Chiefs ring changes for Sunwolves clash
The Chiefs have made seven changes to their starting XV for tomorrow night’s Super Rugby match against the Sunwolves in Hamilton, as they look to bounce back from their humiliation against the Brumbies last weekend.
As telegraphed by coach Colin Cooper at the start of the week, three players are sitting out the match to serve as one of their All Blacks stand-down games – prop Nepo Laulala, hooker Nathan Harris and midfielder Anton Lienert-Brown. Added to that, loose forward Tyler Ardron has been ruled out with concussion, suffered in last weekend’s 54-17 hammering in Canberra.
That’s forced a fair reshuffle, though there is a trio returning from injury in halfback Brad Weber, who suffered a concussion in the opening-round loss against the Highlanders, with fellow backline members Sean Wainui (wrist) and Alex Nakivell (ankle) now ready for their first action of the season.
Wainui – who wasn’t contracted at the start of last season but went on to be a revelation in a more unaccustomed spot on the wing – slots straight back onto the right flank, with Ataata Moeakiola dropping to the bench and Bailyn Sullivan out of the 23.
While Wainui hasn’t played since the end of the last Super season, with shoulder surgery ruling him out of Taranaki’s Mitre 10 Cup campaign and then a wrist injury seeing him miss any pre-season action, assistant coach Tabai Matson said such was his importance to the group, there was no hesitation in getting him straight back into the run-on side.
‘‘We think his injection this week is really critical for us to bounce back,’’ he said.
‘‘Fundamentally, he was one of our most consistent players last year. We haven’t been as physical as we could be, and one of the things Wainui brings is his real physicality, as well as his workrate and communication.
‘‘So [it’s] really good getting a guy who’s played a number of Super campaigns and [has] a bit of experience, into the backfield.’’
Orbyn Leger – uncontracted at