New Chiefs coach Dave Rennie had a harsh introduction into Super Rugby in Round 1 as he lost his first match at home and four of his players to injury.

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The Chiefs let a 19-9 lead slip to a 19-23 defeat to the Highlander in Hamilton on Saturday.

Chiefs prop Toby Smith has injured his calf muscle which will keep him out of Super rugby for a lengthy period of time and his fellow prop Ben Afeaki broke his forearm.

In the backs tryscoring winger Lelia Masaga strained his knee and had to leave the field but it is not yet clear how bad the injury is.

Former All Black half back Brendon Leonard tore his hamstring and also had to leave the field.

“The props (injuries) are a massive concern and it will test our depth a bit,” Rennie told Sportal.

Rennie said that aside from the injuries he was disappointed that his team had been out-muscled by the Highlanders in the collision area.

“We had been looking to our big fellows in the midfield to carry the ball up but we played a fair bit of footie at the wrong end of the field.”

Rennie also said that the breakdown was not as effective as he had hioped and that the Highlanders had been more physical than the Chiefs.

“Their ball carriers stayed on their feet long and we learned a bit of a lesson there tonight,” he said.

Super Rugby gets no easier for the Chiefs as they host the Blues this weekend in Hamilton

The Highlanders were also hit by injury as they lost debutant No.10 Chris Noakes to injury in the match and he had to be helped from the field.