CHIEFS v BLUES Hamilton, 7.35 tonight
For the last few days, sports aficionados in Waikato have been able to digest something special.
Those hosts who juggle their summer and winter codes will switch from the glorious exploits of Sachin Tendulkar tonight to see if the Chiefs can deliver similar expertise to repel the Blues and the
developing threat they have brought to the Super 14 series.
The Chiefs have played a couple of other New Zealand franchises, the Crusaders and Highlanders, beating those from the far south, while the Blues have had a diet of muscular South African sides to contend with after opening up against the Force. They have yet to taste a domestic skirmish.
They have also lost test loosehead prop Tony Woodock to illness and have a few players like Rene Ranger, Michael Hobbs, Jimmy Gopperth, Chris Lowrey and Tevita Mailau who will be poking their frames into their first major battle against their country cousins in enemy territory. Every Super 14 game is intense but these local derbies are just a little bit extra special.
At a near midpoint in the tournament, the franchise neighbours meet to settle their annual bragging rights. Probably more crucially, this match will offer a platform for their spurt towards the bye, a quick rest then the final push through the exacting latter stages of the competition. Points tonight will be gold and a guide for interested onlookers like national coach Graham Henry and his scouts.
The Blues have been buoyed by their early work including a fruitful trip to South Africa while the Chiefs feel they are ready to come to the boil after a slow start.
"With some new guys it takes time to get on the same page but we are determined to keep progressing," Chiefs coach Ian Foster said. "There is no change each year, it is all about getting a roll-on."
Concentration, 80 minutes, consistency - the coaching messages are much the same for each team.
There will be mini-duels all over the park and questions about those areas. Can the Chiefs' scrum hold up, is their revamped loose forward mix likely to cope better if rivals Justin Collins and Jerome Kaino are hampered by leg strains, can a potent Chiefs backline be freed to counter a likely Blues forward advantage?
It may be the two big small men in the middle of the action, the pugnaciously lively Brendon Leonard and the swaggering, instinctive Taniela Moa, will hold the key to the outcome of their clash. Both have shown some sharp practice this season, both are looking for that black jersey which eluded them last season.
Leonard was robbed by a knee injury but he is looking close to his potent best while Moa was drafted in as non-playing cover last year in a move which underscored the national selectors' appraisal. Both players shore up some of the uncertainty both teams show in linking their forwards and backs, they attack the line, they snipe, they kick well, they set the tempo for their sides.
The Chiefs will fancy their chances of squeezing the Blues rookie attack from midfield, compressing any expansive plans with their rush defence and trusting their forwards will hold on the inside while the Blues will search for set piece muscle, look to drag the defence in before unleashing speedsters like Joe Rokocoko, Ranger and Isaia Toeava on the outside.
If the game stays tight then the goalkicking of Gopperth and Stephen Donald will become even more crucial, the organisation and directions from All Blacks on both sides like Mils Muliaina, Ali Williams, Keven Mealamu and Liam Messam hugely influential.
Should the match get an early flow and break open then individuals like Sitiveni Sivivatu, Lelia Masaga, Anthony Tuitavake and Toeava will create an attacking shootout.
CHIEFS v BLUES:
Chiefs
Mils Muliaina (c)
Lelia Masaga
Richard Kahui
Callum Bruce
Sitiveni Sivivatu
Stephen Donald
Brendon Leonard
Sione Lauaki
Tanerau Latimer
Liam Messam
Kevin O'Neill
Craig Clarke
Ben May
A. de Malmanche
Sona Taumalolo
Reserves: Hika Elliot, James McGougan, Toby Lynn, Serge Lilo, Toby Morland, Mike Delany, Dwayne Sweeney
Blues
Isaia Toeava
Rene Ranger
A. Tuitavake
Michael Hobbs
Joe Rokocoko
Jimmy Gopperth
Taniela Moa
Jerome Kaino
Justin Collins
Chris Lowrey
Ali Williams
Kurtis Haiu
John Afoa
K. Mealamu (c)
Tevita Mailau
Reserves: Tom McCartney, Charlie Faumuina, Anthony Boric/Jay Williams, Onosa'i Auva'a, Chris Smylie, Jamie Helleur, Paul Williams/Winston Stanley.