Mike Delany will finally get his chance to shine in Super 15 rugby action this weekend - though it took an injury to his Chiefs teammate Stephen Donald to seal the deal.
Delany has been a puzzling absence from the starting first-five jersey, despite outstanding pre-season form. Coach Ian Foster has
persisted with Donald but had no choice against the Sharks on Friday night when Donald went down.
The pivot was taken to hospital with a back injury 20 minutes into the match in Hamilton, with X-rays showing fractures to the transverse processes of the lumbar vertebrae, very similar to fellow All Blacks and Chiefs stalwart Mils Muliaina. Donald will miss about four weeks of the season.
But Donald's misfortune was Delany's opening, with the Steamers star a shining ray of light in abysmal conditions, helping his side grind out a 15-9 win.
Delany kicked four penalties from five attempts to steer his side to a narrow win, the first loss of the season for the Durban-based Sharks, and directing both backs and forwards like a true general.
In the second half, the nuggetty first-five put on a brilliant kicking display, landing four sweet goals including one in the last minute to seal the result.
The Chiefs still struggled in the scrums and will have plenty to work on when they play the Blues in Hamilton this week.
