Chiefs face breakdown battle

Who is best equipped to attack the breakdowns and win crucial dominance in tonight's Super 14 Chiefs-Crusaders showdown at Waikato Stadium?

The powerful Crusaders lineup come to Hamilton with a reputation for aggressive defence and dominating the contact area, with two specialist open-side flankers in George Whitelock and All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw, and All Black incumbent Kieran Read playing No8.

The Chiefs are sticking with the traditional Kiwi balance of an open-side specialist in Tanerau Latimer, who last week made 26 tackles in the upset loss to the Reds, and an athletic ball-running blind-sider in Liam Messam.

And, in the continuing absence of Sione Lauaki, the No8 spot is taken by Colin Bourke.

Matches may be more fast moving and the requirements at the breakdown subtly different under new Super 14 law interpretations but Chiefs coach Ian Foster is not sure that requires a team to start two open-side flankers, even though he has moved to such a configuration later in matches.

"I'm not convinced it's a tactic (by the Crusaders)," Foster said. "I think it's a selection policy designed to get three good loosies on the park and obviously McCaw is very adaptable at six or eight – apart from being a pretty good seven."

Foster admitted that in most games the Chiefs had had young Bay of Plenty open-side flanker Luke Braid involved off the bench in the second half, teaming up with Latimer, while Messam moved back to No8.

"We are using it and the reason we're able to use it is that Lats is pretty comfortable at six. It works as long as you've got the players who are adaptable to make that change during the game."

One thing is sure, the breakdown area will go a long way toward deciding this game. The Chiefs got badly beaten there by the aggressive Reds forwards, led by Daniel Braid and Scott Higginbotham, last Friday and the Crusaders will be just as physical there, if not more so.

"While we're respectful of their work at the breakdown, we've been pretty happy with our work at the breakdown," Foster said.

"Yep, we were outperformed a bit last week but there were a few factors involved in that and we're pretty confident of the work we've been doing in that area but it's going to be a good challenge."

Foster said a team's performance at the breakdown was often related to the quality of their set-piece ball and their ability to get over the gain line – areas both forwards and backs had been told to improve this week.

He knows the Chiefs will come under pressure in those set pieces from the strong Crusaders pack, which will try and put the heat on in the scrums and lineouts.

The return of former Crusader Craig Clarke to the second row should provide much-needed experience and size in those areas.

Foster believed the refereeing of the scrums by South African ref Mark Lawrence would also be crucial with the Reds upsetting the Chiefs' scrum for the first quarter last week with illegal tactics in terms of the loose-head prop angling in, which once sorted saw the scrum stabilise.

If the Chiefs can get the basics right this week, and show more patience and tactical nous, they have a better chance of outflanking the very good Crusaders defence. If not the Crusaders will force mistakes and punish them.

Stephen Donald also needs to return to goal-kicking form after a sudden lapse last week when he goaled just one of five attempts after being on target with 24 out of 27 in his three previous games.

TEAMS

Chiefs: Mils Muliaina (c), Lelia Masaga, Richard Kahui, Callum Bruce, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Stephen Donald, Brendon Leonard, Colin Bourke, Tanerau Latimer, Liam Messam, Romana Graham, Craig Clarke, Nathan White, Aled de Malmanche, Sona Taumalolo. Res: Vern Kamo, Ben Afeaki, Culum Retallick, Luke Braid, Junior Poluleuligaga, Mike Delany, Dwayne Sweeney.

Crusaders: Jared Payne, Sean Maitland, Robbie Fruean, Ryan Crotty, Zac Guildford, Daniel Carter, Kahn Fotuali'i, Kieran Read, George Whitelock, Richie McCaw (c), Isaac Ross, Brad Thorn, Owen Franks, Ti'i Paulo, Wyatt Crockett. Res: Corey Flynn, Ben Franks, Sam Whitelock, Thomas Waldrom, Willi Heinz, Adam Whitelock, Colin Slade.

Referee: Mark Lawrence (South Africa).

Kickoff: 7.35 tonight, Waikato Stadium.

- © Fairfax NZ News