Chiefs look for home comforts
A tough tour of South Africa behind them, the Chiefs are now banking on home comforts as they head into the business end of their Super Rugby campaign.
With four of their last five regular season matches in Hamilton (and the other on neutral territory in Suva) it’s a rather kind run-in as they seek to nail their spot in the playoffs for a seventh consecutive year.
However, there’s some stern opposition to face along the way still, and tonight’s clash against the Waratahs at FMG Stadium Waikato is likely to present as just that, especially for a potentially travelweary group.
While the Chiefs welcome back the four All Blacks they were stripped of due to national camp commitments last weekend, others will have to hit the ground running to ensure they can match it with the buoyant Australian conference leaders.
In beating the Highlanders 41-12 in Sydney last Saturday, the Waratahs put an end to the Kiwi winning streak over the Australians, at 40 games. That came a week after racing to a stunning
29-0 lead over the Crusaders in Christchurch, before eventually blowing it 31-29.
The Waratahs have won only one of their last 10 matches outside of Australia but they are also the opponent the Chiefs have had the least success against in their history
(38.1 per cent win rate). ‘‘They’re going to a very difficult team to play,’’ coach Colin Cooper said. ‘‘We need to be ready, and I guess being home and playing in front of our home fans is going to be huge for us.’’
For the Chiefs to snatch either first or second spot in the Kiwi conference and earn a home Super Rugby, Rd 15 Chiefs v Waratahs FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton Saturday, 7.35pm
Solomon Alaimalo, Toni Pulu, Anton Lienert-Brown, Charlie Ngatai (c), Sean Wainui, Damian McKenzie, Brad Weber, Liam Messam, Mitch Karpik, Luke Jacobson, Michael Allardice, Brodie Retallick, Angus Ta’avao, Nathan Harris, Karl Tu’inukuafe.
Samisoni Taukei’aho, Sam Prattley, Jeff Thwaites, Jesse Parete, Matt Matich, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Marty McKenzie, Shaun Stevenson.
Israel Folau, Cam Clark, Curtis Rona, Kurtley Beale, Taqele Naiyaravoro, Bernard Foley, Nick Phipps, Michael Wells, Michael Hooper (c), Will Miller, Rob Simmons, Tom Staniforth, Sekope Kepu, Damien Fitzpatrick, Tom Robertson.
Tolu Latu, Harry JohnsonHolmes, Paddy Ryan, Jed Holloway, Brad Wilkin, Jake Gordon, Lalakai Foketi, Bryce Hegarty. quarterfinal they would effectively have to win all their remaining games, and have the Hurricanes or Crusaders drop a few. Not that Cooper is paying any attention to the scenario.
‘‘I don’t look at the table, I don’t look ahead,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s such a tough competition that I look at game by game, and ‘if we win that we win that, if we don’t win that then we just have to find the reasons why’.’’
The Waratahs have won six of the past eight clashes between the teams, though the Chiefs did get them last time, in a 46-31 try-fest in Hamilton last year.
And it’s that tryscoring ability which should have the hosts on high alert. While they have been known for their own electric attack, it has stalled recently, with just six tries in the past three weeks, compared with the Waratahs’ 13 in the same period.
‘‘I think they score the most tries from set piece, so our set piece is going to have to be on the money,’’ Cooper said.
Since returning after a hamstring injury and his controversial comments on homophobia, Israel Folau has been outstanding, and looms as the key man in the visitors’ arsenal. The fact the Chiefs have sent Solomon Alaimalo to fullback indicates their quest to get an equally big body in the air to compete with the aerial attack.
Then there’s that giant on the left wing in Taqele Naiyaravoro – the competition’s second-equal top tryscorer (10) – which should ensure Toni Pulu has his hands full, and that the Chiefs have a few mechanisms in place to keep him and the rest of the men in blue quiet.
‘‘We’ve been working on that,’’ Cooper said. ‘‘Our defence has gone pretty well. What this group do play with is a lot of heart.’’
The Chiefs will hope their work with the ball can be just as inspirational. Their last three games were pretty forgettable affairs in the accuracy department.