Chiefs wing James Lowe puts hot form down to better body knowledge

James Lowe is understanding his body better, and believes that has been a key to his excellent start to the Super Rugby season.

But, ironically, a minor injury has ruled him out of the big clash against the Hurricanes in Wellington on Saturday night.

Having been one of only two Chiefs (the other is Damian McKenzie) to have played every minute of the team's seven games this year, the classy winger was grateful of the timing of last weekend's bye.

The 23-year-old has been instrumental to the Chiefs' attacking flair, which has guided them to six wins and the top of the standings. Lowe sits among the stats leaders in plenty of categories - leading the competition in metres made (594), sitting second for offloads (second equal), third equal for tries scored (five), seventh equal for carries (74) and ninth equal for clean breaks (12).

Lowe had come back to training this week refreshed, having spent the bye week in Melbourne, where his partner lives. 

"For the Chiefs to give us that full week off to really get out and refresh, it was awesome, timely as well," he said.

Lowe's time in Melbourne saw him take in plenty of AFL, and he said when he learned all the little rules of the game, it was an awesome watch, with the big crowds taking him aback. But there aren't any thoughts of a switch of codes in the future for the 1.87m, 101kg flyer.

"Nah, I don't think so. They run too much, man. We run about 10km a game, they're running over 20km a game. They're a lot slimmer and taller, they're a different build more than anything."

Lowe did continue to keep an eye on some rugby, and who should he bump into in Melbourne than a few Hurricanes players, who were preparing to face the Rebels last Friday. Jumping off a tram, he found Ardie Savea, Chris Eves and Otere Black walking past, and took the time to wish them good luck ahead of their game, although Lowe did admit the Kiwi rivalry and conference system meant it may have been "a little bit hollow".

"But nah, you do hope that the New Zealand teams do well, it doesn't matter, you kind of want New Zealand to be on top," he said.

There won't be such sentiments sent from Lowe this weekend, as he cheers on his mates in what should be a tantalising matchup.

He was modest about his own good form, saying "there's always things to work on", and giving credit to those around him.

"I'm happy with how I'm going, I'm very happy with how the team's performing. It makes it a lot easier when you get a run off the likes of Damian McKenzie," he said, with the talented fullback coming into earshot.

"When the backline's humming like that - you've got two world class halfbacks [Tawera Kerr-Barlow and Brad Weber], Cruds [Aaron Cruden] is coming back into form, Charlie's [Ngatai] a very smart footballer, then the big Fijian [Seta Tamanivalu] running holes as well - it makes life a lot easier and a lot more fun."

This is Lowe's third season in Super Rugby, and after a shoulder injury stalled his progress during last year's campaign, then ruled him out of the NPC, he is becoming more in touch with his body, no doubt wiser about his latest niggle, which is to the other shoulder.

"To be honest I probably should've got surgery as soon as I'd done it, but hindsight's a great thing isn't it," he said of last year's injury.

"I guess I understand my body a lot more, I know when to stop, I guess. I pushed it a lot last year and came out the other side not any better for it. So I guess managing my body I'm a wee bit smarter about, my recovery's a lot better. It's quite easy in an environment like this to just learn to be a professional.

"You have to do work and make sure you tick boxes throughout the week, but recovery's a massive thing, and just making sure you're doing the right things throughout the week so that you can prepare and be the best that you can when it comes Saturday, because that's when you make or break it.

"I'm on the wing anyway, I just run around a lot, I don't do too much contact. That's the plan anyway, it's a good day when I don't have to make tackles."