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Luke Jacobson set to captain new-look Chiefs side in New Plymouth
All Black Luke Jacobson will captain a new-look Chiefs outfit when they take on the Queensland Reds in New Plymouth on Friday.
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Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan has made 10 changes to the starting side, including some potentially significant decisions at hooker, flanker and halfback.
The unbeaten Chiefs will be without All Blacks trio Samisoni Taukei’aho, Sam Cane and Brad Weber for the round 12 clash in Taranaki.
Instead, backrower Luke Jacobson will lead the team as they look to extend their unbeaten streak to 11 games in 2023.
The Chiefs have named a completely different front-row this week, while Tupou Vaa’i is the only player in the tight five to retain his spot in the run-on side.
Samipeni Finau and Simon Parker will start on the flanks, will captain Luke Jacobson will pack down at the back of the scrum.
Co-captain Brad Weber has not been named this week, instead, rising star Cortez Ratima will get another opportunity to star in the No. 9 jersey.
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Ratima will line-up in the halves alongside in-form playmaker Damian McKenzie, who has retained his spot at first five.
The familiar back three trio of Etene Nanai-Seturo, Emoni Narawa and Shaun Stevenson has been named once again this week.
In-form centre Daniel Rona makes way for inside centre Rameka Poihipi, with Anton Lienert-Brown shifting out one spot in the midfield.
“It is home to a number of our players, and it will be a proud moment for those who were fit and available to play in front of friends and family,” coach Clayton McMillan said in a statement.
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“That played a part in our squad selection; alongside All Black rest protocols, increasing squad readiness for upcoming games, and respecting the huge challenge the Reds will bring.
“At this stage of the season, every point counts and I have no doubt both teams will come eager to lock horns in the bullring.”
The match between the Chiefs and Reds is set to kick-off at 7.05pm NZST at Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth, on Friday.
Chiefs team to take on Reds
- Jared Proffit
- Bradley Slater
- John Ryan
- Tupou Vaa’i
- Josh Lord
- Samipeni Finau
- Simon Parker
- Luke Jacobson (c)
- Cortez Ratima
- Damian McKenzie
- Etene Nanai-Seturo
- Rameka Poihipi
- Anton Lienert-Brown
- Emoni Narawa
- Shaun Stevenson
Replacements:
- Tyrone Thompson
- Ollie Norris
- Atunaisa Moli
- Manaaki Selby-Rickit
- Naitoa Ah Kuoi
- Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi
- Josh Ioane
- Alex Nankivell
Players not considered due to injury: Angus Ta’avao, Xavier Roe, Quinn Tupaea, Brodie Retallick, Gideon Wrampling, Ngatungane Punivai, Kaylum Boshier, Peniasi Malimali, Bryn Gatland
Comments on RugbyPass
Bar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
35 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
35 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
35 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
35 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
35 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
35 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
35 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
18 Go to comments