Leroy Carter Returns to Bench for Chiefs Vs Crusaders Semifinal
The Chiefs opened chiefs vs crusaders with Leroy Carter back on the bench for the first Super Rugby Pacific semifinal at FMG Stadium. The winger returns after a hamstring injury, while the match carries a place in the final and a recent edge for the visitors.
Chiefs Keep Carter Ready
Carter had been slated to return last week against the Reds, but he was scratched shortly after the teams were named. This time, he is listed among the Chiefs’ replacements, giving them another backline option if the semifinal tightens late.
Liam Coombes-Fabling stayed on the right flank, while Kyle Brown was ruled out with concussion. Lalakai Foketi started in the midfield, and Simon Parker shifted to No 8 to replace Wallace Sititi.
Wallace Sititi Absence
Sititi had suffered a nasty head knock, and no timeline was placed on his return. That left Samipeni Finau to take Parker’s spot at blindside flanker, changing the Chiefs’ loose-forward mix for a knockout match that leaves no room for a slow start.
The Chiefs also had to account for the Crusaders’ recent run in this matchup. The visitors had won their last three Super Rugby Pacific matches against the Chiefs, including twice this season and in last year’s final.
Crusaders Bring Back Newell
Fletcher Newell returned for the Crusaders and started at tighthead prop. Braydon Ennor replaced Dallas McLeod in the midfield, another direct change to a side that has handled this opponent well across the past year.
With both lineups set, the semifinal became a test of whether the Chiefs could break that streak at home or whether the Crusaders would carry their recent results into another final run. Super Rugby Aupiki also got underway that weekend with matches in Auckland and Christchurch.
