Waikato imports ruled out of must-win match

By CHRIS RATTUE


Waikato's injury crisis deepened last night with their star imports Tom Willis and Byron Kelleher ruled out of tomorrow's make-or-break clash with North Harbour in Hamilton.

Kelleher's season, including his All Black tour prospects, are now in doubt after he "blew" a calf muscle at training.

Coach John Mitchell described Waikato's injury problems as the worst he had struck in 10 years of coaching.

"And they have been season ending injuries - we're getting one a week," he said.

Willis is suffering back soreness after making his comeback in the vigorous match against Canterbury last week, after a long layoff following a back operation.

He may be fit for selection next week.

Waikato have had so many problems at hooker that Mitchell has had to call Glen Hawea from the province's colts team on to the bench.

Squad member Jamie McQueen does not play on Sundays and both of Waikato B's hookers have been injured.

Captain Jono Gibbes (flu) and first five-eighths David Hill (leg) were however cleared to play last night.

Both are involved in positional switches.

Gibbes goes to lock in place of Josh Sole enabling creative loose forward Liam Messam to start. And Hill moves in a position to replace Stephen Donald, who pays the price for a poor tactical kicking game against Canterbury.

Mitchell pinpointed poor attack from scrums and inadequate lineout work as major bugbears in the defeat against the red and blacks.

"We didn't build any attack in our last match and when we did have the ball we gave it back too easily," Mitchell said.

Harbour have lost halfback Billy Fulton, ruled out with concussion, and coach Allan Pollock has brought Tusi Pisi and Anthony Tuitavake into the backline.

Waikato's season goes on the line tomorrow and by the end of the weekend Bay of Plenty might be left as the Chiefs' only NPC contender - a dramatic departure from the norm.

Second-placed North Harbour might more easily survive a loss but they will want to avoid a must-win battle with Bay of Plenty in the final round.

Meanwhile, yesterday's injury dramas didn't prevent Mitchell from coming out swinging in support of his North Harbour counterpart Pollock.

Mitchell said he was dumbfounded by the Blues' decision to bypass Pollock and appoint Bay of Plenty assistant coach Joe Schmidt as Peter Sloane's offsider.

He said it also represented another case of a smaller province being "raped" by a rugby superpower.

"He [Pollock] is a very good coach, along with his understudy Mark Anscombe, and the thing is they are sitting there within the Blues franchise," Mitchell said.

"This North Harbour team are really playing for each other and they have got a lot to play for.

"They are the lonely brother of the Super 12 and they've always got something to prove, and their coaching staff certainly have as well because they have been overlooked.

"It's not my decision and I wouldn't have a clue why they did it. But I find it hard to understand.

"From a Chiefs point of view it is good to have two strong provincial sides within the franchise.

"Bay of Plenty have really gathered momentum this year and people like Josef Schmidt are not easy to replace.

"You have to wonder if Bay of Plenty will suffer because of this," Mitchell said.


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