Chiefs
19
Match Complete
Reds
13
| 56 |  | B. Hegarty | ||
| 55 |  | T. Tupou | ||
| M. McKenzie | | 40 | ||
| E. Nanai-Seturo | | 39 | ||
| 33 |  | B. Hegarty | ||
| A. Moli | | 22 | ||
| 12 | | B. Hegarty | ||
| M. McKenzie | | 9 | ||
| P. Sowakula | | 8 |
| 3 | Tries | 1 | ||
| 2 | Conversions | 1 | ||
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 2 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
It’s now do or die for the Chiefs and Reds as they clash in Hamilton to keep their respective Super Rugby campaigns alive. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary of the match from 5:35pm AEST.
With four matches remaining in the regular season, the Reds and Chiefs will most likely have to win all their games in a bid to make the finals.
It has been a difficult season for the Chiefs, securing only four wins so far, while the Reds are doing narrowly better with five wins.
Both teams are coming off defeats, with the Chiefs falling to the Blues and the Reds losing to the Waratahs. While both teams are dangerous to write off, they just lack the class and consistency of other teams who are in the running for a finals birth.
In team news and in a massive blow to the Reds, captain Samu Kerevi has been rested for Friday’s match in accordance with Rugby Australia’s workload management policy.
Coach Brad Thorn had hoped to rest Kerevi earlier in the season, but instead opted to target a rare win in South Africa.
In Kerevi’s absence, Wallabies lock Izack Rodda will captain the Reds for the first time, while France-bound centre Duncan Paia’aua starts at inside centre.
Paia’aua will be joined in midfield by debutant Seb Wileman after Chris Feauai-Sautia was ruled out with a knee injury.
The other change is Harry Hoopert replacing JP Smith (concussion) at loosehead prop.
Assistant coach Jim McKay said Rodda, at 22, was fully equipped to fill the leadership void left by Kerevi.
On the bench, prop Feao Fotuaika returns from a broken thumb along with backrower Adam Korczyk and youngsters Scott Malolua, Teti Tela and Liam McNamara, an Australian sevens representative.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs are also resting their star inside centre with Anton Lienert-Brown given the week off.
Prop Angus Ta’avao also gets a breather while All Blacks flanker Sam Cane has been named at blindside after returning from a broken neck via the bench last weekend.
Cane will captain the side while former Rebels five-eighth Jack Debreczeni has been named on the bench.
Prediction
The Chiefs in recent weeks have done well to beat the Sharks and draw with the Highlanders against the odds before losing to the Blues.
In Hamilton, one would expect the Chiefs to get the job done over a Reds team that remains a work in progress
Chiefs by 10
Referee: Angus Gardner (AUS)
Time: 5:35pm AEST
Venue: Hamilton
Betting: Chiefs $1.23, Reds $4.20
Chiefs
Solomon Alaimalo, Shaun Stevenson, Tumua Manu, Alex Nankivell, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Marty McKenzie, Brad Weber, Pita Gus Sowakula, Lachlan Boshier, Sam Cane (c), Tyler Ardron, Jesse Parete, Nepo Laulala, Nathan Harris, Atu Moli
Reserves: Samisoni Taukei’aho, Aidan Ross, Sosefo Kautai, Daymon Leasuasu, Mitchell Karpik, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Jack Debreczeni, Sean Wainui
Reds
Matt McGahan, Jock Campbell, Seb Wileman, Duncan Paia’aua, Sefa Naivalu, Bryce Hegarty, Tate McDermott, Angus Scott-Young, Liam Wright, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Angus Blyth, Izack Rodda (c), Taniela Tupou, Alex Mafi, Harry Hoopert
Reserves: Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Feao Fotuaika, Ruan Smith, Adam Korczyk, Scott Higginbotham, Scott Malolua, Teti Tela, Liam McNamara
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
In total agreement with you tsuru.
tsuru
Roar Rookie
Yes Gloria and Neutral, but even when they "used" their backs the backs were standing still - not running on to passes. Although I must say that the same is true of all those attempts by the forwards from 10 centimetres out. Contrast that with the way the Brumbies were playing - Kuridrani's second try for instance.
tsuru
Roar Rookie
Yes it would be dire if Australia sent the Reds team to the World Cup. But it's hard to see more than 3 or 4 of them being picked in 2019. But maybe 2023 might see a bunch of them picked.
Geoff
Guest
Cheers TNFS. I am just loving seeing an Australian team winning by playing smarter and reading the flow of the game and adjusting. It has been a while. Am also wondering if this is CL’s influence, with him now back in the swing of things.
Andrew Johnson
Guest
Great effort by the chiefs especially with no Retallick ALB and McKenzie
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
We must accept that refs do mistakes also. Just like players rarely have perfect games, the same story goes for refs, One thing is for sure, Gardner was not the reason why the Reds lost this game.
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
No more weed for you tonight, mate.
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
Well, the radio boys were not telling lies, that much I can say ;) Pretty sure the Chiefs have the green light from the coach to have a couple of extra cold ones tonight, they dug deeper than deep. And I am also pretty sure that there are 30-35 Aussies - all shaking their heads in disbelief - on a plane crossing the Tasman soon.
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
And a couple of Tahs as squad players? ;)
Double Agent
Guest
If only they had the same collection of brilliant players to do something with it.
Kick n Clap
Guest
A bit like the Enigma.Code
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
Top comment Geoff. Damn, we really see this the same way. Powell looks like a young man who really enjoys his rugby right now.
ethan
Guest
Powell is terribly underrated, as you say, its all in the pass.
Kick n Clap
Guest
Reading your comment and it reminds me of real life? England passes Julian on his way to USA, but typically of the Non Ruggar nations,they just can’t pass or kick , so its not good for him and so he ends up in Sweden? Cold and boring, just like the Swedes or in the Ruggar world , in a Private School Dormitory, watching the “Waratah’s Greatest hits”?
Geoff
Guest
Love it!!!! I just like the fact that he makes other players look and play better, whereas McDermott, Gordon and Phipps make the rest of the backline look worse. I am actually quite happy if we don’t notice the half back as long as he can get the backline moving forward. It reminds me a little of Gregan in his day. He didn’t have the flattest pass but Larkham also caught the ball moving forward at pace which had a fantastic flow on effect for the rest of the backline. You watch Hegarty and Foley, they nearly always catch the ball standing still so of course the backlines won’t have any impact regardless of who is there. To me is just highlights how good Kerevi has been.
TheReds
Roar Rookie
The Reds and Brumbies forward pack with some of the Rebels backline needs to be the core of the wallabies.
BackInBlack
Guest
*Kia Kaha Chiefs * To win against all odds was simply outstanding. To the Reds players and coaches, you ought to be ashamed of yourselves after a performance like that. The Eales’ and Horans must be shaking their heads in disbelief and fans tuning out altogether. Could be a very, very painful World Cup for Ozzy
Kick n Clsp
Guest
What a woeful type of Rugby? “My sentiments Exactly “ Thanks for Newcastle v Chooks game. “Real triers instead of aload of Fannies!!”
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
Powell is growing on me. Slowly he has grown into it and today he has been really good. Starting to look confident and makes a lot of good calls. Not a General yet, but I give him Curnel status.
Geoff
Guest
Agree that he is no where near ready. He might be a good runner but his clearance isn’t up to scratch and surely that is the number 1 job of a half. One thing that annoys me with talk of who should be the half, whether it is Gordon or McDermott, is that all anyone talks about is that they run. Whereas the most critical aspect which affects how a backline operates is the pass of the half, whether it is quick, flat and in front of the ball carrier. McDermott and Gordon might look good themselves but they screw up the rest of the backline. Give me Powell any day.