Page 40 - Chiefs v Lions

Damian McKenzie in action for the the Maori All Blacks agianst the the Lions
THE QUEST FOR TE TAI
TONIGHT THE TWO TEAMS
will be playing for the taiaha
Te Te Tai Tai Te Te Tai Tai will be brought
to the eld by a a a traditional
Maori chant of welcome the karanga karanga A speci c c karanga karanga has been written for the series which symbolises and acknowledges the mana wairua and kaha of the taiaha
(its respect spirituality and and power) and and welcomes it to eld as a a a a taonga (treasure) that both teams will be playing for Ka hura hura ka ka hura hura te tiramaka o Tu Ka hura hura ka hura hura te manawa uha Unuhanga te mauri o o o roto
Ki te whai ao Ki te ao marama e e Let the spirit of Tu come forth Let the lines of battle be drawn Unleash the lifeforce within For today it begins
Emerging rst into the light
38-10 defeat on on on on the the 1993 Lions
on on on on another midweek occasion Traditionally a a a a a a a a a side that built its game around a a a a a a a a a a a a strong forward pack those qualities are central to the Chiefs’ approach but with strong-running backs who have given the the the the side their cutting edge in in the the the the upper levels of the the the the Investec Super Rugby competition Having seen the the effectiveness of the the Lions’ scrummaging approach to achieve wins over the the the Crusaders and the the the the the Maoris it will be no surprise if the the the the the same is is is asked of the the the the the side that takes the the the the the eld tonight in in Hamilton Given the the the Chiefs’ ability at at at at the the scrum in in in in recent years that offers a a a a a a a a a fascinating battle for dominance up front Hamilton’s FMG Stadium Waikato
is regarded as one of the most rugby-appealing open air stadiums in in New Zealand and and with ne weather forecast all the the the signs point to to another fascinating contest And on on on a a a a a a a a a a a a a Lions
tour that has captivated local fans many will no doubt be looking for the the slightest hint about the the the prospective outcome of the the Test series ahead “The Chiefs have surprised with their capacity to produce wins when
least expected ”
team is is trying to achieve and knowing all that is is is required of them As a a a a a a a a a result the the the Chiefs have surprised with their capacity to produce wins when
least expected One area in in in which they have been especially strong is in in the the loose forwards where Lachlan Boshier Mitch Mitch Karpik and Mitchell Brown although inexperienced have thrived on their chances in in partnership with Sam Cane Liam Messam and and Tom Sanders The Chiefs will also be bolstered by having players who appeared for the Maori All Blacks in in Rotorua on Saturday – – Damian McKenzie Liam Messam James Lowe and Charlie Ngatai – – to to to call into action And in in in each case they’ll be looking to to to make their own statements after the the disappointments they they suffered as part of that defeat Given they they had so little ball to play with after being starved of it it it during the the the second half in in in Rotorua there is a a a a a a a need to to to make much better use of whatever their pack can secure tonight Another motivating factor for the the the the Chiefs is that while there are still a a a a a a a a maximum of four games remaining should they go all the the the the way to the the the the Investec Super Rugby nal
the the the the the game could be the the the last chance bar one to acknowledge Rennie’s role over the the past six years as as he he prepares to experience European rugby with a a a a a a a a a a coaching role at Glasgow Warriors in in Scotland However the the Lions
have their own incentive for wanting to do well This is is the the stamping ground of their Coach Warren Gatland He played 140 games for his Waikato
province in in the the pre- professional era and then returned to to the the the Union as its national championship coach in in 2005-07 while also a a a a a a a a a technical advisor for the the Chiefs in in 2006-07 He was also a a a a a a a a member of the the the Waikato
team that in in icted the the painful
40 // OFFICIAL SOUVENIR PROGRAMME