Chiefs boosted for overseas trek
The Chiefs have had their stocks boosted for their two-game Super Rugby tour to South Africa and Argentina.
Four players ruled out of last Friday night’s 23-23 draw with the Hurricanes in Hamilton have been included in the 27-man touring squad which departed on Sunday for matches against the Bulls and Jaguares.
After being forced off the park with head knocks against the Crusaders in Christchurch the weekend prior, loose forward Lachlan Boshier and outside back Solomon Alaimalo got through testing at the weekend to be deemed fit to travel, while prop Tevita Mafileo and playmaker Jack Debreczeni have also recovered from injury and illness, respectively, to be part of the touring party.
Three players who featured against the Hurricanes aren’t part of the travelling group – Mitchell Karpik, who started at openside flanker, along with debutant prop Ryan Coxon and winger Etene Nanai-Seturo, who both came off the bench.
It’s not clear whether any of that trio are out through injury, but Karpik looks to have made way for uncapped Waikato loose forward Mitchell Jacobson – brother of fellow Chiefs loosie Luke Jacobson, who despite not being part of the official squad at season’s start, may well have been preferred for his versatility.
Nanai-Seturo has shown good signs in his debut season, including four tries from his four starts and one bench appearance, but with Alaimalo – a real standout last year – back to boost the outsides, and the superb showing from Ataata Moeakiola last Friday night, the 19-year-old gets squeezed out.
The other two players to come into the travelling squad are Bradley Slater and Jesse Parete. Wanting a third hooker on tour, 20-year-old Slater – who made a brief debut against the Sunwolves in round three – gets the nod with Liam Polwart still out with concussion, while Parete provides lock and loose forward cover, which may be valuable considering captain Brodie Retallick will miss the second leg of the tour as one of his two All Blacks’ standdown games.
Debreczeni’s presence will give the coaches food for thought. The former Melbourne Rebel made a good cameo on Chiefs debut against the Crusaders and
At a glance
Chiefs touring squad Forwards: was going to start at first fiveeighth against the Hurricanes, before being struck down by illness. Marty McKenzie instead took the No 10 role in his first game of the season, and largely controlled things well, as brother Damian McKenzie was left to flourish at fullback.
After a rotten start to their season with four losses, a couple of large ones at that, coach Colin Cooper was able to take away a team with at least some belief restored after a much-improved showing against the Hurricanes.
‘‘It’ll give us confidence,’’ he said. ‘‘The team has been working hard to stay together, and when you keep losing your confidence does get hit.’’
But Loftus Versfeld isn’t exactly shaping as an easy place to find that elusive victory on Sunday morning (NZ time), with the 3-1 Bulls playing some impressive footy and sitting atop the South African conference.