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The Chiefs have selected off-season recruits Brodie McAlister and Leroy Carter to face the Blues at Eden Park in Saturday’s (5.05pm AEDT) Grand Final rematch.
McAlister, with his 41 Crusaders caps, will debut between Ollie Norris and George Dyer in the front row with All Black Josh Lord returning from injury in the five jersey alongside Naitoa Ah Kuoi. The forward pack is rounded out with the loose forward trio of Simon Parker, Kaylum Boshier and Luke Jacobson.
Xavier Roe and Josh Jacomb combine in the nine and ten jerseys. Etene Nanai-Seturo joins debutant Carter on the wings, with both players boasting NZ Sevens experience. The midfield due consists of Quinn Tupaea. Damian McKenzie is at fullback.
The Blues have named a powerful team with eight All Blacks in the starting line-up.
The team will be led out by All Black prop Ofa Tu’ungafasi, who will celebrate his 150th game for the Blues, only the second player to achieve 150 games for the club, behind Keven Mealamu on 164 caps.
“The team can draw confidence from the championship title last year, but this is 2025, a new season and we all start on zero points,” said coach Vern Cotter.
“There is no magic formula, just loads of hard work, clarity of roles and game plan, and execution.”
The pack will be led by skipper Patrick Tuipulotu and fellow All Blacks Tu’ungafasi and Dalton Papali’i with the return of powerful loose forward Cameron Suafoa.
There is experience and class in the backs, with All Blacks Harry Plummer, Beauden Barrett, Rieko Ioane, Mark Tele’a and Caleb Clarke who boast almost 500 Super Rugby appearances between them.
There are two potential debutants in the reserves in former New Zealand Sevens representative Che Clark and hooker Nathaniel Pole, a New Zealand Under-20 representative.
Teams
BLUES (1-15): Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Ricky Riccitelli, Marcel Renata, Laghlan McWhannell, Patrick Tuipulotu (c), Anton Segner, Dalton Papali’i, Cameron Suafoa, Taufa Funaki, Harry Plummer, Caleb Clarke, AJ Lam, Rieko Ioane, Mark Tele’a, Beauden Barrett.
Replacements: Nathaniel Pole, Josh Fusitua, Angus Ta’avao, Che Clark, Adrian Choat, Fin Christie, Corey Evans, Cole Forbes.
CHIEFS (1-15): Ollie Norris, Brodie McAllister, George Dyer, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Josh Lord, Simon Parker, Kaylum Boshier, Luke Jacobson (c), Xavier Roe, Josh Jacomb, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Quinn Tupaea, Daniel Rona, Leroy Carter, Damian McKenzie
Replacements: Bradley Slater, Aidan Ross, Reuben O’Neill, Tupou Vaa’i, Samipeni Finau, Cortez Ratima, Anton Lienert Brown, Emoni Narawa
Referee: Damon Murphy
Assistant Referees: Reuben Keane & Ben O’Keeffe
TMO: Brett Cronan
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Author : rugby-247
Publish date : 2025-02-15 06:07:24
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