16 Feb 2013

Chiefs edge Canes at Mangatainoka

8:09 pm on 16 February 2013

The Chiefs have beaten the Hurricanes 25-21 at Mangatainoka, in the final pre-season trial match for the national Super Rugby sides.

The Chiefs led 10-0 at half-time in front of a sold-out crowd of almost 8,000 on what is a farmer's paddock for the rest of the year.

It was the first run for Hurricanes captain Conrad Smith, who says you can't read too much into pre-season form - it's the Chiefs' third win from three games while the Hurricanes finished with two from three.

The Chiefs trialled two key rising stars in unfamiliar positions with Tim Nanai-Williams starting at centre instead of his usual wing or fullback position, while Blues discard and five eighths Gareth Anscombe running out at fullback.

Rennie gave the majority of his players a run with the exception of Andrew Horrell, Robbie Robinson, Brendon Leonard, Charlie Ngatai and Richard Kahui who are all out with injury.