Chiefs change five for Hurricanes
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Chiefs head coach Clayton McMillan has named his Chiefs team to hunt down the Hurricanes for their first win of their Super Rugby Aotearoa campaign in Wellington on Saturday.
McMillan has made five changes to his starting XV for the clash, while five new faces will join the bench. Hawke’s Bay’s Joe Apikotoa will be in-line to make his Super Rugby debut off the bench after impressing coaches during the teams’ pre-season campaign.
Loosehead prop Aidan Ross and lock Naitoa Ah Kuoi have been promoted to the starting XV in the only changes to an experienced forward pack.
Bay of Plenty flyhalf Kaleb Trask returns from injury for his first start of the 2021 Super Rugby season. Waikato playmaker Quinn Tupaea and All Black Anton Lienert-Brown will combine in the midfield. Powerful outside back Jonah Lowe will return to the starting XV on the right wing for his second cap in the Chiefs jersey to complete the changes in the backline.
After making his Super Rugby debut in 2016 for the Hurricanes, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi is set to play his 50th Super Rugby match off the bench at the stadium where his Super Rugby career kicked off. The Māori All Black will provide cover alongside midfielder Alex Nankivell and playmaker Chase Tiatia.
Taranaki hooker Bradley Slater retains the No.16 jersey and will be joined by front rowers Ollie Norris and debutant Apikotoa. While Simon Parker and Samipeni Finau are set to receive their second Gallagher Chiefs cap if they take the field.
McMillan said this weekend provides an opportunity for several individuals to stake their claim for their spot in the game day twenty-three.
“We have a youthful team, and we are backing everyone to do their job. This weekend is no different, it is up to the individual to stake their claim for the jersey.”
Chiefs: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Jonah Lowe, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Quinn Tupaea, 11 Etene Nanai-Seturo, 10 Kaleb Trask, 9 Brad Weber (co-captain), 8 Luke Jacobson, 7 Sam Cane (co-captain), 6 Mitchell Brown, 5 Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 4 Tupou Vaa’i, 3 Angus Ta’avao, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 Aidan Ross.
Replacements: 16 Bradley Slater, 17 Ollie Norris, 18 Joe Apikotoa, 19 Samipeni Finau, 20 Simon Parker, 21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22 Alex Nankivell, 23 Chase Tiatia.
Date: Saturday, March 20
Venue: Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington
Kick-off: 19.05 (06.05 GMT)
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
Assistant referees: Mike Fraser, James Doleman
TMO: Glen Newman
