Brad Weber back to lead Chiefs in final match under Clayton McMillan's tenure as head coach
All Blacks halfback Brad Weber will be back running operations at the base of the ruck on Saturday evening when the Chiefs take on the Waratahs in Sydney.
Weber is one of six changes that interim head coach Clayton McMillan has made to the starting XV, with the former policeman set to slide back into an assistant role with the Chiefs next year upon the return of Warren Gatland.
The introduction of Weber will add some much-needed experience to the backline with Anton Lienert-Brown dropped to the bench in order to give the All Blacks midfielder a rest ahead of a long test season.
Alex Nankivell takes over from Lienert-Brown at centre, with McMillan suggesting that another new addition to the lineup, wing Sean Wainui, will likely slot into the midfield later on in the match if necessary and that Lienert-Brown, named on the bench, will only join the fray if injuries for the change.
In the forwards, Bradley Slater has been handed a third start of the year at hooker. While the Taranaki rake finished last season as the Chiefs’ first-choice No 2, he’s been usurped in that role by Samisoni Taukei’aho – who will play from the bench on Saturday.
The Chiefs’ ongoing locking crisis – made all the worse thanks to the loss of Josh Lord and Mitch Brown to head knocks, means utility forward Zane Kapeli will line up in the second row.
On the reserves bench, loose forwards Viliami Taulani and Tom Florence could make their second appearances of the year after joining the squad as injury replacements during the season.
Reuben O’Neill, an All Blacks tourist in 2018, has been named to cover tighthead prop despite accruing all his playing minutes in 2021 on the loosehead side of the scrum.
While the Chiefs are technically capable of making the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman final if they can record a big win against the Waratahs, they’d also require at least three of the Blues, Highlanders, Crusaders (all undefeated) and Hurricanes to suffer defeats this weekend – and that still wouldn’t guarantee a finals berth for the Waikato franchise.
As such, Saturday night’s game will likely be the final match of the year for the Chiefs and the final match of Clayton McMillan’s relatively successful tenure as head coach.
With just one round remaining in Super Rugby Trans-Tasman, all five Kiwi teams still have a chance at making for next Saturday's final. Here's how each team can qualify. #SuperRugbyTT https://t.co/grfxJgOD5l
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 7, 2021
After losing all eight Super Rugby Aotearoa games in 2020, the Chiefs bounced back to nab six wins in this year’s competition and progress through to a final with the Crusaders. They’ve suffered just one further loss in the Trans-Tasman portion of the campaign.
Saturday evening’s match kicks off at 7:45pm AEST (9:45pm NZT) from Brookvale Oval in Sydney.
Chiefs: Kaleb Trask, Shaun Stevenson, Alex Nankivell, Quinn Tupaea, Sean Wainui, Bryn Gatland, Brad Weber, Luke Jacobson, Lachlan Boshier, Pita Gus Sowakula, Tupou Vaa’i, Zane Kapeli, Angus Ta’avao, Bradley Slater, Aidan Ross. Reserves: Samisoni Taukei’aho, Oliver Norris, Reuben O’Neill, Viliami Taulani, Tom Florence, Xavier Roe, Anton Lienert-Brown, Chase Tiatia.
Comments on RugbyPass
100% agree with your comment about Touch. I’ve been playing it competitively since Covid. It’s on a Wednesday night after work. It means the weekend is free for time with my family.
1 Go to commentsRodda back is massively important for the Wallabies. Kaitu at hooker important too coz he was very good a few years ago.
1 Go to commentsThe pink cabous might be eligible this year and the Boks don’t need him
7 Go to commentsNasser and kaitu are options for hooker. Especially Nasser. You forgot Rodda who touch wood will be fit at test time and if fit he’s number one. Great partner for the great Skelton and Oz best lineout caller. Third best lock is LSL whom I’d be inclined to sub on for Skelton around 60 minutes. Probably start valetini at 8 because I like a big body back there. Cale should play 6 at the brumbies. For Wallabies definitely cale in the squad but as an apprentice. Dunno who starts at 6 seru wright Swinton hanigan with Will Harris and Harry Wilson not far away. Seru and Swinton my front runners but Swinton is going. Still if we don’t cap seru then Fiji must coz they need his lineout skills and easily compensate for his lack of weight
7 Go to commentsYeah but who was it?
8 Go to commentsThink you might have written this just before the Brumbies got thrashed last weekend
7 Go to commentsI really do believe that Billy Proctor should be selected at least in the larger squad but also it would be my choice at 13, much more a center than Ioane who can still play at wing. Roigard if fit should play, otherwise it should be Perenara or Christie. Also, Iose could deserve a spot at blindside. Of course, being a Canes supporter I’m biased but I really believe that at least Billy P is deserving a chance and being Holland one of the Selectors, I’m having a little hope he could grab it.
12 Go to commentsI would not play Swinton I’d pick Wright or Hanigan. The rest are decent starters, but can’t agree on any subs except Tupou. My take on the subs: Gibbon, Ueslese, Tupou, LSL, Wilson, White, Will Harrison, and Petaia.
7 Go to commentsSBW the biggest moron to pull on a black jersey a park footy player at best
8 Go to commentsSBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
8 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
12 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
12 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
7 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
8 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
12 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
12 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
7 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
7 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
12 Go to comments