Rugby: Mils praises improved attitude of star duo

Sione Lauaki and Sitiveni Sivivatu have received special praise from Chiefs captain Mils Muliaina. Photo / Getty Images

Chiefs captain Mils Muliaina has cited the improved attitude of some of his key players for their high-velocity Super 14 rugby campaign this year.

The second-placed Chiefs face a litmus test of their title credentials when they host the competition-leading Hurricanes on Saturday.

Overcoming the All Blacks-laden Hurricanes who arrive on a four-match winning streak is a stiff task for the Chiefs.

But they have lost just once since February and have just as much right to be confident as the visitors.

Muliaina says their confidence is built around a maturing of the playing and coaching staff, which he hopes will prevent the late-season fade of recent campaigns.

In a surprisingly-candid assessment, Muliaina singled out fellow-All Blacks Sione Lauaki and Sitiveni Sivivatu as players who had focused too inwardly in the past. Their attitude was much improved this year.

"Guys like Sione and Sitiveni, the Liam Messams of the team.

"Those sort of guys have stood up off the field and demanded more of the other players and demanded more of themselves," Muliaina said.

"It's fair to say in the last couple of years, certainly the first two (Lauaki and Sivivatu), have probably just gone on and thought of themselves just solely as a player.

"That added responsibility that we've had has lifted their game and lifted the whole squad."

No 8 Lauaki and winger Sivivatu, both 27, have earned reputations for running hot and cold since they starred for the inaugural Pacific Islanders team in 2004.

A year later they made their All Blacks debuts, with Sivivatu having compiled 34 tests and Lauaki half that number.

Sivivatu returns from a shoulder that has sidelined him for five weeks - with memories still vivid of his six tries in the two games before that.

Lauaki has been a consistent force all season with his powerful running and offloading.

But their work off the field has impressed Muliaina most.

"That's been the whole focus this year. No matter who you are, what number you are, everyone collectively is striving for that (top) four spot and hopefully the title," he said.

"A lot of us have been very close and not quite got there.

"The majority of the squad has experienced some of those disappointments... but I think there's a change of attitude, a change in the way we do things off the field."

Muliaina said the expected full house at Waikato Stadium was "absolutely exciting" and he made a mockery of any suggestion the Chiefs were at a disadvantage because they had to travel home from South Africa, leaving them with about two days' less preparation than the Hurricanes.

"We're really excited. The hardest thing is trying to contain that," he said.

"Fortunately for us, the turnaround is very fast and we don't have to wait much longer."

- NZPA