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Chiefs lineup bolstered by All Blacks for Crusaders clash in Hamilton
By Henry Lee
Chiefs head coach Jono Gibbes has had the luxury of calling upon an extra All Black this week in his match day 23, with Wallace Sititi set to make his first appearance of the Super Rugby Pacific season this weekend.
Sititi has missed the first couple of weeks through a minor injury, and will return via the bench in the No.20 jersey against the Crusaders.
Gibbes and the Chiefs are still without star first-five Damian McKenzie, who has been back in training according to assistant coach Marty Bourke on Sport Nation Breakfast with Scotty & Izzy, but he won’t be featured in their first home game.
All Blacks duo Simon Parker and Emoni Narawa come into the starting lineup for the match against the winless Crusaders, meaning a reshuffle in the loose-forwards sees Kaylum Boshier move to No.7, while Kyren Taumoefolau misses out completely.
Xavier Roe will make his 50th Super Rugby Pacific appearance this weekend at FMG Stadium Waikato, with All Black halfback Cortez Ratima not considered due to paternity leave.
There’s a spot for former Wallabies midfielder Lalakai Foketi on the bench, who will mark his return to the Chiefs after being part of the development program under Dave Rennie.
Gibbes, who will be pleased with his side’s two wins so far this season over New Zealand franchises, said that the depth his squad has is making it hard to leave players out.
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“We’ve got a healthy squad so that helps with the consistency in selections, but the players are making it really tough to pick the team – which is great,” Gibbes said post team announcement.
Gallagher Chiefs v Crusaders, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton, Feb 28.
Starting XV
Jared Proffit
Samisoni Taukei’aho
George Dyer
Josh Lord
Tupou Vaa’i (vc)
Simon Parker
Kaylum Boshier
Luke Jacobson (c)
Xavier Roe
Josh Jacomb
Leroy Carter
Quinn Tupaea (vc)
Daniel Rona
Emoni Narawa
Etene Nanai-Seturo
Reserves
16. Tyrone Thompson
17. Benet Kumeroa
18. Reuben O’Neill
19. Samipeni Finau
20. Wallace Sititi
21. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi
22. Tepaea Cook-Savage
23. Lalakai Foketi
Unavailable
Jahrome Brown – Concussion
Brodie McAlister – Hand – Expected return Rnd 5
Isaac Hutchinson – Knee – Expected return Rnd 8
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