The first live rugby game since rugby was halted earlier this year. This game is going to be viewed by millions and I believe that it is not going to be what is expected. I think that this opening games is one of the worst games to start this revamped super rugby competition. Both these teams are bussy with rebuilding a rebuilding phase. It is however going to be good t be able to see the game live again.
What to expect:
I believe that it is going to be a hard fought game and that the game changing moment in the game is going to be when Aaron Cruden come of the bench. In the Chiefs first game of the season he was also started on the bench and that shocked everyone but the reason for that became clear when he came on in the second half with the opposition pack and defense tiring he sped up the Chiefs’ attacking line and got hem over the line to secure the win. The Highlanders do have an up and coming young playmaker in the form of Josh Ioane who will be partnered with Aaron Smith. The partnership between those two will have a big impact on this game. It is going to start of a bit rusty almost like at the beginning of the new season, but it will quickly develop into some good running rugby. I don’t expect to much points being scored because of the defense that Gatland brought to the Chiefs’ game.
I also do believe that the crowd is going to play a big role in this game. Al the articles I saw this far shows that it is almost sold out and if the Highlanders can have a capacity crowd supporting them it might swing the odds in their favor.
Teams:
Highlanders
Chiefs
| Starting XV | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ayden Johnstone | 1 | Aiden Ross |
| Ash Dixon | 2 | Samisoni Taukei’aho |
| Siate Tokolahi | 3 | Nepo Laulala |
| Pari Pari Parkinson | 4 | Mitchell Brown |
| Josh Dickson | 5 | Tupou Vaai |
| Shannon Frizell | 6 | Luke Jacobson |
| Dillon Hunt | 7 | Lachlan Boshier |
| Marino Tu’u | 8 | Pita Sowakula |
| Aaron Smith | 9 | Brad Weber |
| Josh Ioane | 10 | Kaleb Trask |
| Jona Nareki | 11 | Sean Wainui |
| Sio Tomkinson | 12 | Anton Lienert-Brown |
| Rob Thompson | 13 | Quinn Tupaea |
| Sam Gilbert | 14 | Shaun Stevenson |
| Mitchell Hunt | 15 | Damian McKenzie |
| Bench | ||
| Liam Coltman | 16 | Bradley Slater |
| Dan Lienert-Brown | 17 | Ryan Coxon |
| Jeff Thwaites | 18 | Ross Geldenhuys |
| Maanaki Selby-Rickit | 19 | Naitoa Ah Kuoi |
| Teariki Ben-Nicholas | 20 | Dylan Nel |
| Kayne Hammington | 21 | Te Tahuriorangi |
| Teihorangi Walden | 22 | Aaron Cruden |
| Vilimoni Koroi | 23 | Etene Nanai-Seturo |
I believe that it will be a game of two halves the first will belong to the highlanders and the second to the chiefs. If everything goes the way I see it the Chiefs will come away with the win and maybe even an bonus point.
All and all everyone is going to be happy that Rugby is back. I have spoken to a couple of people now and even the people that aren’t big fan still want to see it return.
Rugby dissect 
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