The Chiefs have named their team to face the Highlanders this weekend with Isaac Ross earning his first start of the season… and a few surprise dropped players.
The match will be played at Carisbrook in Dunedin on Friday and the Chiefs will be looking to secure their first win of the season after they lost to the Brumbies last weekend in round one.
Tana Umaga, Stephen Donald, Brendon Leonard and Tim Nanai-Williams are all dropped from the starting lineup, replaced by Jackson Willison, Mike Delany, Tawera Kerr-Barlow and Lelia Masaga respectively. Tana Umaga does not even make the bench for this clash.
The Highlanders will be coming off a surprise victory over the Hurricanes and will be full of confidence.
Craig Clarke, Colin Bourke, Fritz Lee and Richard Kahui wre not considered for the match due to injury.
Chiefs’ Coach Ian Foster said, “We are keen to build on our second half performance from last week’s game as we travel to our second away match at Carisbrook.”
“We have taken into account the significant travel and the six day turn around and have made some changes accordingly, as well as two injury changes with Craig Clarke who came away with a head injury and Fritz Lee with a knee injury which has ruled them out.
“Romana Graham, who had probably played his best game at Super Rugby level, suffered bad cramp and we have made decision to rest him this week”.
“Congratulations to Isaac Ross who gets his first start for the Chiefs this week. Our thoughts go out to the people of Christchurch as we too have players with families there” commented Foster.
Chiefs team:
1. Toby Smith,2. Aled de Malmanche,3. Nathan White,4. Hayden Triggs,5. Isaac Ross,6. Scott Waldrom,7. Tanerau Latimer,8. Liam Messam,9. Tawera Kerr-Barlow,10. Mike Delany,11. Sitiveni Sivivatu,12. Dwayne Sweeney,13. Jackson Willison,14. Lelia Masaga,15. Mils Muliaina (Captain)
Replacements: 16. Ben May,17. Daniel Perrin,18. Culum Retallick,19. Steven Setephano,20. Brendon Leonard,21. Stephen Donald,22. Tim Nanai-Williams