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Chiefs to kick off their season with at least two All Blacks missing
By Online Editors
The Chiefs will be without 20-test All Blacks hooker Nathan Harris for at least the start of the Super Rugby season.
The club's incumbent No2 has been sidelined after having surgery to repair an injured shoulder, with a timetable for his return yet to be established.
A spokesperson for the Chiefs told the Herald Harris was recovering well and would be assessed in the coming weeks at which point the club would have an idea of when the 27-year-old might return to action.
Harris re-signed with New Zealand Rugby and the Chiefs last year until 2021, and noted he had unfinished business in New Zealand.
"I love the Chiefs, I love what they're about," he said after re-signing. "Obviously winning a Super title with the Chiefs is up there, they haven't won one since 2013. Getting one of those under the belt would be pretty awesome.
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"To wear the black jersey again would be another pretty cool thing for myself and my family."
With Harris out for at least the start of the season, Samisoni Taukei'aho shapes up as the likely benefactor in terms of playing time, while Bradley Slater could see some minutes off the bench sooner than expected. The hard-running, explosive Taukei'aho has been impressive in his opportunities at Super Rugby level over the past couple of seasons and will be an exciting player to watch should new Chiefs head coach Warren Gatland give him an extended run in the starting side.
The Taranaki product was a member of the Chiefs organisation last year, making his Super Rugby debut as an injury replacement against the Sunwolves. In his first season as a fully contracted Super Rugby player, he could play an early role closing out games in the front row.
The shoulder injury is the latest in a horror run for Harris. He was ruled out of contention for the All Blacks Rugby World Cup squad last year after breaking his leg whole playing for Bay of Plenty in the Mitre 10 Cup, while earlier in the year he was sidelined by a knee injury.
The side will also be without Luke Jacobson for the early season, with the one-test All Blacks flanker yet to get full medical clearance from lingering concussion issues.
Gatland told Radio Sport the club had been managing the 22-year-old's return, after a head knock ruled him out of the Rugby World Cup.
"He's been settling back into a lot of conditioning work and started to do some contact work," Gatland said.
"The aim for Luke is to come in for round three once he's got up to speed with all the fitness and contact work, when he feels comfortable.
"The most important thing is to get a full clearance from the medics. He looks sharp and is pretty excited, and looking really good."
The Chiefs begin their 2020 campaign in a matter of weeks, with a meeting against the Blues at Eden Park on January 31. It will be a new-look Chiefs side this season, with first five-eighth Aaron Cruden returning to the team while lock Brodie Retallick has moved on.
This article first appeared on nzherald.co.nz and is republished with permission.
Nathan Harris isn't the only Chiefs hooker that's had injury issues in recent times:
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Latest Comments
Excellent points Mz. Because of other commitments I have just watched the game.
Interesting watching it after reading all the news reports especially in the English media. I was expecting to see a game that the ABs were very lucky to win. What I saw was a game that England showed their tactical incompetence and their inability to construct any try scoring opportunities.
They can go on deluding themselves that they were unlucky to lose ( as Borthwick said post match ) but until they stop relying on rush defence and goal kicking to win I feel they're doomed to be ranked 4 or 5 in the world.
Can't wait until the weekend to see how the Wallabies go against them
Though I dare say Walter will be hoping for an England win.
Go to commentsIF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.
As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.
Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).
This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.
If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.
Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.
After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.
Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.
Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)
Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.
Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.
Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.
Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:
Seeding Band 1
IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG
Seeding Band 2
SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO
Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6
Strongest pool opponent: FIJI
1/8 final opponent GEORGIA
Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond
Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6
Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA
1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND
Prognosis: You know the prognosis
I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?
Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.
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