Rugby: Chiefs switch props in bid to fix scrum

Liam Messam of the Chiefs. Photo / Getty Images

The two primary causes of the Chiefs' recent inconsistency have been an absent clinical edge and an unstable scrum.

And the personnel responsible for both facets were in the firing line ahead of the Chiefs' clash with the Cheetahs, with changes made to amend both areas.

Coach Dave Rennie has opted for five switches to his starting XV for tomorrow's match at Waikato Stadium, with a couple of new inclusions in the backs complemented by a brand new front row.

Sonny Bill Williams' return from concussion to start at second five will come as no surprise but the opposite is true of the other alteration to the backline.

James Lowe leads the Chiefs in almost every attacking category - sitting inside the competition's top six in carries, clean break and defenders beaten - but the statistics were unable to save him from the selection axe.

Left wing is instead to be manned by Tom Marshall and Lowe will miss the matchday squad altogether, a victim of a power outage that saw the Chiefs produce only three tries in a pair of recent defeats.

"It's a case of wanting to have a look at somebody else," said assistant coach Andrew Strawbridge. "I suppose [Lowe] has opened the door a little bit and someone else is getting an opportunity.

"Against the Highlanders and against the Sharks, we had a lot of line breaks but we didn't convert. We had a lot of opportunities with our counter-play but we weren't making passes.

"That isn't down to James but he's part of that back unit. We're looking to improve our game in those areas, so we're giving someone else an opportunity to do it."

Improvement is also needed in the scrum, with the Chiefs' struggles in the set piece made plain on their South African trip. The dominant packs they encountered against the Stormers and Sharks proved problematic, leaving the Chiefs to lean on their senior props on Saturday.

Pauliasi Manu has recovered from the rib injury that restricted his involvement in the republic, set to partner the recalled Ben Tameifuna. And joining them in the front row will be Quentin MacDonald, handing his first start in place of the suspended Hika Elliot.

"They're our senior props and we've got a statement to make," Strawbridge said.