Pair return for Chiefs
Chiefs outside back Sam McNicol will play his first Super Rugby match in almost three years when he returns alongside Luke Jacobson against the Brumbies tomorrow following their respective concussion absences.
The two are back among nine changes Chiefs coach Warren Gatland has made to the starting XV which dispatched the Sunwolves 43-17 in Tokyo last Saturday.
With the in-form Solomon Alaimalo and Lachlan Boshier rested, McNicol and Jacobson slot straight in on the left wing and at blindside flanker respectively.
While two-test All Black Jacobson’s return has been expected after his recovery from the concussion issues which ruled him out of last year’s Rugby World Cup, McNicol’s comeback is more remarkable given his last Super Rugby appearance came in a 31-24 loss to the Crusaders in Fiji in May 2017, more than 1000 days ago.
McNicol left the field with concussion early in the first half following a collision with then Crusaders wing Seta Tamanivalu.
It was one of several head knocks the versatile Hawke’s Bay back has suffered in his injury-plagued fiveyear career.
‘‘I had big Seta Tamanivalu run over me and I was seeing stars for a few weeks,’’ McNicol said yesterday.
McNicol played for Hawke’s Bay in the Mitre 10 Cup that year but his concussion symptoms came back and he missed all of 2018 after an agreement with New Zealand Rugby to adopt a cautious, gradual return.
The 24-year-old made his comeback, after also overcoming a wrist injury, in a competitive match for Hawke’s Bay against Manawatu¯ last August but a sprained ankle reduced him to just that appearance for the Magpies last year.
Such an injury toll might convince a young player to consider another career but McNicol said he believed his comeback would happen eventually. ‘‘It just took longer than I thought, but I knew that if I stuck at
it, the time would come,’’ he said. ‘‘It does get frustrating doing all that training without the reward of a game. I took a backward step, did a little bit of coaching [with Hawke’s Bay], which was rewarding, giving back to younger kids, and studied on the side.
‘‘If I had any doubts, then it would be time to scoot on out of here. I’ve never been hesitant or anything, which I guess part is my competitive nature.’’
The unbeaten Chiefs host the Brumbies in round four after three wins on the bounce and the Hamilton fixture against the Australian conference leaders also marks the return of Jacobson, whose comeback was delayed a week because of a tight
hamstring.
It will be the 22-year-old’s first match since coming off the bench for the All Blacks in their final World Cup warmup match against Tonga in Hamilton last September.
‘‘Missing the World Cup was obviously very disappointing,’’ the Waikato loose forward said. ‘‘But I’m just looking at getting back into footy at the moment and get some form. That’s in the past now, I’ve dealt with that, and I’m looking to rip into it.’’
Jacobson starts alongside the returning Sam Cane, who switches back to openside flanker, while Pita Gus Sowakula comes in at No 8, completing a powerful back row to combat the threat of the huge Brumbies pack.