Chiefs v Highlanders preview

The Chiefs travel to Dunedin to meet the Highlanders in both teams’ first match of the 2013 Super Rugby season.

The Chiefs have named a strong team to head south, including key members of the tournament-winning team from 2012.

Although the Chiefs will be without the flair and size of Sonny Bill Williams, newcomer Bundee Aki steps into the mid-field, and is partnered at centre with the elusive Tim Nainai-Williams, who moves from the wing/fullback position.

The forward pack were unrelentingly dominant in 2012, and with the likes of Messam, Retallick, Hika Elliot and young All Black Sam Cane, the Chiefs should be in control of the tight encounters.

Kerr-Barlow, who had a great 2012 season, starts at scrum-half, with Aaron Cruden continuing his reign at fly-half.

The Chiefs will also see the talented yet discarded Blues playmaker, Gareth Anscombe, start at fullback.

The Highlanders are looking to be one of the darkhorse teams of the tournament, as the franchise has recruited the talents of a number of star players in the off-season.

Star All Black centre Ma’a Nonu joins the side and gets the starting nod at inside centre, while the flair of Japanese international Fumiaki Tanaka will need to be utilised off the bench.

Brad Thorn also joins the Highlanders after a stint in Japan, although the 38-year old will not be in the team this weekend.

2012’s standout players, Ben Smith, Hosea Gear, and arguably the best scrumhalf of the year, Aaron Smith, will need to be decisive in the backline plays in order to overcome the Chiefs.

Chiefs team:

Pauliasi Manu 2. Hika Elliot 3. Ben Afeaki 4. Craig Clarke (c) 5. Brodie Retallick 6. Liam Messam 7. Sam Cane 8. Fritz Lee 9.Tawera Kerr-Barlow 10. Aaron Cruden 11. Asaeli Tikoirotuma 12. Bundee Aki 13. Tim Nanai-Williams 14. Patrick Osborne * 15. Gareth Anscombe

Replacements: 16. Rhys Marshall* 17. Ben Tameifuna 18. Michael Fitzgerald 19. Tanerau Latimer 20. Augustine Pulu 21. Charlie Ngatai* 22. Lelia Masaga

Highlanders team:

15 Ben Smith, 14 Kade Poki, 13 Phil Burleigh, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Hosea Gear (captain), 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Nasi Manu, 7 John Hardie, 6 Joe Wheeler, 5 Josh Bekhuis, 4 Jarrad Hoeata, 3 Ma’afu Fia, 2 Brayden Mitchell, 1 Tony Woodcock.

Replacements: 16 Liam Coltman, 17 Bronson Murray, 18 Elliot Dixon, 19 Tim Boys, 20 Fumiaki Tanaka, 21 Hayden Parker, 22 Buxton Popoali’i.