Willis' return feels like new all over again

Tom Willis

Former All Blacks hooker Tom Willis could be forgiven today for feeling like he is repeating the remarkable feat of 2001 when he captained his country on debut.

Willis will lead the Chiefs against the Highlanders in their pre-season Super 14 match at the Queenstown Events Centre, for the first half at least.

This will not be his debut for the Chiefs, but it will be Willis' first match for the franchise since April 2004, when he suffered a prolapsed disc in his lower back.

The injury and rehabilitation have largely kept him out of rugby since, with only a one-match abortive return to the NPC that year to break things up.

But despite his lack of rugby and in the continued absence of regular skipper Jonno Gibbes with a foot injury, Chiefs coach Ian Foster had no hesitation in naming Willis as captain for the first half.

"He's shaping up really well. He's got through all the pre-season work, and he's pretty excited about pulling on a jersey and getting out there again," said Foster. "It's been a long road for him but he's shown a lot of patience and determination."

Willis, who led the All Blacks on debut against Ireland A, had made it through some "reasonably intense" scrummaging work and was a natural leader, Foster said.

Gibbes had been given clearance to return to light training after recovering from a stress fracture in his foot, and Foster said he might yet make the first two rounds of the Super 14, when the Chiefs travel to South Africa.

"We're not sure yet and we'll make that call next week."

In Gibbes' absence, Willis was a "likely contender" to start the Super 14 as Chiefs captain.

With Willis to play just 40 minutes today, lock Bernie Upton will take over as skipper for the second half.

Other features of the 26 Chiefs named to appear at some stage include the return of Loki Crichton from a long-term neck injury at first five-eighths, rather than his more usual fullback slot. He is filling the spot of injured No 10s David Hill and Stephen Donald.

Donald is likely to play against the Hurricanes next week after recovering from a wrist injury, but Hill has a viral infection and is unlikely to return until round four of the Super 14.

All Blacks Mils Muliaina and Byron Kelleher will not feature today, having been given until next week to get back to rugby after long 2005 seasons.

Foster said the goal for the Chiefs this year was "to do as well as we can", after finishing sixth last year.

"We've grown in confidence as a franchise. The last two years we've sort of learned that we can win but we've learned that it's blinking tough so our attitude now is to go in there and compete as equals with 13 other teams."


Chiefs

First team: Sosene Anesi, Lelia Masaga, Niva Ta'auso, Sam Tuitupou, Anthony Tahana, Loki Crichton, Jamie Nutbrown, Steven Bates, Nili Latu, Liam Messam, Sean Hohneck, Kristian Ormsby, Deacon Manu, Tom Willis (captain), Simms Davison.

Reserves: Ben Castle, Sam Biddles, Aleki Lutui, Bernie Upton, Mark Sorenson, Marty Holah, Steven Setephano, Brendon Leonard, Murray Williams, Mark Ranby, Richard Kahui.

Squad members not playing: Nathan White, Jono Gibbes, David Hill, Sione Lauaki, Byron Kelleher, Stephen Donald, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Mils Muliaina.

- NZPA