Four All Blacks return for Chiefs in Highlanders showdown

Chiefs head coach Jono Gibbes has made one change to his starting 15 for their clash against the Highlanders this week, adding recently re-signed All Black winger Leroy Carter to the mix.

The match under the roof on Saturday night will see three other players with All Blacks experience return to the matchday 23, with Emoni Narawa, Simon Parker, and three-Test halfback Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi all set to feature off the bench.

Narawa will make his 50th Super Rugby Pacific appearance this weekend, and it will be his first game back, apart from a quick feature against the Blues development team, since his rib injury sustained at Eden Park against South Africa.

One player that Gibbes will be without is All Black halfback Cortez Ratima, who will stay in Hamilton awaiting the birth of his second child with his partner.

The 49-year-old head coach understands that this week will be another close matchup, especially after the Highlanders’ victory over the Crusaders in round one.

“Our selection is based on the guys who got the job done against the Blues with a few tweaks, with some really influential guys coming into the mix,” Gibbes said in the Chiefs release.

“These local derbies are brutal. There is no inch given and it will go up another notch against the Highlanders who are coming off an equally tough win against the defending champions Crusaders.”

Gallagher Chiefs v Highlanders
Feb 21, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin

Starting XV

1. Jared Proffit

2. Samisoni Taukei’aho

3. George Dyer

4. Josh Lord

5. Tupou Vaa’i (vc)

6. Kaylum Boshier

7. Jahrome Brown

8. Luke Jacobson (c)

9. Xavier Roe

10. Josh Jacomb

11. Leroy Carter

12. Quinn Tupaea (vc)

13. Daniel Rona

14. Kyren Taumoefolau

15. Etene Nanai-Seturo

Reserves

16. Tyrone Thompson

17. Benet Kumeroa

18. Reuben O’Neill

19. Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi

20. Simon Parker

21. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi

22. Tepaea Cook-Savage

23. Emoni Narawa

Players unavailable due to injury

Samipeni Finau — Concussion Protocol — Expected return Rnd 3
Wallace Sititi — Hamstring — Expected return Rnd 3
Jayden Sa — Shoulder — Expected return Rnd 3
Brodie McAlister — Hand — Expected return Rnd 5
Isaac Hutchinson — Knee — Expected return Rnd 8