New Chief packed with power

By CHRIS RATTUE

Bay of Plenty prop Simms Davison will make his Super 12 debut for the Chiefs against the Hurricanes with a ringing endorsement from his provincial coach, Vern Cotter.

The 24-year-old loosehead completes a new front row with Deacon Manu, back from the Blues, and recent Otago All Black Tom Willis.

Davison has got the nod from coaches Ian Foster and Farrell Temata over stalwart Michael Collins, who can excel around the field but is only adequate in the scrums.

Cotter said: "I know this may sound bold, but it is a long time since Bay of Plenty has had an All Black and we have those high expectations for Simms.

"He is a very destructive scrummager and I believe he might be the most powerful loosehead in the country."

Cotter, the Chiefs development coach, said Davison's "exuberance" had got him into positional trouble until he had tidied up those areas in the past two NPC seasons.

"He is very powerful carrying the ball," said Cotter.

Davison hails from Matamata, where his family have a thoroughbred stud farm, and completed a commerce degree at Otago University. He played for New Zealand Universities and the Otago development team.

So he has come through an environment that has included many of New Zealand's top front rowers, including All Blacks Carl Hoeft, Kees Meeuws, Carl Hayman, Joe McDonnell, Anton Oliver and Willis.

Bay of Plenty snared Davison when they heard he was returning north, at a time when Waikato believed they had enough props.

Waikato lock Dave Duley will also debut tomorrow night.

In the backs, Glen Jackson keeps out David Hill. Mark Ranby, who will play centre, and Keith Lowen swap their usual positions. Midfield defence has been a Chiefs' sore point, and the Ranby-Lowen combo looks their best defensive option.

Hurricanes coach Colin Cooper says pre-season form enabled former Aucklander Tane Tuipulotu to grab a midfield spot, pushing All Black Ma'a Nonu to the wing.

Tuipulotu was in Cooper's New Zealand Colts two years ago.

"We know he's got the potential but he has floated with his focus in the past," said Cooper.

"His fitness is outstanding, he's got size, and he's put his hand up and said, 'Select me'."

Rookie 125kg prop Neemia Tialata starts ahead of Tim Fairbrother, who has just recovered from illness. Threequarters Conrad Smith and Roy Kinikinilau are injured.

* Southland halfback and rising star Jimmy Cowan has been included in the Highlanders' run-on XV for the opening game of the Super 12 against the Queensland Reds tonight.

Cowan's chance comes at the expense of former All Black Danny Lee, who was ruled out after a failed fitness test on his injured ankle.

Lee's misfortune is a coup for Cowan, a New Zealand Colts representative and world champion last year who has made giant strides in professional rugby over the past four or five seasons.

He will be the only Southlander in the starting XV for the Highlanders, although Daniel Quate, Clarke Dermody and Jason Rutledge have all been named on the bench in probably Southland's best representation in a Highlanders playing squad.

Highlanders coach Greg Cooper said Cowan was excited about the opportunity. Crusaders discard Ben Hurst has been added to the bench as halfback cover.

Fijian test player Seru Rabeni was ruled out after a fitness test. Ryan Nicholas has been named at second five-eighths instead and will pair up with the solid Seilala Mapasua in the midfield.

* Southland flanker Hale T-Pole has been cleared to travel with the Highlanders to South Africa tomorrow.

His travel status was in doubt after his conviction for a double assault in Invercargill last year.

Highlanders managers are now confident South African and Australian officials will accept him.

T-Pole, a star of Southland's breakout NPC last year, is an important part of the Highlanders' selection mix because the Super 12 franchise has lost flankers Taine Randell and Kelvin Middleton.

Prop Ben Nolan and first five-eighths Mathew Berquist will be dropped from the squad for the South African leg of the competition.

Additional reporting: NZPA