Cortez Ratima of the Chiefs. Photo: Aaron Gillions / Photosport
Chiefs v Reds
Kick-off: 7:05pm Friday 4 April
FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
Live blog updates on RNZ Sport
It's unlikely many people would've predicted an Australian side to be top of the table through eight rounds of Super Rugby Pacific, but if they had to make a call it's likely the Reds would've been the answer. The Queenslanders head to Hamilton after winning their last three matches in a row, including one on this side of the Tasman against the Highlanders.
Meanwhile the Chiefs are coming off their bye in second place and the good news that Damian McKenzie is sticking around till 2029, so this is shaping up as a very intriguing clash between two teams laden with test players.
Damian McKenzie of the Chiefs. Photo: Aaron Gillions / Photosport
Team lists
Chiefs: 1. Ollie Norris, 2. Brodie McAlister, 3. George Dyer, 4. Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 5. Manaaki Selby-Rickit, 6. Simon Parker, 7. Jahrome Brown, 8. Luke Jacobson (c), 9. Cortez Ratima, 10. Damian McKenzie, 11. Leroy Carter, 12. Quinn Tupaea, 13. Daniel Rona, 14. Emoni Narawa, 15. Shaun Stevenson
Bench: 16. Samisoni Taukei'aho, 17. Aidan Ross, 18. Reuben O'Neill, 19. Tupou Vaa'i, 20. Samipeni Finau, 21. Xavier Roe, 22. Josh Jacomb, 23. Gideon Wrampling
Reds: 1. Alex Hodgman, 2. Matt Faessler, 3. Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 4. Josh Canham, 5. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 6. Joe Brial, 7. Fraser McReight, 8. Harry Wilson, 9. Tate McDermott (c), 10. Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 11. Filipo Daugunu, 12. Hunter Paisami, 13. Dre Pakeho, 14. Lachie Anderson, 15. Heremaia Murray
Bench: 16. Richie Asiata, 17. Sef Fa'agase, 18. Zane Nonggorr, 19. Ryan Smith, 20. John Bryant, 21. Kalani Thomas, 22. Tom Lynagh, 23. Jock Campbell
Chiefs selections
Jahrome Brown and Quinn Tupaea come back into the starting lineup, moving Samipeni Finau and Gideon Wrampling to the bench. Cortez Ratima gets the nod at halfback after Xavier Roe has spent most of the season starting, while Shaun Stevenson lines up at fullback for his 100th match.
Reds selections
Seven Wallabies are back in the Reds' line-up, most notably Fraser McReight and Harry Wilson in the loose forwards. Joe Brial completes the back row, behind them Tate McDermott starts at halfback. Hunter Paisami joins Dre Pakeho in the midfield, while Filipo Daugunu shifts to the wing.
Tate McDermott of the Reds celebrates a try. Photo: Aaron Gillions / Photosport
Key stats
The Reds have won three of their last four regular season Super Rugby Pacific games against the Chiefs including the last two.
The Chiefs have won 19 of their last 21 Super Rugby Pacific games at FMG Waikato Stadium including their last four in a row, but they've conceded 30 points or more in each of their last two games there.
Damian McKenzie has scored one try in each of his last two Super Rugby Pacific games and has logged four tries across his last five games. However, he's not scored a try against the Reds since Round 16, 2016.
What they're saying
"We've shown that we are robust and resilient and that our skills have come through to solve problems at the right time. We work at being stronger each week. This is another challenge to aim up to in Hamilton against a team that has shown they are right on top of their game." - Reds coach Les Kiss.
"We want to respect the fact that we're playing the top of the table Reds…we feel like we had six massive games back to back, so we were starting to get a bit of wear and tear. The bye came at the right time for us. There's good energy." - Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan.
The last time they met
Chiefs 43 - 21 Reds
Last year's quarter-final in Hamilton was one way traffic as the Reds hit the Chiefs just as the home side was coming into their best form of the year. Emoni Narawa threw perhaps the offload of the season that set Samisoni Taukei'aho up for a try, after that the Reds' heads dropped.
What's going to happen
Whatever does, there's going to be plenty of points because both teams are fixated on scoring tries this year. It is supposed to rain tonight, but that's unlikely to cause too much deviation from the gameplans. Stevenson and McKenzie will look to counterattack, while the Chiefs loose forwards trio of Parker, Jacobson and Brown will be gunning for Reds first five Harry McLaughlin-Phillips and keeping an eye on former Auckland Grammar star Heremaia Murray at fullback.
