What:





When:

Fri. 22 Mar. 19:35 NZ.
Fri. 22 Mar 17:35 AUS East Coast.
Fri. 22 Mar 10:35 Dubai Time
Fri. 22 Mar 8:35 Jaapie Time
Fri. 22 Mar 6:35 UTC




Where:

Hamilton



Venue:

Waikato Stadium





All time results


Chiefs wins: 13
Highlanders wins: 7

Weather:
22C Clear... Maybe.


Match Officials:
Referee: Jonathon White


Assistant Ref 1:Nick Briant
Assistant Ref 2:Sheldon Eden-Whaitiri
TMO : Ben Skeen

The Teams

The Chiefs
Coach: Dave Rennie
Captain: Is it Messam this week?

Lineup:
1.Pauliasi Manu
2.Hika Elliot
3.Ben Tameifuna
4.Michael Fitzgerald
5.Brodie Retallick
6.Liam Messam (c)
7.Sam Cane
8.Nick Crosswell
9.Tawera Kerr-Barlow
10.Aaron Cruden
11.Asaeli Tikoirotuma
12.Andrew Horrell
13.Tim Nanai-Williams
14.Lelia Masaga
15.Gareth Anscombe

Replacements : 16.Rhys Marshall , 17.Ben Afeaki , 18.Romana Graham/Fritz Lee , 19.Tanerau Latimer , 20.August Pulu , 21.Charlie Ngatai , 22.Richard Kahui/Patrick Osborne



The Highlanders
Coach: Jamie Joseph
Captain: With Hore injured... Thorn?

Lineup:
1. Tony Woodcock
2. Liam Coltman
3. Chris King
4. Brad Thorn (Captain)
5. Josh Bekhuis
6. Jarrad Hoeata
7. John Hardie
8. Elliot Dixon
9. Aaron Smith
10. Colin Slade
11. Hosea Gear (Vice-captain)
12. Ma'a Nonu
13. Jason Emery
14. Kade Poki
15. Ben Smith

Replacements : 16. Jason Rutledge , 17. Bronson Murray , 18. Joe Wheeler , 19. Tim Boys , 20. Frae Wilson , 21. Lima Sopoaga , 22. Phil Burleigh

Big week for Messam - he played his 100th for the Chiefs last game but the celebration is this week. It's also something like his 60th consecutive start for the Chiefs - great longevity that.

Robinson, Kahui and Leonard (gulp) are fit and able to play.

Certainly doesn't get any easier for the clan... Well hopefully it's as fast paced as the Forsyth Barr game. Keep an eye out for Rutledge on the wing, good to have him back at least.

Looking forward to this one.

Will be there with bells on.

A whole lot of fuckall being cared for this game on here. jeez okes. WHere's the rivalry?

anyways, i'd like to know from you kiwis in the know:
Will Afeaki, Retallic and Cane start this week?

There's rivalry, mutual respect, and just a tinge of fear from the Highlanders supporters. We know there is no way we can stir up the spite generated on the Brumbies/Shorks thread (that doesn't involve any Brumbies supporters though) so we're just sitting back and double checking that the beers in the fridge will be cold for the game.

OP Updated with Chiefs line up.

Great OP. Looking forward to this one.

Osbourne provides a lot more than Ngatai, best to put Kahui at 21 and Osbourne at 22..

btw, the trial of TNW at 13 should now end seeing that the 2nd best 13 in NZ is BACK!.

is afeaki being rested then, or rotated? he's been a great player for the Chiefs thusfar, putting in hellofa lot of tackles.

Thats why Chiefs are fucking annoying in Fantasy Rugby, (few exceptions like the from 15 Anscombe)

What the fuck? I thought someone had bumped a thread from a month ago. I really need to pay more attention to the draw. Looks like we're headed for 0-4.

I am afflicted with marked anxiousness, unease and trouble regarding the course of which the Highlanders season is currently directed.

Anyway... ffs Joseph, if you had the capability of picking up a player from a Japanese club then why not Adam Thompson instead of Neil Brew? I pray to god that Neil Brew's signing doesn't turn out to be a blunderous waste of money. I don't see why he couldn't of just shoved Ben Smith in at centre.

Good to see Cabbage back though.

I have a sneaking suspicion that The Clan are going to get their first win of the season.

Travel factor is going to hit the Chiefs whilst the Clan have Nonu back to get some go forward in the midfield.

Plus it would be better for the Saders if the Clan pull a win out of their arse.

Clan by ......... 4

We'll be desperate for this win.

Nice to see Messam's hundy, but Chris King is also going to be doing the ton so I hope the lads pull this one out. Go the Cabbage for the first try, usually pays about $30.

Tough game though with all them feral cow fondlers and their sex toys clanging away.

Good OP too btw, Turbo.

Messam called Kahui a pretty boy on TVNZ news as well as calling him a female fan favourite and then he asked on twitter what brand of underwear Tim-Nanai Williams wears...so my question is.. Is Liam gay?



btw, TNW wears "mummy's boy" brand undies

edit: unrelated, Matt Giteau just caleld Drew Mitchell "babe" on twitter

Highlander's line-up as per the ODT.

Highlanders: Ben Smith, Kade Poki, Jason Emery, Ma'a Nonu, Hosea Gear, Colin Slade, Aaron Smith; Elliot Dixon, John Hardie, Jarrad Hoeata, Josh Bekhuis, Brad Thorn (captain), Chris King, Liam Coltman, Tony Woodcock. Reserves: Jason Rutledge, Bronson Murray, Joe Wheeler, Tim Boys, Frae Wilson, Lima Sopoaga, Phil Burleigh

http://www.odt.co.nz/sport/rugby/highlanders/250286/rugby-nonu-returns-struggling-highlanders

A good call shifting Hoeata to blindside and Nonu really needs to deliver, but a cock-a-hoop Chiefs side at home is a tough assignment.

OP updated once more, cheers guys. Think I am going to miss the game once more godammit, but will be cheering on the Chiefs from afar. The Highlanders may be up for this one, it's a potential banana skin for the (flip to page 1 of the SA excuse book) travel weary Chiefs who've had to travel a long way away from their Mother's cooking.

Chiefs by 6, if they play to their potential.

bout time they pulled Joe Wheeler out of the starting lineup. backrow is starting to look somewhat respectable but still appears to be an obvious weakness in the clans setup. Would of liked to see TJ Ioane given some more game time but I agree he's still young. Wonder when Lima Sopoaga will get his second chance after his absolute miscarriage of a game vs the cheetahs.

Bump

GO THE MIGHTY CHIEFS AND THE MIGHTY HIGHLANDERS!

This. I have no idea who thought it was a good idea to play him. I think he's riding the pine tonight, but I'd like to see him step up before he's given another shot at the big time.

Superbru didn't want to accept it but I've gone with the Highlanders by a few. Like the the backline mix and there's some potential physicality in the pack and they've got to be desperate.

As a neutral, I just can't see the Chiefs losing this one.

Going to miss the match despite my best efforts.

GO THE CHIEFS!!!!

Kickoff?

stream anybody? One that isn't vipbox?

Not sure - they've just had to fly home and then play on a Friday. Why not Saturday or Sunday FFS.

Seems to be a bit of shadow on the field. Are the Hamilton lights bright enough?

Yep - think they need a flier - don't want to make this a war of attrition this week.

Clan looking somewhat lively, execution farks them again tho

http://www.coolsport.tv/stream6.html

(except that it is down at the moment. Check the other streams there)

3 points for Anscombe. He really is kicking it sweet.

Classic highlanders rumbling forward. Thats what i like to see. Obviously trying to play a fast game to tire the cheifs

Fuck me bloody. There goes the floodgate

Poor miss by Slade, then Nanai say's nun'night.

Chiefs go marching on.

Ah, the stress. I hate this TMO stuff going back 2 plays.

Good try thankfully.

10 - 0 Chiefs

Morne Anscombe has a decent boot on him. Slade doesn't

Kade Poki express....

Kade poki.