Star fullback Damian McKenzie will reclaim the No.15 jersey for the Chiefs, when they square off with the Hurricanes in a Super Rugby derby in Hamilton tonight.
McKenzie returns from his All Blacks-mandated rest week to slot back into his regular custodian role, pushing Solomon Alaimalo out to the left wing and Sean Wainui out of the game-day squad.
Pita Gus Sowakula starts at Number 8.3
Wainui rolled his ankle in the captain's run before the 51-14 win over the Waratahs last Saturday, but decided to play through the pain.
After struggling through training this week, the promising young wing has been granted a rest.
In the forwards, Mitchell Brown moves in to start at lock at the expense of Tyler Ardron, who's sidelined with an infection.
Bradley Slater and Atunaisa Moli move onto the interchange in an otherwise unchanged bench from the one that boosted the NZ conference leaders to their demolition of the Sydneysiders last weekend.
𝗥𝗗 𝟳 | This Friday back on home soil to take on @Hurricanesrugby 🌪
— Gallagher Chiefs (@ChiefsRugby) March 11, 2020
READ MORE: https://t.co/UCkB0soUQP#CHIvHUR #ChiefsMana pic.twitter.com/OXeGdvsSs8
Coach Warren Gatland was delighted with the way his side bolted to the finish-line and now wants to see them do the same at home, where they were soundly beaten by the Brumbies three weeks ago.
The Chiefs meet the Hurricanes at 6.05 tonight.
Chiefs: 1-Aidan Ross, 2-Samisoni Taukei'aho, 3-Ross Geldenhuys, 4-Michael Allardice, 5-Mitchell Brown, 6-Lachlan Boshier, 7-Sam Cane, 8-Pita Gus Sowakula, 9-Brad Weber, 10-Aaron Cruden, 11-Solomon Alaimalo, 12-Anton Leinert-Brown, 13-Tumua Manu, 14-Shaun Stevenson, 15-Damian McKenzie.
Reserves: 16-Bradley Slater, 17-Atunaisa Moli, 18-Reuben O'Neill, 19-Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20-Mitchell Karpik, 21-Lisati Milo Harris, 22-Kaleb Trask, 23-Alex Nankivell
[Source:Newshub]
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