Kahui Back for Chiefs on Friday Night

[no.8]

Chiefs midfielder Richard Kahui will run out for the Chiefs this Friday night when they take on the Stormers in Round Five of the Rebel Sport Super 14 in Hamilton.

Kahui has been out of contention for the past two weeks due to an ankle injury sustained in the round two Chiefs v Waratahs match. He is now recovered and will play at second five-eighth for the Friday fixture.

Chiefs coach Ian Foster has chosen new captain Mils Muliaina to start at centre this week with Lelia Masaga getting a starting spot on the wing and Sosene Anesi moving to fullback.

“It is great to welcome back Richard on the field again. Another pleasing aspect is seeing Sosene Anesi returning to form. He seems to have recovered well from his recent neck and ankle strains and is looking fast again. Sos also enjoyed some time at fullback last week, which made it easy to go with this backline.”

“While it is a tough call on Callum Bruce going to the reserves, I’m sure he will be an effective player for us off the bench this week,” he added.

Foster has made one change to forwards with Liam Messam starting at number eight and Sione Lauaki on the reserves bench.

“Sione has started in four games to date so it is time for him to freshen up a bit. I’m expecting he will play an important role for us off the bench this week.

Foster expects the Chiefs and the Stormers, who have both just come off wins last weekend, will be sharing a desire to “move the ball around” on Friday.

The Chiefs team to play the Stormers on Friday 14 March at 7.35pm at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton is:

1. Simms Davison
2. Tom Willis
3. Ben May
4. Toby Lynn
5. Kevin O’Neill
6. Faifili Levave
7. Tom Harding
8. Liam Messam
9. Brendon Leonard
10. Stephen Donald
11. Sitiveni Sivivatu
12. Richard Kahui
13. Mils Muliaina (captain)
14. Lelia Masaga
15. Sosene Anesi

Reserves:
16. Vern Kamo
17. Ben Castle
18. Hayden Hopgood
19. Sione Lauaki
20. Tanerau Latimer
21. David Bason
22. Callum Bruce

Note: Replacement Chiefs lock Mark Burman has suffered a ruptured cruciate ligament, sustained in last Friday's Waikato High Performance squad match in Taupo. He will be unavailable to play for the remainder of this Chiefs season. Burman replaced Kristian Ormsby who has a season ending shoulder injury.

The Chiefs are yet to name a lock replacement.

Note: Players not considered due to injury include: Aled de Malmanche (groin), Kristian Ormsby (shoulder), Dwayne Sweeney (haematoma) Mark Burman (knee injury), Jono Gibbes (hamstring) and Jamie Nutbrown (knee).

[no.8]

Rassie Erasmus, head coach of the Vodacom Stormers, on Wednesday announced his team to play the Chiefs at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton, on Friday 14 March. Kick-off is at 08h35, South African time.

The only change to the team sees the return of Springbok flank Schalk Burger to his customary No 6 position. He takes over from Luke Watson, who was outstanding in that position in the victory over the Reds last Saturday.

Watson moves back to the No 8 position, where he played since the start of the competition. He replaces Robbie Diack, who reverts to the substitutes’ bench. Pieter Myburgh falls out of the match 22.

Erasmus said it ws difficult to leave out Diack. “Robbie is an excellent player, we all know how good Luke is and Francois is an unsung hero. Pieter is going to be a really good player.

“We will need all of them over the next ten to eleven weeks. The plan always was to start rotating them some time. It is not about any individual. We are busy with a process.”

The coach, who tasted his first victory with the Stormers the past Saturday, regards the Chiefs as a tough nut to crack. “If we arrive in the right frame of mind against the Chiefs, I believe it will be a very close game.”

The Stormers team:

1. JD Moller
2. Schalk Brits
3. Brian Mujati
4. Adriaan Fondse
5. Andries Bekker
6. Schalk Burger
7 Francois Louw
8. Luke Watson

9. Ricky Januarie
10. Peter Grant
11. Sireli Naqelevuki
12. Jean De Villiers (C)
13. Gcobani Bobo
14. Tonderai Chavhanga
15. Conrad Jantjes

Reserves

16. Deon Fourie
17. Brok Harris
18. Ross Skeate
19. Robbie Diack
20. Bolla Conradie
21. Gio Aplon
22. Dylan Des Fountain