Chiefs name seven All Blacks in the side to face the Highlanders

The Gallagher Chiefs have been named to take the field at Queenstown’s Recreation Ground this Saturday against the Highlanders.

Seven All Blacks are welcomed into the twenty-three for Round One including the return of Gallagher Chiefs Centurion Brodie Retallick.

It will be Retallick’s first opportunity to don a Gallagher Chiefs jersey since 2019. All Black Samisoni Taukei’aho has been named on the bench and could potentially play his 50th match for the Gallagher Chiefs.

Three debutants have been named to start including Waikato lock Laghlan McWhannell and new recruits Josh Ioane and Emoni Narawa. McWhannell will make his Super Rugby debut while it will be the first time Ioane and Narawa will take the field in Chiefs jerseys.

Loosehead prop Ollie Norris, hooker Bradley Slater and tighthead prop Sione Mafileo will pack down the first starting front row of the season. The starting locking duo is a mix of youth and experience, with debutant McWhannell in the number 4 jersey and All Black Brodie Retallick returning to start in the number 5 jersey.

All Black Luke Jacobson will start at blindside flanker, alongside recently announced Gallagher Chiefs Co-Captain Sam Cane at openside. The powerful Pita Gus Sowakula will round out the starting pack at Number 8.

In the backs, Waikato halfback Xavier Roe gains his first start of the season, combining with new recruit and one test All Black Josh Ioane who makes his Gallagher Chiefs debut in the number 10 jersey.

All Black midfielder Quinn Tupaea will start at second five-eighth, with Alex Nankivell named at centre. Jonah Lowe will light up the left wing, with the electric Shaun Stevenson on the right and Gallagher Chiefs debutant Emoni Narawa starting at fullback to complete an exciting backline.

There is an abundance of experience named on the Gallagher Chiefs bench with All Black hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho lining up to play his 50th match as a Gallagher Chief, alongside props Atu Moli and All Black Angus Ta’avao. Naitoa Ah Kuoi and Kaylum Boshier will inject energy off the bench in jersey’s 19 and 20 respectively. An exciting backline trio of recently announced Gallagher Chiefs Co-Captain Brad Weber, first five-eighth Bryn Gatland and utility back Chase Tiatia will complete the twenty-three.

McMillan acknowledged the return of Retallick and the All Blacks while congratulating the debutants on their upcoming achievements.

“It’s great to have seven of our All Blacks starting in Round One and we know a lot of our loyal fans are looking forward to seeing Guzzler back in a Gallagher Chiefs jersey”

“We are also looking forward to welcoming three new debutants. It’s a huge privilege to pull on the Gallagher Chiefs jersey and it is a special occasion for them and their wh?nau. We are excited to see what impact they will have on our season opener.”

McMillan said the team were eager to kick their 2022 DHL Super Rugby Pacific campaign off after a successful pre-season.

“A significant amount of effort and adjustments have gone into our pre-season and we are now really excited to rip into our first game of the new season”

“It’s hugely important to us that our hard work and energy manifests into a performance we can all be proud of. We know a lot of our fanbase are disappointed they cannot attend this Saturday, but we are grateful for the support we have received from our sponsors, members and Chiefs wh?nau to get us here. We are playing for all of you this Saturday.”

Gallagher Chiefs to face Highlanders:

1. Ollie Norris

2. Bradley Slater

3. Sione Mafileo

4. Laghlan McWhannell**

5. Brodie Retallick

6. Luke Jacobson

7. Sam Cane (cc)

8. Pita Gus Sowakula

9. Xavier Roe

10. Josh Ioane*

11. Jonah Lowe

12. Quinn Tupaea

13. Alex Nankivell

14. Shaun Stevenson

15. Emoni Narawa*

Reserves:

16. Samisoni Taukei’aho (50th Match)

17. Atu Moli

18. Angus Ta’avao

19. Naitoa Ah Kuoi

20. Kaylum Boshier

21. Brad Weber (cc)

22. Bryn Gatland

23. Chase Tiatia

*denotes Gallagher Chiefs debut

**denotes DHL Super Rugby Pacific debut

Unavailable for selection:

Anton Lienert-Brown, Aidan Ross, Gideon Wrampling, Kaleb Trask, Mitch Brown, Reuben O’Neill, Simon Parker, Tupou Vaa’i