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Chiefs hoping to honour Retallick at home

Brodie Retallick. Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images

The Chiefs return to FMG Stadium Waikato to take on the Sunwolves on Saturday 2 March in the third round of the 2019 Super Rugby competition.

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Kicking off at 7.35pm the Chiefs will welcome the return of winger Sean Wainui and midfield cover Alex Nankivell, who will make their first appearance of the 2019 Super Rugby competition.

Hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho will have his first start in the Gallagher Chiefs jersey in a new front row combination of Aidan Ross, Taukei’aho and Angus Ta’avao. Legendary lock Brodie Retallick and Michael Allardice will complete the tight five. Loose forward Mitchell Brown will don jersey number six and Mitchell Karpik earns his first start at seven for the season with Lachlan Boshier named in the reserves. Taleni Seu moves into the starting fifteen after Tyler Ardron was ruled out with concussion. Taranaki’s Jesse Parete will provide cover on the bench.

Brad Weber returns to start at halfback, with Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi moving to the bench. Unchanged at ten, Damian McKenzie will steer the backline for the Gallagher Chiefs. Impressive midfielder Orbyn Leger will start at his preferred second five eighth position combining with centre Tumua Manu in the midfield. The back three will remain unchanged with the exception of returning winger Wainui who has been named on the right wing ahead of Ataata Moeakiola who has been named in jersey number 23.

In the reserves, Taranaki hooker Bradley Slater who will be looking to make his Super Rugby debut off the bench. Slater will be joined by Tasman midfielder Nankivell who will don jersey number 22. Propping duo Tevita Mafielo and Sosefo Kautai maintain their position in the 23 as cover.

Assistant Coach Tabai Matson said this weekend will be no light task for the Chiefs.

“This weekend we need to pull together what we have been working on at training and transfer that into the game. The Sunwolves are a good side and we are not taking them lightly. They were close to a win last week and will be hurting just as we are. We just need to do the basics right and the rest will fall into place,” said Matson.

Matson finished acknowledging the team want to provide Brodie Retallick with a more fitting celebration for his achievement.

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“Last week we didn’t deliver for Brodie. As a team we want to be able to put in a performance we are proud of and provide Brodie with a fitting acknowledgement for this significant milestone in front of a home crowd.”

CHIEFS

  1. Aidan Ross (15)
  2. Samisoni Taukei’aho (11)
  3. Angus Ta’avao (9)
  4. Brodie Retallick (100)
  5. Michael Allardice (36)
  6. Mitchell Brown (23)
  7. Mitchell Karpik (14)
  8. Taleni Seu (36)
  9. Brad Weber (58)
  10. Damian McKenzie (66)
  11. Etene Nanai-Seturo (2)
  12. Orbyn Leger (1)
  13. Tumua Manu (2)
  14. Sean Wainui (15)
  15. Shaun Stevenson (35)

Reserves:

  1. Bradley Slater**
  2. Tevita Mafileo (2)
  3. Sosefo Kautai (6)
  4. Jesse Parete (10)
  5. Lachlan Boshier (32)
  6. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (19)
  7. Alex Nankivell (9)
  8. Ataata Moeakiola (2)

Rugby World Cup City Guides – Oita:

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Nickers 24 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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