Underdog Chiefs ready to hurl the kitchen sink

Tom Willis

The Chiefs have worked hard to block out the tag of invincibility which hovers around the Crusaders, a label the visitors will carry into tonight's Super 14 contest in Hamilton.

Coach Ian Foster claimed his side were mentally sharp for the match and would not be rattled by the reputation the Crusaders had built.

"That is not the toughest thing about playing them," he said. "The Crusaders do not become a benchmark by reputation, they produce consistently good performances.

"But all you hear is: 'How can anyone beat the Crusaders?' It is not a barrier for the Chiefs and we have to get excited about the way we play. We can't be overawed, we have to be confident in our game and we are getting there."

Four sides have fallen to the Crusaders this season as they have surged unbeaten through the opening rounds of the new series.

After two losses, the Chiefs have balanced the ledger with two wins and are chasing an upset before they have a break next round.

The Chiefs will need to get a great deal right tonight to achieve that goal and they have enough gamebreakers to challenge the betting odds.

Mils Muliaina, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Sam Tuitupou and Byron Kelleher are all players capable of busting a game open while any pack with forwards such as Marty Holah, Sione Lauaki and Tom Willis, under the compelling tutelage of Jono Gibbes, can shake any match loose.

The trick will be creating the unity of skill, thought and purpose to deal with a side as organised, experienced and composed as the Crusaders.

Nullifying Richie McCaw, Daniel Carter and out-thinking Robbie Deans will also be necessary but the first step for the Chiefs will be to nail their scrums and lineouts.

It was an area of the game where the Blues struggled last week against the Crusaders, a flaw which seriously hurt their quest.

Repaired Chiefs hooker Tom Willis will be a vital component in his side's setpiece strategy.

After all last season and much of 2004 out of the game because of a back injury, the five-test All Black has returned to add some starch and leadership to the Chiefs front row.

He found the greatest change in the game was the emphasis on the lineout.

"If anything, the attention on that part of the game has increased, there is a huge amount of work that goes into it," Willis said.

"We know how much time we spend on analysing our opponents' lineouts and how much time we put into our plans.

"It is all about finding space, creating room for your jumpers. We have done a lot of work this week on lineouts and scrums."

Willis thought the Chiefs' pack had put in two strong efforts in their last two matches after unconvincing performances in Africa.

"We are getting there. We had a hump at the start but we feel it is on the move. But we have to throw the kitchen sink at this."

The Crusaders built their momentum from setpiece platforms and they would use the experience of Greg Somerville who was back in his preferred tighthead prop role.

Every game for Willis had been a challenge because he had gone straight back to Super 14 once he got his medical clearance.

"It has been in at the deep end but that's fine. Every game you feel more comfortable," he said.

That sensation will be heightened if the Chiefs can cause the first stumble for the champs.