Foster rings wholesale changes to Chiefs pack

Ian Foster has swept the broom through his forward pack as the Chiefs attempt to resurrect some pride from an inconsistent Super 12 rugby season.

Foster dropped the front row that was overwhelmed by the Bulls last week for Sunday morning's (NZ time) clash with the Stormers at Newlands in Cape Town.

Hooker Scott Linklater will start alongside props Michael Collins and Ben Castle after the Chiefs loss to the Bulls killed their chances of repeating last year's debut semifinal appearance.

In the loose forwards Wayne Ormond starts on the blindside and Steven Bates returns to No 8, while skipper Jono Gibbes shuffles into lock.

Sione Lauaki drops to the reserves to make way for Ormond.

The backline, which has impressed in most games this season remains the same as Foster attempts to seek some consistency in the Chiefs set play -- a factor which he admits has dogged their performances this season.

"As a team we have set ourselves the challenge to keep improving in this competition.

"We must execute our set piece better as well as keeping faith in other areas of our game which are going well," Foster said in a statement.

Gibbes was named today after missing this week's training runs after rolling an ankle against the Bulls.

His aerial nous will be needed in lineouts as the Chiefs still struggle without injured lock Keith Robinson.

The Chiefs, in eighth place on 15 points with just three wins from eight games, showed glimpses of promise with crushing wins over the Sharks and Cats in Hamilton before heading to South Africa.

Last week's loss derailed their season as Foster's forwards again failed to create a solid platform from which to feed their speedy backline.

"I'm looking for impact from the fresh legs in this line-up," Foster said.

"Both Collins and Castle didn't get to play last week and are keen to make an impression. Ormond is also ready to go having Sione on the bench also gives us good impact."

While the Stormers are languishing even further down the Super 12 table in 10th place, world-class flanker Shalk Berger and No 8 Joe van Nierkek, who returned from injury last week, are bound to test Chiefs at the breakdown.

But the Stormers engine room was weakened with lock Quinton Davies and prop Faan Rautenbach failing to recover from injury.

The match kicks off at 3am Sunday.

- NZPA