Kahui only concern for Chiefs
14 Apr 2009
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Kahui only concern for Chiefs
A hip injury to All Blacks centre Richard Kahui is the only hiccup for the Chiefs as they prepare for this weekend’s clash with the Cheetahs.
The Chiefs face the Cheetahs in Kimberley on Saturday and the Bulls in Pretoria the following weekend. They then head to sea level to wrap up their crucial tour with a clash against the Stormers in Cape Town.
Kahui had a hip injury early in the campaign and his return to the playing lineup coincided with the Chiefs’ superb run of form that has seen them win their last five games and climb to second on the log.
‘There is a slight concern with Richard Kahui who took a knock to his hip in the last game. It’s a similar injury to what he had earlier though not nearly as bad,’ said head coach Ian Foster.
‘He’s been a bit stiff with the travel. We will just ease him through the next couple of days. We’re still hopeful that he will be right for Thursday’s training.’
Blues a little light up front
The Blues look certain to face the Highlanders on Friday without either of their All Blacks props.
Tighthead John Afoa is definitely out of the clash with ankle ligament damage and It’s thought he could be sidelined as long as three or four weeks.
loosehead Tony Woodcock, who has been missing in action for five weeks now with a viral ear infection, is thought to be still a week away from a return. He has returned to light training, but the Blues are reluctant to take any risks with the All Blacks No 1.
The Blues will surly struggle against the Highlanders, who have a formidable front row with two monsters in the form Jamie Mackintosh and Clint Newland who love nothing better than to dominate at scrum time.
Replacements Charlie Faumuina and Tevita Mailau are a couple of up-and-comers, but there are major doubts whether they are ready for an assignment of this magnitude.
5 Comments
14 Apr 2009, 07:46 am
A little light may be a halogen beam.
14 Apr 2009, 14:20 pm
Both Kiwi teams surely have more than a “little light” concerna bout their injuries. Chiefs have played fantastic rugby, but all the excitement has been about numbers 13 – 15. With potentially 3 of the creative 5 out, they can stumble against the Cheetahs.
Highlanders must be rating their chances by destroying the Blues’ scrum.
14 Apr 2009, 14:22 pm
#1 TheTackler: Wasn’t there a little light over at the frankenstein place IN Rocky Horror?
14 Apr 2009, 20:45 pm
#2 scar: I would be more concerned about the cheetahs being heavy and slow.
14 Apr 2009, 23:05 pm
#4 CHAZ: If Sivivatu & Masaga were playing, I would have been concerned Chaz. As things stand, I think we have enough speed, but know it is more difficult to tackle Chiefs than to bring down Sharks!
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