Rugby: Tyler Ardron returns to familiar territory for first time as a Chief

In six matches for the Chiefs this season, Tyler Ardron is yet to play in his favoured position of No.8.

Injuries in the locking corps saw Ardron make his debut for the club in week six, where he scored the opening try in a 61-10 thrashing of the Sunwolves.

An impressive debut earned him a recurring role starting in the second row of the scrum. However, with fellow lock Michael Allardice returning from injury, the opportunity has presented itself for the Chiefs to move Ardron who will get his first shot in the No.8 jersey on Sunday morning against the Stormers in Cape Town.

"We've actually been wanting to get him to the back of the scrum for quite a while now," Chiefs assistant coach Tabai Matson said. "It was something we've definitely had in the pipeline for a while and it also means our line out is more efficient with a more traditional line out forward in the loose trio."

Young forward Pita Gus Sowakula had been an option to don the No.8 jersey this week, having done so already this year, however the team saw his input off the bench as a better asset against a tough Stormers team.

The Stormers were yet to lose at home this season, chalking up wins against the Jaguares, Blues, Reds, Rebels and Bulls.

After a bench role in last week's loss against the Jaguares, Brodie Retallick replaces Ardron at lock, while Nathan Harris returns to start at hooker.

"There's no easy matches, so last week against the Jaguares, clearly we were really disappointed with the way we performed and it doesn't get any easier this week.

"We thought we had a good enough team around the physicality last week, but clearly when you bring Brodie and Nathan back into the mix it adds a pretty good dimension.

"They're going to be critical because of what the Stormers forward pack are going to bring."

Chiefs: Charlie Ngatai (c), Toni Pulu, Anton Lienert-Brown, Johnny Fa'auli, Solomon Alaimalo, Damian McKenzie, Brad Weber, Tyler Ardron, Liam Messam, Luke Jacobson, Michael Allardice, Brodie Retallick, Angus Ta'avao, Nathan Harris, Karl Tu'inukuafe.
Reserves: Liam Polwart, Sam Prattley, Jeff Thwaites, Jesse Parete, Pita Gus Sowakula, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Marty McKenzie, Shaun Stevenson.

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