Chiefs told to get act together for Bulls
The Chiefs have been told to get their act together for their Super Rugby clash with the Bulls after an unconvincing win over the struggling Rebels.
Coach Dave Rennie read the riot act to the two-time champions after they needed a late burst to overcome Australia's bottom-placed team in their last outing.
"There were some carefully chosen words," Rennie said, after showing his players images from the Rebels match. "When the guys looked at it, they were pretty embarrassed."
The Chiefs return from a bye with a record of four wins out of four games so far to lie second in the New Zealand conference behind the Crusaders.
The Crusaders will also need to improve after being sent to scrum school following a series of collapses in their recent wins against the Reds and Force.
Despite having a pack bulging with All Blacks, the seven-time champions have been put through a refresher course in scrum techniques ahead of their game against the Waratahs in Sydney.
"We want it to be a contest, and we don't want re-sets like that," said assistant forwards coach Jason Ryan.
The Hurricanes will need to contend with the after-effects of Cyclone Debbie as they take on the Reds in storm-soaked Brisbane.
As well as the severe weather, the Hurricanes will also have to cope with the loss of captain and All Blacks hooker Dane Coles, who is nursing an injured knee.
Team:
15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Shaun Stevenson, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Johnny Faauli, 11 James Lowe, 10 Aaron Cruden (co-captain), 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Michael Leitch, 7 Sam Cane (co-captain), 6 Liam Messam, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Dominic Bird, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Siegfried Fisi'ihoi
Substitutes: 16 Brayden Mitchell, 17 Kane Hames, 18 Atu Moli, 19 Taleni Seu, 20 Mitchell Karpik, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Stephen Donald, 23 Solomon Alaimalo