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Chiefs re-call All Blacks duo for New Zealand derby against Hurricanes

By Online Editors

10 Mar 2020

(Photo by Michael Bradley/Getty Images)

Chiefs head coach Warren Gatland has made two changes to his starting side to take to the field for Friday’s New Zealand derby against the Hurricanes in Hamilton.

A minor backline shuffle allows All Blacks star Damian McKenzie to return to the side following their 51-14 dismantling of the Waratahs in Wollongong last week.

The 24-year-old slot in at fullback in place of Solomon Alaimalo, who has shifted to the left wing in place of the injured Sean Wainui.

Continue reading below…

Up front, versatile utility forward Mitchell Brown enters the starting side at lock for Canadian international Tyler Ardron, who has been ruled out due to an infection.

All Blacks prop Atu Moli returns to the match day squad in the reserves, where he replaces youngster Ryan Coxon.

Moli joins hooker Bradley Slater as the only two alterations on the substitutes bench.

Gatland said the team want to continue to build on their performance in Wollongong.

“Last week we started well and that provided us with a solid platform for the second half. Again, this week we will be challenged to do the same,” he said in a statement.

“Any New Zealand derby is going to be a tough battle, the Hurricanes will be hurting from their loss last weekend and will be hungry to rectify that.

“We need to remain focused on being disciplined, utilise our opportunities and deliver a performance that our members and supporters can be proud of.”

The Chiefs currently sit at the top of the New Zealand conference and second overall with 18 points from five matches, five points clear of the eighth-placed Hurricanes.

The Hurricanes are expected to name their side later this afternoon.

Chiefs team to play the Hurricanes

1. Aidan Ross
2. Samisoni Taukei’aho
3. Ross Geldenhuys
4. Michael Allardice
5. Mitchell Brown
6. Lachlan Boshier
7. Sam Cane ©
8. Pita Gus Sowakula
9. Brad Weber
10. Aaron Cruden
11. Solomon Alaimalo
12. Anton Lienert-Brown
13. Tumua Manu
14. Shaun Stevenson
15. Damian McKenzie

Reserves:
16. Bradley Slater
17. Atu Moli
18. Reuben O’Neill
19. Naitoa Ah Kuoi
20. Mitchell Karpik
21. Lisati Milo-Harris
22. Kaleb Trask
23. Alex Nankivell

– With Chiefs Rugby

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Comments on RugbyPass

IkeaBoy 20 minutes ago

Where are they now? The Lomu-led All Blacks team that destroyed England

He was certainly. Proper speed merchant. Seems to building a good rep with his coaching these days also.

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NB 21 minutes ago

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I don’t think anyone has suggested he should be part of the WB squad for the Lions as a play O/S!

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NB 22 minutes ago

Has Quade Cooper solved a Lions riddle for Australia?

He certainly doesn’t offer the variety that JOC does for sure.

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RK 33 minutes ago

Ian Foster left to ponder what might have been after Tony Brown and Jamie Joseph recruitment misstep

Tony Brown is in a much better environment now with the Springboks, under Rassie and a winning and innovate culture, unlike Foster who definitely doesn’t fit that mould

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RedWarrior 39 minutes ago

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There are barely more Irish players than English players which is hard on Ireland given the superiority over many years. Places are earned. I do think English entitlement borders on the ridiculous sometimes.

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RedWarrior 42 minutes ago

Where are they now? The Lomu-led All Blacks team that destroyed England

Fitzpatrick did some sledging that afternoon. Poor Rob Andrew was a little shell shocked and gave away cheap possession. Next ruck the mic picked up Fitzpatrick beside Andrew saying 'loudly ‘Come on Boys, lets show them how to play Footie!’

England did keep playing in fairness.

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JN 44 minutes ago

Has 'narrow-mindedness' cost Ribbans and others their Lions chance?

Sorry, this comment is narrow mindedness too, they should be able to have their cake and eat it. It’s supposed to be a professional sport. Why is it okay for South Africa but not other countries, surely this proves that it works. South Africa aren't paying the big bucks for stars wages so have money to invest in the player pathways that England, Wales do not. Any players should be able to play for any club, just the same as football snd other sports.

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Cantab 52 minutes ago

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Yes the Chiefs have strike power on the wings but so too do the Crusaders. This match I suspect will be decided up front where the Crusaders appear to have a slight edge in the front 5 and they are now showing strength in their defensive system . Note that after a shaky start the Crusaders defence gave the Blues nothing other than their 2 early tries while scoring 3 of their own. This match is going to be tight either way.

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Icefarrow 1 hour ago

The Chiefs are better than the Crusaders

Obviously, my comment meant to be taken literally.

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fl 1 hour ago

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“Yes I wrote that, because you had Leinster as the best team in the world. What was that based on - winning the URC this season?”

It was based on Leinster’s performances over the course of this season, and on their trophy. If Bordeaux beat Toulouse then I’ll change my mind and move them to first. But as it is I expect Bordeaux, Toulouse, and Leinster to all finish with one trophy each, and with Leinster having produced the best week-on-week performances of the three.

“One of those teams won the league in each of those years so yes they were worse. If I was a fan of either of those four teams I would rather have been a fan of a team that won a trophy than didn’t.”

That’s true - I would too. With regard to Stormers I think their trophy was very much enabled by the fact that they weren’t playing in europe, so were able to rest their players much more than the non-SA teams were so I’m not sure whether I would or wouldn’t consider them to have had a better season than Leinster in 2022, but clearly Munster and Glasgow (respectively) had better seasons than Leinster in 2023 and 2024. But if I was a fan of one of those 3 teams I would rather be a fan of a team that won 66 URC+CC matches over the course of 3 seasons (Leinster) than a team that won 46 (Munster) or 42 (Glasgow). If you think trophies are literally the only thing that matters, do you think Blackburn Rovers are a more successful Premier League team than Tottenham Hotspur are?

“You contradict yourself alot. Trophies matter in one post and in the same post coming second consistently makes you better.”

Its going to get really frustrating if you’re not willing to read what I write. I said: “Trophies matter. They matter a lot. But so does winning games. So does making finals.” How does that contradict my assessment that Leinster were better than Stormers?

“I doubt Leinster would say they have been the better team in any of the seasons you keep going on about.”

Teams generally downplay talk of them being the best, so that wouldn’t surprise me. But crucially I don’t think Leinster were the best team in 2022, or in 2023, or in 2024, so I’m not sure what you think you’re responding to.

“Lets make it clear though - you are the one who went on and on about previous seasons with your deep dive into la Rochelle and Stormers etc.”

Yeah - I did that because you brought up Leinster’s trophyless record from 2022-2024, so I thought that was worth responding to. If you’d like though I can stop responding to the things you say?

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JW 1 hour ago

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Alex 1 hour ago

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SadersMan 1 hour ago

The Chiefs are better than the Crusaders

Don’t be a sucker & let him live in your head bud. He doesn’t deserve your time. My comments are clearly satire. Look it up.