Chiefs not risking key players for Hurricanes visit
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Chiefs head coach Colin Cooper has revealed his team for their final round robin match of the 2018 Super Rugby season.
In the forwards, Sam Prattley gets his first start after effective performances off the bench for most of the season.
Brodie Retallick comes back into the No.4 jersey after six weeks on the injured list, Lachlan Boshier getting a start after returning last week.
Rounding out the impactful loose trio are Mitch Karpik and Jesse Parete.
Co-captain and openside flanker Sam Cane will sit out the game as a precautionary measure following his concussion suffered against the Brumbies.
In the backline, Marty McKenzie comes into the No.19 jersey for brother Damian, with Colin Cooper confident in his ability to drive the game.
“Marty will be the game driver at number ten, and we are confident that he can control the game really well.”
Damian McKenzie is serving his second and final All Blacks stand-down match.
Regular starters Liam Messam and Karl Tu’inukuafe will play off the bench.
Hooker Nathan Harris has been left out of the matchday 23 with a leg injury.
Chiefs: 15 Solomon Alaimalo, 14 Toni Pulu, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Charlie Ngatai, 11 Shaun Stevenson, 10 Marty McKenzie, 9 Brad Weber, 8 Jesse Parete, 7 Mitchell Karpik, 6 Lachlan Boshier, 5 Tyler Ardron, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Angus Ta’avao, 2 Liam Polwart, 1 Sam Prattley.
Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Karl Tu’inukuafe, 18 Jeff Thwaites, 19 Michael Allardice, 20 Liam Messam, 21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22 Tiaan Falcon, 23 Johnny Faauli.
Date: Saturday, July 13
Venue: FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
Kick-off: 19.35 (07.35 GMT)
Referee: Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Richard Kelly (New Zealand), James Doleman (New Zealand)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
Source: @ChiefsRugby & stuff.co.nz
