WARRIOR: Chiefs captain Aaron Cruden will play his 100th Super Rugby match on Friday against the Blues. PHOTO: photosport
WARRIOR: Chiefs captain Aaron Cruden will play his 100th Super Rugby match on Friday against the Blues. PHOTO: photosport
The Battle of the Bombays descends on FMG Stadium Waikato on Friday night when the Gallagher Chiefs host northern rivals the Blues in a round 2 clash.
With both teams buoyed by opening round victories, fans are in for a spectacular display of Investec Super Rugby.
Friday's fixture is particularlyspecial for Gallagher Chiefs co-captain Aaron Cruden, with the outstanding first five-eighth to play in his 100th Investec Super Rugby game.
Cruden's teammates will be looking to honour his achievement through a match-winning performance in their first home game of the 2017 season. Chiefs head coach Dave Rennie has named a formidable 23 to take on the Blues, with seven changes to the team that defeated the Pulse Energy Highlanders 24-15 in Dunedin last Friday.
In the forwards, the experienced tight five remains the same for the second consecutive week. A reshuffle in the loose forwards sees Liam Messam move to blindside flanker from number 8, Lachlan Boshier is promoted from the bench to start at seven, and Michael Leitch makes his first appearance for 2017 at number 8.
There is just one change in the backs, with Tim Nanai-Williams moving from the bench to start in jersey 14. In the reserves, the front row cover is unchanged, while Taleni Seu is an exciting replacement option in jersey 19 alongside Tom Sanders who could make his first appearance for 2017 in jersey 20.
Speedster Toni Pulu moves to the bench to join Jonathan Taumateine and Shaun Stevenson as backs cover.
Steamers flanker Sam Cane heads a list of 12 players unavailable through injury.
Chiefs team to play the Blues at 7.35pm on Friday is:
1. Kane Hames (10) 2. Hika Elliot (105) 3. Nepo Laulala (1) 4. Dominic Bird (12) 5. Brodie Retallick (72) 6. Liam Messam (147) 7. Lachlan Boshier (9) 8. Michael Leitch (23) 9. Tawera Kerr-Barlow (68) 10. Aaron Cruden (captain) (74) 11. James Lowe (38) 12. Johnny Faauli (1) 13. Anton Lienert-Brown (25) 14. Tim Nanai-Williams (78) 15. Damian McKenzie (34) Reserves: 16. Samisoni Taukei'aho (1) 17. Siegfried Fisi'ihoi (12) 18. Atu Moli (12) 19. Taleni Seu (19) 20. Tom Sanders (15) 21. Jonathan Taumateine (1) 22. Toni Pulu (14) 23. Shaun Stevenson (8)
(Chiefs caps in brackets)
Unavailable for selection: Brad Weber, Mitchell Graham, Nathan Harris, James Tucker, Glen Fisiiahi, Chase Tiatia, Michael Allardice, Charlie Ngatai, Sam McNicol, Liam Polwart, Sam Cane and Stephen Donald.
