All Blacks back for Gallagher Chiefs playoff against Reds

Damian McKenzie will start at first five having missed the last two games with concussion.  He has the in-form Quinn Tupaea outside him and the dynamic Isaac Hutchinson at fullback. 

Luke Jacobson returns to captain the side from openside flanker and has a phalanx of All Blacks around him as Ollie Norris, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Tupou Vaa’i and Simon Parker return. 

It means Sione Ahio is the only non-All Black in the forward pack, with two thirds of the full XV and half of the bench having worn the black shirt. 

“At the start of the year you want to get to this end of the season and be in contention and we’ve put ourselves in contention and now it’s about focusing on what’s in front of us. 

“The boys are really excited to rip in this weekend.” 

McKenzie is symptom free and looking forward to playing again, having witnessed a strong performance against the Blues last week. 

“It speaks volumes of the depth we have here at the Gallagher Chiefs,” McKenzie, who will play his 149^th Super Rugby match on Saturday, said.  “We have the mindset of the next man up and when guys get an opportunity they make the most of it.” 

The Gallagher Chiefs have won 10 of their last 13 Super Rugby Pacific games against the Reds including their last three in a row, and this will be the third time the two sides have met in the finals – with the Gallagher Chiefs winning each of the two previous games.

The Gallagher Chiefs have also won 10 of their last 12 finals at FMG Stadium Waikato, including all six of their playoff games against Australian sides.

McKenzie said the Gallagher Chiefs were excited about being in the playoffs again.  “It’s not just any other game, it’s a qualifying final and we have to make sure we earn our week by training really well and just taking it one week at a time. 

“At the start of the year you want to get to this end of the season and be in contention and we’ve put ourselves in contention and now it’s about focusing on what’s in front of us.