The Daily Rugby

Chiefs Super Rugby Pacific delay for preseason game

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Chiefs train Clayton McMillan is hoping a choice to delay the start to their preseason will assist them in next year’s Super Rugby Pacific opposition, however admits it may all pass spectacularly incorrect.

While most groups have a month earlier than Christmas to get most of the people of their squad on top of things, McMillan decided to take things smooth. We had the capacity to assemble the players for a four week period prior to Christmas, but we elected to only bring them in for multiple weeks.

With All Blacks and All Black XV gamers unavailable that was one of the determining elements. Here’s every squad and all the major changes from an eventful off-season.

Chiefs

Chiefs Super Rugby Pacific 2023 Game

The Gallagher Chiefs fixtures for the upcoming Super Rugby Pacific competition have been confirmed. The opening round kicks off on the 24th of February with Gallagher Chiefs vs Crusaders at Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch with Super Round Melbourne the following weekend.

McMillan is getting into his 0.33 season in rate of the Chiefs… His first two each being tormented by international issues. The different cause is to try to freshen players up because it’s been a protracted couple of seasons

“With Covid round it looks like lots of returned-to-lower back campaigns so I felt that giving the boys more than one extra weeks (off) this side of Christmas will pay dividends later on next 12 months.”

McMillan has been very happy with those that have been concerned. The boys have are available and labored extraordinarily tough. Like all and sundry we’re looking for an area and produce something different to the desk in phrases of the way we need to play the game.

“We’ve been doing a number of basis paintings, taking pictures numerous (video) photos, seeing how matters work.

“Then while we come returned inside the New Year with some of the All Black and All Black XV gamers returning we’ll be ready to make the most of that month earlier than we begin gambling preseason games.

McMillan is involved with the aid of the amount of rugby a number of his players were concerned in with many having long past from a Super Rugby season to international fixtures then NPC accompanied via All Blacks or Black Blacks XV and now returned into pre-season.

That’s all good and well and the players love to be here but when you get to May-June next year we’re better off to have given our guys a little bit of an extended break at this end of the year rather than wishing we had done it when we get tired bodies at the back end of the season.

It could go spectacularly wrong, I could be making a poor decision, but I guess time will tell.

The Chiefs will return to training on January 9th with their All Blacks joining up in late January.

The Chiefs signed Irish prop John Ryan this week to replace the injured Angus Ta’avao.

Chiefs director of rugby Warren Gatland has returned to Wales to coach their national side again.

The Chiefs won back to back titles in 2012-13 and made the semi-finals of Super Rugby Pacific last season.

Chiefs squad:

Hookers: Samisoni Taukei’aho, Bradley Slater, Tyrone Thompson

Props: Aidan Ross, Atunaisa Moli, John Ryan, Ollie Norris, George Dyer*, Jared Proffit*.

Locks: Tupou Vaa’i, Brodie Retallick, Laghlan McWhannell, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Josh Lord, Manaaki Selby-Rickit

Loose forwards: Sam Cane, Luke Jacobson, Simon Parker, Pita Gus Sowakula, Kaylum Boshier, Samipeni Finau.

Halfbacks: Brad Weber, Xavier Roe, Cortez Ratima

First five-eighths: Bryn Gatland, Damian McKenzie, Josh Ioane.

Midfielders: Alex Nankivell, Quinn Tupaea, Anton Lienert-Brown, Rameka Poihipi, Gideon Wrampling, Ngatungane Punivai.

Outside backs: Emoni Narawa, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Shaun Stevenson, Rivez Reihana, Peniasi Malimali*.

Key Gains: Damian McKenzie (Japan); Manaaki Selby-Rickit (Highlanders), Ngatungane Punivai (Highlanders), John Ryan (Ireland).

On the move: Kaleb Trask (Japan), Jonah Lowe (Highlanders), Chase Tiatia (Western Force).

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