Two on debut for Gallagher Chiefs at one nz stadium
Fresh off his match winning performance from the bench against the Hurricanes, Wallace Sititi’s return continues with the All Blacks loose forward to start at No8 against the Drua in Christchurch.
Sititi capped a return from a long layoff with a hamstring injury with the match winning try last week. This week, as the Gallagher Chiefs deal with injuries to three key loose forwards, he will partner Jahrome Brown and Simon Parker in the starting trio. Michael Loft , who played one game for the Highlanders last year, is poised to make his Chiefs debut from the bench.
Isaac Hutchinson will also debut at fullback after a lengthy time out with a knee injury. Hutchinson will be running out for the first time in front of a hometown crowd having attended St Bede’s College and playing nine games for Canterbury before moving to the Gallagher Chiefs. Hutchinson tore his ACL, MCL, as well as both meniscus, leading to a harrowing assessment from the surgeon. “He said it was looked like I’d been in a car crash,” Hutchinson recalled. ”It was not great to hear, but at the same time, I was confident he knew what he was doing and that he could fix me.”
Now he is set to make his debut on Sunday.
“Isaac’s return is exciting,” says Gallagher Chiefs Head Coach Jono Gibbes. “He’s had a long time out of the game and has shown tremendous perseverance with his rehab and a lot of patience. It is great that he will get his chance now.
“It’s also good that we have so much depth in our squad to be able to bring in Michael from the wider training group. We are definitely being challenged in the loose forwards.”
That’s because regular skipper Luke Jacobson, along with Kaylum Boshier and Samipeni Finau are out injured. Despite that, Gibbes has still named a strong pack that sees Tupou Vaa’i return after a week out with concussion symptom as captain alongside Josh Lord at lock.
The experienced pairing of Cortez Ratima and Damian McKenzie at halfback and first five respectively, and Quinn Tupaea returns to second five with Kyle Brown at centre.
“This is a really important game for us,” Gibbes said. “We have to take the lessons we learnt against the Hurricanes and improve against the Drua, and we need to maintain momentum and consistency with a bye next week.”
Super Round is being held this weekend in New Zealand for the first time, with all 10 Super Rugby Teams converging on the city of Christchurch. With 5 games of rugby, the Super Rugby ‘Live Site’ and a fan trail from city to stadium, it’s set to be a momentous weekend.
The Gallagher Chiefs will be at the Super Rugby Live Site for fan meet and greets from 2.30pm-3.30pm
Only a few tickets remain for Sunday’s game, and you can check out all the fan info here.
Gallagher Chiefs v Drua at One NZ Stadium in Christchurch on Sunday April 26.
- Jared Profitt
- Brodie McAlister
- George Dyer
- Josh Lord
- Tupou Vaa’i (c)
- Simon Parker
- Jahrome Brown
- Wallace Sititi
- Cortez Ratima
- Damian McKenzie
- Daniel Sinkinson
- Quinn Tupaea (vc)
- Kyle Brown
- Leroy Carter
- Isaac Hutchinson*
Reserves
- Tyrone Thompson
- Ollie Norris
- Benét Kumeroa
- Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi
- Michael Loft*
- Xavier Roe
- Tepaea Cook-Savage
- Lalakai Foketi
Unavailable Due to Injury
- Kaylum Boshier – Concussion – Round 13
- Sione Ahio – Quad – Round 13
- Samipeni Finau – Quad – Round 13-15
- Daniel Rona – Hamstring – Round 14
- Emoni Narawa – Foot – Round 16-QF
- Etene Nanai-Seturo – Foot – Round 16-QF
- Luke Jacobson – Neck – TBC
- Jayden Sa – Shoulder – Season
