The Chiefs fly to Japan on Thursday for the first of two pre-season matches, but while they have named most of their All Blacks among their travelling squad of 38, seven of their 38 contracted players won’t be making the plane, due to injury.
That includes their entire first-choice back-three from last year Shaun Stevenson, Emoni Narawa and Etene Nanai-Seturo − who were star performers in the campaign that ended in a home final defeat to the Crusaders, with Stevenson and Narawa going on to earn All Blacks debuts.
Narawa is still on the comeback from the back problem which forced him to be withdrawn from the World Cup squad, while Stevenson and Nanai-Seturo are both rehabbing niggly leg injuries and have likewise been taking a very limited part in training, both pre- and post-Christmas.
Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan has quelled fears of a back-three injury crisis for his side ahead of the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific season.
McMillan is confident of all three being back on deck to face the Blues in a final pre-season hit-out on the North Shore on February 16, and that they would not be on the sidelines for the blockbuster competition-opener − a final re-match against the Crusaders in Hamilton on February 23.
He says they have been keeping a close eye on them, and there just isn’t any need to push them back into rugby any faster than what they need to.
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Source: Stuff.co
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