Northern Edition
Select Edition
Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Chiefs roll out A-team for 'barn-stormer' Blues battle

Emoni Narawa celebrates his try for the Chiefs. (Photo by SAEED KHAN/AFP /AFP via Getty Images

Head coach Clayton McMillan has selected a settled and experienced Gallagher Chiefs team to host the Blues in round six of the DHL Super Rugby Pacific competition at the FMG Stadium Waikato on Saturday.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Gallagher Chiefs will start with a forward pack boasting a collective 675 caps at this level, and a backline with an average of more than 50 caps each.

There is a settled look to the pack where Ollie Norris will start in the front row with All Black Samisoni Taukei’aho and Irish international John Ryan, who has been thoroughly impressive both on and off the field.

Video Spacer
Video Spacer

Tupou Vaa’i returns from injury to the middle row with centurion Brodie Retallick while Luke Jacobson returns to join Samipeni Finau and Sam Cane in the loose.

The only change in the backline from last week’s hard-fought win over the Waratahs in Sydney will see the exciting Taranaki 22-year-old Daniel Rona get his first start at centre after impressing off the bench.

There is plenty of power and excitement from the reserves to add much-needed impact.

“This is a game that the boys look forward to,” said head coach Clayton McMillan. “They are our closest neighbours and they are a team stacked with All Blacks.

“They understand how they want to play and they have the ability to impose that game on you if you allow them. They present a significant challenge.

ADVERTISEMENT

“The rivalry seems to bring the best out in both teams and I anticipate this will be a very physical contest.

“We owe it to our loyal supporters to deliver a performance that they can be proud of and hope they arrive in droves to witness what should be a barn-stormer.”

Related

1. Ollie Norris (33)
2. Samisoni Taukei’aho (68)
3. John Ryan (5)
4. Brodie Retallick (119)
5. Tupou Vaa’i (34)
6. Samipeni Finau (22)
7. Sam Cane (Co Captain, 141)
8. Luke Jacobson (53)
9. Brad Weber (Co Captain, 114)
10. Damian McKenzie (100)
11. Etene Nanai-Seturo (33)
12. Rameka Poihipi (19)
13. Daniel Rona (2)
14. Emoni Narawa (9)
15. Shaun Stevenson (72)

Reserves:
16. Tyrone Thompson (7)
17. Aidan Ross (65)
18. George Dyer (12)
19. Naitoa Ah Kuoi (38)
20. Pita Gus Sowakula (58)
21. Cortez Ratima (14)
22. Bryn Gatland (26)
23. Liam Coombes-Fabling (2)

ADVERTISEMENT

Via Press Release/Chiefs

ADVERTISEMENT

KOKO Show | July 22nd | Full Throttle with Brisbane Test Review and Melbourne Preview

New Zealand v South Africa | World Rugby U20 Championship | Extended Highlights

USA vs England | Men's International | Full Match Replay

France v Argentina | World Rugby U20 Championship | Extended Highlights

Lions Share | Episode 4

Zimbabwe vs Namibia | Rugby Africa Cup Final | Full Match Replay

USA vs Fiji | Women's International | Full Match Replay

Tattoos & Rugby: Why are tattoos so popular with sportspeople? | Amber Schonert | Rugby Rising Locker Room Season 2

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

N
NB 2 hours ago
Competing interests and rotated squads: What the 'player welfare summer' is really telling us

There are already reports of French clubs hoovering Aussie teenage talent and it made big waves down under https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250417-rugby-australia-hits-out-at-french-clubs-poaching-young-talent - big enough for Dan Herbert to come out and challenge the legality of the policy. Also they set up academy ‘shops’ in the Pac Islands a while back.


The sheer size of the Top 14 season wil demand squads as big as in the NFL in future, esp if they stick to their welfare guns more rigorously. That will mean more JIFF products and more young overseas ‘graduates’!

9 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ The RugbyPass team of the World Rugby U20 Championship The RugbyPass team of the World Rugby U20 Championship