Injury-plagued flanker Luke Jacobson will return to the Chiefs pack for their final Super Rugby Aotearoa outing against the Hurricanes.
In June, Jacobson was ruled out for the rest of the season, after breaking his hand against the Blues, but he has mended quicker than expected and will line up in the No.6 jersey in Wellington on Saturday.
He replaces in-form blindside flanker Lachlan Boshier, who sits out this week.
Jacobson has been identified as a long-term All Black, but has struggled to stay on the field long enough to fulfill that potential.
He returned home from last year's Rugby World Cup without taking the field, after suffering chronic concussion symptoms. His comeback to Super Rugby ended after just 10 minutes, when he left the field with a hamstring injury against the Brumbies in February.
When the revamped NZ-based competition began after coronavirus shutdown, he managed one outing, before suffering the 'season-ending' hand injury.
"He's been working hard and we just felt... this was an opportunity to rest Lachlan and bring in Luke, who's fresh and chomping at the bit," says Chiefs coach Warren Gatland.
"We know how physical the Hurricanes are going to be, so we have to match the physicality they will bring and Luke comes in with a role to be really strong defensively."
Other changes to the starting line-up from last week's loss to the Crusaders see Ollie Norris inserted at loosehead prop, Samisoni Taukei'aho at hooker and Naitoa Ah Kuoi at lock. In the backs, Kaleb Trask replaces Aaron Cruden at first-five.
Prop Rob Cobb and outside back Kini Naholo will likely make their Chiefs debuts among the reserves.
"This weekend is an opportunity to grow and develop some of our young players," says Gatland. "We have two young debutants sitting on the bench who have been training hard and it is a good chance for them to get a taste of Super Rugby."
Chiefs: 1-Ollie Norris, 2-Samisoni Taukei'aho, 3-Nepo Laulala, 4-Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 5-Mitchell Brown, 6-Luke Jacobson, 7-Sam Cane, 8-Pita Gus Sowakula, 9-Brad Weber, 10-Kaleb Trask, 11-Sean Wainui, 12-Alex Nankivell, 13-Anton Lienert-Brown, 14-Shaun Stevenson, 15-Damian McKenzie
Reserves: 16-Bradley Slater, 17-Robb Cobb, 18-Angus Ta'avao, 19-Tupou Vaa’i, 20-Mitchell Karpik, 21-Lisati Milo-Harris, 22-Quinn Tupaea, 23-Kini Naholo
Join us at 7pm Saturday for live updates of the Hurricanes v Chiefs Super Rugby Aotearoa clash
