Liam Messam started at No 8 in the Chiefs' win over the Highlanders. Photo / photosport.nz
The loose forward trio has so far this season been the Chiefs' only area in flux but that may change as early as next week.
There will be three new faces in the 6-8 jerseys for Friday's battle with the Blues in Hamilton, accounting for three-quarters of the changes to
the starting XV that began the campaign with last week's win over the Highlanders.
That already represents a more settled side than Dave Rennie was able to employ in years past and, with the obvious caveat about potential injuries, that consistency in selection will only increase with Sam Cane's return.
The openside flanker, who was close to a spot on the bench against the Blues, should have sufficiently recovered from his ankle injury to feature next weekend. And with Liam Messam on Friday moving to his more familiar role on the blindside and Japanese captain Michael Leitch set to add his formidable presence to the back of the scrum, that group looms as an obvious first-choice when fit.
"I think we've got a fair bit of consistency," Rennie told Radio Sport. "Out front five is the same and a big chunk of our backline is starting again, aside from Tim Nanai-Williams coming in [for Toni Pulu]. So there's a bit of continuity there."
