Warren Whiteley of Lions during the Super Rugby match between the Stormers and Lions at Newlands Stadium. PHOTO: Carl Fourie/Getty Images

Everything you need to know about the Chiefs vs Lions

Warren Whiteley is back and will resume the captaincy of the Lions when they take on the Chiefs at FMG Stadium in Waikato on Friday.

by Erene Roux

18-04-2019 18:22

in Rugby

Warren Whiteley of Lions during the Super Rugby match between the Stormers and Lions at Newlands Stadium. PHOTO: Carl Fourie/Getty Images

The Lions are set to take on the Chiefs at FMG Stadium in Waikato on Friday in another thrilling Super Rugby match over the Easter weekend.

Chiefs team and injury news

Halfback Brad Weber will take over the captaincy in the absence of co-captains Brodie Retallick and Sam Cane.

Following the Chiefs’ 33-29 win over the Blues in Hamilton last Saturday a number of changes have been made to the twenty-three:

Hooker Liam Polwart will make his first appearance of the 2019 Super Rugby season starting in replace of All Blacks hooker Nathan Harris.

Polwart will combine with Angus Ta’avao and Nepo Laulala. Loosehead prop Atu Moli returns from his elbow injury and is joined by Samisoni Taukei’aho and Sosefo Kautai who will provide front row cover. A new locking combination of Tyler Ardron and Mitchell Brown will take the field after Retallick was ruled out with a hand injury.

Alex Nankivell will start at centre shifting Tumua Manu to the bench named in the No 22 jersey.

Ataata Moeakiola will start on the left wing in place of injured winger Solomon Alaimalo, with Shaun Stevenson moving onto the bench named in jersey 23. Jack Debreczeni will start at fullback in place of Damian McKenzie who sustained a season-ending knee injury on Saturday evening. Halfback Jonathan Taumateine is given an opportunity to impress coaches off the bench in jersey 21.

Chiefs: 15 Jack Debreczeni, 14 Sean Wainui, 13 Alex Nankivell, 12 Anton Lienert-Brown, 11 Ataata Moeakiola, 10 Marty McKenzie, 9 Brad Weber, 8 Taleni Seu, 7 Lachlan Boshier, 6 Luke Jacobson, 5 Mitchell Brown, 4 Tyler Ardron, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Liam Polwart, 1 Angus Ta’avao

Substitutes: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Atu Moli, 18 Sosefo Kautai, 19 Jesse Parete, 20 Pita Gus Sowakula, 21 Jonathan Taumateine, 22 Tumua Manu, 23 Shaun Stevenson

Lions team and injury news

Warren Whiteley will resume his captaincy of the Lions on Friday.

Whiteley returns seven weeks after suffering a pectoralis major muscle tear in the match against the Stormers in Cape Town. He joined the Lions on Sunday after passing a fitness test on Friday.

Other changes to the team include Sylvian Mahuza who moves to the right wing, Andries Coetzee who will move to fullback from the bench and Ruan Combrinck who moves onto the bench.

Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Sylvian Mahuza, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Franco Naude, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Gianni Lombard, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Kwagga Smith, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Stephan Lewies, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Sti Sithole

Substitutes: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Frans Van Wyk, 18 Johannes Jonker, 19 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 20 Marnus Schoeman, 21 Nic Groom, 22 Elton Jantjies, 23 Ruan Combrinck