Tuitupou's shift south pays dividends

Sam Tuitupou is enjoying the atmosphere the Waikato offers. Ross Land / Getty Images

Sam Tuitupou is enjoying his footy and the Chiefs are the big beneficiaries.

The hard-tackling second five-eighth switched from the Blues last year and has been in sizzling early form in the Super 14.

He scored a clever try, beating several tacklers, against the Cats in round two, and his trademark crunching tackles have been a standout feature of the Chiefs' three games so far.

Tuitupou made six test appearances in 2004 but had a stop-start year for the Blues and Auckland last year.

He wasn't a top priority for the Blues squad this year, so Chiefs coach Ian Foster stepped in and he's been rewarded with a string of strong performances.

"I guess it's just getting that enjoyment back, and that's the thing I'm loving about it the most," 24-year-old Tuitupou said last night.

"The changes have given me back the buzz of playing.

"The atmosphere down here really suits me."

If Tuitupou's form resembles that which earned him his All Black callup from Graham Henry two years ago, the player isn't getting carried away.

"There's always room for improvement, that's what you're looking to do every week.

"I hope I can pick the boys up around me and give them a bit of a spark."

But the All Blacks aren't the top of his thinking right now.

"Not at all. At the moment it's about the Chiefs and that's all I'm looking at."

Centre Mark Ranby's sore wrist was the only injury concern out of the 26-9 win over the Force in Perth last week.

But he's recovered from that and should be named today alongside Tuitupou in the Chiefs' team to face the winless Reds in Hamilton on Friday night.

The Reds have injury worries all round the park.

Most significantly, they have lost promising first five-eighth Berrick Barnes and veteran lock Mark Connors with rib injuries.

Prop Greg Holmes has been cleared of a shoulder injury, Lloyd Johansson, who scored a try on Wallaby debut as a wildcard selection at Eden Park last year, comes into second five-eighth with experienced international Elton Flatley taking over at No 10.