The Chiefs have announced their team to play the Blues at Yarrow Stadium this Friday night in what marks their first of two trips to Taranaki this season.
The two-time defending champs have made a pair of changes to the forwards with prop Ben Tameifuna and lock Michael Fitzgerald starting. Bundee Aki comes in to the centres and Tim Nanai-Williams moves to 13 with Tom Marshall at fullback. Josh Hohneck move to the reserves and is joined by Liam Squire who has returned from injury, plus Anton Lienert-Brown.
Chiefs coach Dave Rennie said, “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.
"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 XV:
1. Pauliasi Manu
2. Nathan Harris
3. Ben Tameifuna
4. Michael Fitzgerald
5. Brodie Retallick
6. Tanerau Latimer
7. Sam Cane
8. Liam Messam (C)
9. Tawera Kerr-Barlow
10. Gareth Anscombe
11. James Lowe
12. Bundee Aki
13. Tim Nanai-Williams
14. Dwayne Sweeney
15. Tom Marshall
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
