McMillan was “100 per cent stoked’ at the depth the Chiefs – Super Rugby Aotearoa runners-up – had developed in 2021 after losing key players such as All Blacks captain Sam Cane and pro Atu Moli to injuries, and with test lock Brodie Retallick on Japan on sabbatical. “It’s disappointing that we aren t able to contest another final, but I’m absolutely rapt with the way, in both Super Rugby Aotearoa and the Trans Tasman competition with the really great depth we’ve developed.” McMillan said some players had got “significant minutes we never anticipated them getting’’ and said some, including loose forwards Zane Kapeli and Viliame Taulani (the only Chiefs try-scorer in Sydney not named Wainui) had made the most of their opportunities.
Aaron Goile16:30, Apr 29 2021
Michael Bradley/Getty Images
Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan has made wholesale changes to his lineup to play the Blues.
Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan says there are “probably seven” spots up for grabs for his team’s Super Rugby Aotearoa final against the Crusaders in Christchurch next weekend. That should at least ensure some sort of intensity from his makeshift lineup for Saturday night’s dead rubber against the Blues in Auckland. The Chiefs have 11 players putting their feet up, 12 injured, and 23 others who will trot out on Eden Park, including half a dozen set for Super Rugby debuts, in a team captained by Sean Wainui, from centre.