Rugby: Messam chases scent of success

Chiefs co-captain Liam Messam will play in his hometown Rotorua against the Bulls tomorrow night.

Take it from an All Black: Rotorua's scent of sulphur "makes you hard and tough".

As he prepares to face the Bulls at Rotorua International Stadium tomorrow night, Chiefs co-captain Liam Messam has been selling the benefits of the city's signature smell to the team's younger players.

And the former Rotorua Boys' High school student has said he can't wait to lead his team out in front of a hometown crowd.

"As you can probably tell in my voice, I'm pretty excited," Messam told the Rotorua Daily Post this week.

"It's always good to come back home. I'm really looking forward to it, I have been pumping the boys up about coming here."

After last week's controversial 22-18 defeat to the Hurricanes, which led to criticism of refereeing decisions that went against the Chiefs, 31-year-old Messam will be hoping his team can bounce back against the Bulls.

The loose forward declined to dwell on incidents in the previous round - "It's out of my control" - and said he was now focused on this week's opposition.

He had lined up against the South African side before, and knew what challenges to expect.

"I have been around this competition for a while - they're a big physical pack. We need to match them physically."

The Bulls are sitting top of the Super 15 South African conference, while the Chiefs occupy second in the Kiwi conference.

Since his first appearance in 2006, Messam has played more than 130 games for the Chiefs, making him the club's most capped player. He became co-captain in 2011. In a team "full of leaders", Messam said he thrived on the extra responsibility.

"As a leader you are always learning and growing. You learn a lot about yourself being a captain."

Messam was born in Blenheim but grew up in Rotorua with adoptive parents. He has travelled round the world as a Chief and an All Black, but clearly relishes the chance to return to the Geyser City.

"It means a lot to me - we [Chiefs] have got a special field at Waikato, but it's awesome to come here and play in front of my friends and family."

Messam said he still kept in touch with mates from school, some of whom were back working at Rotorua Boys' High.

Since narrowly missing out on All Blacks selection for the 2011 Rugby World Cup, Messam has become a mainstay of the national side with 42 appearances to date.

Although he is expected to be a shoo-in for the squad flying to the UK in September for this year's tournament, he said he wasn't letting himself think beyond the Super 15 season.

"I'm just taking one campaign at a time. If I perform well ... "

Chiefs fans dreaming of a play-off place will be hoping Rotorua's unique aroma can inspire a homecoming victory for Messam tomorrow night.