Damian Mackenzie (left) and Chiefs co-captain Brad Weber (right) are part of the starting 23 for tomorrow's Super Rugby game against the Crusaders. Photo / Richard Spranger
Damian Mackenzie (left) and Chiefs co-captain Brad Weber (right) are part of the starting 23 for tomorrow's Super Rugby game against the Crusaders. Photo / Richard Spranger
The DHL Super Rugby Pacific championship is just around the corner, and the Gallagher Chiefs have revealed their starting squad for the opening game against the Crusaders on Friday.
The team for the game boasts more than 1000 caps combined, nine All Blacks and an international player making his debut for the Chiefs.
Waikato boys Luke Jacobson - who will celebrate his 50th game for the Chiefs - Samisoni Taukei’aho, George Dyer, Rameka Poihipi, Samipeni Finau and Cortez-Lee Ratima are also part of the line-up.
The squad will be led by All Blacks captain Sam Cane, Brodie Retallick and Taukei’aho as hooker.
International addition John Ryan, who has played nearly 200 games for Munster and has 24 caps for Ireland, arrived this week as a replacement for All Black Angus Ta’avao, who is recovering from neck surgery. Ryan has been immediately pressed into action on the bench and will start at No. 18.
Co-captain and Gallagher Chiefs centurion Brad Weber will guide the backline with Damian McKenzie preferred at first-five, inside fellow international Anton Lienert-Brown, who will move to within one game of becoming the latest Gallagher Chief to reach 100 games for the club.
“The team worked extremely hard and we have managed to come through the pre-season relatively injury-free, barring a few frustrating niggles.”
MacMillan says he knew there was a lot at stake for individual players as it is a Rugby World Cup year this year.
Gallagher Chiefs head coach Clayton McMillan. Photo / Andrew Warner
“But right now, our focus is 100 per cent on being at our collective best week-in and week-out, and if we do that, winning a Super Rugby title is a realistic goal for us,” MacMillan says.
About facing the Crusaders, MacMillan says: “With their record, the Crusaders deserve nothing but respect, but we believe in our ability and capacity to perform at their home fortress.”
