The Chiefs have lost four All Blacks for Saturday’s clash with the Melbourne Rebels because of the national side’s rest protocols in a Rugby World Cup season.
Co-captains Sam Cane and Brad Weber, star playmaker Damian McKenzie and lock Brodie Retallick will all miss the fourth round of Super Rugby Pacific when the Chiefs host the Rebels in Hamilton.
With that quartet unavailable, the Chiefs have made seven personnel changes to last weekend’s starting line-up.
McKenzie is replaced by Bryn Gatland at first five-eighth and Cortez Ratima is promoted to start at halfback as Weber drops out.
Luke Jacobson will skipper the competition leaders instead, a role he’s held before in Cane and Weber’s absence, and takes Cane’s spot at openside flanker.
Manaaki Selby-Rickit will make his Chiefs debut at lock after joining from the Highlanders and is straight into their starting XV, replacing Retallick.He partners Naitoa Ah Kuoi in the second row and Sampeni Finau will start in the back row with Jacobson and Pita Gus Sowakula at No 8.
Tyrone Thomspon starts for the first time ahead of All Blacks hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho, who is named on the bench, with Aidan Ross and John Ryan retained as the starting props.
Halfback Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi has been named on the bench, too, and he could make his first appearance for the Chiefs since 2021 after joining this year’s squad as an injury replacement for Xavier Roe.
Chiefs: Shaun Stevenson, Emoni Narawa, Alex Nankivell, Rameka Poihipi, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Bryn Gatland, Cortez Ratima; Pita Gus Sowakula, Luke Jacobson (c), Samipeni Finau, Manaaki Selby-Rickit, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, John Ryan, Tyrone Thompson, Aidan Ross.
Reserves: Samisoni Taukei’aho, Ollie Norris, George Dyer, Laghlan McWhannell, Kaylum Boshier, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Josh Ioane, Peniasi Malamali.
REBELS (1-15): Matt Gibbon, Alex Mafi, Sam Talakai, Tuaina Taii Tualima, Trevor Hosea, Josh Kemeny, Brad Wilkin (c), Richard Hardwick, Ryan Louwrens, Carter Gordon, Monty Ioane, Stacey Ili, Reece Hodge, Lachie Anderson, Nick Jooste
RESERVES: Anaru Rangi, Cabous Eloff, Pone Fa’amausili, Vaiolini Ekuasi, Angelo Smith, James Tuttle, David Feliuai, Lukas Ripley
The Rebels lost to the Force in round 1 in Perth, put up a good fight against the Hurricanes, round 2,and beat the Waratahs in Round 3, but this will test them out.
The Rebels will find it tough going playing in NZ. and against this mob at home. Even without their All Black players I think they will be too good. The Chiefs by a dozen points for me.
Referee: Dan Waenga
Assistant referees: Paul Williams, Nick Hogan
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