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Chiefs big guns make timely return to full health against Blues

Samipeni Finau of New Zealand charges forward during The Rugby Championship & Bledisloe Cup match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the Australia Wallabies at Forsyth Barr Stadium on August 05, 2023 in Dunedin, New Zealand. (Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)

The Chiefs aren’t pulling any punches for their round 15 contest against the Blues in Auckland, naming a top-string XV despite their quarter-final opponents already being decided.

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Instead of competition points, the team will be playing for pride, confidence and momentum heading into the knockout stages. Should they upset the apple cart at Eden Park, the Blues could lose their top seed on the table and even fall as low as third.

Helping the Hamilton club attain that goal is All Black Samipeni Finau, who returns after a multi-week absence with injury to reclaim the No. 6 jersey.

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“We are glad to welcome back some artillery this week,” Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan said. “The guys have been getting restless on the sidelines so it will be good to get some minutes under their belt ahead of finals. There is still a lot of rugby to play so we are glad to have the majority of our squad fit and ready.

“We can’t deny that the Blues have been outstanding this season. They have great depth in their squad and have put on some notable displays of their skill. We look forward to the test.”

Joining Finau in the loose forward trio is fellow All Black and Chiefs captain Luke Jacobson alongside star rookie Wallace Sititi.

Rotation for rest purposes sees Bradley Slater and Samisoni Taukei’aho switch jerseys, landing the All Blacks hooker an impact role for the occasion. Aidan Ross and George Dyer join Slater in the starting XV.

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Fresh of a new contract extension, Naitoa Ah Kuoi also steps into the starting unit for the unavailable Tupou Vaa’i, partnered by Jimmy Tupou in the second row, with the latter also returning to fitness just in time for the playoffs.

Cortez Ratima and Damian McKenzie line up in the No. 9 and 10 jerseys respectively, looking to feed a midfield duo of Rameka Poihipi and Daniel Rona.

The lethal back three contingent of Etene Nanai-Seturo, Emoni Narawa and Shaun Stevenson will have their hands full against an All Blacks trio in the Blues backfield.

Fixture
Super Rugby Pacific
Blues
31 - 17
Full-time
Chiefs
All Stats and Data

Chiefs team to face the Blues

1. Aidan Ross
2. Bradley Slater
3. George Dyer
4. Naitoa Ah Kuoi
5. Jimmy Tupou
6. Samipeni Finau
7. Luke Jacobson
8. Wallace Sititi
9. Cortez Ratima
10. Damian McKenzie
11. Etene Nanai-Seturo
12. Rameka Poihipi
13. Daniel Rona
14. Emoni Narawa
15. Shaun Stevenson

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Reserves
16. Samisoni Taukei’aho
17. Ollie Norris
18. Sione Ahio
19. Simon Parker
20. Kaylum Boshier
21. Xavier Roe
22. Quinn Tupaea
23. Peniasi Malimali

Unavailable for selection: Kaleb Trask, Josh Lord, Gideon Wrampling, Malachi Wrampling, Tupou Vaa’i, and Anton Lienert-Brown.

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R
RedWarriors 57 minutes ago
Rassie Erasmus wades into heated debate over Jaden Hendrikse antics

Look son: putting up barriers that could hit your GDP by 4% negative is dumb. You supported that? You are dumb. Or rich enough so that your ideological brain farts are borne by the poor…in other words a w@nker.


Triggering a 2 year countdown at the end of which the UK economy would fall off a cliff is also extremely stupid. It is beyond idiotic to start a negotiation like that and give your opponents such a slam dunk. But this is exactly what Brexiteers (you presumably) screeched for. You were always going to lose, but once you did that you were going to lose very badly. Nothing to do with traitors and saboteurs and whatever phrases a f1lthy n@zi like you will concoct. Everything to do with incompetence. You’r chief negotiator said “We hold all the cards”. You couldn’t leave with no deal because that would be the end of your economy. The EU would have let you shoot yourselves on the head. Ireland wouldn’t have been able to help you there son. Would you recommend triggering article 50 if you had your time back Doc? Are you still that f**king dumb?


The 142 competences created by the GFA required regulatory harmony to fulfill their functions. Therefore a soft border is implicit in the GFA. All parties acknowledge this. You lost. Move on.


Again the official UK Brexit negotiators are well known and all Brexiteers. As a Doctor like yourself will know your ‘saboteur’ conspiracy theory unless you can substantiate it.

Are you sure you are a doctor? (Dipsh1t)


I refer you to the below to examine what cards the UK in effect held:


You’re a latent homosexual right?


The EU and Ireland look at their cards and lay down a royal flush. The UK looks at their cards and gulps…It’s Mr Bun the Baker, Pikachu, a Shadowmage, a fireball spell, and the Fool. 

#UkHoldAllThe Cards #SickManOfEurope

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