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Having got "everything I wanted and more" from the horse trading in Wellington on Super 14 draft day, Chiefs coach Ian Foster was in relaxed mood when he discussed his 2008 squad in Hamilton yesterday.
There was even time for a couple of fairly decent one-liners.
North Harbour
wing Viliame Waqaseduadua had been drafted in as Foster was "very concerned about our lack of pace out wide".
Pretty amusing, considering the squad also contains Sitiveni Sivivatu, Soseni Anesi and Lelia Masaga.
The selection of just two midfielders - Richard Kahui and Otago draftee Callum Bruce - was also laughed off.
"Apparently Mils [Muliaina] can also play centre," Foster deadpanned - a reference to the player's selection at centre for the All Blacks' World Cup defeat by France.
In covering the loss of departing veterans such as Marty Holah and Steven Bates, the Chiefs leaned heavily on the draft, recruiting six players from outside the catchment.
Wellingtonians Tom Harding and Faifili Levave and Canterbury's Hayden Hopgood were brought in to bolster loose forward ranks that boast just two players (Sione Lauaki and Liam Messam) with more than 10 Chiefs caps to their name.
Bruce, perhaps the pick of the draft, would cover both five-eighths positions, said Foster.
After a strong campaign for Otago, Bruce admitted he was surprised to find himself in Hamilton. "I am a wee bit surprised but with that surprise comes a bit of excitement."
Highlanders' management had told him he was being exposed to the draft as part of the franchise's strategy but that he would likely be recalled if not selected elsewhere.
A shortage of quality midfielders meant that was never likely to happen and Foster was quick to swoop.
The Chiefs won't be entirely foreign territory for Bruce, who was born in Thames and has friends and family who support the franchise.
He also has experience playing inside likely centre partner Richard Kahui - they played together at the Highlanders two years ago.
The Chiefs probably came closest to some pre-Guy Fawkes fireworks in yesterday's squad announcements by securing promising Canterbury lock Kevin O'Neill on a permanent basis through his switch to Waikato.
Having played just a handful of games in three seasons, Napier native O'Neill said the Crusaders' recruitment of Ali Williams and Brad Thorn had made his decision to return north an easy one.
"Hopefully I'll get a chance to play some more Super 14 rugby," O'Neill said. "In a way my hand was forced when they brought in Ali and Brad. Someone was always going to miss out."
Although the transfer took place below the radar, Foster had been in contact with O'Neill for several months.
Signing with Waikato had allowed him to circumvent the draft and determine his own fate, O'Neill said.
Foster delayed naming the team's captain to allow further assessment of Jono Gibbes' long-term knee injury. If Gibbes is passed fit he will be installed as captain next month.
