Leaders Chiefs suffer Lienent-Brown injury blow
- Sanzaar Media
- Apr 29
- 3 min read
The Chiefs will be without centre Anton Lienert-Brown for the majority of the season after a collarbone injury.
Lienent-Brown came off during half-time during their convincing win over the Western Force at the Bay Oval.
It was the centre’s first game back in the starting side since Round Four, recently returning from a leg injury.
The 30-year-old was spotted after the game in a sling and confirmed via social media he was out for the majority of the Super Rugby Pacific season with a broken collarbone.
“Footy doesn’t always love you back, such is life,” Lienert-Brown said via social media.
“Surgery & then a speedy recovery on way.”
Daniel Rona and Gideon Wrampling are the likely candidates to replace the All Black, with Rona starting the majority of games at outside centre during Lienert-Brown’s initial injury.
It adds to the Chiefs’ growing injury list, with fellow midfielder Rameka Poihipi ruled out for the season with a knee injury.
Flyhalf Damian McKenzie also missed the win over the Force, with the Waikato Times reporting he will likely also miss this week’s match against the Hurricanes in Wellington.
The Chiefs currently sit top of the Super Rugby Pacific ladder, tied on points with the Crusaders.
The two teams will face off next week, with McKenzie likely back for that match-up.
Meanwhile, Blues winger Mark Tele’a will miss the next three weeks after he was red carded for a dangerous tackle on Reds’ winger Tim Ryan in their 35-21 defeat.
The Foul Play Review Committee determined the low-range entry point of six weeks/matches was appropriate for the incident, with Tele’a offered the full 50% discount.
It means the All Blacks flyer will miss games against the Western Force, Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika.
Two massive derbies this weekend in Round 12 - The Hurricanes (5) host the table-topping Chiefs (1) in Wellington; while the ACT Brumbies (3) host the NSW Waratahs (7) in Canberra. Mathematically all teams can still make the top six but Fijian Drua (11) need to beat the Queensland Reds (4) to keep hopes alive while the Blues (9) and Highlanders (10) also need wins to stay in touch but do play at home.
All times local - home team
FRIDAY
Blues v Western Force @ Eden Park, Auckland (7.05pm)
SATURDAY
Fijian Drua v Queensland Reds @ HFC Bank Stadium, Suva (2.05pm)
Hurricanes v Chiefs @ SKY Stadium, Wellington (7.05pm)
ACT Brumbies v NSW Waratahs @ GIO Stadium, Canberra (7.35pm)
SUNDAY
Highlanders v Moana Pasifika @ Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin (3.35pm)
Moana Pasifika superstar Ardie Savea has extended his lead at the top of the Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year voting in Round 11.
Savea was one of two players to record a perfect score alongside Hurricanes Kini Naholo as the competition goes down to the final rounds.
In 2025, Super Rugby Pacific will crown the competition's most outstanding player with the presentation of the inaugural Player of the Year Award.
The captains and head coaches of both teams nominate their top three players from the opposing team each week, allocating three votes, two votes, and one vote, respectively.
Here is how they voted
Chiefs v Western Force
5 - Ben Donaldson (FOR), Harry Potter (FOR), Cortez Ratima (CHI)
3 - Shaun Stevenson (CHI)
2 - Luke Jacobson (CHI), Samisoni Taukei’aho (CHI)
1 - Bayley Kuenzle (FOR), Hamish Stewart (FOR)
Queensland Reds v Blues
5 - Tom Lynagh (RED), Tate McDermott (RED)
4 - Hoskins Sotutu (BLU)
3 - AJ Lam (BLU)
2 - Anton Segner (BLU), Zarn Sullivan (BLU)
1 - Hunter Paisami (RED), Fraser McReight (RED), Sam Nock (BLU)
Moana Pasifika v Fijian Drua
6 - Ardie Savea (MOA)
3 - Kitione Salawa (DRU), Etonia Waqa (DRU)
2 - Elia Canakaivata (DRU), Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula (DRU), Tevita Ikanivere (DRU), Lalomilo Lalomilo (MOA), Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa (MOA)
1 - Tevita Ofa (MOA), Miracle Fai’ilagi (MOA)
Highlanders v Crusaders
5 - Folau Fakatava (HIG), Will Jordan (CRU)
4 - David Havili (CRU)
3 - Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens (HIG)
2 - Timoci Tavatavanawai (HIG), Ethan de Groot (HIG), Christian Lio-Willie (CRU)
1 - David Havili (CRU)
ACT Brumbies v Hurricanes
6 - Kini Naholo (HUR)
3 - Cam Roigard (HUR), Tom Hooper (BRU), Allan Alaalatoa (BRU), Luke Reimer (BRU)
2 - Du’Plessis Kirifi (HUR), Tuaina Tualima (BRU)
1 - Brad Shields (HUR), Andy Muirhead (BRU)
Super Rugby Pacific POTY Ladder
30 - Ardie Savea (MOA)
25 - Timoci Tavatavanawai (HIG), Tom Hooper (BRU)
23 - Carlo Tizzano (FOR)
22 - Damian McKenzie (CHI)
21 - Cam Roigard (HUR), Langi Gleeson (WAR)
19 - Will Jordan (CRU)
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