It was a bitter-sweet victory for the Chiefs in the second semi final of the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific against Hurricanes yesterday as they are now dealing with a huge blow with the injury to their All Blacks hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho who is expected to miss the grand final against the Blues next Saturday.
Taukei’aho injured himself while making a tackle in the first half of the match and coach Clayton McMillan did not believe it was serious but bad enough to keep the 26-year-old out of the final.
McMillan says they will now try and get a hooker from their club games to cover for the position as not only Taukei'aho was injured but his replacement hooker Bradley Slater also suffered an injury in the second spell and required a head injury assessment, leaving the Chiefs to see out the game without a specialist hooker on the field.
He says Tyrone Thompson is the other hooker in the Chiefs squad but he would likely have to call in additional cover for the final.
The Chiefs will play the Blues at 7.05pm at Eden Park in Auckland.
