbyPass live blog from the Super Rugby match between the Chiefs and the Brumbies at FMG Stadium Waikato.

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Keep up to date with the latest score, stats and join the conversation from anywhere in the world in our Live Match Centre (click here).

In a bid to maintain an unbeaten start to the new season, Chiefs head coach Warren Gatland has wrung a total of nine changes to the starting team that blitzed the Sunwolves in Tokyo last week.

Continue reading below…

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Canadian lock Tyler Ardron is replaced by Mitchell Brown in the engine room, while there is an entirely new loose forward trio from the one that took to the field in the Japanese capital.

Fan favourite Adam Thomson, early All Blacks contender Lachlan Boshier and barnstorming rookie Dylan Nel have all made way to accomodate for concussion returnee Luke Jacobson, skipper Sam Cane and Fijian No. 8 Pita Sowakula.

There is a further five changes in the backline, with Brad Weber again demoted to the bench in place of fellow Kiwi international Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, who resumes his halves partnership with Aaron Cruden after Kaleb Trask undertook the playmaking duties at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium.

Promising midfielder Quinn Tupaea drops to the bench as Anton Lienert-Brown returns from a rest week, and two new wings will come into the fray in the form of Sam McNicol and Sean Wainui, who have usurped Solomon Alaimalo and Shaun Stevenson for starting roles.

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All those alterations has called for some changes on the bench, with Mitch Karpik and potential debutant Lisati Milo-Harris joining Trask and Tupaea as the new faces in the reserves.

The Brumbies, meanwhile, have sprung three changes of their own to their starting team following last week’s late defeat at the hands of the Highlanders in Canberra.

Head coach Dan McKellar has called on the services of hooker Connal McInerney, who comes into the side in the place of hat-trick hero Folau Fainga’a as a result of a toe injury.

The Wallabies rake is one of two casualties in the Brumbies’ camp this week, as wing Tom Wright has fallen victim to a mumps outbreak that has broken within the squad.

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Consequently, he misses out to Andy Muirhead on the left wing, while midfielder Irae Simone returns at second-five in place of Len Ikitau.

Three further switches have been made on the bench, as McInerney’s promotion to the starting team has resulted in a reserves spot for Lachlan Lonergan.

Elsewhere, exciting teenage prospect Reesjan Pasitoa has been dropped as the back-up playmaker in favour of Bayley Kuenzle, and former Chiefs speedster Toni Pulu fills the void left by Muirhead on the pine.

In other news:

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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Mick Cleary: 'Borthwick needs to have faith in Marcus Smith' Mick Cleary: 'Borthwick needs to have faith in Marcus Smith'
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