Rugby: Solid Chiefs options despite loss of Lowe

Bryce Heem was exemplary for the Chiefs last weekend and would have been boosted by his performance after receiving a late call to replace James Lowe. Photo / Getty Images

The loss of James Lowe would have seemed a grave blow for the Chiefs as recently as a week ago.

Lowe may not play another minute this season, depriving Dave Rennie's side of their leader in tries, clean breaks and defenders beaten, but the Chiefs are in better shape than many teams would be when shorn of a primary attacking weapon.

Hosea Gear and Bryce Heem retained their spots on the wing for tonight's encounter with the Bulls in Rotorua and, after the way the pair played against the Hurricanes last weekend, a fully-fit Lowe would have struggled to force his way back into the run-on XV.

Lowe will miss at least four to six weeks with a torn labrum in his shoulder and the injury may soon require season-ending surgery.

But, similar to the aftermath of Aaron Cruden's bad news, the Chiefs have plenty of options on the left wing. Gear has spent large parts of his career wearing the No11 jersey and Heem was exemplary in the position last weekend, while a fit-again Tim Nanai-Williams is another option.

Gear would have appealed as a less likely choice a week ago. Having featured sporadically in the Chiefs' first six games Gear then went unseen for the next five fixtures.

But any concerns surrounding fitness and form disappeared during an outing against the Hurricanes that hearkened back to the 31-year-old's prime, racking up 104m and beating seven defenders while injecting himself all over the Chiefs' attack.

"I was very excited by Hosea," said assistant coach Andrew Strawbridge. "He looked like the young boy I coached at Harbour all those years ago when he was 18. He was full of vim and vigour and we were very excited by what we saw.

"It's about popping up in the sorts of spots where we need him to pop up to aid our game plan. He put his hand up last week and did that for us, and I know his confidence took a big boost from the way he played."

Heem, too, would have been boosted by his performance after receiving a late call to replace the scratched Lowe. Heem out-played Cory Jane and out-gained the All Black by 62m despite the pair both tallying eight carries.

He and Gear will patrol the Rotorua touchlines tonight, though Lowe's instant spark and prodigious left boot may be missed as the season enters the business stage.