Rugby: Chiefs get a radical reshuffle

Chiefs coach Ian Foster speaks to the team. Photo / Getty Images

Just two weeks into the season, Chiefs coach Ian Foster has reached for the sharpest axe in the shed ahead of tomorrow's match against the Highlanders.

Less than half the starting XV from the 20-28 loss to the Brumbies have survived, with Foster making eight changes.

Not considered because of injury were lock Craig Clarke and loose forward Fritz Lee, with head and knee injuries respectively.

Clarke's injury and Romana Graham's absence sees a Chiefs jersey handed to Isaac Ross for the first time.

The 26-year-old is looking to resurrect his career after he was dropped unceremoniously by both the All Blacks and the Crusaders.

Ross will be partnered in the second row by former Highlander Hayden Triggs.

Ben May, Tim Nanai-Williams and All Blacks Brendon Leonard and Stephen Donald and have been dropped to the bench, while veteran second five-eighth Tana Umaga and lock Graham have missed out on the 22.

"We have taken into account the significant travel and the six-day turnaround and have made some changes accordingly," Foster said.

"Romana Graham, who had probably played his best game at [this] level, suffered bad cramp and we have made the decision to rest him."

While Foster played down the reasons for the changes, the fact they will enter the match with a different No8, halfback, first five and second five clearly signals he was unhappy with the direction of the Chiefs last weekend.

The notoriously slow-starting side were caught with their pants down against the low-profile Brumbies, and found themselves 0-18 down despite wasting a slew of chances.

It was not until the introduction of the bench, in particular livewire halfback Tawera Kerr-Barlow, that the Chiefs clawed their way back into the contest.

Kerr-Barlow has been rewarded for his efforts with the start in Dunedin, while former All Black Mike Delany gets a chance to stake a more permanent claim at No10.

Delany went on the All Blacks end-of-season Northern Hemisphere tour in 2009 but an injury-wracked 2010 has seen him drop off the radar.

With neither Donald nor Hurricanes pivot Aaron Cruden able to establish themselves as the back-up to Daniel Carter, Delany has a chance to remind the selectors of his charms.

"We are keen to build on our second-half performance from last week's game," Foster said.

Carisbrook, tomorrow, 7.35pm

HIGHLANDERS

15 Ben Smith

14 James Paterson

13 Kendrick Lynn

12 Shaun Treeby

11 Kade Poki

10 Lima Sopoaga

9 Jimmy Cowan

8 Nasi Manu

7 Alando Soakai

6 Adam Thomson

5 Josh Bekhuis

4 Jarrad Hoeata

3 David Te Moana

2 Jason Rutledge

1 J. Mackintosh (c)

CHIEFS

15 Mils Muliaina (c)

14 Lelia Masaga

13 Jackson Willison

12 Dwayne Sweeney

11 Sitiveni Sivivatu

10 Mike Delany

9 T. Kerr-Barlow

8 Liam Messam

7 Tanerau Latimer

6 Scott Waldrom

5 Isaac Ross

4 Hayden Triggs

3 Nathan White

2 A. Malmanche

1 Toby Smith

Reserves:
Highlanders: Mahonri Schwalger, Bronson Murray, Joe Tuineau, John Hardie, Aaron Smith, Robbie Robinson, Siale Puitau.

Chiefs: Daniel Perrin, Ben May, Culum Retallick, Steven Setephano, Brendon Leonard, Stephen Donald, Tim Nanai-Williams