By EVAN PEGDEN - Waikato Times Last updated 13:11 15/05/2009


Chiefs keen to take care of businessUnfinished business for leader LauakiRathbone back as Stirling switchesChiefs at full strength for semifinal bidChiefs have their feet on the groundAnalysis sessions key for Chiefs.

The breakdown is the most contentious area in rugby union as the lawmakers and referee bosses constantly fiddle with the laws and interpretations to solve it.

But out on the field, regardless of how the man with the whistle is viewing it and what the current laws might be, it is the team that can dominate that area who invariably win the game, and tonight at Waikato Stadium will be no different as the Chiefs look to beat the Brumbies and secure a Super 14 home semifinal.

The Chiefs have recognised how crucial the tackle area is and have made giant strides there this year. Tonight they take on the king of turnovers in the form of Brumbies and Wallaby star ball pilferer George Smith, who again this season is leading the Super 14 statistics when it comes to turnovers forced.

"He's been one of the best in the world at that and we know that, but we played a few last week who are up there too in Hore and So'oialo and those guys," Chiefs forwards coach Craig Stevenson said.

"It's an area we've improved out of sight in, it's an area we've done a lot of work in and it's an area that we're confident in and we pride ourselves on that.

"We know it's just another challenge this week. We've been in Africa with (Schalk) Burger and (Luke) Watson and all those guys so each week we come up against a person or number of people in the opposition who in the past have been better than us at the breakdown and we've prided ourselves on getting that area right."

Stevenson said it came from improvements among the loose forwards as well as the team as a whole in that area.

"It's a bit of an attitude thing and it's a technical thing, and also for our loose forwards to be able to compete we have to make sure we are competing in our tight five and that has allowed them to get into the game."

He warned the Brumbies were not only strong in the loose forward department with specialist open-siders Smith and Julian Salvi plus No 8 Stephen Hoiles, but also had a smart tight-forward unit that would try to put pressure on the Chiefs.

"But in saying that, Liam (Messam) has come on immensely in that (breakdown) area he's just improved out of sight. And we've got Lats (Tanerau Latimer) who is really going well in that area and when we bring Serge (Lilo) on he's one of the best in New Zealand at getting in and snaffling the opposition ball."

Messam figures in the competition's top 10 ball thieves, Latimer has the fourth highest tackle count and three Chiefs forwards Craig Clarke, Kevin O'Neill and Latimer feature in the breakdown cleanouts top 10.


Add to that the ball-running ability of No 8 Sione Lauaki and Messam, who are both in the hit-up top 10, and Lauaki's offloading ability that has him featuring in that statistical category also, and it can be seen just how effective the Chiefs forwards have been in the ball-winning and retention areas that complement the improved set piece work of a new tight five.

Lauaki said the Chiefs loose forwards had played together for a few seasons and the combination was a result of that, while Lilo added extra impact.

"We've got a lot of firepower in the backs and it's good to give them a lot of quick, clean ball. Lats and Liam have been good in that area and I try to come in and add my extras too."

Brumbies skipper Hoiles said yesterday no-one could hide from the fact that all games were now won and lost at the breakdown.

"We know they've got a very well-balanced back row with a very good on-ball Latimer, a very elusive, skilful Messam and you've got a big, ball-running Lauaki so we know those three will have a very big input into the result of the game and we've got to be at our best to keep them quiet."

CHIEFS: Mils Muliaina (c), Lelia Masaga, Richard Kahui, Callum Bruce, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Stephen Donald, Brendon Leonard, Sione Lauaki, Tanerau Latimer, Liam Messam, Kevin O'Neill, Craig Clarke, James McGougan, Aled de Malmanche, Ben May. Reserves: Hika Elliot, Sona Taumalolo, Toby Lynn, Serge Lilo, Toby Morland, Dwayne Sweeney, Sosene Anesi.

BRUMBIES: Adam Ashley-Cooper, Clyde Rathbone, Stirling Mortlock, Tyrone Smith, Francis Fainifo, Matt Toomua, Patrick Phibbs, Stephen Hoiles (c), George Smith, Julian Salvi, Peter Kimlin, Ben Hand, Guy Shepherdson, Stephen Moore or Huia Edmonds, Ben Alexander. Reserves: Edmonds /John Ulugia, Salesi Ma'afu, Sitaleki Timani, Henry Vanderglas, Joshua Holmes, Afusipa Taumoepeau, Sanualio Afeaki.

Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia).

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/s...eakdown-battle