The Chiefs have announced their team to play the Blues on Saturday night in their first Super Rugby match for 2015.
The match that will be played at QBE Stadium has caused the Chiefs coaches selection challenges.
“There has been some difficult decisions with a lot of competition for places. We’re rapt with the side we have picked but realise it will be a big challenge at North Harbour,” said head coach Dave Rennie.
In the front row Hika Elliot makes his return to Super Rugby and is joined by props Pauliasi Manu and Ben Tameifuna.
Pre-season captain Matt Symons will continue to lead the side from lock and will be joined by Michael Fitzgerald who is in his fourth season with the Chiefs.
There are two debutants In the loose forwards in Johan Bardoul and No 8 Ma’ama Vaipulu who will play alongside All Black Sam Cane who will rack up his 51st game for the Chiefs.
Brad Weber will start the match at scrumhalf and is joined by New Zealand Under 20 player, Damian Mckenzie, who has got the nod at flyhalf. Maori All Blacks captain Charlie Ngatai will join Sonny Bill Williams in the midfield with James Lowe, Tim Nanai-Williams and Tom Marshall making up the back three.
The reserves feature four players who are expected to make their Chiefs debut.
Prop Siate Tokolahi, lock Michael Allardice, flyhalf Marty Mckenzie and winger Bryce Heem all have the potential to take the field for their first Chiefs cap.
Chiefs: 15 Tom Marshall, 14 Tim Nanai-Williams, 13 Charlie Ngatai, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 James Lowe, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Brad Weber, 8 Maama Vaipulu, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Johan Bardoul, 5 Michael Fitzgerald, 4 Matt Symons (Captain), 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Pauliasi Manu
Replacments: 16 Rhys Marshall, 17 Jamie Mackintosh, 18 Siate Tokolahi, 19 Michael Allardice, 20 Tevita Koloamatangi, 21 Augustine Pulu, 22 Marty McKenzie, 23 Bryce Heem.
Date: Saturday 14 February
Venue: QBE Stadium, Albany
Kick-Off: 08:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 06:35 GMT)
Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand), Kane McBride (New Zealand)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
Strangely unfamiliar side with a lot of newer faces… and some little known players.
Talking about the newbies…. OK, I’ve seen the 2 McKenzie brothers play in the Under 20’s, I know very little about Brad Weber, Maama Vaipula, Johan Bardoul, Michael Fitzgerald, Siate Tokolahi, Michael Allardice, Tevita Koloamatangi (have seen a bit of him).
Everybody touts the Chiefs to do so well in 2015… to me the squad looks a mix and match squad between sublime and ordinary… so we’ll see, I suppose.