Chiefs v Highlanders preview

The Chiefs and Highlanders will meet for the second time on Friday, 22 March 2013, in Waikato Stadium, and the Chiefs will be looking to get another win over visitors.

A number of changes have been made to the Chiefs team that played the Kings last week, with Michael Fitzgerald taking over from Craig Clark, who received a knock to his head last week.

Nick Crosswell will start in the No 8 jersey as Ross Filipo spends the next 8-10 weeks recovering from his MCL injury.  Pauliasi Manu starts at prop while Ben Afeaki moves to the bench.

Richard Kahui is expected make his return after spending time in Japan, and has been named on the bench pending a final confirmation.

For the Highlanders, Liam Coltman makes his first , while Josh Bekhuis returns to lock and Jarrad Hoeata moves to blindside flanker.

The return of Ma’a Nonu will be a huge boost for the Highlanders, and Nonu should add some direct running in the midfield to give the likes of Ben Smith, Hosea Gear and the in-form Kade Poki some space.

Rugby Informer’s prediction: the first game of the season between these two was an incredible game of running rugby, and the second will undoubtedly be as exciting. The Highlanders have the talent to make a dent, but despite a loss to the Stormers, the Chiefs are too consistent with their try scoring and goal kicking to lose at home. Chiefs by 10.

Chiefs team:

15 Gareth Anscombe, 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Tim Nanai-Williams, 12 Andrew Horrell, 11 Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Nick Crosswell, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Michael Fitzgerald, 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Pauliasi Manu.
Replacements: 16 Rhys Marshal, 17 Ben Afeaki, 18 Romana Graham/Fritz Lee, 19 Tanerau Latimer, 20 August Pulu, 21 Charlie Ngatai, 22 Richard Kahui/Patrick Osborne.

Highlanders team:

15 Ben Smith, 14 Kade Poki, 13 Jason Emery, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Colin Slade, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Elliot Dixon, 7 John Hardie, 6 Jarrad Hoeata, 5 Josh Bekhuis, 4 Brad Thorn (captain), 3 Chris King, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Jason Rutledge, 17 Bronson Murray, 18 Joe Wheeler, 19 Tim Boys, 20 Frae Wilson, 21 Lima Sopoaga, 22 Phil Burleigh.

Want to know more about what’s happening this weekend? Check out more Super Rugby previews.