The Chiefs have been boosted by the return of several All Blacks for their Super Rugby Pacific clash with the Hurricanes in Hamilton on Saturday.
Head coach Clayton McMillan has recalled co-captains Sam Cane and Brad Weber, as well as Brodie Retallick, Samisoni Taukei’aho and Pita Gus Sowakula, who were all rested for last weekend’s loss to the Reds.
First defeat of the season
That was the Chiefs‘ first Super Rugby Pacific defeat of the season, and apart from those returning All Blacks, McMillan has also made some alterations to the rest of his team.
Sowakula and Cane come in for Samipeni Finau and Simon Parker and will join number eight Luke Jacobson in the loose forwards, while Taukei’aho returns to replace Bradley Slater at hooker.
Meanwhile, Retallick is back in place of Josh Lord, and Weber returns to his starting position at scrum-half with Cortez Ratima – who boasts the second most accurate passing percentage in the competition (99.3%) – set to make an impact from the bench.
Elsewhere in the backline, Anton Lienert-Brown shifts from outside to inside centre, with Alex Nankivell coming in to wear the number 13 jersey, and Rameka Poihipi is named amongst the replacements.
The final changes are up front where George Dyer and Aidan Ross have been named as the starting props, and they take over from John Ryan and Jared Proffit, respectively.
Delighted to return to Hamilton
After hosting the Reds at Yarrow Stadium in New Plymouth last week, McMillan is delighted to return to familiar surroundings in Hamilton.
“We are excited to get back to FMG Stadium Waikato and hope our loyal supporters will be there in force again to support the team,” he said.
“Whilst the loss last week hurt, there is value if we are able to adjust and grow from the lessons we learned and that has been our focus this week.
“The Hurricanes pose significant challenges, particularly through their attack where they lead the competition in tries, clean breaks, defenders beaten, offloads, and post-contact carry metres – so we understand the challenge that’s coming and will need to be on.”
Chiefs: 15 Shaun Stevenson, 14 Emoni Narawa, 13 Alex Nankivell, 12 Anton Lienert-Brown, 11 Etene Nanai-Seturo, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Brad Weber (cc), 8 Luke Jacobson, 7 Sam Cane (cc), 6 Pita Gus Sowakula, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 George Dyer, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 Aidan Ross
Replacements: 16 Tyrone Thompson, 17 Ollie Norris, 18 John Ryan, 19 Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20 Simon Parker, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Josh Ioane, 23 Rameka Poihipi
Date: Saturday, May 20
Venue: FMG Stadium, Hamilton
Kick-off: 19:05 local (08:05 BST, 07:05 GMT)
Referee: James Doleman (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Jono Bredin (New Zealand), Fraser Hannon (New Zealand)
TMO: tbc
Click Here: Luke Shaw Jersey Sale