The stage is set. Shaun Stevenson will be playing his 100th cap at home this Friday night.
The Gallagher Chiefs are ready to take on the Queensland Reds in a crucial top-of-the table clash on home ground. With both teams having secured the same number of wins so far this season, the on-field battle will be intense.
Stevenson, celebrating his 100th match, has been named at No. 15, with support from No. 10 McKenzie, after recently extending his contract with the Gallagher Chiefs until the end of the 2029 season. Read more here.
Stevenson debuted for the Gallagher Chiefs in 2016 under Dave Rennie, and has since represented NZ in appearances for the NZ Under 20s, Maori All Blacks, All Blacks XV and the All Blacks.
Brodie McAlister is named at No. 2 entering the front row with Norris and Dyer on either side, making a formidable front row.
Tupaea who came off the bench last week is named to start at No. 12, as well as Jahrome Brown entering in at No. 7.
Head coach Clayton McMillan shares his thoughts on the Queensland Reds, saying, “They’re a very balanced team, execute the fundamentals well, are strong at set piece, and have a varied kicking game. They are well coached, understand the way they want to play and are justifiably high on confidence. That makes them dangerous – we’re on full alert.”
With both teams eager to assert their dominance, this top-of-the-table clash is going to be one you won’t want to miss.
The Gallagher Chiefs will kick off against the Queensland Reds this Friday night at 7:05pm at FMG Stadium Waikato. A curtain raiser match up between The University of Waikato Chiefs Taua and the Hurricanes Hunters will be kicking off at 4.05pm.
Tickets to the match can be purchased here.
Gallagher chiefs v reds, 7.05pm, Friday 4th april, fmg stadium waikato.
1. Ollie Norris
2. Brodie McAlister
3. George Dyer
4. Naitoa Ah Kuoi
5. Manaaki Selby-Rickit
6. Simon Parker
7. Jahrome Brown
8. Luke Jacobson (c)
9. Cortez Ratima
10. Damian McKenzie
11. Leroy Carter
12. Quinn Tupaea
13. Daniel Rona
14. Emoni Narawa
15. Shaun Stevenson
16. Samisoni Taukei’aho
17. Aidan Ross
18. Reuben O’Neill
19. Tupou Vaa’i
20. Samipeni Finau
21. Xavier Roe
22. Josh Jacomb
23. Gideon Wrampling
Gallagher CHIEFS’ injury update ahead of Round 8
- Anton Lienert-Brown, leg, short term
- Josh Lord, knee, mid-term
- Rameka Poihipi, knee, season
- Kaleb Trask, hamstring, mid-term
- Etene Nanai-Seturo, hamstring, long-term
- Liam Coombes-Fabling, knee, mid-term
- Wallace Sititi, knee, long-term
