Starting at hooker: Hika Elliot
The Chiefs have made four changes to their starting XV for Saturday's Super Rugby clash with the Cheetahs at Waikato Stadium.
Hooker Hika Elliot will start at hooker having recovered calf-injury. He takes over from Rhys Marshall, who moves to the bench after an impressive debut in the win over the Highlanders last week.
Lock Michael Fitzgerald, scrum-half Augustine Pulu and winger Lelia Masaga start ahead of Craig Clarke, Tawera Kerr-Barlow and Patrick Osborne, who are all amongst the replacements.
"Out of all the South African sides the Cheetahs probably play a style that is closest to ours," said Chiefs coach Dave Rennie. "They are innovative and can score tries from anywhere around the park and like all South African sides they are big and physical."
"We had a really free flowing match against them in Bloemfontein last year, and we are expecting them to play a style of game similar to us, which is a free flowing, high paced, ruck and run game."
Chiefs: 15 Gareth Anscombe, 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Tim Nanai-Williams, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Augustine Pulu, 8 Fritz Lee, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Liam Messam (c), 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Michael Fitzgerald, 3 Ben Afeaki, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Pauliasi Manu.
Replacements: 16 Rhys Marshall, 17 Ben Tameifuna, 18 Craig Clarke, 19 Tanerau Latimer, 20 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 21 Charlie Ngatai, 22 Patrick Osborn
Date: Saturday, March 2
Kick-off: 19:35 (06:35 GMT)
Venue: Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
Referee: Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Garratt Williamson (New Zealand), Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Television match official: Vinny Munro (New Zealand).
Comments
kiwidiver says...
Hmmmm.....I wonder when the comments about the all Kiwi ref'ing staff will begin?????
Posted 20:28 28th February 2013
passtheball says...
true, tha_ma but this is the second game. Most of the early changes last year were forced on them and they, like last weekend, turned up trumps. I guess its all about instilling confidence and sticking to a game plan - pretty impressive and it reflects well on the coaching team that might be even better this year.
Posted 10:38 28th February 2013
tha_mai says...
passtheball - one of the Chiefs strengths last year was good use of their whole squad - they lost 5 players long term in the first match - props Ben Afeaki and Toby Smith, backs Lelia Masaga, Brendon Leonard all out 6-13 weeks, Alex Bradley 3 weeks. No point running the same 15/23 out each week it's a long comp.
Posted 08:34 28th February 2013
passtheball says...
This could be another all over the park fixture. Craig Clark probably rested as he went off injured last week and Pulu looks the goods and not as skittery as TKB. For a guy who has not even played ITM, Rhys Marshall was outstanding. Osborne lacks defence and deserves the bench.
Posted 06:33 28th February 2013