Wallace Sititi makes long-awaited return for the Chiefs while fellow All Blacks star hits milestone
Chiefs and All Blacks stars Wallace Sititi (back-row) and Samisoni Taukei’aho (hooker).
All Blacks loose forward Wallace Sititi has been ruled fit and will make his long-awaited return to action for the Chiefs against the Western Force at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on Friday.
The 22-year-old has been sidelined for the men from Hamilton’s entire Super Rugby Pacific campaign due to a knee injury which he sustained during the All Blacks’ 2024 end-of-year tour.
However, Sititi has made a full recovery and has been named on the Chiefs‘ replacements bench as back-row cover.
As World Rugby’s current Breakthrough Player of the Year, Sititi’s return is a major boost for the Chiefs as Super Rugby Pacific heads towards the business end of the season.
Meanwhile, Friday’s clash against the Force will be a special occasion for fellow All Blacks star Samisoni Taukei’aho as he will make his 100th appearance for the Chiefs when he runs out as the starting hooker.
The 27-year-old has been a regular for the Chiefs since making his debut in 2017 and will be joined in the front-row for Friday’s clash by George Dyer and Aidan Ross, who are the starting props.
Chiefs head coach Clayton McMillan paid tribute to Taukei’aho ahead of his special achievement.
‘A special milestone’
“Samisoni has earned every one of those 100 caps through commitment to the game and to the team. It’s a special milestone, and to celebrate it on Anzac Day, in front of a sold-out crowd at Bay Oval, makes it all the more meaningful,” he said.
All Blacks great worries Super Rugby is now a ‘pathway’ not a ‘destination’ for top players
New Zealand representatives Tupou Vaa’i and Josh Lord will pack down in the second-row, while experienced All Blacks loose forward Luke Jacobson will captain the side from number eight and he is joined in the back-row by flankers Kaylum Boshier and Samipeni Finau.
In the backline, Damian McKenzie has been ruled out with a hand injury which means Josh Jacomb will start at fly-half alongside Cortez Ratima to form a strong half-back combination, while Anton Lienert-Brown and Quinn Tupaea will resume their potent midfield partnership.
The backline is completed by Shaun Stevenson, who continues at full-back, while Emoni Narawa and Daniel Rona will start on the wings.
McMillan has opted for a six-two split on his bench with Brodie McAlister, Ollie Norris, Reuben O’Neill, Naitoa Ah Kuoi and Simon Parker joining Sititi as forward replacements while Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi and Kaleb Trask will offer backline cover.
It will be a special occasion for Trask when he takes to the field as he hails from the Bay of Plenty and will be running out in front of his home crowd at Bay Oval.
Chiefs team to take on the Western Force
Chiefs: 15 Shaun Stevenson, 14 Emoni Narawa, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Quinn Tupaea, 11 Daniel Rona, 10 Josh Jacomb, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Luke Jacobson (c), 7 Kaylum Boshier, 6 Samipeni Finau, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Josh Lord, 3 George Dyer, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 Aidan Ross
Replacements: 16 Brodie McAlister, 17 Ollie Norris, 18 Reuben O’Neill, 19 Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20 Simon Parker, 21 Wallace Sititi, 22 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 23 Kaleb Trask
Date: Friday, April 25
Venue: Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui
Kick-off: 19:05 local (08:05 BST, 07:05 GMT)
Referee: James Dolemany (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Marcus Playle (New Zealand), Fraser Hannon (New Zealand)
TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)
READ MORE: New Zealand icon makes dramatic retirement U-turn ahead of World Cup
