The second Super Rugby match on Saturday is in Hamilton New Zealand where the Chiefs host Melbourne’s Rebels.
The Chiefs had a bye last week and in their last outing they were beaten by the Highlanders so they will be up for it in this match.
The Rebels were beaten 22-30 at home in Melbourne last week which was a big blow as they have now slipped from 1st place in the Australian Conference to third.
The Chiefs were New Zealand Conference leaders but the Crusaders have moved above them on points difference. The Crusaders, Chiefs and Highlanders are all on 37 points and the Hurricanes have 36 points.
The Chiefs have played the Rebels just four times in Super Rugby and the Chiefs have won three matches and lost one. This gives them a record of winning 75% of their matches against the Melbourne side.
Two of the four matches between the two teams have been played in Hamilton and the Chiefs have won both so they have a perfect home record against the Rebels. The average score when the Chiefs play the Rebels at home is : Chiefs 30 Rebels 19
The last match between the sides was won by the Rebels and this was played in Melbourne.
The Chiefs have made two changes for this match with and Hooker Nathan Harris earns his first start of the 2016 Super Rugby season, with Hika Elliot moving to the replacements.
Anton Lienert-Brown gets a chance to impress at second five-eighth after Charlie Ngatai was ruled out with concussion. On the replacements bench there are three changes with Siegfried Fisi’ihoi coming onto the bench in jersey 18, along with Tom Sanders who returns from injury to provide loose forward cover. Experienced campaigner Andrew Horrell bolsters the backline stocks wearing jersey 22.
Meanwhile the Rebels have been able to bring back Tom English, Mitch Inman and Sam Jeffries who all come into the starting line up. English and Inman return to the starting team for the first time since injuries sidelined the pair since Round 5 and Round 6, respectively.
English came off the bench last weekend in his first appearance since a knee injury to the Highlanders, replaces Cam Crawford on the left wing while Ellison makes way for Inman at outside centre. Jeffries gets his second start of the season and replaces Luke Jones, who failed to overcome a back injury in the loss to the Brumbies.
Culum Retallick, Jonah Placid and Siliva Siliva have been named on the reserves bench .
The last three matches have been tight affairs and were decided by less than a converted try.
This Match will be shown on TV in NZ (Sky), Aus (Fox Sports), SA (SuperSport) and in the UK on Sky Sports 4.
Average score: Chiefs 28 Rebels 19
Last four results
02 May 2015 Chiefs v Rebels 15-16 Melbourne
12 Apr 2014 Chiefs v Rebels 22-16 Hamilton
03 May 2013 Chiefs v Rebels 39-33 Melbourne
05 Mar 2011 Chiefs v Rebels 38-10 Hamilton
Chiefs overall record against the Rebels
Played 4 , Wins 3, Losses 1 , Draws 0
Match No.96:Chiefs v Rebels
Date : Saturday 21 May 2016
Venue : FMG Stadium, Hamilton
Kick Off local: 19:35 local
Referee: Angus Gardiner
Assistant Ref 1:Brendon Pickerill
Assistant Ref 2:Angus Mabey
TMO :Ben Skeen
Teams
Chiefs
1. Mitchell Graham , 2. Nathan Harris , 3. Hiroshi Yamashita , 4. Dominic Bird , 5. Brodie Retallick , 6. Taleni Seu , 7. Sam Cane, (cc) , 8. Michael Leitch , 9. Brad Weber , 10. Aaron Cruden (cc) , 11. James Lowe , 12. Anton Lienert-Brown , 13. Seta Tamanivalu , 14. Toni Pulu , 15. Damian McKenzie
Replacements : 16. Hika Elliot , 17. Kane Hames , 18. Siegfried Fisi’ihoi , 19. Michael Allardice , 20. Tom Sanders , 21. Kayne Hammington , 22. Andrew Horrell , 23. Sam Vaka
Rebels
1. Toby Smith, 2. James Hanson, 3. Jamie Hagan, 4. Sam Jeffries, 5. Lopeti Timani , 6. Colby Fainga’a, 7. Sean McMahon, 8. Adam Thomson, 9. Nic Stirzaker (captain), 10. Jack Debreczeni, 11. Tom English , 12. Reece Hodge, 13. Mitch Inman, 14. Sefa Naivalu, 15. Mike Harris
Replacements : 16. Siliva Siliva , 17. Cruze Ah Nau, 18. Tim Metcher, 19. Culum Retallick, 20. Jordy Reid, 21. Ben Meehan, 22. Jonah Placid, 23. Kotaro Matsushima
