Leroy Carter will run out in the unfamiliar centre’s jersey for the Gallagher Chiefs against the Force in Perth on Saturday, while Brodie McAlister will start at hooker for the first time this year. And giant lock Fiti Sa will debut off the bench.
Carter has finished games at centre – as he did last week against the Brumbies, but this is the first time he has started there as Gallagher Chiefs Head Coach Jono Gibbes deals with the loss through injury of regular centres Daniel Rona and Lalakai Foketi.
Emoni Narawa, who announced today he has re-signed with the Gallagher Chiefs through to the end of 2029, will start on the right wing with Damian McKenzie moving to fullback and Josh Jacomb taking his place at first five. Halfbacks Cortez Ratima and Xavier Roe have also switched with Roe starting this week.
Gibbes has shuffled his pack too with McAlister, who played two Tests for the All Blacks last year, set to start for the first time this year after being sidelined with a broken hand. Sione Ahio also returns from injury for the first time this year on the bench, where he is joined by towering lock Fiti Sa on debut.
Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi will start at lock after Tupou Vaa’i was forced to return home with a knee injury and the loose forwards have been re-jigged with skipper Luke Jacobson at openside, Simon Parker at No8 and Samipeni Finau on the blindside. All Blacks hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho is on the bench after starting every game this year and shouldering a massive workload.
Gibbes said while there was a revamped look to the team, many of the changes were injury enforced, and it remained a quality 23.
“This is still a very experienced and strong side that reflects the depth we have in the squad,” Gibbes said.
“We don’t take the Force lightly, especially on their home patch and after the loss to the Brumbies last week it’s important we get the little things right on Saturday.”
Did You Know?
● The Gallagher Chiefs are on an eight game winning streak against the Force in Super Rugby Pacific, scoring an average of 41.6 points per game in that span and scoring exactly 56 points in each of their last two meetings with the Force.
● The Gallagher Chiefs have won five of their last six games away to the Force including their last three.
● The Force have won only one of their last 11 Super Rugby Pacific games ( D1 L9) and have lost their last two in a row, despite leading at halftime in both.
● The Gallagher Chiefs ( 83. 8%) and Force ( 78. 6%) have the highest and third highest offload success rates of any team this year.
● Gallagher Chiefs vice captain Quinn Tupaea has won eight turnovers this year, the most of any players in the competition, including three against the Brumbies last weekend. He is currently leading voting for Super Rugby Player of the Year alongside Will Jordan.
Gallagher Chiefs v Force
9.35pm, HBF Park, Perth, Saturday, March 28
Starting XV
1. Jared Profitt
2. Brodie McAlister
3. George Dyer
4. Josh Lord
5. Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi
6. Samipeni Finau
7. Luke Jacobson (c)
8. Simon Parker
9. Xavier Roe
10. Josh Jacomb
11. Etene Nanai-Seturo
12. Quinn Tupaea (vc)
13. Leroy Carter
14. Emoni Narawa
15. Damian McKenzie
Reserves
16. Samisoni Taukei’aho
17. Ollie Norris
18. Sione Ahio
19. Fiti Sa*
20. Kaylum Boshier
21. Cortez Ratima
22. Kyle Brown
23. Kyren Taumoefolau
Players unavailable due to injury:
Tupou Vaa’i – knee – TBC
Daniel Rona – hamstring – TBC
Lalakai Foketi – hand – TBC
Wallace Sititi – Hamstring – Rd 8-10
Jayden Sa – Shoulder – TBC
Isaac Hutchinson – Knee – Rd 8
Benét Kumeroa – Ankle – Rd 12
