Stakes high in playoff race

A Chiefs side running on sudden death pressure will be hoping its Super Rugby title dream can last a little longer as it prepares to face the Brumbies in Canberra tonight.

After sneaking into the Super Rugby playoffs in fifth spot with a gritty 11-8 win against the Blues – and thanks to the Highlanders' 34-8 demolition to the Crusaders – the side must now keep their title hopes alive across the Tasman.


The Chiefs will be hoping for more of the same from wing James Lowe in Canberra. Photo: Tracy Hardy.

Tonight's clash with the Brumbies sees the two-time defending champions looking to amend a 41-23 thumping to the capital side on Anzac Day.

Without a number of key personnel for that clash, including Aaron Cruden, Tawera Kerr-Barlow and Tanerau Latimer, the side can be buoyed by being near full strength and beginning to show the Chiefs' cohesion of previous seasons.

But to give the franchise a three-peat the side will likely have to win three knockout matches away from home in the next three weeks – starting with the Brumbies coming off a 47-25 victory over the Western Force.

In doing so Chiefs coach Dave Rennie has make one change to the side with Dwayne Sweeney starting at fullback and Tom Marshall moving to the bench.

The decision sees Sweeney, used mostly on the wing this season since re-joining the Chiefs as a replacement for the injured Mils Muliaina, jump the queue ahead of Marshall and previous incumbent Gareth Anscombe.

Both Marshall and Anscombe are now available on the reserves bench.

The Chiefs haven't won in Canberra since 2008 and have beaten the Brumbies at home three times in Super Rugby history.

But the two-time defending champions charged home in the grand final last year to come from behind to beat the Brumbies 27-22 in Hamilton.

Chiefs co-captain Liam Messam knows the stakes are high for the must-win match on Australian soil.

'This is ‘do or die' time for us. We have a lot of belief in our group and now we need to convert that into our performance on the field on Saturday night.”

Chiefs versus Brumbies in Canberra on Saturday, July 19 (at 9.40pm NZ time):

  1. Jamie Mackintosh
  2. Mahonri Schwalger
  3. Ben Tameifuna
  4. Mike Fitzgerald
  5. Brodie Retallick
  6. Liam Messam
  7. Tanerau Latimer
  8. Liam Squire
  9. Tawera Kerr-Barlow
  10. Aaron Cruden ©
  11. James Lowe
  12. Bundee Aki
  13. Tim Nanai-Williams
  14. Asaeli Tikoirotuma
  15. Dwayne Sweeney
  16. Nathan Harris
  17. Pauliasi Manu
  18. Nick Barrett
  19. Matt Symons
  20. Tevita Koloamatangi
  21. Augustine Pulu
  22. Gareth Anscombe
  23. Tom Marshall

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