Damian McKenzie and Beauden Barrett set for All Blacks audition in huge Super Rugby Pacific duel as Chiefs drop 2024 Test sensation

Damian McKenzie will face-off with Beauden Barrett at fly-half after the Chiefs and Blues named their sides for this weekend’s Super Rugby Pacific clash.

In what could well be an All Blacks audition, the two main contenders for the 10 shirt will duel in Hamilton on Saturday.

McKenzie will lead a Chiefs backline which has shone this season and the playmaker combines with another Test player, Cortez Ratima, at half-back.

They have injury concerns in the midfield, however, with Quinn Tupaea following fellow first choice centre Anton Lienert-Brown in being sidelined.

That means Gideon Wrampling and Daniel Rona form a new partnership for the rematch of last year’s Super Rugby Pacific final, while Shaun Stevenson, Emoni Narawa and Leroy Carter are the back three.

Head coach Clayton McMillan has sprung a surprise up front by dropping 2024 breakout star Wallace Sititi to the bench.

The in-form Simon Parker therefore gets the opportunity at the base of the scrum, alongside Samipeni Finau and captain Luke Jacobson in the loose trio.

In the front five, Tupou Vaa’i and Naitoa Ah Kuoi combine in the engine room with George Dyer, Samisoni Taukei’aho and Aidan Ross the front-row combination.

“The Blues have built their games nicely over the past few weeks. We expect they will come in with a bit of momentum and no shortage of confidence,” McMillan said.

“We’ll be treating this like every other game with respect for the opposition, what they bring, and the assumption they’ll put up a tough game.”

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Tried and tested for Blues

Meanwhile, the Blues have made just one change to the side that thrashed the Waratahs last weekend with Adrian Choat replacing Anton Segner in the XV.

Last year’s champions have struggled this season but mounted a late surge to make the play-offs and have named a strong side.

Four of the backs were key players for the All Blacks last year in Mark Tele’a, Rieko Ioane, Caleb Clarke and Barrett.

The form of the Blues backs – particularly those in the wider channels – has not been as strong this season, but that quartet will be crucial to their chances this weekend.

Tele’a and Clarke are joined in the back three by Corey Evans, while AJ Lam partners Ioane in the midfield and All Blacks half-back Finlay Christie is alongside Barrett.

Up front, Hoskins Sotutu and Dalton Papali’i will need big games in the back-row, while there is more Test experience in the shape of captain Patrick Tuipulotu.

“We’ve built some good momentum over the past few weeks. Our guys are well connected and know what we want to achieve as a group,” head coach Vern Cotter said.

“Finals rugby is a clean slate, and it comes down to preparing and executing well. We are certainly up for the fight and looking forward to the opportunity ahead of us.

“We need our Blues fans behind us for this one and hope to see plenty of them in the crowd cheering us on.”

The teams

Chiefs: 15 Shaun Stevenson, 14 Emoni Narawa, 13 Daniel Rona, 12 Gideon Wrampling, 11 Leroy Carter, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Simon Parker, 7 Luke Jacobson (c), 6 Samipeni Finau, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 3 George Dyer, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 Aidan Ross
Replacements: 16 Brodie McAlister, 17 Ollie Norris, 18 Reuben O’Neill, 19 Josh Lord, 20 Wallace Sititi, 21 Xavier Roe, 22 Josh Jacomb, 23 Etene Nanai-Seturo

Blues: 15 Corey Evans, 14 Mark Tele’a, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 AJ Lam, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Finlay Christie, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Dalton Papali’i, 6 Adrian Choat, 5 Laghlan McWhannell, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Joshua Fusitu’a
Replacements: 16 Kurt Eklund, 17 Jordan Lay, 18 Angus Ta’avao, 19 Josh Beehre, 20 Anton Segner, 21 Sam Nock, 22 Harry Plummer, 23 Cole Forbes

Date: Saturday, June 7
Venue: FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
Kick-off: 19:05 local (08:05 BST, 07:05 GMT)
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant referees: Damon Murphy (Australia), Matt Kellahan (Australia)
TMO: James Leckie (Australia)

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