Ngatai to start for Chiefs

The Chiefs have welcomed Charlie Ngatai back into the starting side for their Super Rugby semifinal against the Crusaders.

After missing the trip to Cape Town for the 17-11 quarterfinal win over the Stormers with an ankle injury, Ngatai has recovered and been named at second five-eighth for the clash in Christchurch on Saturday night. He takes the place of Stephen Donald, who was impressive against the Stormers, but will instead play from the bench.

It will be just the fourth Chiefs match for Ngatai this season, with the one-test All Black having returned from his near year-long battle with concussion against the Reds in New Plymouth on May 6, but then being sidelined again after another head knock at training. He came back against the Hurricanes in Wellington on June 9, got through 80 minutes for New Zealand Maori against the British and Irish Lions in Rotorua the following week, but then injured his ankle in the final-round game against the Brumbies in Hamilton on July 15.

There is just one other change to the Chiefs' side, with Tim Nanai-Williams promoted from the reserves to start on the right wing in place of Solomon Alaimalo.

Similar to Ngatai, Nanai-Williams has had limited involvement in this campaign because of injuries - with shoulder then ankle problems. This will be just his seventh appearance of the Super Rugby season, but fourth start on the right flank, where youngster Alaimalo has been impressive of late.

Chiefs: Damian McKenzie, Tim Nanai-Williams, Anton Lienert-Brown, Charlie Ngatai, James Lowe, Aaron Cruden (co-c), Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Michael Leitch, Sam Cane (co-c), Liam Messam, Brodie Retallick, Mitchell Brown, Nepo Laulala, Nathan Harris, Kane Hames. Reserves: Liam Polwart, Aidan Ross, Atu Moli, Dominic Bird, Lachlan Boshier, Finlay Christie, Stephen Donald, Shaun Stevenson.

 

 

Photo: HAGEN HOPKINS/GETTY IMAGES (Charlie Ngatai, right, returns from an ankle injury and will start at second five-eighth for the Chiefs in their semifinal against the Crusaders).