Rennie calls for sellout crowd for Party at Beaver’s

Put the Waikato Draught on ice, because this Saturday fan favourite and inspirational team man Stephen ‘Beaver’ Donald will start in his 100th game for the Gallagher Chiefs. The 33-year-old will become just the fourth player in Chiefs history to achieve this rare feat, joining Tanerau Latimer, Liam Messam and Hika Elliot in the exclusive milestone club.

Gallagher Chiefs head coach Dave Rennie said Donald deserves to run out in front of a vast and boisterous crowd when he takes the field against the Waratahs this Saturday.

“Stephen Donald’s already a Chiefs legend. Adored by his teammates and fans alike, he is a special and passionate Chiefs man who has had a prolific on-field career. Come and join the party, crack open a Waikato and help us raise a toast to Beaver, the hard-working good bugger” said Rennie.

The Gallagher Chiefs are thirsty for a win on home soil when they host the Waratahs at the earlier kickoff time of 5.05pm. Head coach Dave Rennie has made just two changes to the starting fifteen who recorded their first ever draw against the Blues at Eden Park last Friday. The changes see Stephen Donald don jersey 12 for his 100th match and speedster Toni Pulu start on the right wing. Of note in the reserves is the inclusion of 22-year-old Bay of Plenty hooker Liam Polwart. The former New Zealand Under 20s representative is line to make his Investec Super Rugby debut off the bench.

The sun is forecast to shine over an enthralling afternoon of rugby, kicking off at 2.40pm with Hamilton Boys High School playing Rotorua Boys High School in the University of Waikato Chiefs Cup final.

The Gallagher Chiefs team to play the Waratahs at 5.05pm this Saturday at FMG Stadium Waikato is:

1 Kane Hames (20)
2 Nathan Harris (26)
3 Nepo Laulala (9)
4 Dominic Bird (23)
5 Brodie Retallick (82)
6 Mitchell Brown (12)
7 Sam Cane (co-captain) (91)
8 Liam Messam (157)
9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow (78)
10 Aaron Cruden (co-captain) (84)
11 James Lowe (48)
12 Stephen Donald (99)
13 Anton Lienert-Brown (36)
14 Toni Pulu (20)
15 Damian McKenzie (45)

RESERVES:
16 Liam Polwart**
17 Siegfried Fisi’ihoi (22)
18 Atu Moli (22)
19 Taleni Seu (29)
20 Mitchell Karpik (4)
21 Jonathan Taumateine (5)
22 Tim Nanai-Williams (82)
23 Solomon Alaimalo (4)

() = Gallagher Chiefs caps in brackets

**denotes Investec Super Rugby debut

Unavailable for selection: Brad Weber, Mitchell Graham, Glen Fisiiahi, Charlie Ngatai, Sam McNicol.

Stephen Donald is the ultimate teammate, so his 100th game serves as a fitting occasion to promote a very meaningful message. This Saturday the Chiefs Rugby Club is teaming up with MATES, a non-profit organisation which aims to bring kiwi communities closer together with a focus on empowering and supporting men to be positive family and community members.

Waratahs Team to play the Chiefs:

1 Tom Robertson, 2. Tolu Latu, 3. Sekope Kepu, 4. Dean Mumm, 5. Will Skelton, 6. Ned Hanigan, 7. Michael Hooper , 8. Michael Wells
9 Jake Gordon, 10. Bernard Foley, 11. Cam Clark, 12. David Horwitz, 13. Rob Horne, 14. Taqele Naiyaravoro, 15. Israel Folau

REPLACEMENTS:
16 Damien Fitzpatrick, 17. Paddy Ryan, 18. Angus Taavao, 19. David McDuling, 20. Jed Holloway, 21. Jack Dempsey, 22. Matt Lucas, 23. Bryce Hegarty

So Hika Elliot dropped from the squad? (He doesn't appear in the 'Not Available for selection' footnote)

Chiefs by a THOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWSAND

@NTA you say that every week

Why is that team so shit? Seriously, "on paper" there are enough good players for them to win a lot of games. Gibson aye?

If we can't get around Beaver and get up for this one then everyone may as well go home

@mariner4life said in Chiefs v Waratahs:

@NTA you say that every week

Why is that team so shit? Seriously, "on paper" there are enough good players for them to win a lot of games. Gibson aye?

If we can't get around Beaver and get up for this one then everyone may as well go home

Have you seen that bench? Taavao, Ryan, Fitzpatrick, McDuling & Hegarty are below standard. Plus in the starting XV Mumm will do something stupid each week.

A bit surprised to see TNW named. His injury looked quite bad last week.

@ACT-Crusader said in Chiefs v Waratahs:

A bit surprised to see TNW named. His injury looked quite bad last week.

Last man standing with McNicol and Ngatai out? Or is that overrated Johnny guy available?

@Nepia said in Chiefs v Waratahs:

@ACT-Crusader said in Chiefs v Waratahs:

A bit surprised to see TNW named. His injury looked quite bad last week.

Last man standing with McNicol and Ngatai out? Or is that overrated Johnny guy available?

TNW obviously has good healing powers. Nonu Jr has been dropped, and Leitch misses out 2 weeks in a row.

@Hooroo I'm sure they are wanting to give Polwart a run so Hika is being rested. The interest will be next Thu to see Elliot makes the Maori squad. If he doesn't he will start for the Chiefs against the Lions, assuming Harris is in the AB squad.

@Bovidae The only thing stopping Harris from being one of the three hookers in the All Black squad is another injury.

I can't see the Tahs winning this.

@Bovidae Are we surprised Leitch has been dropped? I don't think he's been playing to his usual standard this season and is fucking off anyway, so eh. He's been a great player for the Chiefs over the last few years but Brown and Messam deserve to be there more.

Stoked to see Beaver reach the milestone. Now here's hoping the Chiefs actually play at the level they're capable of, not the level of their opposition, and don't fuck things up.

Celebrate the Beaver!

How close would Beaver be to getting 100 for Waikato as well, and will he even play for them this year?

@mariner4life said in Chiefs v Waratahs:

@NTA you say that every week

No I don't.

Because we didn't play the Chiefs last week.

@Rugger-Quizzes said in Chiefs v Waratahs:

How close would Beaver be to getting 100 for Waikato as well, and will he even play for them this year?

He would be closer to 100 for CM if he had stayed there and not run down to hillbilly land.

@Unco I'm not disagreeing with your comment, just pointing out that Hika wasn't the only player missing from the 23 this weekend.

@Rugger-Quizzes Beaver has only played about 60 games for Waikato. I'm sure he will be involved this year.

According to Rugby Almanack, Donald has played 22 for Counties Manukau and 60 for Waikato.

Interview with Beaver

Always seemed to me like Beaver's form was heavily tied to his confidence before he left but ever since he came back, he's been consistently awesome. Seems like he stopped giving a shit about the background noise and is just enjoying playing.