SATURDAY, MAY 4th, 2024 FMG STADIUM, HAMILTON,NZ
Chiefs Starting Line-up
Aidan Ross, Bradley Slater, George Dyer, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Tupou Vaa’i, Samipeni Finau, Kalyum Boshier (c), Wallace Sititi, Cortez Ratima, Damian McKenzie, Daniel Rona, Quinn Tupaea, Anton Lienert-Brown, Emoni Narawa, Etene Nanai-Seturo
Reserves: Tyrone Thompson, Ollie Norris, Kauvaka Kalvelata, Manaaki Selby-Rickit, Luke Jacobson, Simon Parker, Xavier Roe, Josh Ioane
Chiefs Make Adjustments: Etene Nanai-Seturo starts at fullback with no Shaun Stevenson (hamstring)
Chiefs Captaincy Returns: Luke Jacobson returns via the bench
Second Row Change for Chiefs: Naitoa Ah Kuoi comes back into the second row, with Jimmy Tupou set to spend time on the sidelines with a facial fracture
Force Starting Line-up
Josh Bartlett, Tom Horton, Santiago Medrano, Tom Franklin, Jeremy Williams (c), Will Harris, Carlo Tizzano, Reed Prinsep, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Ben Donaldson, Chase Tiatia, Hamish Stewart, Sam Spink, Bayley Kuenzle, Kurtley Beale
Reserves: Feleti Kaitu’u, Marley Pearce, Tiaan Tauakipulu, Izack Rodda, Michael Wells, Henry Robertson, Max Burey, Henry O’Donnell
Following a lackluster showdown in Dunedin, the Force embark on a journey north to Hamilton for a face-off against the Chiefs. However, their task has been further complicated by the absence of Wallabies Sam Carter and Nic White. Yet amidst the setback, there’s a glimmer of hope as Jeremy Williams makes his comeback to the starting lineup and Tom Franklin shifts to the second-row. Meanwhile, the Chiefs have orchestrated alterations of their own, as prop Kauvaka Kaivelata prepares for his debut and captain Luke Jacobson stages his return from the bench.
Force Backline Shuffle: Issak Fines-Leleiwasa starts with Nic White out for a knee injury
Force Leadership: Jeremy Williams starts and captains the side with no Sam Carter
Force Debut: Henry Robertson will debut off the bench
Key Statistics:
- The Chiefs have won 14 of their last 15 Super Rugby Pacific matches at FMG Stadium Waikato.
- The Western Force have won one of their last six Super Rugby Pacific matches against New Zealand opposition, with five of six games decided by margins of more than 22 points.
- The Chiefs (13) and the Western Force (14.2) have conceded the fewest turnovers per game of any teams in the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season.
Prediction
Chiefs all the way, at home, and far too good for the Force. The score could get ugly.
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