Chiefs make big changes for clash with new-look Bulls

By CHRIS RATTUE

The Bulls have dropped captain Chris le Roux for their match against the Chiefs, one of a stack of changes made by both sides for tomorrow night's Super 12 clash in Hamilton.

Centre Nick Collins will get his first Super 12 start for the Chiefs, and coach Kevin Greene has produced a new twist on his rotation policy for the halves by combining Danny Lee and David Hill.

Predictably, fullback Todd Miller returns in the outside backs for Karl Te Nana from the team beaten by the Stormers, and prop Deacon Manu is also set for a return after illness.

Lee and Hill appear to be the strongest combination, but have been separated for most of the season in the rotation policy that also involves Rhys Duggan and Glen Jackson.

Meanwhile, Bulls coach Heyneke Meyer has left out No 8 and captain le Roux, a controversial choice as leader this year given that the South African age group representative is in his first Super 12 season.

Veteran tough-nut hooker James Dalton takes over the captaincy.

Prop Richard Bands will get his first Super 12 run-on as part of a host of changes to a Bulls team who suffered their eighth consecutive loss this season against the Blues in the last round.

Chiefs: Todd Miller, Roger Randle, Nick Collins, Mark Ranby, Bruce Reihana, David Hill, Danny Lee; Deon Muir (capt), Marty Holah, Jonno Gibbes, Keith Robinson, Royce Willis, Deacon Manu, Keven Mealamu, Michael Collins/Tony Philp. Reserves: Keith Lowen, Glen Jackson, Rhys Duggan; Scott Couch, Kristian Ormsby, Guy Coleman, Manu/Collins/Philp.

Bulls: Leon van den Heever, Wylie Human, Ettienne Botha, Adrian Jacobs, Giscard Pieters, Jaco van der Westhuyzen, Norman Jordaan; Pedrie Wannenburg, Danie Rossouw, Johan Wasserman, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, Richard Bands, James Dalton (capt), Christo Bezuidenhout. Reserves: J. P. Nel, Gavin Passens, Hakkies Husselman; Gerrie Britz, Marco Wentzel, Wessel Roux, Danie Coetzee.

* Highlanders assistant coach Greg Cooper is not about to start drafting an obituary for the Brumbies, although the champions' vulnerabilities have been exposed over the past month.

Incredibly, four weeks have passed since the Brumbies last recorded a win - in Cape Town at the Stormers' expense. The Crusaders, the Hurricanes and most recently the Waratahs have raised questions about their title credentials.

Canberra Stadium may no longer be impregnable, but the Highlanders are hardly relishing tonight's visit, considering their own tardy form before the bye last weekend.

"The last three performances have been below their [the Brumbies'] usual high standards and they would be disappointed, but we've come off a frustrating loss to the Waratahs," Cooper said.

The second-placed Waratahs dished out a 31-13 defeat in Sydney a fortnight ago, leaving the Highlanders with just one win from 10 matches in Australia over the seven-year history of the competition.

Fifth with 25 points, they need to win at least two of their last three games, against the Brumbies, Blues (away) and Reds, to have a chance of reaching the semis.

Cooper cited mental tiredness for the Highlanders' dip in form. "We were jaded after Africa, then we had tough games against the Chiefs and the Hurricanes. We needed a break more mentally than physically."

The Brumbies have injury problems: goal-kicking centre Stirling Mortlock is out with ankle ligament damage.