Chiefs 'refreshed' and ready for James Slipper's big night

A “refreshed’ Chiefs team are in Canberra, ready to face the Brumbies in a special Super Rugby Pacific encounter off the back of a bye week.

James Slipper is set to become Super Rugby’s all-time leader in games played with his 203rd match, and the Chiefs have named Reuben O’Neill to square off with the veteran in the scrums.

O’Neill is joined by a familiar forward pack, with Wallace Sititi’s injury the only big takeaway from the team naming. The All Blacks flanker is expected to be sidelined for another 2-4 weeks with a hamstring complaint, having played just 28 minutes in the Super Rugby Pacific season to date.

The good news is that Luke Jacobson is back from a hip injury that kept him sidelined for the round 4 win over Moana Pasifika.

In the backline, the Chiefs are giving Liam Coombes-Fabling another run at fullback and moving Etene Nanai-Seturo to the left wing, with Leroy Carter on the right.

“The Brumbies are a terrific side, and the Force next week will be tough in Perth, so this is a good mini tour for us. If we get things right, it will help set us up for the rest of the season,” said Chiefs head coach Jono Gibbes.

“The bye came at a good time because we’d had a tough start to the season with the derbies, and the guys have looked refreshed since they’ve been back with us.”

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins

0

Draws

0

Wins

5

Average Points scored

18

36

First try wins

60%

Home team wins

80%

Chiefs team to play the Brumbies

1. Jared Profitt
2. Samisoni Taukei’aho
3. Reuben O’Neill
4. Josh Lord
5. Tupou Vaa’i (vc)
6. Simon Parker
7. Jahrome Brown
8. Luke Jacobson (c)
9. Cortez Ratima
10. Damian McKenzie
11. Etene Nanai-Seturo
12. Quinn Tupaea (vc)
13. Daniel Rona
14. Leroy Carter
15. Liam Coombes-Fabling

Reserves

16. Tyrone Thompson
17. Ollie Norris
18. George Dyer
19. Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi
20. Samipeni Finau
21. Xavier Roe
22. Josh Jacomb
23. Lalakai Foketi

Injury list

Wallace Sititi – Hamstring – Rd 8-10
Jayden Sa – Shoulder – timeline TBC
Fiti Sa – Quad – Rd 8
Isaac Hutchinson – Knee – Rd 8
Benét Kumeroa – Ankle – Rd 12