Rugby: Foster wary of African stumble

Ian Foster. Photo / Mark Mitchell

The Chiefs certainly can't be accused of taking the Lions too lightly, with coach Ian Foster making just two changes to the side that thrashed the Reds last weekend.

The Lions are second-bottom of the Super 14 ladder and have an abysmal record away from their Johannesburg base but Foster has resisted the chance to indulge in a spot of rotation ahead of a bye week and then a crucial three-match swing through the Republic.

The only unforced change to a red hot Chiefs side, that has won four straight to charge into the top four, sees Aled de Malmanche replace Hika Elliot at hooker.

Even that switch has a horses-for-courses look about it, with the more muscular de Malmanche brought in to combat the physicality of a big Lions pack.

The other change sees Dwayne Sweeney start on the wing in place of the injured Sitiveni Sivivatu, while Jackson Willison has been added to the bench as backs cover.

A victory over the Lions would equal the franchise record of five consecutive wins, a mark the Chiefs equalled but failed to better last season as their campaign went off the rails with three straight defeats over the closing rounds.

It is perhaps with that late stumble in mind that Foster has opted for a safety-first approach against the Lions.

"It is important we keep the momentum going as we enter into the second half of the campaign," Foster said.

"We are playing well, and we want to play well at home before our bye and three weeks in South Africa."

Although they had 50-point plus victories in their past two outings, the Chiefs conceded four-try bonus points to the Reds and the Blues.

Improving that shaky defence would be the major focus tomorrow, said captain Mils Muliaina.

"The last couple of weeks we have let in some pretty soft tries."

Hamilton, 7.35pm tomorrow

CHIEFS
Mils Muliaina (c)
Lelia Masaga
Richard Kahui
Callum Bruce
Dwayne Sweeney
Stephen Donald
Brendon Leonard
Sione Lauaki
Tanerau Latimer
Liam Messam
Kevin O'Neill
Craig Clarke
Ben May
A. de Malmanche
Sona Taumalolo

LIONS
Louis Ludik
Shandre Frolick
Jaque Fourie
D. la Grange
Henno Mentz
Andre Pretorius
Chris Jonck
Ernst Joubert
Todd Clever
C. Grobbelaar (c)
Anton van Zyl
J. Labuschagne
L. Sephaka
Willie Wepener
H. van der Merwe

Chiefs: Hika Elliot, James McGougan, Toby Lynn, Serge Lilo, Toby Morland, Mike Delany, Jackson Willison

Lions: Hans van Dyk, Gert Muller, Gerhard Mostert, Willem Alberts, Jano Vermaak, Earl Rose, Deon van Rensburg