The visitors have named an unchanged 22, and you would think this continuity can only be a positive. McKibbin, Barnes and Carter added much needed starch to the inside backs against the Sharks and they will need to be on their game again as they take on arguably the comp’s best 9-10-12 combination at the moment- Kerr-Barlow, Cruden and SBW. Not to mention the battle up front, which will be titanic. Last season the Waratahs embarrassed the Chiefs at the set piece, but you’d be given long odds on history repeating on Saturday night- the locals’ pack has been given a facelift with big boppers Sona Taumalolo and Ben Tameifuna dominating a few more fancied opponents this season (eg the Crusaders).
The weather forecast is fine and hopefully running rugby is on the menu. The Tahs backline defence will have to be on their game as the Chiefs have been carving up quality defences in the early rounds. I am firmly looking at you, Rob Horne, to step your shit up in this regard. Kahui, Robinson and Nanai-Williams are all very dangerous given space, so the Tahs can’t afford to make even the slightest slip-up.
In short, these two sides look evenly matched in almost every facet. It promises to be a fantastic game.
The Teams
Chiefs – 15 Robbie Robinson, 14 Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 13 Richard Kahui, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Tim Nanai-Williams, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Kane Thompson, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Craig Clarke ©, 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Arizona Taumalolo.
Subs: 16 Mahonri Schwalger, 17 Josh Hohneck, 18 Michael Fitzgerald, 19 Sam Cane , 20 Augustine Pulu, 21 Andrew Horrell, 22 Lelia Masaga.
Waratahs – 15 Bernard Foley, 14 Tom Kingston, 13 Rob Horne, 12 Tom Carter, 11 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 10 Berrick Barnes, 9 Brendan McKibbin, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Chris Alcock, 6 Dave Dennis, 5 Kane Douglas, 4 Dean Mumm, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Benn Robinson ©.
Subs: 16 John Ulugia, 17 Paddy Ryan, 18 Sitaleki Timani, 19 Lopeti Timani, 20 Jono Jenkins, 21 Sarel Pretorius, 22 Daniel Halangahu.
The Details
Kick off for this match will be at 5:35pm EDST on Saturday evening and will be the second match of four in a row on Super Saturday. And probably the best.
Referee: Lourens van der Merwe (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Jonathon White (New Zealand), Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Television match official: Shane McDermott (New Zealand)
Game Breaker
Wycliff Palu had a huge game against the Sharks, and has been generally outstanding all season. If he can find a bit of space and get some steam up he can almost single handedly destroy teams, or at the very least create some space for the backline to operate in. This is going to be a hard graft of a game and he needs to be leading the way against a solid Chiefs back row. I’m tipping Cliffy to have a belter.
Fearless Prediction
After the Tahs had a win last week I’m back on the bandwagon! OK maybe I never left. But still I am going heart over head in this match, although it is going to be bloody close. Tahs by 3
Who are you tipping?
