Winger Lelia Masaga returns to Super 14 rugby this weekend when he joins the Chiefs in their round three match against the Western Force in Perth, Australia.
Masaga, 23, who flew over to Perth earlier this week to join the Chiefs squad, is named to start on the right wing. It will be Masaga’s first competition match in the 2010 Super 14 – a competition he is no stranger to with 40 Chiefs caps to his name.
Masaga replaces injured Chief wing Sitiveni Sivivatu who strained his shoulder in the Chiefs v Lions match last weekend. After a long recovery from shoulder surgery in September last year, Masaga is fully fit to return to rugby at this level. He played 65 minutes for the Chiefs Development team in Hamilton last Saturday.
Dwayne Sweeney moves to the left wing for Sunday morning’s encounter, while the only other change to the Chiefs backline from last week is Brendon Leonard returning to the number 9 jersey.
In the forwards, rookie tight forward Romana Graham, who stands at 2.02m and weighs 116kg, will make his Chiefs and Super 14 debut locking alongside up and coming new lock Culum Retallick.
Blindside flanker Liam Messam takes over the captaincy , with current All Black and veteran Chiefs openside Tanerau Latimer and Colin Bourke (number eight) making up the loose forward trio.
In the Chiefs front row, Hika Elliot gets the nod to start at hooker ahead of Aled de Malmanche who is on the bench this week.
Chiefs assistant coach Craig Stevenson says the focus of training this week has been on "getting quality sessions early in the week, with recovery later in the week."
"We’ve needed to work on getting combinations right, in light of the changes from last week, and in particular with Masaga and Graham coming into the side for the first time. "
"We’re very keen to finish our three-game tour well, and expect a very motivated Western Force team this weekend."
Milestone: Second five-eighth Callum Bruce is set to play his 50th Super 14 game – he played 22 games for the Highlanders, and is set to play his 28th match for the Chiefs.
The Chiefs team to play the Western Force on Sunday 28 February at 12.05am (NZ time) at ME Bank Stadium in Perth is:
1. Sona Taumalolo,2. Hika Elliot,3. Nathan White,4. Romana Graham,5. Culum Retallick,6. Liam Messam (captain),7. Tanerau Latimer,8. Colin Bourke,9. Brendon Leonard,10. Stephen Donald,11. Dwayne Sweeney,12. Callum Bruce,13. Richard Kahui,14. Lelia Masaga,15. Mike Delany
Reserves: 16. Aled de Malmanche, 17. Ben Afeaki, 18. Jarrad Hoeata, 19. Luke Braid , 20. Junior Poluleuligaga, 21. Jackson Willison, 22. Tim Nanai-Williams.
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