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Preview: Chiefs v Reds
Sportal.co.nz - (4/03/2010)
Back on home turf for the first time in the Rebel Sport Super 14 the Chiefs will be looking to show their fans the sort of form against the Reds that has them unbeaten so far this season.
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 14 - Chiefs 8, Reds 6.
LAST TIME: March 28, 2009 (Brisbane) - Reds 26-50 Chiefs.
LAST TIME AT VENUE: April 26, 2008 - Chiefs 32-20 Reds.
WALKING WOUNDED: The Chiefs are not suffering their usual crippling early-season injury toll, even though the two most senior locks are out of action at the moment. All replacements are seasoned campaigners who have stepped up and this week Mils Muliaina returns after his delayed start to the season. The Reds have lost an integral part of their run-on XV with Peter Hynes' withdrawal due to a dislocated finger, while backup halfback Richard Kingi (hamstring) is also out. Winger Rod Davies has a fractured cheekbone and Digby Ioane has damaged a knee, meaning the Reds start a new back three this week against one of the most dangerous backlines around.
FORM:
PAST FIVE Chiefs:
Round 1: Beat Sharks 19-18
Round 2: Beat Lions 72-65
Round 3: Beat Force 37-19
PAST FIVE Reds:
Round 1: Lost to Waratahs 28-30
Round 2: Beat Crusaders 41-20
Round 3: Lost to Blues 18-27
The Chiefs could hardly have asked for a better start to the season, winning three from three and taking all but one available point. This brings a pressure the side has rarely had to face - that of being a front-runner - but it's now one they have to cope with for the rest of the season. While they have not yet played any teams expected to be in the top four mix in May - the Sharks are proving to be the competition flops - last year's losing finalist has done all that has been asked. The Reds could have made a better start on the ladder, as they lost to the Waratahs in the last minute and only gave up the decisive score to the Blues at the death, but the question that needs to be answered is: Which is the real Reds team - the one that demolished the Crusaders or the nearly men of the other two weeks? Unless the Reds can get up in what will be a challenging match, it may be that the ‘nearly men' tag will be on their shoulders by week 14.
WHO'S HOT: The Chiefs, normally slow starters, have usually come alive as Stephen Donald has worked into the season but he's hit the ground running in 2010, playing good open-field rugby and kicking his goals. Callum Bruce was in fine form last week, opening the Force defence almost at will, and two lesser lights of the pack, Colin Bourke and Hikawera Elliot, took the chance offered by their starting roles to press claims for more regular run-on positions. The Reds have received solid efforts from their under-rated pack, where old hands Van Humphries and Saia Faingaa are invariably sound. With the losses out wide the in-form halfback pairing of Will Genia and Quade Cooper will be asked to do a lot of hard work if their team is to have a fighting chance.
WE THINK: Despite the Reds' significantly better start to 2010, we're running with the Chiefs for this match. They're home, they're in top form, things are going their way for a change and we believe they'll want to turn it on for the Hamilton faithful. We'll say there should be at least 10 points in the final wash and the home side should also get a bonus point.
TEAMS:
Chiefs: 1.Faka'anaua Taumalolo, 2.Hikawera Elliot, 3.Nathan White, 4.Romana Graham, 5.Culum Retallick, 6.Liam Messam, 7.Tanerau Latimer, 8.Colin Bourke, 9.Brendon Leonard, 10.Stephen Donald, 11.Sitiveni Sivivatu, 12.Callum Bruce, 13.Richard Kahui, 14.Lelia Masaga, 15.Mils Muliaina (captain).
Reserves: 16.Aled de Malmanche, 17.Toby Smith, 18.Jarrad Hoeata, 19.Luke Braid, 20.Junior Pololeuligaga, 21.Mike Delany, 22.Dwayne Sweeney.
Reds: 1.Ben Daley, 2.Saia Faingaa, 3.Laurie Weeks, 4.Adam Byrnes, 5.Van Humphries, 6.Scott Higginbotham, 7.Daniel Braid, 8.Leroy Houston, 9.Wade Genia (captain), 10.Quade Cooper, 11. Brando Va'aulu, 12.Anthony Faingaa, 13.Morgan Turinui, 14.Will Chambers, 15.Luke Morahan.
Reserves: 16.Sean Hardman, 17.Greg Holmes, 18.Robert Simmons, 19.Jack Schatz, 20.Ben Lucas, 21.Ben Tapuai, 22.Blair Connor
REFEREE: Chris Pollock
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