'Complacent' Chiefs ready to fire
Wed, 07 May 2008 11:40
Chiefs centre Callum Bruce says the Chiefs can't dwell on their shock loss to the Western Force and believes the result has well and truly removed any complacency from their Super 14 campaign.
The Chiefs are in the running for a semifinal berth but need to beat the Lions convincingly in Johannesburg on Saturday to remain in the hunt.
Their focus is very much on beating the Lions although they are determined to learn from their mistakes during the 21-22 loss in Perth.
Bruce was in the thick of the action in a drama-filled last few minutes at the Subiaco Oval.
He had the ball knocked from his grasp as he dived over for what appeared to be a match-winning try.
He then appeared to make amends when he calmly slotted a drop-gaol with three minutes left to give the Chiefs a 21-19 lead.
But then Force flyhalf Matt Giteau kicked the winning penalty as the final hooter sounded to give his team a dramatic one point victory.
"We were all disappointed with our skills and the tempo that we played at," Bruce told rugbyheaven.co.nz
"The Force were a lot more desperate than we were and I guess having won five in a row, complacency crept into our game and we let it.
"To come down to the wire in a game that we could have easily wrapped up just makes it that much more harder.
"But there are two weeks to go. It would be silly for us to dwell on it too long so we have quickly put it behind us.
"We are really looking forward to this week and getting back on the training park and making amends for it," emphasised Bruce.
Bruce said he hadn't been dogged by nightmares over his missed try although he admitted he had copped a fair "ribbing from my teammates".
"That's rugby I guess and you just have to move on," he said.
"The ball was like a bar of soap at that stage. I got two hands on it but he [the tackler] managed to pop it out so good on him," added the centre.
Bruce, who came back from two weeks out with a ankle problem to regain the No.12 jersey from Dwayne Sweeney, faces an anxious day or so to see where he fits in this week.
Question marks remain over prop Simms Davison (back) and centre Richard Kahui (ankle).
Kahui's injury will impact on the midfield mix and it could be that if the well-performed Kahui is sidelined again, Bruce may have to partner Sweeney in the midfield this week.
Midfield changes have hampered the Chiefs all season as injuries have come and gone to their playing stocks in that key area. Bruce says that can't be used as an excuse for any drop in standards at this stage of the season.
"We have had enough training and games together with the [various] combinations we have got to have a good understanding," he stressed.
"I think we have played enough rugby for that not to be a problem. Obviously this late in the season you can't make it a problem, you just have to do the best you can," he concluded.
