Super Rugby: Blues and Chiefs hit hard by injuries

Chiefs midfielder Anton Lienert-Brown in full cry against the Crusaders last Saturday. Photo / Photosport

Whoever decided to play the most confrontational rugby competition in the world during the southern hemisphere summer did not take the physical damage to the players into consideration.

After just one round of Super Rugby, both the Chiefs and the Blues are decimated by injuries with the Chiefs in particular having to search far and wide to pick their matchday squad of 22 for tonight'slocal derby clash at Eden Park.

The Chiefs have 15 players unavailable through injury and the Blues nine, which at least gives another group of New Zealand's outstanding playing depth an earlier than planned opportunity to step up to the pro game.

For the Chiefs, Dominic Bird, Tim Nanai-Williams (season ending), Charlie Ngatai, Toni Pulu, Fin Hoeata, Alex Nankivell, Tyler Ardron, Regan Verney, Mitchell Graham, Sosefo Kautai, Sam McNicol, Atu Moli, Kane Hames, Marty McKenzie and Levi Aumua are all missing in action with two more players needing to pass late fitness tests to make the playing 22 at Eden Park.

Otere Black, Blake Gibson, Matt Moulds, Dalton Papalii, Stephen Perofeta, Kara Pryor, Isaac Salmon, Sonny Bill Williams and Sione Mafileo are the high-profile Blues brothers not available.

With what he has left, Chiefs head coach Colin Cooper has made four changes to the starting line-up from their opening 45-23 loss to the Crusaders in Christchurch last Saturday.

Elusive runner Shaun Stevenson shifts to fullback and Sean Wainui is on the right wing after passing concussion protocols. Veteran Liam Messam starts at blindside, Mitchell Brown is still in doubt and bracketed on the bench with Luke Jacobson while Michael Allardice takes Bird's spot at lock.

Tiaan Falcon replaces McKenzie on the bench for a potential first Super Rugby cap with young Waikato flyer Sullivan and Taranaki's Declan O'Donnell — a former Chiefs, Highlanders and Blues player — bracketed for the remaining reserves spot.

Bay of Plenty's strong presence in the pack remains with prop Aidan Ross, hooker Nathan Harris and inspirational openside flanker and captain Sam Cane starting in the pack with Steamers back-up hooker Liam Polwart on the bench.

But with all the backline injuries the Chiefs may well regret not selecting any Bay of Plenty backs in the squad. Chase Tiatia, Richard Judd, Mike Delany, Lalakai Foketi and Terrence Hepetema were all picked up by other franchises.

The Chiefs are undefeated in their last 12 games against the Blues. If they make it 13 tonight they will set a record for the longest unbeaten run of any team against another in Super Rugby history. The last Blues win against the Chiefs was in March 2011.

So, in theory, the Chiefs should be red-hot favourites going into tonight's Eden Park showdown right? Wrong. The TAB have the Chiefs at $2.25 and the Blues $1.65 on the head-to-head betting - odds that may well interest Chiefs fans.

But the Blues were highly impressive in their opening match against the Highlanders despite going down 41-34 in Dunedin. If the Blues do knock the Chiefs over they will improve a record against fellow New Zealand franchises of just one win from their last 23 local derbies.

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Blues v Chiefs, Eden Park, tonight, 7.35pm

Blues
1. Pauliasi Manu, 2. James Parsons, 3. Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 4. Patrick Tuipulotu, 5. Scott Scrafton, 6. Jimmy Tupou, 7. Murphy Taramai, 8. Akira Ioane, 9. Augustine Pulu (c), 10. Bryn Gatland, 11. Rieko Ioane, 12. TJ Faiane, 13. George Moala, 14. Matt Duffie,15. Melani Nanai.
Reserves: 16. Leni Apisai, 17. Alex Hodgman, 18. Michael Tamoaieta, 19. Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 20 Jerome Kaino, 21. Sam Nock, 22. Daniel Kirkpatrick, 23. Michael Collins.

Chiefs
1. Aidan Ross, 2. Nathan Harris, 3. Nepo Laulala, 4. Brodie Retallick, 5. Michael Allardice, 6. Liam Messam, 7. Sam Cane (c), 8. Taleni Seu, 9. Brad Weber, 10. Damian McKenzie, 11. Solomon Alaimalo, 12. Johnny Fa'auli, 13. Anton Lienert-Brown, 14. Sean Wainui, 15. Shaun Stevenson
Reserves: 16. Liam Polwart, 17. Karl Tu'inukuafe, 18. Angus Ta'avao, 19. Mitchell Brown/ Luke Jacobson, 20. Lachlan Boshier, 21. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22. Tiaan Falcon, 23. Bailyn Sullivan/Declan O'Donnell