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Messam to lead Chiefs

Liam Messam will lead the Chiefs against the Sharks in Durban this weekend in the opening round of the Super 14 due to Sione Lauaki unavailable through an arm infection.

Friday, 12 February 2010

Sportal.co.nz

Liam Messam will lead the Chiefs against the Sharks in Durban this weekend in the opening round of the Super 14 due to Sione Lauaki unavailable through an arm infection.

Messam, no stranger to the role of captain, steps in for Lauaki who has been ruled out of the first Chiefs match due to an abscess on his arm.

Chiefs coach Ian Foster said: "Sione's infected arm had to be drained yesterday. While he is feeling better now, it is not going to be ready for the weekend's game."

Messam will play his usual position on the blindside flank, supported by Colin Bourke at No.8 and Tanerau Latimer at openside flanker. Latimer, a current All Black and experienced Chiefs campaigner, is set to play his 100th first class game of rugby in the weekend fixture.

In the backs, Foster opted for the midfield combination of Jackson Willison at second five-eighths with Richard Kahui at centre. Dwayne Sweeney gets to start on the right wing, Fijian speedster Sitiveni Sivivatu on the right wing and Mike Delany at fullback.

Foster said Callum Bruce, who strained his knee in last week's pre-season match, is progressing well but is not included in the Chiefs team this week.

"We have other fit players available so we've decided to give him another week to fully recover," he said."

"The team has enjoyed its week in Durban after getting over the travel and acclimatising to the conditions."

"We understand some of the difficulties of the hot, humid conditions but are now just keen to get onto the field."

Chiefs team to play the Sharks:

1 - Sona Taumalolo, 2 - Aled de Malmanche, 3 - Nathan White, 4 - Craig Clarke, 5 – Kevin O'Neill, 6 - Liam Messam (c), 7 - Tanerau Latimer, 8 - Colin Bourke, 9 - Brendon Leonard, 10 - Stephen Donald, 11 - Sitiveni Sivivatu, 12 -Jackson Willison, 13 - Richard Kahui, 14 - Dwayne Sweeney,15 -Mike Delany

Reserves: 16 - Hika Elliot, 17 - Ben Afeaki, 18 - James McGougan, 19 - Culum Retallick, 20 - Jarrad Hoeata, 21 - Junior Poluleuligaga, 22 - Tim Nanai-Williams.

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