News

Kahui and Sivivatu return

Thursday 27th March 2008

Back in black: Richard Kahui returns from injury

Chiefs coach Ian Foster has made two changes to his starting line-up for Saturday's Super 14 match against the Highlanders in Hamilton.

Foster has stayed largely with the side that dismantled the Bulls last weekend, with Richard Kahui and Sitiveni Sivivatu the exceptions.

Kahui comes back at centre in place of Dwayne Sweeney while Sivivatu takes over on the wing from Viliame Waqaseduadua.

Both players missed last week due to ankle injuries.

Foster said the Chiefs' run of injuries so far this campaign had been frustrating and disruptive, making it hard to settle on combinations.

"But the flipside of that is that we've got guys coming back who are fresh, who haven't played too much rugby," he said.

"We see that as a positive for us heading into the second half of the season. There's still a lot of energy left in the tank."

Of those still sidelined, Kristian Ormsby (shoulder) and Tasesa Lavea (ankle) are out for the rest of the Super 14.

However, Jamie Nutbrown (knee) is likely to be back for the trip to Canberra next week, while Sosene Anesi (ankle) could also return then or the match after.

Jono Gibbes (hamstring) is still three to four weeks from being a contender for selection.

The Chiefs will be determined to build on their 43-27 defeat of the Bulls in Rotorua, a result that lifted them one place to ninth, against the bottom-of-the-table Highlanders.

Chiefs: 15 Mils Muliaina (c), 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Richard Kahui, 12 Callum Bruce, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatau, 10 Stephen Donald, 9 Brendon Leonard, 8 Sione Lauaki, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Kevin O'Neill, 4 Toby Lynn, 3 Ben Castle, 2 Tom Willis, 1 Simms Davison.
Replacements: 16 Aled de Malmanche, 17 Ben May, 18 Jay Williams, 19 Faifili Levave, 20 David Bason, 21 Dwayne Sweeney, 22 Viliame Waqaseduadua.

Date: Saturday, March 29
Venue: Waikato Stadium
Kick-off: 17:30 (04:30 GMT)
Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia)
Touch judges: Jonathon White (New Zealand), Keith Brown (New Zealand)
Television match official: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)
Assessor: Alan Riley (New Zealand)