Tasesa Lavea earns his first Chiefs starting spot this Friday when the Chiefs take on the Lions in round seven of the Rebel Sport Super 14 at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton.
Lavea, 27, will start at second five-eighth for the Friday night fixture. This change to the Chiefs midfield combination sees Stephen Donald stay at first five-eighth, with Tane Tu’ipulotu moving out to centre.
Friday will be Lavea’s second outing for the Chiefs. He briefly played for the Chiefs in the Brumbies match in the opening round of the competition, but unfortunately injured his medial ligament in this game.
Meanwhile in the forwards Kristian Ormsby returns to the starting line-up to lock alongside Keith Robinson.
The Chiefs loose forward trio sees Sione Lauaki start at blindside, Marty Holah on the openside and Liam Messam at number eight. Tanerau Latimer provides loose forward cover in the reserves. Steven Bates was ruled out for this match due to a sprained ankle sustained in training on Monday.
Chiefs hooker Tom Willis retains the captaincy and will pack down in the front row alongside loosehead prop Simms Davison and tighthead prop Nathan White.
The Chiefs play the Lions on Friday 16 March in round seven of the Rebel Sport Super 14 at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton. Kick off is 7.35pm.
The Chiefs team is:
1. Simms Davison
2. Tom Willis (captain)
3. Nathan White
4. Kristian Ormsby
5. Keith Robinson
6. Sione Lauaki
7. Marty Holah
8. Liam Messam
9. Brendon Leonard
10.Stephen Donald
11.Roy Kinikinilau
12.Tasesa Lavea
13.Tane Tu’ipulotu
14.Lelia Masaga
15.Dwayne Sweeney
16. Aled de Malmanche, 17. Ben Castle, 18. Toby Lynn, 19. Tanerau Latimer, 20. Jamie Nutbrown, 21.Niva Ta’auso,
22. Jared Payne.
