Rugby: Muliaina braced for Stormers' barrage

The Chiefs lost a close game against the Bulls last week but stay determined against the Stormers. Photo / Getty Images

Stormers v Chiefs
Cape Town, tomorrow 5.10am

Fullback Mils Muliaina is preparing himself for an aerial bombardment as wet, windy weather settles in on Cape Town for the final act of the Chiefs' three-match South African tour, against the Stormers tomorrow morning.

Muliaina expects opposite Conrad Jantjes and Stormers' first five-eighths Willen de Waal to kick first and ask questions later in conditions that are expected to be more akin to Wellington or Dunedin than the African Republic.

"The way the weather is shaping up the aerial game is going to be crucial," Muliaina said. "Conrad likes to put in those spiral bombs and the wind here is very hard to judge. We will be hoping it doesn't get up too much but we are expecting a lot of high balls and kicks in behind us, so our work rate has to be good. We have got to cover a lot of ground to get those balls on the full."

To help counter the threat, Chiefs coach Ian Foster has returned fit-again winger Soseni Anesi to his line-up in place of rookie Tim Mikkelson. Anesi has plenty of experience at fullback and will likely operate as much as a second fullback as a winger.

Foster has also injected fresh legs into his pack, with Serge Lilo coming in at openside flanker, Toby Lynn at lock and Aled de Malmanche at hooker. Tanerau Latimer, Kevin O'Neill and Hika Elliot drop to the bench.

Last week's defeat by the Bulls saw the Chiefs drop from first to third but their playoff destiny is still firmly in their own hands. A win tomorrow would round out a successful tour and go a long way to booking a top four spot. A defeat, however, would be almost unthinkable for a Chiefs side that has experienced no shortage of near-miss heartache in recent years.

"We all know we haven't done things quite right in recent seasons but this year the bar has been lifted," Muliaina said.

"I suppose there is always a risk that you raise the bar too high, but I don't think that is the case with this team.

"Unfortunately we didn't get the result we were after last week, but there has been no real cause for panic.We have done well on this tour so far but it would be disappointing not to do things right and get the result [tomorrow].



Lilo missed last week's game after falling ill on match day but he is now fully recovered and the match was a perfect chance to inject some enthusiasm while resting the over-worked Latimer, Foster said.

"The loose forward is going to be vital, particularly if it stays wet, and Serge is certainly going to be up for it. It is a chance to refresh things a little bit, take one of our better players and give him a chance to look at the game from a different angle."

A run of upsets has kept the Super 14 competition ladder congested, leaving little room for slip-ups among the teams chasing a playoff spot. The Stormers were among the teams to pull off a shock win last week, downing the Highlanders in Dunedin for a first victory on New Zealand soil.

They will be buoyed by that result and Foster is certainly wary of a team that appears to have little to play for.

"It is not just the teams at the top, every team is motivated and when they are motivated and have the skill level it is always going to be a tough battle," he said. "With three [games] to go it is a straight race, clearly, so every game is vital. We know the position we are in.

"And we know that if we off a couple of per cent motivationally then it is going to be a tough day at the office."

The Stormers are without stand-out lock Andrew Bekker, fellow first choice second rower Adriaan Fondes and Springbok winger Gcobani Bobo. Tonderai Chavanga replaces Bobo, while Hilton Lobberts and veteran AJ Venter will lock a scrum that has been accused of employing the dubious tactic of having the flankers creep up to put direct pressure on opposing props.

STORMERS v CHIEFS:

Stormers

Conrad Jantjes
T. Chavhanga
Dylan des Fountein
Peter Grant
Sireli Naqelevuki
Willem de Waal
Dewaldt Duvenage
Luke Watson
Duane Vermeulen
Schalk Burger (c)
AJ Venter
Hilton Lobberts
Brok Harris
Tiaan Liebenberg
JD Moller

Reserves: Schalk Brits, Wicus Blaauw, Martin Muller, Pieter Louw, Ricky Januarie, Morgan Newman, Tiger Bax

Chiefs

Mils Muliaina (c)
Sosene Anesi
Richard Kahui
Callum Bruce
Dwayne Sweeney
Stephen Donald
Toby Morland
Sione Lauaki
Serge Lilo
Liam Messam
Toby Lynn
Craig Clarke
James McGougan
A. de Malmanche
Ben May

Reserves: Hika Elliot, Sona Taumalolo, Kevin O'Neill, Tanerau Latimer, David Bason, Mike Delany, Tim Mikkelson.