McKenzie headlines Chiefs team to face Brumbies
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Head coach Colin Cooper has named a strong starting XV to face the Brumbies which will be led by Chiefs co-captain Brodie Retallick in his 100th Super Rugby match for the Waikato side.
A near unchanged forward pack will take the field with the exception of Nepo Laulala who will move from the bench into the starting tighthead prop position for All Black Angus Ta’avao who is on leave.
In the backline All Black Damian McKenzie will return from injury to start combining with fellow All Black teammate Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi at halfback for the first time this season. Wing Ataata Moeakiola will take his position on the right wing with Bailyn Sullivan named as cover on the bench.
Joining Sullivan on the bench will be front rower Sosefo Kautai, loose forward Mitch Karpik, halfback cover Jonathan Taumateine and midfield cover Orbyn Leger.
Cooper said this weekend is an opportunity for the side to step up and embrace their learnings from last weekend.
“We have a young team and last week they learnt a lot, this weekend we need them to take on board those learnings and as a team deliver on them.
Cooper finished acknowledging the side will be wanting to deliver a positive performance in honour of their captain’s achievement.
“As a team we want this to be a memorable occasion for Brodie and we want to pull together a performance befitting this milestone on the field come Saturday night,” said Cooper.
Chiefs: 15 Shaun Stevenson, 14 Ataata Moeakiola, 13 Tumua Manu, 12 Anton Lienert-Brown, 11 Etene Nanai-Seturo, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 8 Tyler Ardron, 7 Lachlan Boshier, 6 Mitchell Brown, 5 Michael Allardice, 4 Brodie Retallick (captain), 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Nathan Harris, 1 Aidan Ross.
Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Tevita Mafileo, 18 Sosefo Kautai, 19 Taleni Seu, 20 Mitchell Karpik, 21 Jonathan Taumateine, 22 Orbyn Leger, 23 Bailyn Sullivan.
Date: Saturday, February 23
Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra
Kick-off: 19.45 (21.45 NZ time; 08.45 GMT)
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant referees: Damon Murphy (Australia), Graham Cooper (Australia)
TMO: Ian Smith (Australia)
