Blues v Chiefs: Teams

At Eden Park, Auckland, Saturday June 4, kick-off 8.35am

Last updated: 3rd June 2011   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Blues v Chiefs: Teams

McAllister moves along one position for Blues

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Luke McAlister has been moved to fly-half as the Blues look to get back to winning ways in their derby with the Chiefs.

The Blues top the New Zealand table but suffered a late loss against the Stormers in their last outing and have had a fortnight to stew over that result after sitting out on a bye week.

Blues coach Pat Lam has pushed McAlister in one position to fly-half, meaning Stephen Brett will this week be sitting on the bench as Benson Stanley comes in at number 12.

The Chiefs will be without the experience of captain Keven Mealamu, as the All Black has been rotated with Tom McCartney at hooker - Tevita Mailau fills the number one jersey left by McCartney in what is an otherwise unchanged starting forward pack.

In the back-line, the dynamic Rene Ranger returns on the left wing for the benched Sherwin Stowers.

Umaga returns

Veteran centre Tana Umaga returns from injury to take his place in the Chiefs midfield for the game on Saturday.

The former All Blacks skipper has been out of action since the Chiefs' two-match tour of South Africa and will partner Richard Kahui with Dwayne Sweeney dropping to the bench.

Flanker Tanerau Latimer, who has been out with concussion and then an ankle injury picked up in training, also makes his Chiefs comeback after an extended stretch on the sidelines.

Latimer and Umaga are two of four changes to the Chiefs starting XV.

Also back are props Ben May and Nathan White. In the reserves, young Waikato loose forward Matt Vant Leven is in line to make his debut for the Chiefs.

While the Blues are leading the New Zealand conference despite two successive defeats, the Chiefs have dropped out of semi-finals contention.

Blues: 15 Lachie Munro, 14 Joe Rokocoko, 13 Jared Payne, 12 Benson Stanley, 11 Rene Ranger, 10 Luke McAlister, 9 Alby Mathewson, 8 Peter Saili, 7 Luke Braid, 6 Jerome Kaino (c), 5 Ali Williams, 4 Anthony Boric, 3 John Afoa, 2 Tom McCartney, 1 Tevita Mailau.
Replacements: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Charlie Faumuina, 18 Chris Lowrey, 19 Sean Polwart, 20 Chris Smylie, 21 Stephen Brett, 22 Sherwin Stowers.

Chiefs: 15 Mils Muliaina (c), 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Richard Kahui, 12 Tana Umaga, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Stephen Donald, 11 Brendon Leonard, 8 Fritz Lee, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Romana Graham, 4 Craig Clarke, 3 Nathan White, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Ben May.
Replacements: 16 Aled de Malmanche, 17 Toby Smith, 18 Culum Retallick, 19 Matt Vant Leven, 20 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 21 Mike Delany, 22 Dwayne Sweeney.

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