Chiefs hooker Tom Willis training at Waikato Stadium yesterday. Photo / Sarah Ivey
The Chiefs want individual as well as collective motivation to provide an extra spur ahead of their critical match against defending champions the Crusaders in Christchurch on Friday night.
Setting aside weird permutations from a seven-teams-into-four semifinalists-won't-work scenario in the final Super 14 round, the Chiefs must beat
the Crusaders and hope a couple of results go their way.
They have a selection issue to resolve this morning.
Second five-eighths Tasesa Lavea, who has been good value with his kicking and support work, is out of rugby for four to six weeks.
Lavea damaged an Achilles tendon during the narrow win over the Waratahs in Sydney last Friday night, and took a painful blow to his chest, which has left a small haematoma.
The likely choice is Tane Tu'ipulotu, although the burlier Niva Ta'auso or Murray Williams, who offers a like-for-like change with his kicking skills, are options.
The Chiefs might feel they're stuck in Groundhog Day. They have treated the last seven rounds as one-off, stay alive or sink games. They have won six of them, so nothing's different.
If you combine the semifinal backdrop, the individual contests and the Crusaders' 26 successive Super rugby games unbeaten at home dating back to February 2004, much of their preparation takes care of itself.
"That's our whole motivation," assistant coach Warren Gatland said last night. "We've turned this week into a one-off game, and the Crusaders' undefeated home record, well, someone's got to beat them."
Gatland said the Chiefs have talked of key personal matchups providing an additional incentive.
Among them, two former All Black hookers, Tom Willis and Corey Flynn, square off; No 8 Sione Lauaki is against another robust operator in strong form, Mose Tuiali'i; openside flanker Marty Holah faces All Black captain Richie McCaw; Stephen Donald, the Super 14's leading points scorer, tests himself against the game's finest first five-eighths, Dan Carter.
"We've spoken about those individual matchups and guys saying where are we at."
Gatland said the Crusaders having to win to be sure of a home semifinal, merely adds to the size of the Chiefs' task.
"The Crusaders are going to be incredibly motivated. It's going to be a great test for us to see if we are able to compete at that highest level," he added.
If the Crusaders lose, it could be the final game at Jade Stadium for overseas-bound Aaron Mauger and Chris Jack, if he plays. All Black lock Jack, sidelined since injuring a hamstring tendon late last month, trained freely yesterday and is a chance for selection.
