SBW partners Kahui in midfield
16 Feb 2012
Sonny Bill Williams will play his first game for the Chiefs when they tackle the Hurricanes in a warm-up match on Friday.
Williams had been granted leave to concentrate on his boxing, and beat Clarence Tillman for the New Zealand Professional Boxing Association heavyweight title last week. He’s since returned to the rugby field and has been rushed straight into the starting line-up by coach Dave Rennie. He will play his first game for his new franchise alongside All Blacks team-mate Richard Kahui.
All Blacks flyhalf Aaron Cruden will also form an important partnership with Williams on the 10-12 axis.
Chiefs – 15 Robbie Robinson, 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Richard Kahui, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Tim Nanai Williams, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Brendon Leonard, 8 Fritz Lee, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Sam Cane, 5 Craig Clarke, 4 Mike Fitzgerald, 3 Ben Afeaki, 2 Mahonri Schwalger, 1 Toby Smith.
Subs: 16 Marcel Cummings-Toone, 17 Sona Taumalolo, 18 Shane Cleaver, 19 Brodie Retallick, 20 Scott Waldrom, 21 Ronald Raaymakers, 22 Andrew Horrell, 23 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 24 Declan ODonnell, 25 Jackson Willison, 26 Asaeli Tikoirotuma.
17 Comments
16 Feb 2012, 10:06 am
Potent Backline Dragons!
16 Feb 2012, 10:11 am
Fckin awesome backline.
16 Feb 2012, 10:29 am
@garth(garth)-2: Looks ominous, doesn’t it.
However, they might be a little underrepresented in the tactical kicking department.
If you play a territorial game against them, you will force them to play outside of their comfort zone.
But no doubt that is a very good offensive backline. Kahui running off SBW could be a fascinating sight.
16 Feb 2012, 11:02 am
They really need another winger.
How Declan O’Donnell ever made this side I’ll never know.
And Nanai Williams would be best at fullback.
Outside of that an impressive enough backline. Forwards look useful as well.
16 Feb 2012, 11:28 am
Whats the story with SBW ? I thought he was going to play League again.
16 Feb 2012, 12:00 pm
@patch(patch)-5:
His contract runs until the end of this year…
He’s only signing one year contracts. Suits him, otherwise he tends to walk out on them, ask the Bulldogs.
16 Feb 2012, 12:11 pm
Ominous looking backline.., good front foot ball and these dragons will cause havoc!
16 Feb 2012, 12:17 pm
robbie robinson is flaky as hell, wayne smith will have to lock him up in a room and send in toumalolo & mo schwalger to bliksem him so he can be used to taking contact.
any injuries to their starting line up, they’re in poo
16 Feb 2012, 12:30 pm
@Transie – is Messam, Donald, De Malmanche still in the mix? A bit thin experience/ depth wise, probably lack some grunt upfront also.
16 Feb 2012, 12:46 pm
@Pot Blou Gevaar(Pot Blou Gevaar)-9: Beaver is at Bath, De Malmanche i think is overseas too (might be mistaken), Messam is co-captain.
16 Feb 2012, 13:13 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-10:
Yes Transie. De Malmanche is overseas.
Messam is injured. Will miss first round, possibly the second.
16 Feb 2012, 14:07 pm
Cant wait to see this back line in full swing and with RWC winning coach as mentor Wayne Smith.
16 Feb 2012, 16:06 pm
Could the Chiefs challenge the Blues for 2nd position in the NZ Conference?
16 Feb 2012, 17:23 pm
The Kings will slaughter them.
16 Feb 2012, 20:45 pm
I think the Blues will end top of the Kiwi teams in the S15 this year.
1 Blues
2 Chiefs
3 Crusaders
4 Highlanders
5 Hurricanes
16 Feb 2012, 23:09 pm
I think the Chiefs v Blues should be a good match up if Nonu and SBW play. They have yet to play against each other.
Could be a good boxing match too…….
17 Feb 2012, 02:35 am
@White Brumbie(Dawnpre)-14: you are joking of course…who are the Kings??? never heard of them on the rugby landscape or are they the next big thing for SA??? Poverty Bay/East Coast would give them a good run and they are a 3rd division team…anyway you can have your opinion…
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.