Super Rugby Pacific: Brodie Retallick to lead much-changed Chiefs against Fijian Drua
The Chiefs have made several changes to their matchday squad for Friday’s Super Rugby Pacific clash against the Fijian Drua, with All Blacks lock Brodie Retallick appointed as captain.
Head coach Clayton McMillan has refreshed his starting line-up and rested some experienced players for the match in Hamilton.
New second-row partner for Retallick
In the forwards, Manaaki Selby-Rickit comes in for Tupou Vaa’i to join Retallick in the second-row while Kaylum Boshier and Samipeni Finau replace Sam Cane and Luke Jacobson in the back-row.
Boshier and Finau are the starting flankers, while Pita Gus Sowakula moves from the side of the scrum – where he started in last week’s victory over the Hurricanes – to pack down at number eight.
Up front, Ollie Norris and John Ryan take over from Aiden Ross and George Dyer as the starting props and join All Blacks hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho in the front-row.
In the back-line, there’s a new halfback duo with Cortez Ratima starting at scrum-half while Bryn Gatland starts at fly-half while Damian McKenzie shifts to full-back for this encounter.
With McKenzie wearing the number 15 jersey, it means that Shaun Stevenson moves to the right wing, where he replaces Emoni Narawa.
There are also several alterations on the replacements bench, with Tyrone Thompson, Jared Proffit and Solomone Tukuafu the front-row cover while Josh Lord, Vaa’i and Simon Parker will be the back-up players for second-row and back-row.
There are just two backline replacements, with All Black scrum-half Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi joining Gideon Wrampling on the bench.
McMillan said: “The Fijian Drua have shown rapid improvement in their second season and have our full respect and attention. We know they have the athletes and skills to hurt you, particularly through the middle of the park where their power and athleticism can bend defensive lines and allow them to offload in contact.
Rotating the squad
“For us, there is some rotation, in part because of injury to regular starters, but also to reward those who have been working hard and demanding their opportunity.
“It is particularly pleasing to see Josh Lord and Gideon Wrampling back after long absences.
Their return, and the expected return of others in the coming weeks, will trend us closer to a full squad to select from, and that’s exactly what we want heading into the back half of the season.”
Chiefs: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Shaun Stevenson, 13 Daniel Rona, 12 Rameka Poihipi, 11 Etene Nanai-Seturo, 10 Bryn Gatland, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Pita Gus Sowakula, 7 Kaylum Boshier, 6 Samipeni Finau, 5 Manaaki Selby-Rickit, 4 Brodie Retallick (c), 3 John Ryan, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 Ollie Norris
Replacements: 16 Tyrone Thompson, 17 Jared Proffit, 18 Solomone Tukuafu, 19 Josh Lord, 20 Tupou Vaa’i, 21 Simon Parker, 22 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 23 Gideon Wrampling
Date: Friday, April 21
Venue: FMG Stadium, Hamilton
Kick-off: 19:05 local (08:05 BST, 07:05 GMT)
Referee: Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: James Doleman (New Zealand), Marcus Playle (New Zealand)
TMO: tbc
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