Official NZ team lists and injury news for this week's round of Super Rugby Trans-Tasman.
Crusaders v Force
7:05pm Friday, June 4
OrangeTheory Stadium, Christchurch
The Crusaders will rest a handful of key players for their clash with Western Force in Christchurch.
The All Blacks trio of Richie Mo'unga, Sam Whitelock and Sevu Reece will all have a week off, replaced by Fergus Burke, Mitchell Dunshea, and Manasa Mataele respectively.
Prop George Bower will also sit out, with promising rookie loosehead Tamaiti Williams shifting from the bench to make his first Super Rugby start.
In the backs, Bryn Hall will start at halfback, while Braydon Ennor returns from a shoulder injury to join David Havili as the midfield pairing.
On the bench, veteran lock Luke Romano returns for a rare appearance, while Josh McKay returns for his first game, since making his Crusaders debut in round one.
Coach Scott Robertson says the team is eager to deliver for the locals, after their challenging week negotiating floods in the Canterbury region.
"We know we need to perform and we want to do so for the people of our region who have been going through a tough time this past week," he says. "The team we've selected is ready to do that."
The Crusaders currently sit third on the ladder, as bonus points continue to be the deciding factor through the top four spots, which are all occupied by NZ teams.
Crusaders: 1-Tamaiti Williams, 2-Codie Taylor, 3-Michael Alaalatoa, 4-Scott Barrett, 5-Mitchell Dunshea, 6-Whetukamokamo Douglas, 7-Sione Havili, 8-Cullen Grace, 9-Bryn Hall, 10-Fergus Burke, 11-Leicester Fainga'anuku, 12-David Havili, 13-Braydon Ennor, 14-Manasa Mataele, 15-Will Jordan.
Reserves: 16-Nathan Vella, 17-Isileli Tu'ungafasi, 18-Oliver Jager, 19-Luke Romano, 20-Tom Sanders, 21-Mitchell Drummnd, 22-Dallas McLeod, 23-Josh McKay
Reds v Blues
9:45pm Friday, June 4
Suncorp Stadium
The Blues can go a long way to securing a spot in the final with a bonus point win in Brisbane on Friday night.
Currently topping the table, two wins with at least one bonus-point should be enough to see Leon MacDonald's side advance and that starts against the Reds.
Patrick Tuipulotu starts, as does Akira Ioane, while Finlay Christie keeps his spot at halfback, after an outstanding display against the Brumbies.
Blues: 1-Karl Tu'inukuafe, 2-Kurt Eklund, 3-Ofa Tuungafasi/Marcel Renata, 4-Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 5-Patrick Tuipulotu, 6-Tom Robinson, 7-Dalton Papalii, 8-Akira Ioane, 9-Finlay Christie, 10-Otere Black, 11-Mark Telea, 12-TJ Faiane, 13-Rieko Ioane, 14-Bryce Heem, 15-Zarn Sullivan
Reserves: 16-Soane Vikena, 17-Alex Hodgman, 18-Nepo Laulala, 19-Jacob Pierce, 20-Hoskins Sotutu, 21-Jonathan Ruru, 22-Harry Plummer, 23-AJ Lam
Highlanders v Waratahs
7:05pm Saturday, June 5
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Flanker Shannon Frizell will miss up to six weeks - including the Highlanders' encounter with the Waratahs - after sustaining an ankle injury against the Rebels last week.
The powerhouse blindside will also miss the start of the All Blacks campaign and has been replaced by James Lentjes in the Highlanders No.6 jersey, with Billy Harmon starting at openside.
Halfback Aaron Smith gets a rest under All Blacks rest protocols, with Kayne Hammington bringing up his 50th Highlanders appearance in his place and Otago half James Arscott potentially earning a debut off the bench.
Highlanders: 1-Ethan De Groot, 2-Ash Dixon, 3-Siate Tokolahi, 4-Pari Pari Parkinson, 5-Bryn Evans, 6-James Lentjes, 7-Billy Harmon, 8-Kazuki Himeno, 9-Kayne Hammington, 10-Mitch Hunt, 11-Jona Nareki, 12-Scott Gregory, 13-Michael Collins, 14-Patelesio Tomkinson, 15-Josh Ioane
Reserves: 16-Liam Coltman, 17-Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18-Josh Hohneck, 19-Josh Dickson, 20-Hugh Renton, 21-James Arscott, 22-Sam Gilbert, 23-Teariki Ben-Nicholas
Brumbies v Hurricanes
9:45pm Saturday, June 5
GIO Stadium, Canberra
Hurricanes captain Ardie Savea will return to the starting line-up to lead his side against the Brumbies in Canberra.
Savea made a comeback from injury via the reserves bench last week and will take his rightful place in the first XV, wearing the No. 8 jersey.
All Blacks hooker Dane Coles will also come back into the starting front row, while Devan Flanders and James Blackwell return to the loose forwards and second row.
Youngster Ruben Love reclaims the No. 10 jersey, while Billy Proctor partners with Ngani Laumape in midfield.
"We've taken a lot of confidence out of the three wins we’ve had so far, but we are very focused on what we need to do to reach our collective goals," says coach Jason Holland.
"While we're in a really good position on the table, we know there are massive challenges ahead and the Brumbies at home are right up there."
Hurricanes: 1-Xavier Numia, 2-Dane Coles, 3-Tyrel Lomax, 4-James Blackwell, 5-Scott Scrafton, 6-Devan Flanders, 7-Du’Plessis Kirifi, 8-Ardie Savea, 9-Luke Campbell, 10-Ruben Love, 11-Salesi Rayasi, 12-Ngani Laumape, 13-Billy Proctor, 14-Julian Savea,15-Jordie Barrett
Reserves: 16-Ricky Riccitelli, 17-Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18-Alex Fidow, 19-Isaia Walker-Leawere, 20-Brayden Lose, 21-Gareth Evans, 22-Cam Roigard, 23-Wes Goosen
Chiefs v Rebels
5pm Saturday, June 6
Leichardt Oval, Sydney
The Chiefs have rung the changes to their starting side, after their loss to Queensland Reds in Townsville.
In the forward pack, coach Clayton McMillian makes three changes to the starting eight, with Reuben O'Neill and Aidan Ross coming into the front row.
Josh Lord will start at lock in place of Mitchell Brown, who drops to the bench for the clash against the Rebels.
In the backs, captain Brad Weber is given a timely rest, as he drops to the bench, with Xavier Roe getting the nod at halfback. Bryn Gatland starts at first-five in place of the suspended Damian McKenzie.
The Chiefs confirmed Luke Jacobson will take over the captaincy after regular skipper Weber was named on the bench. Coach McMillian confirmed the team wouldn’t return home ahead of next Saturday’s final-round match against the Waratahs at Brookvale Oval,
This will see the Chiefs stay in Australia almost three weeks after the Rebels game was moved from Hamilton because of Victoria’s COVID-19 situation and the resulting travel pause from the Kiwi government.
Bailyn Sullivan and Shaun Stevenson start on the wings, with Quinn Tupaea starting in midfield for Alex Nankivell, who drops out of the matchday 23.
Chiefs: 1-Reuben O’Neill, 2-Samisoni Taukei’aho, 3-Angus Ta’avao, 4-Josh Lord, 5-Tupou Vaa’i, 6-Pita Gus Sowakula, 7-Lachlan Boshier, 8-Luke Jacobson (c), 9-Xavier Roe, 10-Bryn Gatland, 11-Bailyn Sullivan, 12-Quinn Tupaea, 13-Anton Lienert-Brown, 14-Shaun Stevenson, 15-Kaleb Trask
Reserves: 16-Bradley Slater, 17-Ollie Norris, 18-Sione Mafileo, 19-Mitchell Brown, 20-Zane Kapeli, 21-Brad Weber, 22-Alex Nankivell, 23-Chase Tiatia
Join us for live updates of the weekend's Super Rugby Trans-Tasman matches, starting with Crusaders v Force 7pm Friday
