Rugby: Surging Chiefs face must-win Brumbies clash

Stirling Mortlock says the Brumbies are expecting to be tested across the field by the Chiefs. Photo / Getty Images

A point away from the playoffs, a win away from a home semifinal - the rewards could hardly be greater for the Chiefs when they take on the Brumbies in Hamilton tonight.

But, with just one semifinal appearance in 13 previous seasons to their name, the consequences of failure are bordering on the unthinkable.

"This is a make-or-break game for us," coach Ian Foster said.

"We are stoked to be in the position we are in right now, what more could we ask for than to be in with a chance of making the playoffs and having a home game?"

Well, actually winning and earning that home final, a long-suffering Chiefs follower may well answer.

It should happen.

Having strung together eight wins in nine matches to turn around a season that began with three straight losses, the Chiefs are just 80 minutes away from one of the most remarkable turnarounds in Super rugby history.

Only one team, the 2005 Bulls, have started a season 0-3 and gone on to make the post-season. To at least match that effort the Chiefs require a solitary bonus point. If they don't garner at least that from tonight's match, it will be the first time this season. Their biggest margin of defeat came in the 22-15 third-round stumble against the Sharks - and even that was a match they should have won.

The Chiefs, then, have not been blown away this season. But that is something the Brumbies must accomplish if they are to stay alive. They need to win by more than seven and score four tries. They will have to attack, but Foster said he hadn't factored that into his game plan.

"One of the keys is probably not to spend too much time looking at their motivation and their incentives but to simplify it down to what we want to get out of it.

"We've very much got to focus on ourselves."

At full strength thanks to the return of halfback Brendon Leonard and bench back Dwayne Sweeney, the Chiefs will be hoping to get more out of star wingers Sitiveni Sivivatu and Lelia Masaga. The pair returned last week after lengthy layoffs, but both were off the pace.

With the Brumbies having dismantled the Blues' scrum in Canberra last week, Foster is expecting a stern challenge at set-piece time.

"That was probably the focus of the Hurricanes [last week] too. They certainly tried to stop our ball supply by doing that and they got some reward. The Brumbies scrummed really well against the Blues so I'm sure they'll try to get some dominance in that area.

"It is clearly where teams feel they have to dominate us. The good thing is they are finding it harder and harder to do."

After running in five second-half tries in the space of 20 minutes against the Blues to keep their season alive, the Brumbies travel to Hamilton in buoyant mood.

"We've still got our destiny in our own hands, we know what we have to do," coach Andy Friend said.

"These make-or-break matches are the ones players love to be a part of."

Veteran centre Stirling Mortlock, who last week set a points-scoring record when he converted his own try, echoed those sentiments.

"The Chiefs are a team that test you all across the paddock," he said. "It is exciting to know you are going to be tested and if we come through it hopefully we'll be in good shape."

The final placings won't be confirmed until the Sharks play the Bulls in Durban in the final match of the round robin in the early hours of Sunday morning. If the Chiefs win tonight, it would take a Bulls victory to knock them off top spot.

First-things-first, captain Mils Muliaina said.

"Hopefully the Sharks can get up but we've got to do our job first. It would be nice to have a home semi but we know that we could still miss out if we don't do things right [tonight]."

Hamilton, 7.35 tonight

CHIEFS

Mils Muliaina (c)
Lelia Masaga
Richard Kahui
Callum Bruce
Sitiveni Sivivatu
Stephen Donald
Brendon Leonard
Sione Lauaki
Tanerau Latimer
Liam Messam
Kevin O'Neill
Craig Clarke
James McGougan
A. de Malmanche
Ben May

BRUMBIES

A. Ashley-Cooper
Clyde Rathbone
Stirling Mortlock
Tyrone Smith
Francis Fainifo
Matt Toomua
Patrick Phibbs
Stephen Hoiles (c)
George Smith
Julian Salvi
Peter Kimlin
Ben Hand
Guy Shepherdson
Moore/Edmonds
B. Alexander

Chiefs: Hika Elliot, Sona Taumalolo, Toby Lynn, Serge Lilo, Toby Morland, Dwayne Sweeney, Sosene Anesi.

Brumbies: Huia Edmonds/John Ulugia, Salesi Ma'afu, Sitaleki Timani, Henry Vanderglas, Joshua Holmes, Afusipa Taumoepeau, Sanualio Afeaki