Cruden to captain Chiefs against Crusaders

The Chiefs have announced their team to play the Crusaders at AMI Stadium in Christchurch on Friday night in the first New Zealand round of the Investec Super Rugby competition. 

The match will be the first game on New Zealand soil for All Blacks centurion Mils Muliaina since the 2011 Rugby World Cup.  It will also be the first match in Chiefs colours for prop Jamie Mackintosh and centre Robbie Fruean.

Chiefs Coach Dave Rennie said “We have a lot of respect for the Crusaders and are excited by this match up.  The boys have been training since November and we have been planning since August, so we are really looking forward to the competition starting properly.”

Friday nights match will be a great opportunity for some of the young players in the squad who have shown great potential in the last few weeks to make their Super Rugby debut.  This includes flanker Tevita Kolomatangi who starts in the number seven jersey and
Nathan Harris, James Lowe and Matt Symons/Liam Squire and Anton Lienert-Brown if confirmed to play, who get their chance to make their debuts off the bench.

The Chiefs will play their first home game at Waikato Stadium the following week on Saturday 1 March at 7.35pm against the Highlanders. 

1. Jamie Mackintosh
2. Rhys Marshall
3. Ben Tameifuna
4. Michael Fitzgerald
5. Brodie Retallick
6. Liam Messam
7. Tevita Koloamatangi
8. Kane Thompson
9. Augustine Pulu
10. Aaron Cruden ©
11. Asaeli Tikoirotuma
12. Charlie Ngatai
13. Robbie Fruean
14. Tim Nanai-Williams
15. Mils Muliaina
16. Nathan Harris
17. Pauliasi Manu
18. Ben Afeaki
19. Matt Symons/Liam Squire
20. Nick Crosswell
21. Tawera Kerr-Barlow
22. Andrew Horrell/Anton Lienert-Brown
23. James Lowe

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