Super Rugby: Sam Cane at milestone as Chiefs face Highlanders

Tyler Ardron is one of six Bay of Plenty players in the Chiefs forwards mix to play the Highlanders. Photo / Photosport

Sam Cane will rightly claim most of the attention ahead of tomorrow

Not that he will want any fuss but in becoming just the fifth Chiefs player to reach 100 games Cane joins a special group of players alongside Liam Messam, Stephen Donald, Hika Elliot and Tanerau Latimer.

But way back in the number of games played for the Chiefs is another group of potential long-haul Chiefs players making their mark.

One of those is Bay of Plenty loosehead prop Aidan Ross who has started all four games so far this campaign and will lock horns with Highlanders tighthead Tyrel Lomax in Hamilton.

When Ross rocked up to pre-season training in December he had All Black Kane Hames, Atu Moli and Mitchell Graham ahead of him in the loosehead prop pecking order.

But due to injury and illness issues Ross has been promoted and the former NZ Under-20s rep has made quite an impression.

Early concerns about the Chiefs scrum in round one were more about bedding in new combinations than technical deficiencies. Against the massive Bulls front row Ross proved he can compete against any tighthead props.

The laidback Ross is not getting too excited about his start to the season but you get the impression he is pleased with how he has gone so far.

"Back in December with an eight to nine-week preseason my goal was to be in that team to play the Crusaders in round one. That was my first goal and with Kane and Atu out I ended up starting that one and just had to take my chances really,' he said.

"There obviously is some pretty high quality opposition out there but for me I have been taking it week by week, game by game, and putting all my focus and energy in to that and ticking each box off as it comes weekly."

Ross has reached that stage where he feels comfortable at Super Rugby level, a key step in any player's career.

"Once you are out there playing footy it is a massive step up [from Mitre 10 Cup] but you just have to try and do your job. But just because you are starting each week you can't get comfortable at all and you have to make sure you earn the spot.

"When you go out there you have to make sure you are not letting your team down. I am just looking at nailing my job and my role."

With Canada captain Tyler Ardron keeping his place at lock the Chiefs squad to face the Highlanders has six Bay of Plenty players in the forwards mix with Ardron, Ross, Cane, Nathan Harris, Jeff Thwaites and Liam Polwart.

This week another Bay player in Rotoiti captain Baden Wardlow was drafted into the wider Chiefs squad to cover for the locking shortage.

"It is nice to be in an environment when you have plenty of people that you know and have played rugby with before. It is pretty sweet," Ross said.
Chiefs v Highlanders
FMG Stadium Waikato, Friday, 7.35pm kick-off
Tickets: www.ticketdirect.co.nz

Chiefs team:
1. Aidan Ross (10), 2. Nathan Harris (35), 3. Angus Ta'avao (4), 4. Brodie Retallick (88), 5. Tyler Ardron (2), 6. Liam Messam (166), 7. Sam Cane (99)(c), 8. Taleni Seu (32), 9. Brad Weber (46), 10. Damian McKenzie (54), 11. Sean Wainui (4), 12. Johnny Faauli (10), 13. Anton Lienert-Brown (44), 14. Toni Pulu (23), 15. Solomon Alaimalo (13). Reserves: 16. Liam Polwart (10), 17. Karl Tu'inukuafe (3), 18. Jeff Thwaites (1), 19. Pita Gus Sowakula (0), 20. Lachlan Boshier (23), 21. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (4), 22. Marty McKenzie (10), 23. Charlie Ngatai (44)