Rugby: Messam delivers a reminder

Chiefs flanker Liam Messam celebrates with teammate Isaac Ross after Saturday's stirring comeback. Photo / Getty Images

If the powers that be had lost interest in Liam Messam, it was surely rekindled over the weekend.

The Chiefs' loose forward played a try-scoring, starring role in his side's impressive come-from-behind 30-23 victory against the Stormers in Hamilton on Saturday.

It's a continuation of the form that has seen him put together his best Super rugby campaign yet, but what marked this one out as special was the fact he did it in the No7 jersey.

SUPER 15 STANDINGS

"It's a credit to Liam that we took it for granted that he could do it well," coach Ian Foster said.

"Frankly, he's never played that role for me before. He's filled in there during games, but to start there and start against the Stormers, he should be very proud of that effort.

"It's a feather in his cap, adds to his repertoire and perhaps makes a few more people a bit interested in him."

Even more impressive to Foster was the way Messam prepared himself on short notice.

Tanerau Latimer was pegged to make his comeback from concussion before straining his ankle and being ruled out on Thursday.

That saw Messam shift from the blind to openside - he has also played No8 this season - with debutant Taiasina Tuifua coming in at No6.

"The way that he adjusted late in the week, the way he learned that role and helped [No8] Fritz [Lee] and Taia get their roles sorted, it was a big role off the park in terms of leadership and on the park he didn't miss a beat."

Messam knows as well as anybody that versatility can be a blessing and a curse, but in a squad situation, being able to cover six, seven and eight cannot hurt.

In terms of All Blacks pecking order, it is improbable that Messam will overtake Kieran Read at the back of the scrum, or Jerome Kaino and Richie McCaw on the flanks between now and the first Tri Nations test against South Africa in July, but his ability to play understudy for all three makes him a strong bench candidate.

With Latimer and Waldrom out, Messam will get another chance to impress at No7 against the Crusaders in Napier on Saturday.

He will do so in a side that is starting to show real confidence after back-to-back victories for the first time in 2011.

Down 3-20 after the Stormers pieced together a very good 15-minute period, the Chiefs did not go into panic mode.

"What I was pleased at was the last part of that first half," Foster said.

"I know we didn't get any points, but we made them make a lot of tackles. While it wasn't incisive play by us, it was consistent play.

"The fact they made twice as many tackles than us in the first half took a toll later in the game."

Foster felt the physical game the Stormers had experienced against the Crusaders and the travel could play a part later in the match.

"If we were too loose too early and didn't force them into doing a lot of work in that first 40, they could have had the energy to get through the whole 80 [minutes]. So I was pretty proud of that effort in that first half.

"Clearly we were down considerably on the scoreboard, but instead of it flustering us, we went back and played some no-nonsense, low-risk rugby for 10-15 minutes.

"It encouraged them to stay flat and certainly opened up a lot of space in the second half and we decided to put the ball in behind them."

Of their walking wounded, Tana Umaga, Hayden Triggs and Tanerau Latimer will not be ready to face the Crusaders.

Props Ben May and particularly Nathan White look on target to be considered for selection.