Rugby: Chiefs out to avoid NZ wooden spoon

Tanerau Latimer. Photo / Getty Images

The Super rugby playoffs might have gone, but flanker Tanerau Latimer says there'll still be plenty on the line for the Chiefs when they host the Hurricanes in Hamilton tomorrow night.

The match features New Zealand's bottom two sides, and a loss for the Chiefs, who are a point below the Hurricanes, would make them odds-on to finish the regular season at the foot of the conference.

"It's a battle for the wooden spoon," Latimer said.

"That's something we'll definitely be trying to avoid."

One big point of interest will be how the Hurricanes respond to the news that All Blacks Ma'a Nonu and Andrew Hore won't be re-signed by the Wellington-based franchise for next season.

Both are in the starting 15, with Hore to lead the side out at Waikato Stadium.

There have been off-field distractions at the Chiefs as well, with Dave Rennie's appointment to take over from Ian Foster as coach next year leading to talk of a player clearout.

At the same time, the Chiefs have been buoyed by their upset 16-11 victory over neighbours and conference leaders the Blues in Auckland last weekend.

"For some of the boys, that was their first win at Eden Park in any team and it was pretty special," Latimer said.

"The changing room after the game was pretty ecstatic."

The result continued another characteristic late season charge by the Chiefs, who have strung together four victories in their past six outings and are 10th on the overall ladder.

But after their poor first half to the campaign, with just two wins among six losses, making the semifinals was always going to be a tall order.

"We've only got ourselves to blame," Latimer said.

"As usual, we've kept it a bit late. We didn't find our rhythm until later in the season. I'm not sure why, but it's always the case at the Chiefs."

Against the Blues, Latimer, 25, was making a comeback after missing the previous five matches through injury.

The five-test All Black was initially sidelined because of concussion.

When he got over that, he picked up an ankle injury in training.

He had expected to get about 55 minutes against the Blues, but ended up staying on the field until six minutes from time.

"It was a bit more than expected," he said.

"I was pretty sore on Sunday and Monday, but I'm getting there. I'll be right by Friday."

Foster has made two changes to his starting 15, with Isaac Ross coming in at lock for Romana Graham and Dwayne Sweeney replacing the injured Tana Umaga at second five-eighths.

A ruptured Achilles tendon suffered against the Blues put paid to Umaga's chances of another encounter with his former franchise.

When the teams met in early March, the Hurricanes came from behind to pip the Chiefs 29-26.

- NZPA