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Three All Blacks unavailable as Chiefs eye up Crusaders
By Tom Vinicombe
Bench All Blacks played a big role in the Chiefs' come-from-behind win over the Blues in last weekend's Super Rugby opener, but the Chiefs may not have quite the same luxury against the Crusaders on Saturday.
The Chiefs have confirmed that they will have to cope without three All Blacks this week, with Damian McKenzie, Angus Ta'avao and Nepo Laulala all likely to miss the massive derby.
Infamous for their seemingly endless slew of injuries, the Chiefs entered the pre-season with almost all of their players fit and ready for the season. Importantly, their key All Blacks were all injury-free.
Then came the month from hell.
First, Nathan Harris was ruled out for the season due to a damaged rotator cuff.
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Then, Damian McKenzie - who missed most of 2019 due to a ruptured ACL - was scratched before the game against the Blues due to a strained abductor, despite initially being named at fullback.
Finally, during last Friday's match, Nepo Laulala and Angus Ta'avao both left the park, forcing starting loosehead, Aidan Ross, to play the full 80 while Atu Moli was called upon to cover the tighthead.
"Because we were under pressure, we could've easily said, 'let's go to golden oldies' because we've used our two [designated] tightheads and both have picked up injuries," said head coach Warren Gatland following the win. "But we said no, [Atu Moli] has played there before and we didn't want to take that soft option."
"I thought he was brilliant for us. Someone who hasn't trained there a lot and hasn't been in the environment a huge amount probably got us out of a hole."
Gatland also didn't expect any repercussions out of the match.
"I don't think [the injuries] are massive. I think they've both taken knocks or dead legs so I don't think it's anything that's long term.
"In fairness to Angus, he said at halftime he wasn't 100%. He got a bit of a knock at training during the week and we brought Ryan Coxon up as cover, just in case he didn't get through the warmup, but he said he felt alright."
Despite Gatland's initial thoughts, it appears that the Chiefs will have to dig deep into their propping stocks this week.
Ta'avao is still dealing with concussion symptoms - which was presumably initially caused by the knock at last week's training, while Laulala is undergoing scans on his leg this week and is almost certainly not going to feature over the weekend.
That leaves Moli as the senior prop, while the likes of Ryan Coxon and Reuben O'Neill could be supported by any of Ross Geldenyhuys, Ollie Norris or Robb Cobb, who are on training contracts with the team.
McKenzie, who was expected to be available for Saturday, is now looking like an unlikely selection. His place was taken by Shaun Stevenson last week and would likely be called upon to start in the 15 jersey again against the Crusaders.
From starting the season with an almost full bill of health to now having to search high and low for fit players, January's injury-toll could have a major impact on the Chiefs' year ahead.
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Latest Comments
Excellent points Mz. Because of other commitments I have just watched the game.
Interesting watching it after reading all the news reports especially in the English media. I was expecting to see a game that the ABs were very lucky to win. What I saw was a game that England showed their tactical incompetence and their inability to construct any try scoring opportunities.
They can go on deluding themselves that they were unlucky to lose ( as Borthwick said post match ) but until they stop relying on rush defence and goal kicking to win I feel they're doomed to be ranked 4 or 5 in the world.
Can't wait until the weekend to see how the Wallabies go against them
Though I dare say Walter will be hoping for an England win.
Go to commentsIF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.
As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.
Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).
This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.
If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.
Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.
After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.
Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.
Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)
Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.
Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.
Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.
Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:
Seeding Band 1
IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG
Seeding Band 2
SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO
Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6
Strongest pool opponent: FIJI
1/8 final opponent GEORGIA
Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond
Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6
Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA
1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND
Prognosis: You know the prognosis
I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?
Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.
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