The last second of their defeat to the Bulls is proving to be worth double the pain for the Chiefs. Not only did Bryan Habana score the matchwinning try, injury-plagued centre Richard Kahui was injured yet again.
Kahui has only just recovered from a different pre-season shoulder injury before he was called as a late replacement to South Africa to play the Bulls.
On arrival he then had to pass a late fitness test for a hamstring twinge.
“It’s hugely disappointing,” coach Ian Foster told Xtra Rugby from Pretoria.
“It looks like Richard has got another serious shoulder injury. It looks pretty bad. We’ll know more in the next 48 hours but it doesn’t look good.”
Foster was devastated with this loss. The Chiefs had put in a far better effort than the error-filled performances in their three previous losses. Yet they got pipped again.
“It really hurts. We should be celebrating a very good win. Instead it’s another painful defeat. But I thought we played some very good rugby today in very difficult conditions. The heat was extreme.”
Foster chose to look at the positives of the healthy returns of both Sione Lauaki and Keith Robinson, of whom he had particular praise.
“To come back and play his first game for the Chiefs since the 2004 semifinal and get through 80 minutes against what was virtually a Springboks pack was a remarkable effort.”
The Chiefs also have problems upfront, where back-up hooker Aled de Malmanche ruled out just before the game with a groin strain. But Foster is putting on a brave face.
“We aren’t out of this yet.”
365 Digital
