Maitland on his guard against razzle-dazzle of Chiefs backs

JOHN KIRK-ANDERSON/The Press

SHARPENING HIS MOVES: Sean Maitland runs with the ball during training at Rugby Park yesterday.

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Sitiveni Sivivatu tears about like a kid fizzing on a sugar rush, yet Sean Maitland is determined not to be mesmerised by his trickery.

Just watching Chiefs left wing Sivivatu can be an exhausting, but his Crusaders opponent Maitland says he will not be fooled by the All Black's razzle-dazzle in tomorrow night's Super 14 clash at Waikato Stadium.

Whether he is standing at first receiver, tearing into the midfield or scampering over to the opposite wing, Sivivatu is seemingly everywhere – although Maitland reckons he will not make the mistake of leaving his post deserted in an attempt to run him down.

"He's one of the best wingers in the world and I look at him and try to learn off him as well. He pops up in all these places, he just sniffs out the ball real well," Maitland said.

Tokoroa-born Maitland, who attended Hamilton Boys' High School with Crusaders fullback Jared Payne, last marked Sivivatu when the two sides met in Hamilton two years ago and returns for his third run-on start of the season after injuries plagued last year's campaign.

Resisting the temptation to track Sivivatu is something Maitland admits he is mindful of, especially with other dangerous attackers such as Mils Muliaina, Lelia Masaga and Richard Kahui looking to punish a sagging defensive line or vacant space out wide.

"I just to try to organise the boys to hold width and not get sucked in because that is when the Chiefs are dangerous – when there are gaps," he added. "For the outsides, that is our job on defence. We see the whole field and along with the fullback have to keep talking to the boys."

As well as using plays involving No8 Colin Bourke and halfback Brendon Leonard down the short side to feed Sivivatu, the Chiefs are likely to be more expansive than the Blues who last weekend elected to use Stephen Brett to kick for territory.

Maitland, though, is still expecting Stephen Donald to hoist some bombs and the Chiefs first five-eighth will be eager to test Maitland and Payne after they fumbled several of Brett's kicks.

"We are going to get tested and we know that.

"It's all about practising during the week and getting ready for it."

- © Fairfax NZ News