Official team lists and injury news for this week's rounds of Super Rugby Pacific and Aupiki.
Super Rugby Aupiki
Matatū v Chiefs Manawa
7:05pm, Thursday, March 10
FMG Stadium, Hamilton
Black Ferns star Kendra Cocksedge is missing from the Matatū side to contes the official Super Rugby Aupiki opener against Chiefs Manawa.
Matatū: 1-Pip Love, 2-Georgia Ponsonby, 3-Amy Rule, 4-Michaela Leonard, 5-Chelsea Bremner, 6-Alana Bremner, 7-Lucy Jenkins, 8-Marcelle Parkes, 9-Di Hiini, 10-Terauoriwa Gapper, 11-Grace Steinmetz, 12-Liv McGoverne, 13-Amy du Plessis, 14-Martha Mataele, 15-Renee Holmes
Reserves: 16-Steph Te Ohaere-Fox, 17-Lucy Anderson, 18-Ashley Palu, 19-Greer Muir, 20-Julia Gorinski, 21-Rosie Kelly, 22-Arabella McKenzie, 23-Kilisitina Vea, 24-Tayla Simpson, 25-Isabella Waterman
Three Olympic sevens gold medallists have been named in the Chiefs backline for their official Super Rugby Aupiki opener against Matatū. Kelly Brazier will steer the ship from first-five, while Portia Woodman and Ruby Tui provide speed on the wings.
Current Black Ferns skipper Les Elder will lead the side from the openside flank.
Chiefs: 1-Angel Mulu, 2-Luka Connor, 3-Tanya Kalounivale, 4-Victoria Edmonds, 5-Harono Te Iringa, 6-Pia Tapsell, 7-Les Elder, 8-Kennedy Simon, 9-Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu, 10-Kelly Brazier, 11-Ruby Tui, 12-Carla Hohepa, 13-Georgia Daals, 14-Portia Woodman, 15-Hazel Tubic
Reserves: 16-Merania Paraone, 17-Awhina Tangen-Wainohu, 18-Santo Taumata, 19-Mia Anderson, 20-JayJay Taylor, 21-Tynealle Fitzgerald, 22-Ariana Bayler, 23-Renee Wickliffe, 24-Maia Joseph, 25-Langi Veainu
Super Rugby Pacific
Blues v Highlanders
7:05pm, Friday, March 11
North Harbour Stadium, Auckland
Beauden Barrett makes his first start of the Blues' 2022 season, named in the No.10 jersey for against the Highlanders.
Barrett, 30, returned to Super Rugby in his side's 24-22 victory over the Chiefs at Eden Park, coming off the bench, after his season was delayed by a concussion suffered on the All Blacks' end-of-year tour.
Meanwhile, Bryce Heem comes into the side at second-five, named in the No.12 jersey, after Roger Tuivasa-Sheck suffered a shoulder injury against the Chiefs.
In the second row, Sam Darry partners Luke Romano at lock, taking the place of Josh Goodhue, while James Tucker is in line for a Super Rugby debut in the No.19 jersey.
Taine Plumtree comes into the loose forward trio at No.6, with Tom Robinson inured.
Blues: 1-Alex Hodgman, 2-Kurt Eklund, 3-Nepo Laulala, 4-Luke Romano, 5-Sam Darry, 6-Taine Plumtree, 7-Dalton Papalii (c), 8-Hoskins Sotutu, 9-Finlay Christie, 10-Beauden Barrett, 11-Caleb Clarke, 12-Bryce Heem, 13-Rieko Ioane, 14-Mark Telea, 15-Stephen Perofeta
Reserves: 16-Soane Vikena, 17-Ofa Tuungafasi, 18-Marcel Renata, 19-James Tucker, 20-Adrian Choat, 21-Sam Nock, 22-Tanielu Tele'a, 23-Zarn Sullivan
All Blacks halfback Aaron Smith returns to the Highlanders starting side and will captain the team against the Blues.
Smith started from the bench in his side's loss to the Hurricanes last week and replaced Folau Fakatava at halftime in the 21-14 defeat.
Scott Gregory makes his first start of the season in the No.13 jersey, replacing Fetuli Paea.
Manaaki Selby-Rickit starts in the second row alongside Josh Dickson, after scoring one of his side's two tries against the Hurricanes, swapping with Bryn Evans, who's moved to the bench.
In the loose forwards, Gareth Evans takes James Lentjes' place in the No.7 jersey, while Marino Mikaele-Tu'u moves from the bench to No.8.
Mosese Dawai comes onto the wing in place of Sam Gilbert, while Liam Coombes-Fabling swaps from the left to the right flank, after making his Highlanders debut last week.
Highlanders: 1-Ethan de Groot, 2-Liam Coltman, 3-Jermaine Ainsley, 4-Manaaki Selby-Rickit, 5-Josh Dickson, 6-Shannon Frizell, 7-Gareth Evans, 8-Marino Mikaele Tu'u, 9-Aaron Smith (c), 10-Mitch Hunt, 11-Mosese Dawai, 12-Thomas Umaga-Jensen, 13-Scott Gregory, 14-Liam Coombes-Fabling, 15-Connor Garden-Bachop
Reserves: 16-Rhys Marshall, 17-Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18-Josh Hohneck, 19-Bryn Evans, 20-Hugh Renton, 21-Folau Fakatava, 22-Marty Banks, 23-Ngatungane Punivai.
Hurricanes v Moana Pasifika
4:35pm, Saturday, March 12
Sky Stadium, Wellington
Crusaders v Chiefs
7:05pm, Saturday, March 12
Orangetheory Stadium Christchurch
All Blacks Codie Taylor and Richie Mo'unga will make their first starts of the 2022 Super Rugby season, after returning to action off the bench against Moana Pasifika last week.
Taylor wasted little time finding his feet after his late start, scoring two second-half tries, including one in extra time for the bonus point.
Coach Scott Robertson has restored his line-up to near full strength, with 10 All Blacks in his startin XV, plus Argentinian international Pablo Matera, and another four in the reserves.
Crusaders: 1-Joe Moody, 2-Codie Taylor, 3-Fletcher Newell, 4-Scott Barrett, 5-Samuel Whitelock, 6-Ethan Blackadder, 7-Tom Christie, 8-Pablo Matera, 9-Bryn Hall, 10-Richie Mo’unga, 11-Leicester Fainga’anuku, 12-David Havili, 13-Braydon Ennor, 14-Sevu Reece, 15-Will Jordan
Reserves: 16-Brodie McAlister, 17-George Bower, 18-Tamaiti Williams, 19-Mitch Dunshea, 20-Cullen Grace, 21-Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22-Fergus Burke, 23-George Bridge
In the Chiefs forward pack, Angus Ta'avao will make his first start of the season to commemorate his 50th match for the franchise. All Black Tupou Vaa'i will return to lock from flanker, with Kaylum Boshier claiming the No. 6 jersey for the first start of the year.
In the backline, Josh Ioane has been dropped in favour of Bryn Gatland at first-five, pairing with Xavier Roe at halfback. Anton Lienert-Brown moves from the bench to start at centre, while Emoni Narawa slots in at fullback to round out the starting fifteen.
Chiefs: 1-Aidan Ross, 2-Samisoni Taukei’aho, 3-Angus Ta’avao, 4-Tupou Vaa'i, 5-Brodie Retallick, 6-Kaylum Boshier, 7-Sam Cane, 8-Pita Gus Sowakula, 9-Xavier Roe, 10-Bryn Gatland, 11-Etene Nanai-Seturo, 12-Quinn Tupaea, 13-Anton Lienert-Brown, 14-Shaun Stevenson, 15-Emoni Narawa
Reserves: 16-Bradley Slater, 17-Ollie Norris, 18-George Dyer, 19-Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20-Tom Florence/Laghlan McWhannell, 21-Cortez Ratima, 22-Rivez Reihana, 23-Rameka Pohipi
More to come
