Rugby: Rennie expects up tempo Chiefs

Sonny Bill Williams. Photo / Brett Phibbs

New Chiefs coach Dave Rennie expects his side to deliver a high-tempo style of play this season. And he has the backline, including star Sonny Bill Williams, to deliver it.

He also expects all of his squad, named yesterday along with the other New Zealand Super 15 franchises, to turn up for the season ready for hard work.

While they have a strong backline, there will be some uncertainty about their pack.

They can muster a serviceable front row and have useful loose forwards, even with the snubbing of Colin Bourke, but may lack tight five sting.

"There might not be the big names there but we have chosen players who we believe can do the job and it is up to us coaches to ensure they do," Rennie said.

The coaching clout of Rennie, backed by Tom Coventry with technical input from Wayne Smith, should come up with some strategies to cover the squad's limitations.

England No 8 James Haskell has signed on for a Super 15 stint in Dunedin where his behaviour drew the ire of coach Martin Johnson during the World Cup.

Haskell, capped 42 times by his country, and several teammates were forced to apologise to a hotel worker during England's turbulent sporting and social times in the tournament.

Signing up Haskell showed the "international clout of Super rugby", said coach Jamie Joseph.

"It's a sign of the times. It's my job to pick the best players available in the world now, not just Otago.

"We have some quality loose forwards here already, but having the versatility of a player who can play internationally in all three loose forward positions is great. He's hungry to have a crack at Super rugby, so we'll see how he goes."

Haskell is one of 28 new players picked for Super 15 while five players who have been playing abroad - Tusi Pisi, Tamati Ellison, Tim Bateman, Ross Kennedy and Rudi Wulf - re-enter the competition.

Pisi (Hurricanes), Kane Thomson, Mahonri Schwalger and Sona Taumalolo (Chiefs) join Haskell as players coming into the competition after their World Cup displays.

A dozen players have been picked for the first time after showing strong form in the ITM Cup while 14 players have switched franchises.

There is a motley look about the Hurricanes where coach Mark Hammett had to rebuild after losing a number of high-profile players such as Ma'a Nonu, Aaron Cruden, Piri Weepu, Hosea Gear, Neemia Tialata, John Schwalger and Andrew Hore.

Samoan five-eighths Tusi Pisi will bring some experience to the backline, with youngsters Beauden Barrett and Daniel Kirkpatrick also able to fill those duties.

But with only three present All Blacks, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith and Victor Vito, it looks like another tough season for the Hurricanes.

The Crusaders are awash with Whitelocks - four of them - after the youngest of the brothers, Luke, who captained the NZ Colts, was included by coach Todd Blackadder.

Locks Tom Donnelly and Ross Kennedy join the squad after stints with the Highlanders and Eastern Province in South Africa.

Blackadder will know more about the availability of Richie McCaw when his captain sees a specialist about his injured foot today.