Official team lists and injury news for this week's round of Super Rugby Pacific.
Crusaders v Moana Pasifika
7pm, Friday, March 4
Forsyth Barr Stadium Dunedin
Coach Scott Robertson has named 12 changes to his starting XV against the competition newcomers, but will bring returning All Blacks Codie Taylor and Richie Mo'unga off the bench for the season debuts.
Halfback Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, winger Kini Naholo, and reserves Dominic Gardiner and Isaiah Punivai will make their Crusaders debuts. Only hooker Brodie McAlister, prop Oli Jager and flnaker Tom Christie have retained their positions, while Paublo Matera shifts from blindside flanker to No.8 and Leicester Fainga'anuku moves from wing to centre.
In the absence of captain Scott Barrett, lock Quinten Strange will lead the side.
Crusaders: 1-George Bower, 2-Brodie McAlister, 3-Oli Jager, 4-Mitchell Dunshea, 5-Quinten Strange, 6-Ethan Blackadder, 7-Tom Christie, 8-Pable Matera, 9-Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 10-Simon Hickey, 11-Kini Naholo, 12-Dallas McLeod, 13-Leicester Fainga'anuku, 14-George Bridge, 15-Chay Finaki
Reserves: 16-Codie Taylor, 17-Tamaiti Williams, 18-Fletcher Newell, 19-Dominic Gardiner, 20-Corey Kellow, 21-Bryn Hall, 22-Richie Mo'unga, 23-Isaiah Punivai
Eleven players will make their Super Rugby debuts, when Moana Pasifika finally make their first appearance in the competition, after a COVID-19 outbreak saw fixtues against the Blues and Chiefs postponed.
But while almost half the line-up have never played professional rugby at this level, many have amassed international test-match experience, led by former Australian prop Sekope Kepu.
Halfback Ereatara Enari has contributed to five Super Rugby titles with the Crusaders from 2017-21, while coach Aaron Mauger can bring experience off the bench, in the form of 35-test Manu Samoa flanker Jack Lam and 26-test Wallaby Christian Leali'ifano.
Moana Pasifika: 1-Ezekiel Lindenmuth, 2-Luteru Tolai, 3-Sekope Kepu, 4-Mike McKee, 5-Samuel Slade, 6-Solomone Funaki, 7-Alamanda Motuga, 8-Henry Time-Stowers, 9-Ereatara Enari, 10-Lincoln McClutchie, 11-Neria Fomai, 12-Danny Toala, 13-Levi Aumua, 14-Tima Fainga’anuku, 15-William Havili
Reserves: 16-Samiuela Moli, 17-Taukiha’amea Koloamatangi, 18-Joe Apikotoa, 19-Alex McRobbie, 20-Jack Lam, 21-Jonathan Taumateine, 22-Christian Leali’ifano, 23-Fine Inisi
Blues v Chiefs
4:45pm, Saturday, March 5
Eden Park, Auckland
The Blues could have two key All Blacks back on deck for their clash with the Chiefs this weekend.
Flanker Dalton Papali'i will return from injury to captain the side, while Beauden Barrett has been bracketed for a spot on the bench, pending his recovery from a head knock.
The only other change to the starting XV that lost in heartbreaking fashion to the Hurricanes last weekend is Stephen Perofeta's promotion to fullback.
Blues: 1- Alex Hodgman, 2-Kurt Eklund, 3-Nepo Laulala, 4-Luke Romano, 5-Josh Goodhue, 7-Tom Robinson, 8-Hoskins Sotutu, 9-Finlay Christie, 10-Harry Plummer, 11-Caleb Clarke, 12-Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 13-Rieko Ioane, 14-Mark Telea, 15-Stephen Perofeta
Reserves: 16-Ricky Riccitelli, 17-Ofa Tuungafasi, 18-Marcel Renata, 19-Sam Darry, 20-Adrian Choat, 21-Sam Nock, 22-Beauden Barrett/Zarn Sullivan, 23-Tanielu Tele'a
The Chiefs welcome back their All Blacks trio of Anton Lienert-Brown, Josh Lord, and Tupou Vaa'i for the 'Battle of the Bombays' against the Blues on Saturday.
Halfback Brad Weber faces a milestone week, returning to the No. 9 jersey to play his 100th match for the Chiefs. He'll become the franchise's eighth centurion, joining Liam Messam, Hika Elliot, Stephen Donald, Tanerau Latimer, Sam Cane, Brodie Retallick and Aaron Cruden.
But they'll be without star All Blacks loose forward Luke Jacobson, who has been sidleined with a knee injury. Vaa'i will replace him on the side of the scrum for his first start as a flanker, shifting from his standard position as lock.
Chiefs: 1-Aidan Ross, 2-Samisoni Taukei’aho, 3-Sione Mafileo, 4-Josh Lord, 5-Brodie Retallick, 6-Tupou Vaa'i, 7-Sam Cane, 8-Pita Gus Sowakula, 9-Brad Weber, 10-Josh Ioane, 11-Etene Nanai-Seturo, 12-Quinn Tupaea, 13-Alex Nankivell, 14-Shaun Stevenson, 15-Chase Tiatia
Reserves: 16-Bradley Slater, 17-Ollie Norris, 18-Angus Ta'avao, 19-Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20-Kaylum Boshier, 21-Xavier Roe, 22-Bryn Gatland, 23-Anton Lienert-Brown
Hurricanes v Highlanders
7pm, Saturday, March 5
Sky Stadium, Wellington
After impressing in the midfield in the Hurricanes' incredible comeback win over the Blues last weekend, Julian Savea will return to his more familiar position on the wing for the clash against the Highlanders.
Billy Proctor will start at second-five, as one of four changes made by coach Jason Holland to his starting personnel, with Caleb Delaney debuting at lock, Ruben Love claiming the No.10 jersey and flanker Du'Plessis Kirifi returning from injury.
Hurricanes: 1-Pouri Rakete-Stones, 2-Asafo Aumua, 3-Tyrel Lomax, 4-James Blackwell, 5-Caleb Delany, 6-Reed Prinsep, 7-Du'Plessis Kirifi, 8-Ardie Savea, 9-Jamie Booth, 10-Ruben Love, 11-Salesi Rayasi, 12-Bily Proctor, 13-Bailyn Sullivan, 14-Julian Savea, 15-Jordie Barrett
16-Siua Maile, 17-Xavier Numia, 18-Tevita Mafileo, 19-Devan Flanders, 20-Brayden Iose, 21-Richard Judd, 22-Jackson Garden-Bachop, 23-Peter Umaga-Jensen
Exciting Hawke's Bay halfback Foloau Fakatava has been named to start at halfback for the Highlanders, replacing All Blacks No.9 Aaron Smith, one of three changes to the starting line-up from last week.
Bryn Evans replaces Manaaki Selby-Rickit at lock, while Liam Coombes-Fabling, who joined the squad as an injury replacement last month, will make his debut on the wing. Prop Saula Ma'a has also been named for a debut off the bench.
Highlanders: 1-Ethan de Groot, 2-Liam Coltman, 3-Jermaine Ainsley, 4-Bryn Evans, 5-Josh Dickson, 6-Shannon Frizell, 7-James Lentjes, 8-Gareth Evans, 9-Folau Fakatava, 10-Mitch Hunt, 11-Liam Coombes-Fabling, 12-Thomas Umaga-Jensen, 13-Fetuli Paea, 14-Sam Gilbert, 15-Connor Garden-Bachop
Reserves: 16-Rhys Marshall, 17-Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18-Saula Ma’u, 19-Manaaki Selby-Rickit, 20-Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, 21-Aaron Smith, 22-Marty Banks, 23-Scott Gregory
Join Newshub for live updates of all three of New Zealand's Super Rugby Pacific games this weekend
