Chiefs make wholesale changes

Editor

The Chiefs have made a whopping eight changes to their side that will face the Bulls, with Anton Lienert-Brown handed his debut.

The Chiefs have made a whopping eight changes to their side that will face the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld, with Anton Lienert-Brown given his debut.

After a disappointing performance at the Western Force last weekend, the Chiefs have chopped and changed for their visit to Pretoria on Saturday.

Prop Pauliasi Manu, hooker Rhys Marshall, lock Matt Symons, openside flanker Tanerau Latimer and number eight Kane Thompson have been brought into the starting line-up for the forwards.

In the backs, Tim Nanai-Williams experienced a minor hamstring tweak in Perth and will move to the bench, being replaced by Andrew Horrell.

18-year-old Lienert-Brown makes his Super Rugby debut on the wing after some strong performances during the pre-season and Mils Muliaina moves back to the full-back jersey.

Ben Afeaki will start off the bench and is joined by Jamie Mackintosh, Mahonri Schwalger, Michael Fitzgerald, Sam Cane and Gareth Anscombe.

Chiefs: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Anton Lienert-Brown, 13 Andrew Horrell, 12 Tom Marshall, 11 Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 10 Aaron Cruden (c), 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Kane Thompson, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Matt Symons, 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Rhys Marshall, 1 Pauliasi Manu.
Replacements: 16 Mahonri Schwalger, 17 Jamie Mackintosh, 18 Ben Afeaki, 19 Michael Fitzgerald, 20 Sam Cane, 21 Augustine Pulu, 22 Gareth Anscombe, 23 Tim Nanai-Williams.

Date: Saturday, March 29
Venue: Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria
Kick-off: 15.00 local (13.00 GMT)
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Stuart Berry (South Africa), Marc van Zyl (South Africa)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)