The Gallagher Chiefs face the NSW Waratahs in Hamilton on Saturday with a significantly depleted backline after fly-half Damian McKenzie was ruled out with a concussion, adding yet another name to a casualty list that is testing the depth of Colin Cooper’s squad heading into the business end of the competition.

McKenzie joins Etene Nanai-Seturo, Wallace Sititi, Daniel Rona and Lalakai Foketi on the Chiefs’ injury list, a roll-call of significant absences that underlines the scale of the selection challenge facing the coaching staff for this Round 8 fixture. The loss of McKenzie in particular is considerable: the fly-half has been in fine form during 2026 and his ability to probe defences, kick from the hand and manage the game in close contests makes him almost irreplaceable in normal circumstances.

In McKenzie’s absence, Josh Jacomb steps into the number ten jersey. The young fly-half will carry the responsibility of directing the Chiefs’ attack at FMG Stadium Waikato, and his performance under pressure will be closely watched given the opposition he faces. Jacomb has shown enough in his appearances this season to suggest he can handle the responsibility, but matching McKenzie’s influence will be a significant ask.

Luke Jacobson captains the side from the openside flank, with Samipeni Finau at blindside and Kaylum Boshier at number eight. The loose trio is experienced and mobile, capable of providing the kind of breakdown work and carrying power that keeps the Chiefs competitive even when their backline is disrupted. In the engine room, Josh Lord and Tupou Vaa’i form a lock pairing with lineout pedigree and physical authority in the loose.

The front row of Ollie Norris, Samisoni Taukei’aho and Reuben O’Neill provides a scrum platform from which Jacomb can operate, with Taukei’aho’s hooking and lineout throwing fundamental to the Chiefs’ set-piece.

Xavier Roe starts at scrum-half, with Jacomb outside him at ten. The injury toll in the backline has meant that Leroy Carter is retained at outside centre, with Quinn Tupaea inside him. In the back three, Kyren Taumoefolau and Emoni Narawa start on the wings with Liam Coobes-Fabling at fullback.

The bench provides experienced reinforcements, with Cortez Ratima offering scrum-half cover and Kyle Brown providing an impact option in the loose forwards. Brodie McAlister provides hooking cover with Jared Proffit and George Dyer in the front row.

The Chiefs face a Waratahs side that is growing in confidence after defeating the Brumbies in Round 7, and Dan McKellar’s men will arrive in Hamilton buoyed by that result. For the Chiefs, a home win on Saturday is essential to keep their season on track despite the personnel challenges, and Jacobson will need to lead from the front in what could be a bruising contest.

The competition standings remain tightly bunched, and this is a fixture that could have significant implications for both teams’ top-four aspirations as the season approaches its latter stages.

Chiefs: 15. Liam Coobes-Fabling, 14. Emoni Narawa, 13. Leroy Carter, 12. Quinn Tupaea, 11. Kyren Taumoefolau, 10. Josh Jacomb, 9. Xavier Roe, 8. Kaylum Boshier, 7. Luke Jacobson (c), 6. Samipeni Finau, 5. Tupou Vaa’i, 4. Josh Lord, 3. Reuben O’Neill, 2. Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1. Ollie Norris

Replacements: 16. Brodie McAlister, 17. Jared Proffit, 18. George Dyer, 19. Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20. Simon Parker, 21. Cortez Ratima, 22. Kyle Brown, 23. Daniel Sinkinson

Unavailable: Damian McKenzie (concussion), Etene Nanai-Seturo, Wallace Sititi, Daniel Rona, Lalakai Foketi (all injuries)

Match details: Chiefs v NSW Waratahs, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton. Saturday 4 April 2026. Live on Sky Sport (NZ) / Stan Sport (AUS).

The Western Force will travel to Brisbane on Saturday carrying one of the most anticipated storylines in Australian rugby this season, with NRL convert Zac Lomax set to make his Super Rugby Pacific debut from the bench against the Queensland Reds at Suncorp Stadium. Also earning his first taste of Super Rugby will be openside flanker Jack Daly, who starts at seven after stepping into the breach created by Carlo Tizzano’s knee injury.

Force head coach Simon Cron has been measured in managing Lomax’s introduction, ensuring the former NSW State of Origin winger has been given the time and preparation to make a genuine impact rather than being thrown in for spectacle alone. “He’s a natural athlete, big, strong, fast, powerful,” Cron said of the cross-code convert. “We’ve done a bit of work with him since he got here, he’s very confident he’s ready. He’s a great player, and he’s ready to go.”

Lomax, who has not played rugby union since his primary school days, will be expected to come on as a winger in the second half and provide the Force with an injection of power and pace out wide. The cross-code experiment has attracted nationwide attention, and Suncorp Stadium on Saturday will be his stage for an overdue debut.

While Lomax has generated the headlines, Jack Daly’s inclusion is significant in its own right. The former Munster openside has impressed in training and in the domestic competition, and Tizzano’s absence has given him his opportunity to show what he can do at the highest level. He will need to be sharp at the breakdown if the Force are to compete for the territorial battle against a Reds pack that contains some accomplished operators.

Nick Champion de Crespigny captains the side from the blindside flank, with Vaiolini Ekuasi completing the loose trio at number eight. The tight five sees Tom Robertson and Misinale Epenisa as the props with Brandon Paenga-Amosa at hooker, while Franco Molina and Darcy Swain provide the lock pairing. Swain, in particular, is a proven lineout operator who will look to give the Force a clean platform at set-piece.

Ben Donaldson directs play at fly-half, with Henry Robertson serving at scrum-half. Donaldson’s composed game management will be crucial if the Force are to stay competitive against a Reds side boosted by the return of their Wallabies players. The backline is organised with Bayley Kuenzle at twelve, the former Hurricanes and New Zealand representative George Bridge at outside centre, and Dylan Pietsch on the wing. Mac Grealy starts at fullback.

On the bench, the experience of 95-cap Wallaby Kurtley Beale adds genuine quality, the veteran back providing a reliable option should Cron need to reshape the Force’s backline as the game progresses. Nathan Hastie provides scrum-half cover alongside Beale and Lomax.

The Force have shown considerable improvement in 2026 and will not travel to Brisbane simply to make up the numbers. Their defence has been among the more organised in the competition, and if they can keep pace with the Reds’ Wallabies-laden starting lineup for the opening hour, Lomax and Beale’s introductions from the bench could give them a legitimate chance of an away win.

Western Force: 15. Mac Grealy, 14. Dylan Pietsch, 13. George Bridge, 12. Bayley Kuenzle, 11. Darby Lancaster, 10. Ben Donaldson, 9. Henry Robertson, 8. Vaiolini Ekuasi, 7. Jack Daly, 6. Nick Champion de Crespigny (c), 5. Darcy Swain, 4. Franco Molina, 3. Misinale Epenisa, 2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1. Tom Robertson

Replacements: 16. Nic Dolly, 17. Sef Fa’agase, 18. Harry Johnson-Holmes, 19. Lopeti Faifua, 20. Will Harris, 21. Nathan Hastie, 22. Kurtley Beale, 23. Zac Lomax

Match details: Queensland Reds v Western Force, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane. Saturday 4 April 2026. Live on Stan Sport (AUS) / Sky Sport (NZ).

The Chiefs dug deep to secure a 24–14 victory over the Western Force in wet conditions at HBF Park, with Samisoni Taukei’aho’s try proving decisive as the visitors held on despite a late yellow card.

Key moments

22 mins – TRY CHIEFS: The Chiefs hammer away at the Force line for 26 phases before opting for a scrum 5m out. Xavier Roe goes right as Josh Jacomb finds Damian McKenzie, stopped metres short. Emoni Narawa has a dart before they swing left, and Roe finds Luke Jacobson on the short ball. The captain charges over the line. McKenzie converts. (Force 0–7)

31 mins – TRY FORCE: Against the run of play, Ben Donaldson puts up a bomb and George Bridge rises high to claim it, somehow offloading back off his elbow to Max Burey, who races in untouched under the posts. Donaldson converts. (Force 7–7)

39 mins – TRY CHIEFS: Josh Lord claims the lineout as Quinn Tupaea carries up the middle. The Chiefs swing it around and Jacomb breezes straight through the line, exposing miscommunication in the Force defence. No cover coming as he strolls over untouched. McKenzie converts. (Force 7–14)

Half-time: Force 7–14. The Chiefs dominated large stretches of possession early, hammering away before Jacobson crashed over. Their attacking shape clicked with McKenzie pulling the strings and Jacomb constantly testing the line. The Force showed fight through Burey’s try but consistency remained the challenge. Rain began to fall as Cyclone Narelle arrived.

49 mins – TRY FORCE: Henry Robertson goes right from the scrum as Darby Lancaster carries forward. Robertson darts from the base and is stopped 2m short. Brandon Paenga-Amosa picks and goes, stopped inches out. Jeremy Williams is the next man to have a go and he powers over near the posts. Donaldson converts. (Force 14–14)

58 mins – TRY CHIEFS: After almost eight minutes of pressure, Samipeni Finau claims at the front and the Chiefs set up the maul. The backs get involved as they pile over the line, with Samisoni Taukei’aho coming up with the ball. McKenzie converts. (Force 14–21)

64 mins – YELLOW CARD CHIEFS: Ollie Norris is sent to the bin for offside after the accumulation of penalties, with the Force hammering away at the Chiefs’ line. The Force opt for a scrum 5m out but cannot capitalise.

67 mins: Fiti Sa makes his Chiefs debut, replacing Josh Lord.

79 mins – PENALTY CHIEFS: McKenzie slots from 20m out to put the result beyond doubt after the Force are caught offside. (Force 14–24)

Full-time: Force 14–24 Chiefs

Full match report to follow.

Teams

Force: 15 Max Burey, 14 Darby Lancaster, 13 George Bridge, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Bayley Kuenzle, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Henry Robertson, 8 Vaiolini Ekuasi, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 5 Darcy Swain, 4 Jeremy Williams (c), 3 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Tom Robertson.
Replacements: 16 Leonel Oviedo, 17 Sef Fa’agase, 18 Misinale Epenisa, 19 Lopeti Faifua, 20 Will Harris, 21 Nathan Hastie, 22 Hamish Stewart, 23 Divad Palu.

Chiefs: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Emoni Narawa, 13 Leroy Carter, 12 Quinn Tupaea, 11 Etene Nanai-Seturo, 10 Josh Jacomb, 9 Xavier Roe, 8 Simon Parker, 7 Luke Jacobson (c), 6 Samipeni Finau, 5 Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 4 Josh Lord, 3 George Dyer, 2 Brodie McAlister, 1 Jared Proffit.
Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Ollie Norris, 18 Sione Ahio, 19 Fiti Sa, 20 Kaylum Boshier, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Kyle Brown, 23 Kyren Taumoefolau.

Match details

Force 14 (Tries: Burey, Williams; Conversions: Donaldson 2/2)
Chiefs 24 (Tries: Jacobson, Jacomb, Taukei’aho; Conversions: McKenzie 3/3; Penalties: McKenzie 1/1)
Half-time: 7–14

Venue: HBF Park, Perth
Referee: Marcus Playle (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: James Doleman, Ben O’Keeffe
TMO: Glenn Newman