CHIEFS (1-15): Aidan Ross, Samisoni Taukei’aho, John Ryan, Brodie Retallick, Tupou Vaa’i, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Sam Cane (co-c), Luke Jacobson, Brad Weber (co-c), Damian McKenzie, Etene Nani-Seturo, Rameka Poihipi, Alex Nankivell, Emoni Narawa, Shaun Stevenson
RESERVES: Bradley Slater, Ollie Norris, George Dyer, Samipeni Finau, Pita Gus Sowakula, Cortez Ratima, Josh Ioane, Daniel Rona
HIGHLANDERS (1-15): Ethan de Groot, Rhys Marshall, Jermaine Ainsley, Paripari Parkinson, Josh Dickson, Shannon Frizell, James Lentjes (c), Hugh Renton, Aaron Smith, Mitch Hunt, Mosese Dawai, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Josh Timu, Martin Bogado, Freddie Burns
RESERVES: Leni Apisai, Ayden Johnstone, Saula Mau, Fabian Holland, Sean Withy, Kemara Hauiti-Parapara, Fetuli Paea, Connor Garden-Bachop
Referee: Paul Williams
Assistant referees: Dan Waenga, Mike Winter
After their shocking opening-round victory over the four-time defending Super Rugby champion Crusaders, the Chiefs had no hangover in Round 2, cruising past Moana Pasifika in a record-breaking 52-29 rout.
It was record-breaking due to the fact that the Chiefs’ Rameka Poihipi scored the fastest try in the competition’s history by going over after just eight seconds at AAMI Park in Melbourne. That try was one of six unanswered tries from the white-hot Chiefs in the first half.
The Hamilton-based club has the solo lead of the competition with 10 points after two rounds.
Meanwhile, the Highlanders are going in the complete opposite direction to start their season. They sit in last place on zero points and have a minus-77 point differential.
Though the adjustment to a new system under first-year coach Clarke Dermody is going to take some time (and the Highlanders have had a brutal first two opponents in the Blues and Crusaders, last year’s Super Rugby finalists), the team’s first two matches have featured little to be optimistic about.
With the return of De Groot, and starting Aron Smith with Mitch Hunt will certainly help the Southerners, they need to get a move on. Not easy with the first 3 games against the best, but you can not let the other teams get away from you.
Perhaps the Chiefs could stroll overconfidently into the FMG Stadium Waikato and let the Highlanders make it a competitive fixture, or coach Clayton McMillan’s side is bound for yet another decimating performance that shows why it deserves to be taken seriously as a title contender in Super Rugby.
The squad certainly has the personnel to contend.
All Black five-eighth Damian McKenzie (26 points) has been as good as advertised thus far for the Chiefs in his return to the club this season after a one-year stint in Japan, while winger Shaun Stevenson (three tries) looks to be amid a breakout campaign. The 26-year-old already is one try away from tying his previous single-season best in Super Rugby.
My prediction for this game is the Chiefs by plenty, at least 15 plus points.
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