 So, these bloody Chiefs of ours, what to do with
them. Three starts for three losses. Foster trotting out pretty much the same
old garbage each week, and getting the same old results. Sooo, what to do?
Clean house? Clear the decks of these 'name players' that are not producing the
goods, and haven't for these three games, and for much of last season too.
Sure, injuries galore, but that is part and parcel of rugby union in the
professional era, so really, no excuses there, apart from shithouse recruiting
and planning. I mean, you select four locks in your 2007 squad for the Super
14. Two are quality, but slightly injury prone (Gibbes and Robinson, both
currently out with calf injuries), and the remaining two, who are starting, are
a rookie Tony Lynn, and the journeyman lock/flanker Ormsby. Quality players and
genuine locks like Mark Sorenson of the Bay overlooked.
So what to do, what to do? You have to make do
with what you have, obviously. But if you keep doing the same old things,
you'll keep getting the same old results, so time for some changes. Sweeping-ish
changes too I reckon. Get rid of some of the non performing players, throw in
some players with potential, and see what happens. What's the worst case
scenario, a loss? Hello, losing is what the Chiefs have been specialising this
season at any rate, so lets be do it.
And without further ado, or any digressing, (drum roll please), the team
that can not do any wore than the current mob...
1: Simms Davison. Has been playing the best rugby I have seen from the
big Bay stalwart for a few seasons - since his first Super season in fact, when
he was getting mentioned in dispatches come All Black selection time.
Scrummaging well, and running with the ball again.
2: Aled de Melmanche. Sayonara Tom, you're time is up. The Conan the
Barbarain look-a-like Aled has added great impact each time he has taken the
field, and certainly deserves a start. Tom Willis has not been going great guns
this season - throwing been generally on the mark, but adding sod all else to
the team. Don't know much about the throwing of Aled, but his ball carrying is
raging bull material, always beating the first tackler, or at least dragging him
along until he hits the second and third tacklers. Give the big man a chance.
3: Nathan White. By default almost. Caslte has not been setting the
world on fire come scrum time, so may as well throw in the man mountain White.
Not a case of a good big man beating a good small man, more of a case of the not
great form big man beating the not in great form small man. Anyway, size does
matter, so White gets the nod here!!
4: Kristian Ormsby. Despite being a sawn of lock, Ormsby has been
playing bloody well, and in the absence of real ball winning locks, taking
control of the front of the lineout (along with the variation of Bates there
quite often), but adding most around the field. Ball in hand he is the original
raging bull, his fend like a piston driven ram, it is just magic to watch, the
way he lets the tackler come in a touch before ramming that fend out straight
again, and almost throwing the tackler away. Very pretty to watch.
5: Toby Lynn. Finding his feet at this level, but just holding down this
space until Robinson comes back, and the sooner the better. I think Robinson
and Ormsby would be a handy locking combination.
6: Steven Bates. Workaholic on both attack and defence, the rock around
which the Chiefs loose trio is built. Not the most flashy of players, but not a
man that will go missing when the going gets tough. Leads from the front.
Solid lineout option too, be it for the 'surprise' jump at two, or at his more
regular position at the tail end of the lineout/
7: Liam Messam. Not a genuine openside, but more than good enough to
play there, and if he did specialise in the seven shirt, I am sure he would make
the grade, at international level even. He went pretty well there for Waikato
during the NPC, has the skill set to play seven, and the mind set too. As fast
as a lot of backs, he'd be very effective here. More so I expect than Holah at
the moment, who looks like he is playing while sleep walking, and Latimer, his
time will come, but I have seen nothing from him this Chiefs season that says he
is better than Messam would be in seven.
8: Sione Lauaki. Back from injury (hopefully) this week, and I would
throw him straight into the deep end with the instructions, "go as hard as you
can for as long as you can, and then for ten more minutes after that". Get some
serious 'go forward' ball for the Chiefs to feed off, and relieve some of that
pressure from Bates - let him work in support of the ball carrier more, as
opposed to carting it up all day.
9: Brendan Leonard. Thought he has been playing better than Nutbrown,
crisper clearance, and choosing when to run more astutly than Nutbrown, who
seems to pre ordain when to run and when to pass. Leonard more instinctive,
sees a gap, and has a crack!
10: Murray Williams. Ben Casle. Donsteppa. Almost a case of 'anyone
but Donald'. Williams a well performed NPC level player, but not tested at
SUper level yet, but hell, what's the worst that can happen if he plays? A
loss? He could have a kick charged down and scored from? He could miss a vital
goal kick? He could have a 100% failure kicking record in a game where the
Chiefs outscore their opponents three to two...
11: Lelia Masaga. The pocket rocket needs to be used wisely by the
Chiefs, and that is not as a batering ram, but put into gaps and given the
opportuiny for outside breaks. Certainly has the gas to score the tries if
given the chance.
12: Niva Ta'auso. Has been going well at centre for the Chiefs, but also
plays second five, and went pretty well there for Counties Manukau during the
NPC. Will be interesting to see how the more direct approach of Ta'auso
combines with the more subtle approach of Kahui.
13: Richard Kauhi. Back from a shoulder injury, the NPC player of the
year will finally get measured at Super level. Was huge during Waikato's
championship wining season, running amok at times. Beating tackles, scoring
tries, and in general, making the fans stand up and take notice and mention his
name in the same sentence as All Blacks.
14: Roy Kinikinilau. Kinikinilau the bludgeon on the wing, compared to
the rapier Masaga. Again, should be used correctly, although as a wing, he
should be put into space as often as possible, you should also use the big man
as a ram in the midfield to draw in defenders.
15: Dwayne Sweeny. Starting to find his feet at Super level, and
basically the best of what is left after Anesi's season ending neck injury.
Not that many changes really for the Chiefs, and much what we'll probably
see this weekend, hopefully...
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