Chiefs not focusing on weakened Brumbies

The severely-weakened state of the Brumbies isn't a factor in the Chiefs' preparation for what is shaping as the last home game of their Super Rugby season.

Chiefs players congratulates Mitchell Brown after a try

The Chiefs have won 11 times this season and drawn once in their 14 Super Rugby games. (AAP)

The Chiefs are staying focused despite the Brumbies sending a weakened team into their final round-robin Super Rugby match in Hamilton.

The Australian Conference leaders have made 12 changes to their starting lineup from the side beaten last week by the Reds in Brisbane, as they rest players ahead of next weekend's home quarter-final.

Chiefs assistant coach Neil Barnes says his team have their own quarter-final planning to carry out so isn't getting caught up in the Brumbies' methods.

"We're concentrating totally on ourselves and how we play the game. We'll still respect whoever fronts up out there but this is all about us," Barnes said.

The Chiefs will be hoping they're the team that play in Canberra next week, rather than play a draining quarter-final in Cape Town against the Stormers.

To earn the shorter trip, they must first beat the Brumbies on Saturday afternoon and then hope the Crusaders beat the Hurricanes in Wellington later that night.

The Chiefs have rested three of their All Blacks -- Brodie Retallick, Sam Cane and Anton Lienert-Brown -- as they look ahead to the finals.

Barnes said it was about refreshing the key trio mentally, as much as physically, after the intense Test series against the British and Irish Lions.

"I'm sure they would play if asked but to have a week off to clear their heads and get their bodies right means they're going to be in a better space come the finals," Barnes said.

"I've got absolute faith in the guys that have trained behind them all year to do the job."

The Chiefs could struggle in the engine room after lock Dominic Bird was ruled out with a concussion.

Barnes said regular loose forward Mitchell Brown is capable of plugging the gap.

"He might not be as tall as the other guys but still very good at executing his roles," Barnes said.

It is highly unlikely the Chiefs will host a finals game this season, meaning the match is a home farewell for successful coach Dave Rennie, Test halves pair Aaron Cruden and Tawera Kerr-Barlow and Maori All Blacks winger James Lowe.


Share

2 min read

Published

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world