Official team lists and injury news for this week's round of Super Rugby Pacific.
Reds v Chiefs
9:45pm Friday, April 29
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
All Blacks skipper Sam Cane will miss the Chiefs' clash with the Reds, after returning home to be with his wife during childbirth, with Luke Jacobson assuming the captaincy in the continued absence of injured co-captain Brad Weber.
In the only change to last week's starting XV, Kaylum Boshier will replace Cane in the No.7 jersey.
Coach Clayton McMillan has opted for a 6-2 bench split, with loose forward Mitch Brown replacing Inga Finau as the only other change.
Chiefs: 1-Aidan Ross, 2-Samisoni Taukei'aho, 3-Angus Ta'avao, 4-Josh Lord, 5-Tupou Vaa'i, 6-Luke Jacobson (c), 7-Kaylum Boshier, 8-Pita Gus Sowakula, 9-Cortez Ratima, 10-Bryn Gatland, 11-Quinn Tupaea, 12-Rameka Poihipi, 13-Alex Nankivell, 14-Jonah Lowe, 15-Chase Tiatia
Reserves: 16-Bradley Slater, 17-Atu Moli, 18-George Dyer, 19-Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20-Samipeni Finau, 21-Mitch Brown, 22-Xavier Roe, 23-Rivez Reihana
Force v Blues
Midnight Friday, April 29
nib Stadium, Perth
All Black loose forward Akira Ioane will make his first appearance for the Blues this season, after a foot injury kept him sidelined over the opening 10 rounds, while winger Caleb Clarke also returns from suspension and halfback Finlay Christie from injury.
Captain Dalton Papalii, hooker Kurt Eklund, and props Ofa Tuungafasi and Alex Hodgman return, after missing last week's win over Fijian Drua, while Reiko Ioane, Nepo Laulala and Hoskins Sotutu are on All Blacks rest.
Anton Segner replaces Sotutu at No.8, Bryce Heems takes Ioane's centre spot, with Tuungafasi and Hodgman slotting into the front row, the latter for his 50th cap for the Blues.
Blues: 1-Alex Hodgman, 2-Kurt Eklund, 3-Ofa Tuungafasi, 4-Luke Romano, 5-Sam Darry, 6-Akira Ioane, 7-Dalton Papalii (c), 8-Anton Segner, 9-Finlay Christie, 10-Beauden Barrett, 11-Caleb Clarke, 12-Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 13-Bryce Heem, 14-AJ Lam, 15-Zarn Sullivan
Reserves: 16-Ricky Riccitelli, 17-Karl Tu’inukuafe, 18-Marcel Renata, 19-James Tucker, 20-Adrian Choat, 21-Taufa Funaki, 22-Tanielu Tele’a, 23-Mark Telea
Drua v Highlanders
4:40pm Saturday, April 30
ANZ Stadium, Suva
The Highlanders will chase their second win of the season against the Fijian Drua, who will play their first Super Rugby Pacific match in front of a sold-out crowd in Suva.
All Blacks veteran Aaron Smith returns to start a halfback and captain the side, while a new-look loose forward trio sees Marino Mikaele-Tu'u back at No. 8 with Christian Lio-Willie earning a start in the No. 6 jersey and Billy Harmon at openside flanker.
Highlanders: 1-Daniel Lienert-Brown, 2-Andrew Makalio, 3-Jermaine Ainsley, 4-Bryn Evans, 5-Sam Caird, 6-Christian Lio-Willie, 7-Billy Harmon, 8-Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, 9-Aaron Smith, 10-Mitch Hunt, 11-Scott Gregory, 12-Fetuli Paea, 13-Thomas Umaga-Jensen, 14-Sam Gilbert, 15-Connor Garden Bachop
Reserves: 16-Rhys Marshall, 17-Ethan de Groot, 18-Josh Hohneck, 19-Max Hicks, 20-James Lentjes, 21-Folau Fakatava, 22-Marty Banks, 23-Hugh Renton
Waratahs v Crusaders
7pm Saturday, April 30
Leichhardt Oval, Sydney
Pivot Richie Mo'unga is among the Crusaders stars to be rested against the Sydneysiders on Saturday.
Fellow All Blacks Ethan Blackadder, Richie Mo'unga, Braydon Ennor and George Bridge will also sit out the match, while test regulars David Havili and Will Jordan return to the starting XV.
Havili's injection in the midfield means Jack Goodhue will move to centre, after his impressive return from injury in the 42-17 win over the Rebels.
Tom Christie's inclusion in the run-on side is the only change to the forward pack this week, while Bryn Hall and Fergus Burke are the starting halves combination.
Crusaders: 1-George Bower, 2-Codie Taylor (c), 3-Oli Jager, 4-Zach Gallagher, 5-Sam Whitelock, 6-Pablo Matera, 7-Tom Christie, 8-Cullen Grace, 9-Bryn Hall, 10-Fergus Burke, 11-Leicester Fainga'anuku, 12-David Havili, 13-Jack Goodhue, 14-Sevu Reece, 15-Will Jordan
Reserves: 16-Ricky Jackson, 17-Tamaiti Williams, 18-Fletcher Newell, 19-Dominic Gardner, 20-Sione Havili Talitui, 21-Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22-Simon Hickey, 23-Dallas McLeod
Rebels v Moana Pasifika
9:45pm Saturday, April 30
AAMI Park, Melbourne
Moana Pasifika coach Aaron Mauger has recalled his heavy hitters for Saturday's clash with the embattled Rebels.
Captain Sekope Kepu, first-five Christian Leali'ifano, and No. 8 revelation Henry Time-Stowers have all returned to the run-on side, after the team had an extra week off due to the COVID-19 outbreak which saw last week's match with the Force postponed.
Moana Pasifika: 1-Abraham Pole, 2-Ray Niuia, 3-Sekope Kepu (c), 4-Veikoso Poloniati, 5-Samuel Slade, 6-Michael Curry, 7-Alamanda Motuga, 8-Henry Time-Stowers, 9-Ereatara Enari, 10-Christian Leali'ifano, 11-Timoci Tavatavanawai, 12-Henry Taefu, 13-Levi Aumua, 14-Tima Fainga’anuku, 15-Danny Toala
Reserves: 16-Luteru Tolai, 17-Ezekiel Lindenmuth, 18-Joe Apikotoa, 19-Sione Tu'ipulotu, 20-Solomone Funaki, 21-Jonathan Taumateine, 22- Lincoln McClutchie, 23-Solomone Kata
Brumbies v Hurricanes
4pm Sunday, May 1
GIO Stadium, Canberra
The Hurricanes have made five changes to their starting side to face the Brumbies in Canberra on Sunday.
Hooker James O'Reilly returns from injury to start in the No.2 jersey, relegating Kianu Kereru-Symes to the bench, while lock Justin Sangster takes the place of Isaia Walker-Leawere in the run on XV.
Injury to Reed Prinsep gives TK Howden the opportunity to start in the No.6 jersey, joining Blake Gibson and captain Ardie Savea in the loose forward trio.
In the backs, Jackson Garden-Bachop takes the No.10 jersey in place of Aidan Morgan, who drops to the bench, while Salesi Rayasi returns on the left wing, taking the place of Wes Goosen.
Hurricanes: 1-Pouri Rakete-Stones, 2-James O'Reilly, 3-Tyrel Lomax, 4-James Blackwell, 5-Justin Sangster, 6-TK Howden, 7-Blake Gibson, 8-Ardie Savea (c), 9-TJ Perenara, 10-Jackson Garden-Bachop, 11-Salesi Rayasi, 12-Peter Umaga-Jensen, 13-Bailyn Sullivan, 14-Julian Savea, 15-Jordie Barrett
Reserves: 16-Kianu Kereru-Symes, 17-Xavier Numia, 18-Tevita Mafileo, 19-Isaia Walker-Leawere, 20-Caleb Delany, 21-Jamie Booth, 22-Aidan Morgan, 23-Billy Proctor
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