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Why managing All Blacks’ rest policy hasn’t been ‘tricky’ for Chiefs

Sam Cane with ball in hand for the Chiefs. Photo by Michael Bradley/Getty Images

Going into the business end of this year’s Super Rugby Pacific campaign, the Chiefs are exactly where they want to be.

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With three rounds left in the regular season, the Hamilton-based franchise hold a commanding lead at the top of the ladder. The Chiefs are five-points clear of the second-placed Brumbies, and have a significantly better points differential.

The Queensland Reds may have shocked the ladder-leaders in New Plymouth last week, but aside from that, they’ve been sensational in 2023.

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Many rugby fans would consider the Chiefs the favourites for Super Rugby Pacific glory – and with good reason.

While their form has been sublime, it’s their planning and preparation off the field that may serve them well late in the regular season.

Ahead of their clash with the high-flying Hurricanes on Saturday, the Chiefs named their team for the blockbuster New Zealand derby at FMG Stadium.

All Blacks Sam Cane, Brad Weber, Samisoni Taukei’aho and Brodie Retallick are among the players returning from their mandatory rests. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes are missing some of their key players.

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Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan explained why managing the All Blacks’ mandatory rests hasn’t been “tricky at all” this season.

“Not that tricky at all,” McMillan said, as reported by Newshub. “We all know what we need to deal with at the beginning the season, we put a lot of time and effort into identifying games.

“Our approach this year is to get them all out in two games, which is a different approach from what we did in previous years, where we scattered them.

“Most of the players are going to have at least two breaks over the course of the season, over and above the bye week, so instead of spreading the All Blacks out over 3-4 games, we just elected to do it in two – the Drua earlier on and the Reds last week.

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“It was either last week or this week, and it wasn’t any reflection of the quality we thought the Reds were going to bring to the table, but we just thought the team would be good enough to get the job done.”

The Chiefs have been boosted by the return of key All Blacks, but the Hurricanes haven’t been so lucky.

Coming off a big win over Moana Pasifika in round 13, the Canes will be without captain Ardie Savea, Tyrel Lomax and Jordie Barrett this weekend.

The three All Blacks have been rested this week, which means they’ll be available for the final two regular season fixtures against the Blues and Crusaders.

“They’re in the same boat as us, they have to pick an opposition to rest some guys and that’s what we all have to do,” he added.

“Given the run that they’ve got, it was always going to be intriguing to see which game that was.

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“It doesn’t change anything for us. They put 23 guys out there in whatever colour jersey they wear and that’s the Hurricanes, and we’re preparing for that.

“There’s an element of strategy that’s involved in that sort of stuff and losing to the Reds last week, it sucked because we lost, but the positive was that one of the teams that are around us didn’t take those points off of us.

“If you’re the Hurricanes and you’re deciding what game to give your All Blacks a rest, you need a factor those sorts of things into your decision-making.

“We’re probably enough ahead that it becomes a case of where you’re going to hedge your bets – it’s a game of chess.”

The derby between the Chiefs and Hurricanes will get underway at 7.05pm NZST at Hamilton’s FMG Stadium on Saturday.

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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
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