Rugby: Chiefs injury situation not all bad as replacements continue to flourish

Angus Ta'avao goes on the charge in the Chiefs win over the Stormers in Cape Town. Photo / Getty Images

It's no secret that the Chiefs have had their personnel issues in 2018.

Be it through injuries, All Blacks camps or rest, coach Colin Cooper has had to reach deep into the team's talent pool to replace unavailable players on what seems to be a weekly basis.

It's hard to imagine that level of strain on a team's resources not having an affect on their result. Yet here we are at week 15 of the Super Rugby season and the Chiefs are well in the hunt for a playoffs berth.

At the start of the 2018 campaign, this is right where you'd have expected them to be. The Chiefs announced a strong 38-man squad for their 2018 campaign – a definite playoffs team and possibly even a title contender.

Fast forward a few months and for their match against the Sharks in Durban last week, 21 of the initial 38 players named in the squad for the year were unavailable for selection.

On the face of it, it's hard not to be surprised at the extent of their absentees, which included eight players with All Blacks matches under their belts.

Sure, it's not ideal. But what it has done is given a number of replacement players the opportunity to shine. Prop Angus Ta'avao shines brighter than any in that category.

The Taranaki forward - who was let go by the Waratahs last year - opened the season in a bench role. That lasted all of two matches before injuries required him to join the starting XV. Since that time, the hard-working 28-year-old has played 70 minutes or more in all but one outing – the team's 61-10 demolition of the Sunwolves in Japan. In terms of minutes played this season, Ta'avao is in the team's top five and among the top four in terms of tighthead props. Only three players had more minutes under their belt in his position this season, with two of the three having played more matches.

Versatile back Sean Wainui has also been found money for the Chiefs this season. Able to play across the backline, the 22-year-old has been up to the challenge of Super Rugby. He's one of a number of young players who have been given an extended taste of the top-level competition this season and have been up to the task.

Include the likes of prop Karl Tu'inukuafe and loose forward duo Pita Gus Sowakula and Jesse Parete, the Chiefs have been able to give their stars of the future extended periods of meaningful football, which can only be beneficial for them in the long run.

Chiefs unavailable for the loss to the Sharks
Forwards: Aidan Ross, Kane Hames, Mitchell Graham, Atu Moli, Nepo Laulala, Nathan Harris, Brodie Retallick, Fin Hoeata, Dominic Bird, Mitchell Brown, Sam Cane, Lachlan Boshier, Mitchell Karpik, Taleni Seu.

Backs: Damian McKenzie, Tiaan Falcon, Anton Lienert-Brown, Regan Verney, Sam McNicol, Tim Nanai-Williams, Levi Aumua.