/ 11 May 2004

Lomu backs the Chiefs

All Blacks great Jonah Lomu backs the Chiefs to upset the Brumbies on Saturday and picks an all-New Zealand Super 12 rugby final.

Lomu, who played for the Chiefs in 1999, is backing his former franchise to continue their giant-killing form this season when they meet the Brumbies in a semifinal in Canberra.

”I reckon they can do it,” he said from Auckland on Tuesday.

”The Chiefs pushed the Brumbies to the wire in Hamilton last weekend [12-15 loss] and they’ll have learnt from that game. They’ve just got to be very physical, keep their defensive line and keep pushing them.

”The more space you give the Brumbies the more they will attack and try to play their really expansive game. If you cut down their space, it tends to take their whole game away from them.”

Lomu played for the Chiefs when they beat the Brumbies in Canberra in 1999.

”We were down at half-time and came out and beat them. It showed they are beatable at home.”

Lomu has been especially impressed with the attitude of the Chiefs this season.

”They’ve got great belief and they’ve got a great leader in Jono Gibbes.

”[Coach] Ian Foster has instilled the feeling that they can win from any situation. The results this year prove that.”

Lomu said the Crusaders should be relatively untroubled to beat the Stormers in Christchurch in the other semifinal, also on Saturday.

”I’d be extremely surprised if the Stormers beat the Crusaders at home. If anything, the Hurricanes did the Crusaders a big favour in waking them up last Friday [the Hurricanes won 37-20]. I’m going for an all-New Zealand final.”

Betting agency TAB does not share Lomu’s optimism that the Chiefs will win in Canberra.

The Brumbies are paying $1,22 and the Chiefs $4. The Crusaders are paying $1,18 and the Stormers $4,50. — Sapa-NZPA