Burly Chiefs No.8 Sione Lauaki has promised that his 'head-hunting' days are something of the past.

The powerful loose forward, who has been labelled a 'serial offender' for his repeated dangerous, high tackles on opponents this season, has promised that he has cleaned up his act.

Addressing a media gather in Pretoria, ahead of the Chiefs' Super 14 Final encounter the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, Lauaki promised that there won't be a repeat of the illegal tackling that happened in the Bulls' Round 11 encounter with the Chiefs.

Lauaki's head shot left Springbok wing Bryan Habana dazed and bleeding on the ground.

It a shocker for which Lauaki copped a yellow card. However, he escaped further punishment, as incompetent South African officials failed to launch a citing within the prescribed 12 hours — allowing the All Black No.8 to escape on a technicality after the citing arrived two hours late.

That tackle, along with several others during the season, was the topic when Lauaki addressed the media this week.

Bulls coach Frans Ludeke avoided the media scrum.

''I have nothing to say. I don't want to get involved in that. He was lucky, that's all,'' said Ludeke when questioned about Lauaki's judicial escape.

Lauaki was more forthright in his response the media questions.

''What happened, happened in the past," the No.8 said.

"I've learnt from it. It doesn't mean anything. It's a new week, a finals week and I'm looking forward to it,'' said Lauaki.

Habana, who was the bloodied victim last time the Chiefs ventured into Loftus, also seems keen to let bygones be bygones and said that the Bulls challenge was to overcome the entire Chiefs team and not one man.

"Lauaki is always going to be a physical character," Habana said, "and has showed in the last couple of weeks that he is a great player. The challenge is not for one player but it's for each and every one of us to go out there as a cohesive squad to take on the Chiefs."

365

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