NPR

Gumboot wrote: ↑Sat Mar 01, 2025 4:20 am
Damn shame DMac couldn't ground the ball after that epic run.

Gumboot wrote: ↑Sat Mar 01, 2025 4:20 am 15-all at HT.

Chiefs losing possession in the Brumbies' 22 way too often.

Hugo wrote: ↑Sat Mar 01, 2025 5:08 amHope DMac is ok.

Hugo wrote: ↑Sat Mar 01, 2025 11:45 am Any updates on MacKenzie's injury? I saw him signing autographs after the game for a long time so Im guessing it's not that bad but he was still limping.

Enzedder wrote: ↑Sat Mar 01, 2025 9:17 pm Daughter finished the Ironman - just

Gumboot wrote: ↑Sat Mar 01, 2025 11:19 pm

Enzedder wrote: ↑Sat Mar 01, 2025 9:17 pm Daughter finished the Ironman - just

Respect. Just thinking about doing an Ironman leaves me exhausted

The collective sigh of relief around Chiefs country might be enough to power the Te Uku wind farm for the rest of the Super Rugby Pacific season, with news Damian McKenzie has been cleared of any serious injury.

Clayton McMillan’s outfit top the table through three rounds, but the chances of the two-time reigning runners-up making it third time lucky, in the coach’s final season before departing to Munster, would take a monumental turn should their talisman, and All Blacks playmaker, be consigned to the sideline.

And after last Saturday’s 49-34 win over the Brumbies, it looked quite the possibility, after the man in the No 15 limped off FMG Stadium Waikato thanks to a 71st-minute collision where Anton Lienert-Brown’s shoulder had clattered into his team-mate’s right knee.

It’s the same knee McKenzie ruptured his ACL in during the 2019 season, which also ruled him out of that year’s World Cup, and, after lying on his back and receiving medical attention, he then hobbled through the handshakes post-game, which would have left supporters of the Hamilton-based franchise, not to mention All Blacks coach Scott Robertson among a few others, anxiously fearing the worst and hoping for the best.

As it turns out, that hope has turned to reality, with Chiefs assistant coach Roger Randle able to put more than a few thousand minds at ease on Tuesday.

“He went in for a scan, and fortunately it’s not too bad,” Randle revealed, of what was understood to be bone bruising.

“He’s a tough little bugger. I spoke to him the next morning and he said he was feeling pretty good as well, so the scan kind of just confirmed that.”

Randle even went as far as saying McKenzie could “potentially” play this weekend against the Fijian Drua in Lautoka.

Though, by the sight of him walking with the cross-trainers on instead of boots, and sitting to the side of training, it suggests the Chiefs’ highest points-scorer in history is likely to be given a week to rest up, before a big clash against the Blues in Hamilton seven days later.

Meanwhile, the news was also decent, if not quite as bright, for All Blacks lock Josh Lord, who left the Brumbies game after just five minutes with his own knee injury, which had him skip team training completely on Tuesday.

“His one is still short-term, but it could be for a couple of weeks more than Damian’s,” Randle said.

Second-five Quinn Tupaea, whose hot start to the season has him making a big early statement for an All Blacks recall, has pulled up fine after having also hobbled off the park last Saturday, while Randle said captain Luke Jacobson, who broke his nose against the Crusaders and sat out last weekend, was back in training and looking good to return.

Hugo wrote: ↑Wed Mar 05, 2025 2:49 pm ^ I think that's B Barrett first start at 10 for the Blues.

Guy Smiley wrote: ↑Wed Mar 05, 2025 3:26 pm

Hugo wrote: ↑Wed Mar 05, 2025 2:49 pm ^ I think that's B Barrett first start at 10 for the Blues.

I don’t know why anyone thinks that’s a good thing. I’ll put it down to early season panic at the Blues, which could also be the name of a long lost, previously unreleased single by The Jam.

Dan54 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 05, 2025 7:26 pm

Guy Smiley wrote: ↑Wed Mar 05, 2025 3:26 pm

Hugo wrote: ↑Wed Mar 05, 2025 2:49 pm ^ I think that's B Barrett first start at 10 for the Blues.

I don’t know why anyone thinks that’s a good thing. I’ll put it down to early season panic at the Blues, which could also be the name of a long lost, previously unreleased single by The Jam.

I think it's sensible when the only option is Plummer. Blues pack aren't playing on top of teams like last year, and Plummer certainly has struggled without the go forward ball of last year. He is a good but limited player at 10, remember he was playing at 12 until injuries last year resulted in him moving to 10.
I know he was a 10 that fitted in at 12,(and seemed better there) but as I say a pretty limited one, I thought.

Gumboot wrote: ↑Fri Mar 07, 2025 6:18 am Dangerous home game for the Blues, I reckon. If the Brumbies front up and get their outside backs some good quick ball, they have the talent to really cash in.

Can Beauden dominate proceedings, or will he resort to repeatedly kicking away good attacking ball?

Firewater wrote: ↑Fri Mar 07, 2025 7:03 am Blues too many unforced errors

Guy Smiley wrote: ↑Fri Mar 07, 2025 7:06 am Findlay Christie is a very frustrating player to watch.

Gumboot wrote: ↑Fri Mar 07, 2025 7:18 am Blues ahead 20-10 at HT, after Rieko scores his 50th Supe try, but his first since May 2023!

Looks quite slippery underfoot.