Halfback congestion puts pressure on Duggan

By CHRIS RATTUE

Isaac Boss gained a major boost to his Super 12 hopes when he was named ahead of Rhys Duggan in the Waikato side to start in the NPC semifinal against Wellington in Hamilton tomorrow night.

With World Cup halfback Byron Kelleher leaving Otago to join Waikato and certain to be in the Chiefs squad, extra pressure is on the franchise's existing halfback contenders, who also include Bay of Plenty's Kevin Senio.

And the most pressure may now be on the long-serving Duggan, the brief All Black who will be on the bench tomorrow night.

Waikato coach Ian Foster, who takes over at the Chiefs next season, has included Boss in a semifinal backline that is still uncertain because of injuries.

Wellington, who were narrowly beaten in Hamilton in round two, have not used an unchanged line-up all season.

But coach John Plumtree has named the same 22 who beat Northland in the last round of the NPC.

In contrast, Foster is sweating on the fitness of Derek Maisey (bruised leg), Regan King (pelvis) and Loki Crichton (hip strain).

Foster said he may not know until tomorrow morning whether those three will be able to take part.

With Crichton among those struggling, and David Hill having had another injury-plagued year, it puts pressure on Waikato's goalkicking department.

It's been a case of backs to the wall for Waikato this season.

Veteran three-quarters Mark Ranby and Roger Randle missed the entire season, and Haden Hireme and Matt Priscott have been ruled out along the way.

Apart from bringing in Boss ahead of Duggan, Foster has named a predictable line-up, which is missing injured loosehead prop David Briggs.

The major disruption to Wellington's build-up has been the tragedy affecting first five-eighths Riki Flutey.

His four-year-old niece was killed in a car accident on Saturday and the grief-stricken footballer has missed some training time this week.

Flutey has become a pivotal figure in Wellington's plans since the season-ending injury suffered by captain David Holwell.

NPC points table