Mather puts debut on hold after grim fortnight

Brett Mather was due to make his Chiefs development debut at Blake Park on Wednesday, but a decent dose of perspective means he's happy to wait another week.
The 27-year-old Bay of Plenty centre has been immersed in the aftermath of the Christchurch earthquake and has only just returned from helping his parents at their Avonside home.
Former All Black Richard Kahui will instead start at centre in tomorrow's Pacific Rugby Cup match between Fiji and the Chiefs' B side, with Mather still struggling to turn his focus back to fun and games.
"We'd been training hard at the time but, when it happened, I told the Bay trainers that I just couldn't do it - I was just glued to the news," Christchurch-born Mather said.
"They were really good about it. I just felt like I had to go down there and help out, even just being there for mum and dad.
"I spent the whole week digging and it was harder than training - the back got a good workout - but rugby's just a game and life's much more important than that. It was a real eye-opener."
Mather's father Alan was in Auckland on business when the quake struck, but his mum Helen was at home. Their house has only just had power restored over the weekend, although it is still without water.
The Avonside neighbourhood was badly affected by flooding and liquefaction, while Mather's old primary school, St Pauls, is yet to open from last September's 7.1-magnitude tremor and may now be shut permanently.
But Mather, who was in Christchurch with the Steamers during September's quake, believes the real damage cannot be seen.
"We were all in the first one and it was terrible but they're all saying it didn't even come close. It's been a bit of a ghost town since that first one and a lot of people have just packed up and left.
"I'd hate to imagine what will happen now - so many people are battling and psychologically cut up. I'm glad to be up here again."
The Chiefs' development side opened their season with a 50-13 win over Tonga A in Pukekohe on Friday night, scoring eight tries to one at a sodden Growers Stadium.
Fiji arrive on the back of a 55-7 hiding from the Crusaders' development side in a game that was shifted to Dunedin's Carisbrook Park. Trailing 33-7 at half-time, Fiji, a side made up mainly of island-based players, lacked fitness and struggled to hang on to the ball.
Coaches Kevin Schuler and Milton Haig have rejigged their side for tomorrow's game, with Steamers players Josh Hohneck, Dan Waenga, Jarek Goebel and Leighton Price starting.
Kahui's inclusion is a further step in his rehabilitation from shoulder problems, while Counties-Manukau players dominate. Haig said they'd been unable to school up much on the three island teams.
"Tonga arrived on the back of a win over the Reds Academy, but of the three sides we were expecting Samoa to be the strongest."
Tomorrow's game starts at 5pm, with the next game against Samoa in Pukekohe on Monday.
Chiefs' development:
James Semple, Ahsee Tuala, Richard Kahui (capt), Rey Lee-lo, Jarek Goebel, Dan Waenga, Samisoni Fisilau, Taisina Tuifua, Mark Selwyn, Viliami Fihaki, Chris Middleton, Leighton Price, Josh Hohneck, Simon Lemalu, Latu Talakai. Reserves: Sefa Setaphano, Wini Antonio, Jamie Chipman, Matt Vant Leven, Malcolm Barnes, Trent Renata, Glen Robertson.