Five debutants for new-look Chiefs
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan has named his first team to take on the Highlanders in their Super Rugby Aotearoa season opener in Hamilton on Friday.
While the game will be played under COVID Level Two restrictions, the selected 23 are eager to impress fans watching at home, along with the restricted number in attendance made up of player’s whanau, members and sponsors.
Five debutants feature in the matchday 23.
Sione Mafileo, Bryn Gatland and Jonah Lowe will pull on the Chiefs jersey for the first time – having been named in the starting XV, alongside loose forward Samipeni Finau, who will make his Super Rugby debut in the No.6 jersey.
Scrumhalf Xavier Roe is in-line make his Super Rugby debut off the bench.
Loosehead prop Reuben O’Neill, hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho and tighthead debutant Mafileo will pack down a powerful front row.
A youthful locking duo of All Black Tupou Vaa’i and Naitoa Ah Kuoi will complete the tight five.
Former New Zealand Under-20 loose forward Samipeni will be joined by Chiefs co-captain Sam Cane at openside flank and Luke Jacobson will pack down the scrum at No.8, completing a formidable forward pack.
In the backs, Chiefs co-captain Brad Weber will start at scrumhalf, combining with Gatland at flyhalf for his first game in the Chiefs jersey.
All Black midfielder Anton Lienert-Brown will start at inside centre, with Māori All Black Sean Wainui named at outside centre.
Etene Nanai-Seturo will light up the left wing, with Lowe debuting on the right and All Black fullback Damian McKenzie will complete an exciting backline.
The Chiefs bench provides a balanced mix of experience and youth – with hooker Bradley Slater joined by rookie Ollie Norris and Angus Ta’avao.
Mitchell Brown and Mitchell Karpik will inject energy off the bench in jerseys No.19 and No.20 respectively.
An exciting backline trio of debutant hopeful Roe, midfielder Alex Nankivell and utility back Shaun Stevenson will complete the twenty-three.
McMillan congratulated the debutants on their upcoming achievements.
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“It’s a great privilege to be able to pull on the Chiefs jersey and it is a special occasion for them and their whānau We are excited to see what impact they will have on Friday’s game,” he said
McMillan added the team was eager to kick their 2021 campaign off.
“A significant amount of effort has gone into our pre-season and there is a genuine excitement leading into our first game.
“It is important all that hard work and energy manifests into a performance we can all be proud of.
“We know that a lot of our fans are disappointed they cannot attend this Friday, but we are grateful we can have a select group of sponsors, members, and whānau there to support our team,” said McMillan.
Injured players unavailable for selection include Atu Moli (hips), Aidan Ross (knee), Laghlan McWhannell (knee), Lachlan Boshier (foot), Pita Gus Sowakula (knee), Kaleb Trask (knee), Quinn Tupaea (hamstring), Chase Tiatia (concussion).
Chiefs: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Jonah Lowe, 13 Sean Wainui, 12 Anton Lienert-Brown, 11 Etene Nanai-Seturo, 10 Bryn Gatland, 9 Brad Weber (co-captain), 8 Luke Jacobson, 7 Sam Cane (co-captain), 6 Samipeni Finau, 5 Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 4 Tupou Vaa’i, 3 Sione Mafileo, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 Reuben O’Neill.
Replacements: 16 Bradley Slater, 17 Ollie Norris, 18 Angus Ta’avao, 19 Mitchell Brown, 20 Mitchell Karpik, 21 Xavier Roe, 22 Alex Nankivell, 23 Shaun Stevenson.
Date: Friday, March 5
Venue: Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
Kick-off: 19.05 (06.05 GMT)
Referee: Paul Williams
Assistant referees: Mike Fraser, James Doleman
TMO: Brendon Pickerill
