The Fan loves the ritual of the Super 14 squad announcements. Any rugby fan can name the top 15 players for each franchise but the fun comes in guessing who is going to make up the bench-warmers and water-boys.
As usual, Super-coach Foster has pulled a rabbit out of the hat in the form of Mark Burman.
My intensive research has tracked him down as a Waikato player (surprise, surprise) who was injured for the whole of their Air New Zealand Cup campaign. This obviously elevates him above Culum Retallick who battled through every game for the Bay and played a major part in our fourth place finish. As Mark Sorenson showed, it isn’t easy to crack Super 14 playing lock for the Bay.
It is possible to quibble about a couple of other selections notably the Laurel and Hardy of the Waikato midfield, Bruce and Sweeney. The whole backline selection suggests that tackling will be optional next year.
The Fan wishes to congratulate the 5 Bay players who have made the Chiefs for 2009. Of course Tanerau Latimer had to be chosen after narrowly missing out on the All Blacks tour squad. With Lilo as his backup, Tanerau’s workload can be managed so that he isn’t worn out by the time he captains the Steamers.
The Bay has a long history of supplying props for the Chiefs and this has continued with James McGougan and Joe Savage being selected. These guys deserve their success after replacing Castle and Davison and making the Bay tight five perform again.
Mike Delany is now a Chief after playing (and starring) for the Highlanders in 2008. His game time may be limited as backup to the current All Black first five but he won’t let anybody down. Colin Bourke has finally made the Chiefs after being rejected for the previous four seasons. This is great news for the Steamers and he may yet take the starting number eight slot if Lauaki doesn’t get back into form. More likely Foster sees him as a super sub able to cover most positions on the field and kick goals in an emergency.
The most unlucky Bay players are Nigel Hunt and Solomon King. Hunt had a storming season at 12 and will surely make the wider training squad. He would add some much needed steel to the Chiefs midfield. King’s form tailed away as he battled injury late in the season and Titch will surely want him for the NZ Sevens squad again and King’s time will come in the 15 man game.
The Fan’s prediction for 2009: The Chiefs will start as a disorganised rabble then have a couple of stirring wins at home followed by a pathetic collapse when the semi-finals beckon. Just like 2008 – and 2007 – and 2006 and ……
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