Super Rugby
Chiefs make five changes for Blues, two positional
May 7, 2014

Chiefs coach Dave Rennie has made five changes to his starting side to face the Blues in New Plymouth on Friday, one week after naming 14 changes to his match-day squad for the Lions.

The Chiefs' Ben Tameifuna gives off some heat in Auckland, Blues v Chiefs, Super Rugby, Eden Park, Auckland, July 13, 2013
Ben Tameifuna is recalled to the front-row © Getty Images
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Ben Tameifuna and Michael Fitzgerald are the headline inclusions for the match at Yarrow Stadium, respectively replacing Josh Hohneck and Ross Filipo.

Ireland-bound Bundee Aki is included at inside centre as part of a reshuffled backline, a change that sees Tim Nanai-Williams move from fullback to outside centre and Tom Marshall, inside centre against the Lions, switch to fullback.

On the bench, Liam Squire returns from a concussion-enforced spell on the sidelines.

The Chiefs reclaimed top spot on the New Zealand ladder with their 38-8 victory over Lions last week, but they are just five points clear of the bottom-placed Blues.

Rennie know what his side can expect from the Blues in New Plymouth, the first of two Chiefs home games in the town after a new partnership with the Taranaki province.

"Traditionally, our games against the Blues have been real ding-dong battles," Rennie said. With not much between any team in the New Zealand conference, it's a massive game for both sides."

Chiefs: Tom Marshall; Dwayne Sweeney, Tim Nanai-Williams, Bundee Aki, James Lowe; Gareth Anscombe, Tawera Kerr-Barlow; Liam Messam (captain), Sam Cane, Tanerau Latimer; Brodie Retallick, Michael Fitzgerald; Ben Tameifuna, Nathan Harris, Pauliasi Manu. Replacements: Mahonri Schwalger, Jamie Mackintosh, Josh Hohneck, Matt Symons, Liam Squire, Brad Weber, Andrew Horrell, Anton Lienert-Brown.

© AAP

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