Chiefs bulk up for Crusaders
Chiefs coach Dave Rennie has made a number of changes to the pack for Friday's all-New Zealand Super Rugby semifinal.
He brought back his Tongan torpedo, Sona Taumalolo, at prop for the encounter with the Crusaders in Hamilton.
Samoan captain Mahonri Schwalger also returns to the front row, while Ben Afeaki comes back on the bench after an absence of six weeks.
Tanerau Latimer gets the start at openside, meaning a bench spot for All Black Sam Cane.
The backline is the same one that faced the Crusaders in Round 17, with Andrew Horrell starting at centre outside Sonny Bill Williams, Asaeli Tikoirotuma on the wing with Robbie Robinson reverting to fullback.
Chiefs: 15 Robbie Robinson, 14 Tim Nanai-Williams, 13 Andrew Horrell, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Kane Thompson, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Craig Clarke (captain), 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Mahonri Schwalger, 1 Sona Taumalolo.
Replacements: 16 Hika Elliot, 17 Ben Afeaki, 18 Michael Fitzgerald, 19 Sam Cane, 20 Brendon Leonard, 21 Jackson Willison, 22 Lelia Masaga.
Date: Friday, July 27
Venue: Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
Kick-off: 19.35 (07.35 GMT)
Referee: Craig Joubert
Assistant referees: Jonathan Kaplan, Keith Brown
TMO: Garratt Williamson
