Wing fingered as key to Chiefs’ revival

The Stormers' Schalk Burger tackles Chiefs wing Sitiveni Sivivatu at Newlands stadium, Cape Town. Picture / Fotopress

Chiefs 37 Stormers 34


If you ask Chiefs coach Ian Foster to pinpoint reasons for his side's Super 12 revival he is quick to latch on to the return of wing Sitiveni Sivivatu.

The 23-year-old thunderflash did not get on the scoresheet yesterday but the Chiefs completed their first Super 12 victory in Cape Town.

The Chiefs made a fast start with their revamped back division then stalled mid-match before replacement kicker Stephen Donald eased over a late deciding penalty.

After a rough start to this year's series, the Chiefs have collected 16 from a possible 20 points in their last four matches with games left against the Brumbies and Highlanders.

"We want to finish in style. It would mean a lot to us and we are buoyant after this result," Foster said.

But x-rays this week will determine whether another flyer, Sailosi Tagicakibau, and loose forward Sione Lauaki will be able to front up against the defending champion Brumbies in Canberra on Saturday.

There are fears that Tagicakibau has fractured a bone in his leg while Lauaki has been troubled by a neck injury he suffered in last week's match against the Bulls.

"It will be a real blow losing Sailosi because he has been an important part of our back three," said Foster. "In fact the return of Sitiveni [after shoulder surgery] midway through meant we could get that combination sorted out."

Sivivatu's reappearance allowed Sosene Anesi to switch to fullback giving the Chiefs enormous speed from the back and the ability to punish sides with their counterattack.

The revamp did not stop there though Byron Kelleher stayed at halfback. Donald was promoted to first five-eighths, David Hill shifted out a place and young Niva Ta'auso picked at centre.

That group did the early damage yesterday with Ta'auso and Anesi opening up the Stormers' defence with their power and pace.

Changes made to freshen the pack also worked for the Chiefs.

"A lot of our guys like Deacon Manu and Lauaki have had a big workload and the alterations paid off, they had to," Foster said.

Victory lifted the Chiefs into eighth place while the Stormers remain 10th and the 25,591 crowd must have found it difficult to believe both teams reached the semifinals last year.

Kelleher's tireless contribution was a huge component in the Chiefs' win while captain Jono Gibbes showed his versatility again and his lineout pedigree, by playing the entire match at lock.

Though the Chiefs cannot make the semifinals they could have an influence with their final game against the Highlanders. But Foster was unwilling to make predictions about the playoff scramble.

"I am not that smart," he chuckled. "But there is an intriguing mixture. The Bulls have two local derbies and are favoured in South Africa to make it, but that is not a given.

"We just want to keep on improving and enjoying what we are doing."