Young Chiefs flanker Mitch Karpik is back and firing on all cylinders, and he is being likened to a famous name who also plays for the Waikato based club.
Karpik missed his first professional season due to a ruptured ACL during a trial game against the Waratahs last February. Following an injury like that, the biggest factor Karpik faced was time. Rennie and fellow coaches gave Karpik some time away from the club in 2016. Not just wanting to focus on his rehab, Karpik completed papers at University to keep himself distracted from the demands of his recovery.
When he was able to return to the gym, Karpik focused on improving his size in order to become more dominant at the breakdown. Karpik’s work ethic paid off; earning a starting role in the first match of the season against the Highlanders, which doubled as his Super Rugby debut. On reflection, Karpik said he enjoyed the experience but needed to work on going lower when making tackles.
Karpik announced he would remain with the Chiefs until 2019 after re-signing his contract. “I’m enjoying my time here, even last year when I was injured, it was a pretty easy decision and I want to give back by playing well”, Karpik said in Hamilton.
Karpik earned the praise of Chiefs coach Dave Rennie, but the club are lucky in the fact that they have plenty of solid flanking options in 2017. “Mitch went well on Friday and obviously it’s been a year in the making, but I also thought that his replacement was just as solid”, Rennie said.
Karpik will alternate the starting role in the flanks with Lachlan Boshier as Sam Cane’s recovery from an ankle injury continues.
Chiefs Ring The Changes For “Battle Of The Bombays”
In Round two, Michael Leitch returns at No.8 in a Chiefs side that features a couple of notable changes. Tim Nanai-Williams did enough off the bench last week to warrant a start of the right wing, and the highly-rated Johnny Fa’auli gets a second crack in the midfield.
The clash will also mark 100 appearances in Super Rugby for Aaron Cruden. After beginning his career at the Hurricanes; Cruden moved North to the Chiefs to play under Dave Rennie and went on to become an integral part of the club, and the All Blacks as well.
The Chiefs haven’t lost to the Blues since 2011, but the side Tana Umaga is bringing to Hamilton on Friday night is much stronger than ever before. Look no further than Rieko Ioane, fresh off a three-try stellar performance against Melbourne last week. The Blues bench features six All Blacks, including Patrick Tuipulotu who can finally put the saga of a failed drug test behind him.
Kick off is at 7.35pm on Friday night at FMG Stadium, Waikato.
“Main photo credit”
