Rugby: Double trouble for the Aussies

Sione Lauaki. Photo / Getty Images

Ranger Danger warnings are already circulating in Sydney while a Lauaki backlash may also be heading for Canberra.

The destructive duo should both figure when the Blues and Chiefs test their transtasman fortunes as they look to consolidate their mid-table positions, midway through the Super 14.

The Chiefs announce their side today and then fly to Canberra with the burly Sione Lauaki certain to return to the squad and probably a start at No 8 for Friday's battle with the Brumbies.

While Lauaki was sidelined through suspension and then events concerning his latest court appearance, Colin Bourke produced some encouraging work in his absence.

But if Lauaki is settled and fully fit the Chiefs will want to unleash him against the Brumbies.

Especially a Brumbies side which has lost champion opensider George Smith to nerve damage in his shoulder and had to replace him with a rookie teenager, Michael Hooper, because they have no other genuine breakaway in their squad.

"Michael is a quality player," Brumbies coach Andy Friend said defending his decision. "We've seen him play a few games at the highest level and he certainly holds his own."

The Chiefs will want to use an entire All Black loose trio of Tanerau Latimer, a fit-again Liam Messam and Lauaki as the hinge for a side endowed with attacking clout throughout its backline.

Matching the Brumbies at set piece will be an awkward but necessary task if the Chiefs are to unleash their attack and emulate the Blues' last-round victory.

"One frustrating part of the last few weeks for us is that our loosies have spent more time defending than imposing themselves on the opposition because we have not had a lot of ball supply or possession," Chiefs coach Ian Foster said.

"That's an area we need to get better at so we can get our loosies into the game."

The Chiefs had about only 35 per cent ball in their last few games and that had not allowed them to put the opposition under enough sustained heat. The entire team had to reduce their error rate to consistently challenge their foes.

The Brumbies claimed they had learned a great deal about playing New Zealand teams from their match against the Blues and would clearly try to implement those on Friday.

Meanwhile alert levels about the Blues have been raised with the Waratahs for their Saturday meeting in Sydney. The focus settled on the exploits of the visitors' court-bound centre Rene Ranger.

The Waratahs are likely to field the 20-year-old Rob Horne at centre, to mark Ranger, after he showed he had recovered from some hamstring troubles in a last game outing against the Force. The threat from Ranger was front and centre for Waratahs coach Chris Hickey.

"I was pretty impressed with him last year and in the Brumbies game he played extremely well," Hickey said. "He is a dangerous performer in the centres. I've been watching him for 12 months now and he knows how to put in a good performance."

Hickey said that would play a part in his selections but the Blues offered a variety of threats and they all needed to be countered.