Ardron starts at No8 against Stormers

Tyler Ardron will make his sixth start of the Super Rugby season for the Chiefs on Saturday, and for the first time it will be at his preferred position of No8. The Canadian international runs out in the back row against the Stormers having been used as a lock in his previous outings.

It will be another first for Ardron as he makes the long trip to South Africa for a two-week tour that starts in Cape Town and heads to Durban for a date with the Sharks next weekend. In March he played against the Sunwolves in Tokyo and faced the Reds in Brisbane three weeks ago.

Lining up alongside Ardron will be seven All Blacks. Nathan Harris starts at hooker with Brodie Retallick in the second row and Liam Messam on the flank. Brad Weber partners Damian McKenzie in the halfbacks with Anton Lienert-Brown at outside centre and Charlie Ngatai leading the team from fullback.

Kickoff is set for 3pm local time, 9am Eastern, 6am Pacific. Viewers in Canada can watch live on TSN Go.

CHIEFS vs Stormers
1 Karl Tu’inukuafe, 2 Nathan Harris, 3 Angus Ta’avao, 4 Brodie Retallick, 5 Michael Allardice, 6 Luke Jacobson, 7 Liam Messam, 8 Tyler Ardron, 9 Brad Weber, 10 Damian McKenzie, 11 Solomon Alaimalo, 12 Johnny Fa’auli, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 14 Toni Pulu, 15 Charlie Ngatai (capt.)

Replacements: 16 Liam Polwart, 17 Sam Prattley, 18 Jeff Thwaites, 19 Jesse Parete, 20 Pita Sowakula, 21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22 Marty McKenzie, 23 Shaun Stevenson