Thursday, 18 August 2022
OpinionSportMoneyLifestyleRural
Residential Property Listing
Driven MotoringPhotosVideoRotorua WeekenderTaupo & Turangi Herald
WhakataneTaurangaRotoruaTaupo
NZ HeraldThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay Of Plenty TimesRotorua Daily PostHawke's Bay TodayWhanganui ChronicleThe Stratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu CourierVivaEat WellOneRoofDriven MotoringThe CountryPhoto SalesNZ Herald InsightsWatchMeGrabOneiHeart RadioRestaurant Hub

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
Rotorua Daily Post

Super Rugby Pacific: Sam Cane makes timely return as Chiefs eye semifinal against Crusaders

8 Jun, 2022 09:00 PM3 minutes to read
The Chiefs beat the Crusaders when the sides met in Christchurch in March. Photo / Photosport

The Chiefs beat the Crusaders when the sides met in Christchurch in March. Photo / Photosport

Christopher Reive
By
Christopher Reive

Multimedia Journalist

VIEW PROFILE

Clayton McMillan sees the value in short turnarounds at the end of a campaign.

With only two weeks left in the Super Rugby Pacific season, the Chiefs coach has no complaints over having less rest than the Crusaders going into their semifinal clash in Christchurch on Friday night.

The hosts will have an extra day's rest, having played their quarter-final last Friday while the Chiefs played on Saturday. However, McMillan sees the positives in their scenario.

"There's a real value in having short turnarounds, especially heading into the finals," he explained. "It means you just get back into work early, get straight into business; there's not a lot of time to twiddle your thumbs and think about what might be.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

"It's straight into preparations and when we've had short turnarounds, this group generally trends to do okay with that."

McMillan has named a settled side from the group that dispatched the Waratahs in Hamilton last weekend, with Josh Ioane starting at fullback in an otherwise unchanged run-on side. They will get a boost from the bench with the return of co-captain Sam Cane from a knee injury, while George Dyer replaces Atu Moli in the front row reinforcements.

It will be the second time this season that the Chiefs and Crusaders have met in Christchurch. Back in round three, the Chiefs announced themselves as a title contender with a 24-21 win.

While that was three months ago and the Crusaders have won all 26 of their home finals games, McMillan said there were elements of that game that gave his side confidence they could take into this one.

"It shows that they're beatable down there," he said. "But that was a long time ago. Both teams will have improved their games between then and now, and once you get to finals footy it's what you produce on the day. That's what our focus is on – the 80 minutes in front of us – and hopefully we've got a good plan to make a good fist of it.

"We demonstrated down there that we have the ability, but you just have to turn up and perform. There's no magic formula. We know we have the squad that can go down there and win, but we need to go down there and perform for 80 minutes.

"We're really looking forward to the challenge and if we're good enough, we're good enough."

Crusaders v Chiefs

Friday, 7.05pm, Christchurch

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Crusaders: Will Jordan, Sevu Reece, Jack Goodhue, David Havili, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Richie Mo'unga, Bryn Hall, Cullen Grace, Tom Christie, Pablo Matera, Sam Whitelock, Scott Barrett, Oli Jager, Codie Taylor, George Bower.

Reserves: Brodie McAlister, Tamaiti Williams, Fletcher Newell, Zach Gallagher, Corey Kellow, Mitchell Drummond, Braydon Ennor, George Bridge.

Chiefs: Josh Ioane, Jonah Lowe, Alex Nankivell, Quinn Tupaea, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Bryn Gatland, Brad Weber, Pita Gus Sowakula, Luke Jacobson, Samipeni Finau, Tupou Vaa'i, Brodie Retallick, Angus Ta'avao, Samisoni Taukei'aho, Aidan Ross.

Reserves: Bradley Slater, Ollie Norris, George Dyer, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Sam Cane, Xavier Roe, Rameka Poihipi, Chase Tiatia.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Sport

Rotorua Daily Post

Whaka 100: Rotorua CBD race gets national title status

16 Aug 08:22 PM
Rotorua Daily Post

RBHS secure thrilling double after last-minute win

16 Aug 07:28 PM
Rotorua Daily Post

Second night in a row: Cricket turf ripped up and stolen in latest act of vandalism

11 Aug 10:17 PM
Rotorua Daily Post

'Furious': Rotorua cricket nets vandalised again

11 Aug 01:18 AM
Premium
Rotorua Daily Post

'You certainly feel it': Sam Cane opens up on feeling the weight of a nation

09 Aug 05:30 PM

Most Popular

Premium
Trauma counsellors: Ending bullying starts with 'treating it seriously'
Rotorua Daily Post

Trauma counsellors: Ending bullying starts with 'treating it seriously'

15 Aug 05:00 PM
Premium
How geothermal could supercharge Contact's earnings
Rotorua Daily Post

How geothermal could supercharge Contact's earnings

15 Aug 05:00 AM
Premium
What do businesses really think about buy now pay later?
Rotorua Daily Post

What do businesses really think about buy now pay later?

13 Aug 05:00 PM

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
About UsHelp & SupportContact UsSubscribe to Rotorua Daily PostHouse Rules
Manage Your Print SubscriptionRotorua Daily Post E-EditionAdvertise with NZMEBook Your AdPrivacy Policy
Terms of UseCompetition Terms & ConditionsSubscriptions Terms & Conditions
© Copyright 2022 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP