Sonny Bill starts for Chiefs against Hurricanes

The Chiefs have named Sonny Bill Williams in a team with multiple changes to face the Hurricanes in Taranaki at Yarrow Stadium on Saturday.

It is the Chiefs fourth Super Rugby match in Taranaki in 13 months. The hosts are excited at being able to consistently provide top quality rugby for passionate rugby fans in Taranaki and know that this is a match that locals have been waiting a long time to see.

Four local Taranaki players are in the match day side that has multiple changes.

Sonny Bill Williams makes his long awaited return to rugby and will be joined by James Lowe or Hosea Gear on the wing.

Pauliasi Manu, Quentin MacDonald and Ben Tameifuna will combine to make the starting front row with Hika Elliot being rested. Lock Matt Symons also returns to the run-on fifteen.

Michael Leitch will shift to flanker while All Black Sam Cane takes his second pre-arranged break and Maama Vaipulu will wear the No 8 jersey.

Brad Weber will take over the starting halfback duties this week.

There are also seven different players that have been added to the replacements. Taranaki’s Rhys Marshall and Mitch Crosswell will join Siate Tokolahi, Jamie Mackintosh, Michael Fitzgerald, Augustine Pulu and Andrew Horrell on the pine.

Chiefs

1. Pauliasi Manu , 2. Quentin MacDonald , 3. Ben Tameifuna , 4. Matt Symons , 5. Brodie Retallick , 6. Liam Messam (c) , 7. Michael Leitch , 8. Maama Vaipulu , 9. Brad Weber , 10. Marty McKenzie , 11. James Lowe/Hosea Gear , 12. Sonny Bill Williams, 13. Charlie Ngatai , 14. Bryce Heem , 15. Tom Marshall

Replacments : 16. Rhys Marshall , 17. Siate Tokolahi , 18. Jamie Mackintosh , 19. Michael Fitzgerald , 20. Mitchell Crosswell , 21. Augustine Pulu , 22. Andrew Horrell , 23. Damian McKenzie