Bruce to spice up Chiefs midfield
Former Highlanders centre Callum Bruce will his make his Chiefs debut centre in the team's Super 14 opener against the Blues at Eden Park, Auckland on Saturday.
Former Highlanders centre Callum Bruce will his make his Chiefs debut at centre in the team's Super 14 opener against the Blues at Eden Park, Auckland on Saturday.
Bruce, who is also a competent flyhalf, adds experience and tremendous speed to what is already a dangerous-looking Chiefs backline, which includes Mils Muliaina (fullback), Sitiveni Sivivatu and Sosene Anesi on the wings and Stephen Donald at pivot.
However, the Chiefs might be without the services of All Black scrumhalf Brendon Leonard, who is battling an ankle injury he sustained at training on Tuesday.
Jamie Nutbrown, who is no stranger to Super 14 rugby, will be the link between the Chiefs forward pack and the backline in Leonard's absence on Saturday.
Leonard is bracketed on the bench with Chiefs Wider Training Group halfback David Bason and it will only be determined on matchday whether he will actually play or not.
“It is disappointing for Brendon but there is a good chance of him being available on the bench this weekend. A decision on whether he will make the 22 will be made late on game day,” said Chiefs coach Ian Foster.
Foster added that Nutbrown had shown good form and confidence in the number nine jersey during the team's pre-season matches earlier this year.
Chiefs captain Jono Gibbes will start with a new lock partner in Kevin O'Niell, who joined the Waikato-based team from the Crusaders late last year.
Foster hopes to continue the sublime form that the Chiefs enjoyed towards the end of last year's Super 14 season and is confident he can do so with the large majority of his best players available for selection.
“It is an exciting time going into our first game. It was probably the hardest team to pick in terms of having nearly everyone available. In the end we had to pick a team that is best suited to take on the Blues,” said Foster in a statement on Wednesday.
The only match that the Chiefs lost in the second half of the tournament last year was in fact against the Blues in a thrilling match at the Waikato Stadium in Hamilton.
“The Chiefs and Blues match is always a clash we look forward to. Last year the Blues were in good form making the semi-finals, plus they have some quality personnel.
“We are certainly aware of the size of the challenge ahead of us for Saturday night. It seems clear that the Blues have picked a physical team against us. It will be an exciting start to our campaign,” added Foster.
Lock Toby Lynn was the only Chiefs player not considered for selection this week due to an ankle injury.
Chiefs: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Sosene Anesi, 13 Richard Kahui, 12 Callum Bruce, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Stephen Donald, 9 Jamie Nutbrown, 8 Sione Lauaki, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Kevin O'Neill, 4 Jono Gibbes (c), 3 Ben Castle, 2 Tom Willis, 1 Simms Davison
Replacements: 16 Aled de Malmanche, 17 Ben May, 18 Kristian Ormsby, 19 Hayden Hopgood, 20 Brendon Leonard/David Bason, 21 Dwayne Sweeney, 22 Lelia Masaga
Date: Saturday, 16 February
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Kick-off: 19.35 (06.35 GMT)
Referee: Lyndon Bray (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Keith Brown (New Zealand), Vinny Munro (New Zealand)
Television match official: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)
Assessor: Kim Eichmann (New Zealand)