Chiefs’ big title test against Bulls

SYDNEY – The Waikato Chiefs’ search for consistency gets its big examination against South Africa’s Northern Bulls this weekend in the run into next month’s Super 14 rugby playoffs.

The unfashionable New Zealanders, who have so often flattered to deceive with fluctuating form in past seasons of the southern hemisphere provincial series, are leading the Super 14 with four rounds remaining.
The Chiefs, who have traditionally played second fiddle to Kiwi provincial powerhouses Canterbury Crusaders and Auckland Blues, are in a rich vein of form ahead of their top-four showdown with the Bulls in Pretoria Saturday.
Last weekend’s victory over the Central Cheetahs was their record sixth consecutive win and their first in South Africa for four years, but that has yet to convince bookmakers that they should be the title favourites.
South Africa’s Coastal Sharks, displaced at the top by the Chiefs after losing to the Crusaders last weekend, are still favourites to win this year’s Super 14 and the Bulls are listed as odds-on to down the Chiefs this weekend.
The last three Chiefs’ visits to Pretoria have been high-scoring affairs but all have ended in a three-point loss to the Kiwis.
The Bulls will be bolstered by the return of lineout general Victor Matfield, who missed last weekend’s match against the ACT Brumbies in Canberra after returning home for the birth of his second child.
With the Sharks having the weekend off along with the NSW Waratahs, the way is open for the Blues, Wellington Hurricanes, Brumbies and Crusaders to press their claims on the finals.
The fourth-placed Hurricanes are at home to the seventh-placed Brumbies Saturday
The last time they were in Wellington, the Brumbies lost in the final seconds, leaving their record in the capital at three wins and three losses.
The Brumbies have made five changes with 19-year-old flyhalf Matt Toomua to make his run-on debut after Christian Lealiifano tore his hamstring in last weekend’s 32-31 win over the Bulls.
Hooker Tom McCartney will start a Super 14 match for the first time for the fifth-placed Blues against the struggling Queensland Reds in Auckland Saturday.
McCartney takes the No. 2 jersey ahead of skipper Keven Mealamu, who gets a breather on the bench, while flyhalf Tasesa Lavea returns from a hamstring injury.
Champions Crusaders are running into form at the right time and are away to the bottom team Central Cheetahs in Bloemfontein Saturday.
Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder has opted to rotate his team, trying to keep his players fresh as they launch a late-season assault on the playoffs following last week’s 13-10 upset of the Sharks in Durban.
The seven-time champions will again be led by All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw, who returned last week after six weeks out with a knee injury.
Australia’s Western Force will try to keep alive their mathematical playoff chance with a victory over South Africa’s Golden Lions in Perth Friday.
The Otago Highlanders will be looking to atone for an inept display against the Blues last week when they face South Africa’s Western Stormers in Dunedin today.
– Nampa-AFP