Super Rugby: Augustine Pulu re-signs with Chiefs

The easy option for Augustine Pulu would have been to find another franchise where more game time was guaranteed.

But the halfback has instead opted to re-sign with the Chiefs and renew his battle with Tawera Kerr-Barlow for the starting spot.

Pulu yesterday extended his Chiefs contract for another two years, turning down interest from elsewhere in the competition to remain with a coach who rates him among the top three halfbacks in the country.

The other two in Dave Rennie's estimation - Kerr-Barlow and Aaron Smith - have been on All Blacks duty this week and, while TJ Perenara may have something to say about those rankings, it shows how the Chiefs rate Pulu.

And that backing helps explain why Pulu called himself blessed to sign on with the champs for another two years.

"There were a couple of options that I could've taken," he said. "It would have been so easy for me to get up and leave and go somewhere else where I could have had an opportunity to get more game time. But I'm happy to stay here.

"I just have to keep pushing forward and just making sure I do every little thing that I can to back up what Rens has said."

Pulu won't have the chance to do that until after the June international break, having last week had an operation to clear knee cartilage. The 24-year-old had been enjoying a fine season before the lay-off, evenly splitting starts with Kerr-Barlow, and he said it was a scrap he relished.

"[Kerr-Barlow] is a great person, and he's really competitive. It brings the best out of us. I'm pretty happy to carry on battling it out with him and trying to get that 9 jersey.

"He's an All Black and it's really good to have someone within the environment that you can measure yourself against."

Pulu has ambitions to join his mate in pulling on the black jersey but that's far from his sole international option.

He is also eligible for Tonga and Samoa, but Rennie thinks Kerr-Barlow's presence only enhances Pulu's All Black chances.

"They create a lot of competition for that 9 jersey," Rennie said. "Until Augy got injured, they'd had an even number of starts.

"It's not easy ... the other guy being an All Black. But his job, if he wants to be an All Black, is to put [Kerr-Barlow] out of a Chiefs No9 jersey and that'll make his road a little easier."

Meantime, Pulu is focused on returning to full fitness in time for a playoff push. While he will be a spectator for Saturday's encounter with the Hurricanes, the Chiefs have been boosted by the recovery of several key men.

Aaron Cruden is set to end a six-week stint on the sidelines with a broken thumb, while Charlie Ngatai and Asaeli Tikoirotuma will also add depth to the backline.

A question mark remains over Robbie Fruean, whose heart issues have kept him out since March. Fruean got through a club game last weekend and will be evaluated before the squad is named for the Wellington trip tomorrow. APNZ