Rugby: Hurricanes hold steady for semifinal clash with Chiefs

The Chiefs ground out a 16-8 win over the Hurricanes less than two weeks ago. Photo / Getty Images

Expect no surprises in Colin Cooper's lineup at Waikato Stadium Flanker Scott Waldrom is the only Hurricanes question mark as coach Colin Cooper prepares to steer a steady selection ship into Friday's Super rugby semifinal against the Chiefs.

Waldrom took no part in training yesterday but the pacy No7 said it was a precautionary move to rest a foot niggle that had dogged him all season.

It seems likely the team who lost 16-8 to the Chiefs but bounced back on Saturday to down the Queensland Reds 37-28 in Brisbane will run on to Waikato Stadium.

That means there is still no room in the starting XV for classy performers such as wingers Hosea Gear and Zac Guildford, halfback Alby Mathewson and flanker Karl Lowe.

Gear and Lowe were injured midway through the campaign and the door has remained shut since their return because of the form of David Smith and Victor Vito, respectively.

Cooper's squad were lauded for their depth before this year's campaign began and that was reaping rewards, with the coach having rotated his selections regularly through the first two months.

Continuity was now his catchword. "It's for momentum's sake," he said.

"We went through a stage where there was competition. We went through a stage of continuing to create that competition.

"Now it's momentum and I guess you're seeing that in our selections in the last three to four games."

Chiefs counterpart Ian Foster would like to say the same but he will be forced into changes today after injuries ruled out halfback Brendon Leonard and prop Ben May for the remainder of the campaign. Centre Richard Kahui is also in doubt with a bruised calf.

Cooper wasn't exactly buzzing at his opponents' medical issues.

"If we had three injuries here the quality we bring in off the bench is pretty good and I think they are the same," he said.

"That's why they are in the top four, they've got depth... and Fozzie has managed them really well."

Cooper noted that the game-breaking Leonard missed the teams' meeting this month and that Toby Morland was a quality replacement.

Hurricanes fullback Cory Jane had his doubts about the reports floating south from Hamilton that Kahui was struggling to be ready.

"He'll be there," Jane said.

"He's obviously hurt because he missed out last week but it's a big game and he's a big game player."

Cooper said the mood at training yesterday was a good mix of upbeat and focus as his team prepared for their fifth semifinal in seven years.

"Happy to be there, really excited to be there, the team deserves to be there," he said.

"They've played some great rugby in the round robin and we've learned a lot from some games that we should have won. It would have been nice to be playing at home because of the great support we have but we head to Hamilton confident."

- NZPA