Chiefs' attack just got a whole lot deadlier
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Chiefs head coach Warren Gatland has only made two changes to his starting XV to take to the field for Friday’s New Zealand derby against the Hurricanes.
Versatile loose forward and locking cover Mitchell Brown will be the only change to the powerful Chiefs forward pack. Brown enters the starting XV in jersey No.5 for Canadian international Tyler Ardron who was ruled out due to an infection.
In the backs, the impressive line-up will be bolstered once again with All Black fullback Damian McKenzie named in the familiar No.15 jersey. Waikato utility back Solomon Alaimalo shifts to the left wing for the injured Sean Wainui.
All Black Atu Moli returns to the twenty-three named on the bench as cover in jersey seventeen alongside Taranaki hooker Bradley Slater, in the only changes in the reserves.
Chiefs: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Shaun Stevenson, 13 Tumua Manu, 12 Anton Lienert-Brown, 11 Solomon Alaimalo, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Brad Weber, 8 Pita Gus Sowakula, 7 Sam Cane (captain), 6 Lachlan Boshier, 5 Mitchell Brown, 4 Michael Allardice, 3 Ross Geldenhuys, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 Aidan Ross.
Replacements: 16 Bradley Slater, 17 Atu Moli, 18 Reuben O’Neill 19 Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20 Mitchell Karpik, 21 Lisati Milo-Harris, 22 Kaleb Trask, 23 Alex Nankivell.
Date: Friday, March 13
Venue: FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
Kick-off: 19.05 (06.05 GMT)
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa), Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
TMO: Aaron Peterson (New Zealand)
