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'It definitely is the toughest period I've been through' - Anton Lienert-Brown opens up on Chiefs' underwhelming season
In the most important year of his young professional rugby career, Anton Lienert-Brown has found 2019 to be the most difficult season thus far.
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It’s been five years since the 33-test All Blacks midfielder made his Super Rugby debut with the Chiefs as an 18-year-old on the wing against the Bulls in Pretoria, but the 24-year-old rates this, his sixth season with the club, as the toughest he’s endured.
A five-match winless run to open the season was followed by a hopeful three-match winning streak, but after losing key playmaker Damian McKenzie to a season-ending knee injury, the Hamilton-based franchise have fallen to back-to-back defeats.
Lienert-Brown has been a leading star for the Chiefs despite their struggles, as he eyes a spot in the All Blacks’ World Cup squad.
Competing against fellow midfielders Sonny Bill Williams, Ryan Crotty, Jack Goodhue, Ngani Laumape, Ma’a Nonu and Matt Proctor for a place on the plane to Japan in four months’ time, there’s little room for error or inconsistency in this year’s edition of Super Rugby, which makes the Chiefs performances all the more challenging for Lienert-Brown.
Speaking to Stuff ahead of this weekend’s Kiwi derby against the Highlanders in Dunedin, Lienert-Brown expressed his frustration as the Chiefs have fallen to the bottom of the New Zealand conference and second-last on the overall standings with just three wins and 17 points to their name from 10 outings.
“It definitely is the toughest period I’ve been through personally,” Lienert-Brown said.
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“Before this year, we’ve always been in contention for that first spot or second spot on the table and now we’re trying to be in the top eight. So it is definitely something new for me.”
A spot in the top eight won’t come easily either, with a whopping 10 teams separated by just four points between the Australian conference-leading Rebels and the 13th-placed Brumbies.
Trailing the latter side by three points, Lienert-Brown told Stuff that his side need a big showing in the closing stages of their campaign if they’re to appear in the play-offs for the eighth straight year.
“If we are honest, we pretty much have to win five of the next six games,” he said.
“But we want to win them all. It is must-win territory, but we have the belief in this team that we can do that. We just need to get back on track and start playing our game again.”
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That starts at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday when he and his teammates face a Highlanders outfit, featuring Lienert-Brown’s older brother Daniel at loosehead prop, that overcame the Chiefs through a 30-27 season-opening victory at Waikato Stadium in February.
“They’re obviously a team who were in a place we were a while ago, and now they’re on a good run,” Lienert-Brown said in reference to the Highlanders’ five-match losing streak through March and April, followed by two convincing wins against the Blues and Sunwolves over the past fortnight.
“In a way they try to play a brand of footy we do – run the ball hard and a bit of flair in their backs – so we’re going to go down there and try match them physically, and if we do so I think we can win.”
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
SBW the biggest moron to pull on a black jersey a park footy player at best
7 Go to commentsSBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
7 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
11 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
11 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
3 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
7 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
11 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
11 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
3 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
3 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
11 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
44 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
11 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
11 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
11 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
11 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
11 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to comments