The Chiefs have made eight changes to the team that lost to the Force in Perth for this weekend’s Super Rugby match against the Bulls Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria.
The Chiefs are attempting to win their third straight title – a threepeat – and suffered their first loss of the season last week.
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Prop Pauliasi Manu, hooker Rhys Marshall, lock Matt Symons, flanker Tanerau Latimer and No 8 Kane Thompson have been bought into the starting line up for the forwards.
In the backs, Tim Nanai-Williams who experienced a minor hamstring tweak in the last game will move to the bench and is replaced by Andrew Horrell.
Eighteen year-old Anton Lienert-Brown makes his Super Rugby debut on the wing after some strong performances during the pre-season and Mils Muliaina moves back to fullback.
Ben Afeaki will start off the bench and is joined by Jamie Mackintosh, Mahonri Schwalger, Michael Fitzgerald, Sam Cane and Gareth Anscombe.
Chiefs: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Anton Lienert-Brown, 13 Andrew Horrell, 12 Tom Marshall, 11 Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 10 Aaron Cruden (Captian), 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Kane Thompson, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Matt Symons, 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Rhys Marshall, 1 Pauliasi Manu
Replacements: 16 Mahonri Schwalger, 17 Jamie Mackintosh, 18 Ben Afeaki, 19 Michael Fitzgerald, 20 Sam Cane, 21 Augustine Pulu, 22 Gareth Anscombe, 23 Tim Nanai-Williams.
The Chiefs bench is probably the best of any of the Nz teams and can see that as being the telling aspect with regards them winning at a ground that Nz teams fear to tread.