Chiefs changed for Blues crunch
Chiefs coach Dave Rennie has made a number of changes to his team for the Super Rugby crunch match against the Blues.
The Chiefs and Blues go head-to-head in Taranaki on Friday in a game that could have a big bearing on deciding the New Zealand conference.
The match is set to be a great spectacle, with the Chiefs back on top of the New Zealand Conference after beating the Lions 38-8 last Saturday, while the are Blues coming off a strong win against the Reds last week.
Over the last few years the rivalry between the Chiefs and the Blues has become an epic battle with the brutal intensity of a Test match and Friday's encounter is expected to be no different.
The Chiefs have made two changes to the forwards – with prop Ben Tameifuna and lock Michael Fitzgerald starting.
Bundee Aki comes in at inside centre and Tim Nanai-Williams moves to outside centre, with Tom Marshall at fullback.
Josh Hohneck moves to the replacement bench and is joined by Liam Squire, who has returned from injury, as well as Anton Lienert-Brown
"It is exciting for us to play our first home game in Taranaki and I know the boys are keen to earn the respect of the locals by putting on a good performance," the Chiefs, Rennie, said.
"Traditionally our games against the Blues have been real ding-dong battles, and with not much between any team in the New Zealand Conference it is a massive game for both sides."
Chiefs: 15 Tom Marshall, 14 Dwayne Sweeney, 13 Tim Nanai-Williams, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 James Lowe, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Liam Messam (captain), 7 Sam Cane, 6 Tanerau Latimer, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Michael Fitzgerald, 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Nathan Harris, 1 Pauliasi Manu.
Replacements: 16 Mahonri Schwalger, 17 Jamie Mackintosh, 18 Josh Hohneck, 19 Matt Symons, 20 Liam Squire, 21 Brad Weber, 22 Andrew Horrell, 23 Anton Lienert-Brown.
Date: Friday, May 9
Venue: Yarrow Stadium, Taranaki
Kick-off: 19.35 (07.35 GMT)
Referee: Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Nick Briant (New Zealand), Shane McDermott (New Zealand)
TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)
