Chiefs make five changes

Editor

Chiefs head coach Dave Rennie has made five changes to the starting line-up which defeated the Bulls for their clash with the Stormers.

In the forwards, Kane Hames and Atu Moli are promoted from the bench to start alongside veteran hooker Hika Elliot in the front-row. Taranaki flanker Lachlan Boshier returns to the 23 to replace the injured Sam Cane at seven.

There are two changes to the back-line with explosive Counties Manukau back Toni Pulu returning from a hamstring strain to start on the right wing and fan favourite Stephen Donald moving from the bench to claim jersey 12.

Of note in the reserves is the inclusion of 20-year-old Waikato prop Sosefo Kautai. The former New Zealand U20s representative is in line to make his Super Rugby debut off the bench. It’s also an exciting night for Sam McNicol who has diligently worked his way back from concussion to make his first appearance in the 23 for 2017.

Chiefs: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Toni Pulu, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Stephen Donald, 11 James Lowe, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Michael Leitch, 7 Lachlan Boshier, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Dominic Bird, 3 Atu Moli, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Kane Hames
Replacements: 16 Brayden Mitchell, 17 Siegfried Fisi’ihoi, 18 Sosefo Kautai, 19 Taleni Seu, 20 Mitchell Brown, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Sam McNicol, 23 Shaun Stevenson

Date: Saturday, April 8
Venue: Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off: 17:15 local (15:15 GMT)
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant Referees: Jaco van Heerden (South Africa), Cwengile Jadezweni (South Africa)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)