Super Rugby
Anscombe and Retallick back for Chiefs
March 12, 2014
Gareth Ascombe will make his first appearance of the year after a double surgery last year © Getty Images
Enlarge

Fullback Gareth Anscombe and Test lock Brodie Retallick return from injury to be among six changes to the Chiefs' starting 15 to face the Stormers in Hamilton. Anscombe, who replaces former All Black Mils Muliaina, will make his first Super Rugby appearance of the year, having had double shoulder surgery after the Chiefs won their second title last August.

Retallick has been cleared to play after he had a bad head clash in the season-opening win against the Crusaders, with last weekend's bye giving him extra time for recovery.

In other changes, Jamie Mackintosh is back at loose-head prop, Liam Squire gets the No.8 jersey after impressing off the bench, James Lowe wins promotion at left wing and former Crusader Tom Marshall makes his Chiefs debut at second five-eighth.

The match at Westpac Stadium on Friday night will be flanker Tanerau Latimer's 100th in Super Rugby and his 95th for the Chiefs. The four-Test All Black made his debut in the competition with the Crusaders.

Chiefs coach Dave Rennie says the Stormers again showed in their 14-13 defeat in Christchurch last Saturday that they will be difficult to break down.

"Over the last couple of years, the Stormers have had the best defensive record in the competition and you saw why against the Crusaders," he said. "They obviously have a lot of character in their group and they're going to be a tough defensive unit to crack."

Chiefs: Gareth Anscombe; Tim Nanai-Williams, Charlie Ngatai, Tom Marshall, James Lowe; Aaron Cruden (captain), Tawera Kerr-Barlow; Liam Squire, Tanerau Latimer, Liam Messam; Brodie Retallick, Matt Symons, Ben Tameifuna; Mahroni Schwalger, Jamie Mackintosh. Replacements: Rhys Marshall, Pauliasi Manu, Josh Hohneck, Michael Fitzgerald, Tevita Koloamatangi, Brad Webber, Robbie Fruean, Asaeli Tikoirotuma.

© AAP

Live Sports

Communication error please reload the page.