Brodie Retallick to captain Chiefs against Highlanders

All Blacks lock Brodie Retallick will skipper the Chiefs in their Super Rugby derby opener against the Highlanders at FMG Stadium Waikato on Friday.

Retallick was named as co-captain alongside Sam Cane before the season but, with the flanker still on the sidelines, the second-row will take sole charge.

Elsewhere, four promising players are set to make their debuts. They include 21-year-old fly-half Orbyn Leger, All Blacks Sevens star Etene Nanai-Seturo, Auckland centre Tumua Manu and Tongan-born Japan international winger Ataata Moeakiola, who starts on the bench.

However, it is also an experienced line-up which includes returning All Blacks Nathan Harris, Retallick, Anton Leinert-Brown, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi and Angus Ta’avao.

In naming the side, head coach Colin Cooper touched on the privilege these young men have to play in the Chiefs jersey.

“It will be a proud moment for our debutants when they run out with the team on Friday,” Cooper said. “It is a privilege to wear the Chiefs jersey and as a team we want to demonstrate to our whanau and supporters how proud we are to represent our region and club.”

Chiefs: 15 Shaun Stevenson, 14 Bailyn Sullivan, 13 Tumua Manu, 12 Anton Lienert-Brown, 11 Etene Nanai-Seturo, 10 Orbyn Leger, 9 Brad Weber, 8 Tyler Ardron, 7 Lachlan Boshier, 6 Mitchell Brown, 5 Michael Allardice, 4 Brodie Retallick (c), 3 Angus Ta’avao, 2 Nathan Harris, 1 Atu Moli
Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Aidan Ross, 18 Nepo Laulala, 19 Taleni Seu, 20 Jesse Parete, 21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22 Stephen Donald, 23 Ataata Moeakiola

Date: Friday, February 15
Venue: FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
Kick-off: 19:35 local (06:35 GMT)
Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Federico Anselmi (Argentina), Nick Briant (New Zealand)
Television match official: Aaron Paterson (New Zealand)