Battle of the centres
Morgan Piek
Bloemfontein – While 38-year-old, Tana Umaga is recovering from surgery he underwent to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon. In coming Waikato Chiefs, Coach Dave Rennie might have sleepless nights trying to put together a squad for next year’s Super 15. His biggest priority will be to find a centre partner for Richard Kahui.
Rumour has it that Ma’a Nonu might be taking up the role after getting the boot from the Hurricanes coach and former Crusaders hooker, Mark Hammett. Nonu has been on the shopping list of many of the Super Rugby franchises and European Clubs over the past few weeks, including talks with John Plumtree of the Sharks. Nonu has received numerous lucrative overseas offers. There are even talks of him moving to the Blues in order to remain an All Black candidate.
Sonny Bill Williams has indicated that he wants to leave the Crusaders at the end of the season. Williams has been said to be considering a move to Waikato. According to the Waikato Times, the Chiefs are thought to be very interested in getting Sonny Bill Williams onto their books.
Rennie had refused to comment on either player. This always leaves a lot open to speculation.
Finding a new flyhalf is a major headache for Rennie as well. A few European clubs are said to be interested in Stephen Donald. It has been said that Donald will be replacing Butch James at Bath. James returned to South Africa after the European season to join the much troubled Lions. The Chiefs replacement flyhalf Mike Delany has also maybe his intentions of leaving clear by signing a contract to further his career in Japan.
Aaron Cruden, a protégé of Rennie is said to be in talks with the Chiefs as a possible replacement for both Donald and Delany. There are said to be other options available in case Cruden cannot be drawn away from the Hurricanes.
More than half of the 32-man squad have re-signed with the Chiefs, or are in mid-contract negotiations for next season. Good news is that these players include the six highly impressive loose forwards, Scott Waldrom, Tanerua Latimer, Liam Messam, Colin Bourke, Fritz Lee and Sam Cane.
“We’ve got a nucleus of a squad – more than half,” Rennie told the Waikato Times.
With about nine Chiefs players going abroad there is a lot of work to be done in the off-season. The only thing that could be said with any certainty is that many new faces will be seen in the colours on the Chiefs in 2012.
This could possibly reinvent the Chiefs brand of play, which has not always been the most exciting Rugby, but has always shown the potential to deliver the goods.
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