Fiji-born Chiefs winger Emoni Narawa has one more chance to prove to the All Blacks selectors that he is ready to make his way back into the squad for the upcoming July tests series when he lines up for the Chiefs against the Blues in this week’s Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific final tomorrow.
Narawa’s All Blacks journey was cut short last year after suffering a back injury after his international debut that ruled him out of the Rugby World Cup and also had him missing the first few rounds of the Super Rugby Pacific competition this year.
The 24-year-old came back strongly and was in top form in the second half of this season, and currently sits in 3rd place in the top try scorers list with 10 tries so far this season.
The former Queen Victoria School student will also face an uphill battle this weekend when he comes up against Blues winger Caleb Clarke, who has also been impressive this season with his blistering speed and ball-carrying abilities.
Narawa has been named to start on the right wing for the final.
Chiefs starting XV:
Aidan Ross, Tyrone Thompson, George Dyer, Jimmy Tupou, Tupou Vaa’i, Samipeni Finau, Luke Jacobson (c), Wallace Sititi, Cortez Ratima, Damien McKenzie, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Rameka Poihipi, Anton Lienert-Brown, Emoni Narawa and Shaun Stevenson.
Impact:
Bradley Slater, Jared Proffit, Reuben O’neill, Manaaki Selby-Rickit, Simon Parker, Xavier Roe, Quinn Tupaea and Daniel Rona.
The Chiefs will take on the Blues at 7.05pm tomorrow at Eden Park.
