RECAP: Chiefs v Hurricanes

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to our coverage of the Super Rugby Round Seven encounter between the Chiefs and Hurricanes in Hamilton.

The Chiefs, buoyed by their second-half shut-out of the Waratahs last week, will look to put their stake down in one of two crucial conference matches at the weekend.

The Chiefs, at home to the Hurricanes on Friday, could go a long way to decide the final pecking order in the New Zealand conference.

The other ‘decider’ will take place a day later in South Africa – when the Sharks host the Stormers in Durban.

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Teams

Chiefs: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Shaun Stevenson, 13 Tumua Manu, 12 Anton Lienert-Brown, 11 Solomon Alaimalo, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Brad Weber, 8 Pita Gus Sowakula, 7 Sam Cane (captain), 6 Lachlan Boshier, 5 Mitchell Brown, 4 Michael Allardice, 3 Ross Geldenhuys, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 Aidan Ross.

Replacements: 16 Bradley Slater, 17 Atu Moli, 18 Reuben O’Neill 19 Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20 Mitchell Karpik, 21 Lisati Milo-Harris, 22 Kaleb Trask, 23 Alex Nankivell.

Hurricanes: 15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Kobus Van Wyk, 13 Vince Aso, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Ben Lam, 10 Fletcher Smith, 9 Thomas Perenara (co-captain), 8 Gareth Evans, 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 6 Devan Flanders, 5 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 4 James Blackwell, 3 Ben May, 2 Dane Coles (co-captain), 1 Fraser Armstrong.

Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18 Alex Fidow 19 Scott Scrafton, 20 Vaea Fifita, 21 Jamie Booth, 22 Billy Proctor, 23 Wes Goosen.

Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)

Assistant referees: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa), Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)

TMO: Aaron Peterson (New Zealand)