Official team lists and injury news for this week's round of Super Rugby Pacific.
Hurricanes v Moana Pasifika
7pm Tuesday, Apri 11
Sky Stadium, Wellington
Hawke's Bay hooker Kianu Kereru-Symes and Taranaki prop Jared Proffit have been named for Hurricanes debuts off the bench, as the team from the capital seek redemption, after becoming Moana Pasifika's first Super Rugby vicimts last month.
Coach Jason Holland has rested All Blacks Ardie Savea, Jordie Barrett and Tyrel Lomas, with Reed Prinsep taking the captaincy, but TJ Perenara returns at halfback, after he was a late scratching against the Crusaders last week.
Hurricanes: 1- Alex Fidow, 2-James O'Reilly, 3-Tevita Mafileo, 4-Isaia Walker-Leawere, 5-Tom Parsons, 6-Reed Prinsep, 7-Blake Gibson, 8-Devan Flanders, 9-TJ Perenara, 10-Aidan Morgan, 11-Salesi Rayasi, 12-Peter Umaga-Jensen, 13-Bailyn Sullivan, 14-Wes Goosen, 15-Ruben Love
Reserves: 16-Kianu Kereru-Symes, 17-Jared Proffit, 18-Pasilio Tosi, 19-Justin Sangster, 20-TK Howden, 21-Cam Roigard, 22-Teihorangi Walden, 23-Josh Moorby
In the absence of injured captain Sekope Kepu, Wallabies veteran Christian Leali'ifano will lead Moana Pasifika, as coach Aaron Mauger retains the inside-back combination that vanquished the Hurricanes last month.
With hooker Luteru Tolai also injured, Sam Molie will wear the No.2 jersey, while Lolagi Visinia will start his first match at fullback for the newcomers against his former team,
Moana Pasifika: 1-Abraham Pole, 2-Samiuela Moli, 3-Joe Apikotoa, 4-Mahorni Ngakuru, 5-Samuel Slade, 6-Alex McRobbie, 7-Alamanda Motuga, 8-Henry Time-Stowers, 9-Jonathan Taumateine, 10-Christian Leali'ifano (c), 11-Neria Foma'i, 12-Danny Toala, 13-Levi Aumua, 14-Tima Fainga'anuku, 15-Lolagi Visinia
Reserves: 16-Ray Niuia, 17-Ezekiel Lindenmuth, 18-Taukiha'amea Koloamatangi, 19-Michael Curry, 20-Penitoa Finau, 21-Manu Paea, 22-Lincoln McClutchie, 23-Henry Taefu
Crusaders v Blues
7pm Friday, April 15
Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch
The Crusaders have made four changes to their starting side for Friday's Super Rugby Pacific clash against the Blues.
In the forwards, prop Oli Jager returns from a thumb injury to start in the No.3 jersey, and moving Fletcher Newell onto the bench.
Twenty-year-old Zach Gallagher will make his first Crusaders start, named to partner captain Scott Barrett in the second row after coming off the bench over the last two weeks.
In the loose forwards, Ethan Blackadder shifts from the openside to the blindside of the scrum to relegate Argentina's Pablo Matera onto the bench, as Tom Christie takes the No.7 jersey.
Bryn Hall swaps with Mitch Drummond at halfback to partner Richie Mo'unga at first-five, while Leicester Fainga'anuku returns to the starting side in a straight swap with All Black George Bridge.
Crusaders: 1-Joe Moody, 2-Codie Taylor, 3-Oli Jager, 4-Scott Barrett (c), 5-Zach Gallagher, 6-Ethan Blackadder, 7-Tom Christie, 8-Cullen Grace, 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-Ricky Jackson, 17-George Bower, 18-Fletcher Newell, 19-Dominic Gardner, 20-Pablo Matera, 21-Mitch Drummond, 22-Fergus Burke, 23-George Bridge
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will make his highly anticipated return to the Blues off the bench against the southerners this weekend.
The former NRL star has missed the last four weeks of action with his new team, after sustaining a shoulder injury against the Blues back in round two.
Finlay Christie has recovered from the strain that saw him scratched during warm-ups prior to the win over the Chiefs on Saturday.
The only change to the starting side sees AJ Lam move in to start on the right wing, with Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepens bracketed on the bench with Zarn Sullivan.
Blues: 1-Alex Hodgman, 2-Kurt Eklund, 3-Ofa Tuungafasi, 4-Luke Romano, 5-Josh Goodhue, 6-Tom Robinson, 7-Dalton Papalii, 8-Hoskins Sotutu, 9-Finlay Christie, 10-Beauden Barrett, 11-Mark Telea, 12-Bryce Heem, 13-Rieko Ioane, 14-AJ Lam, 15-Stephen Perofeta
Reserves: 16-Ricky Riccitelli, 17-Jordan Lay, 18-Nepo Laulala, 19-James Tucker, 20-Adrian Choat, 21-Taufa Funaki, 22-Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 23-Zarn Sullivan/Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepens
Chiefs v Moana Pasifika
4:30pm Saturday, April 16
FMG Stadium, Hamilton
The Chiefs have made a host of changes to the team which was well beaten by the Blues at Hamilton last weekend, with 10 new names in the starting XV against Moana Pasifika.
Forward stars Sam Cane and Pita Gus Sowakula have been left out of the matchday squad - presumably for rest - with Kaylum Boshier sliding into openside flanker and Luke Jacobson shifting from the bench to start at No. 8 and captain the side. Mitch Brown makes his first start of the season at blindside flanker.
In the front row, Ollie Norris slots into loosehead prop alongside Bradley Slater at hooker and Angus Ta’avao at tighthead. The young All Black locking duo of Josh Lord and Tupou Vaa'i completes the starting tight five.
In the backline, Cortez Ratima will claim his first start of the season at halfback, as will Rameka Poihipi at second-five, combining with Alex Nankivell at centre.
Chiefs: 1-Ollie Norris, 2-Bradley Slater, 3-Angus Ta'avao, 4-Josh Lord, 5-Tupou Vaa'i, 6-Mitch Brown, 7-Kaylum Boshier, 8-Luke Jacobson, 9-Cortez Ratima, 10-Bryn Gatland, 11-Etene Nanai-Seturo, 12-Rameka Pohipi, 13-Alex Nankivell, 14-Shaun Stevenson, 15-Chase Tiatia
Reserves: 16-Tyrone Thompson, 17-Aidan Ross, 18-George Dyer, 19-Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20-Samipeni Finau, 21-Brad Weber, 22-Rivez Reihana, 23-Jonah Lowe
Coming off a short turnaround after their loss to the Hurricanes on Tuesday, Moana Pasifika have made a raft of changes to the starting side.
Coach Aaron Mauger has brought 12 new faces into the run-on team, as they try to snap their four-game losing streak skid.
In the forwards, son of All Blacks great Sir Michael Jones will make his debut in his father's favoured No. 7 jersey, while the absence of injured captain Sekope Kepu makes way for Chris Apoua to start at loosehead prop.
Manu Samoa midfielder Henry Taefu will captain the team for the first time from second five, playing outside Lincoln McClutchie, who stands in for Christian Leali'ifano at first-five, and alongside centre Solomone Kata for the first time.
Moana Pasifika: 1-Ezekiel Lindenmuth, 2-Ray Niuia, 3-Chris Apoua, 4-Veikoso Poloniati, 5-Mahonri Ngakuru, 6-Michael Curry, 7-Niko Jones, 8-Sione Tu’ipulotu, 9-Ereatara Enari, 10-Lincoln McClutchie, 11-Anzelo Tuitavuki, 12-Henry Taefu (capt), 13-Solomone Kata, 14-Timoci Tavatavanawai, 15-William Havili
Reserves: 16-Samiuela Moli, 17-Taukiha’amea Koloamatangi, 18-Suetena Asomua, 19-Alex McRobbie, 20-Josh Kaifa, 21-Jonathan Taumateine, 22-Fine Inisi, 23-Tomasi Alosio
Highlanders v Hurricanes
7pm Saturday, April 16
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Fan favourite Marty Banks will earn his 50th cap for the Highlanders, when he starts against the Hurricanes on Sunday.
Banks spells regular starter Mitch Hunt, who will be afforded some rest, after starting every game to date this season.
Brothers Bryn and Gareth Evans are part of three changes to the forward pack, partly forced by long-term injuries to Shannon Frizzell and Manaaki Selby-Rickit. Veteran Liam Coltman returns to start at hooker.
In the backline, Thomas Umaga-Jensen returns from injury to partner with former English International Denny Solomona in the midfield.
Highlanders: 1-Ethan De Groot, 2-Liam Coltman, 3-Jermaine Ainsley, 4-Bryn Evans, 5-Josh Dickson, 6-Gareth Evans, 7-James Lentjes, 8-Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, 9-Aaron Smith (c), 10-Marty Banks, 11-Scott Gregory, 12-Thomas Umaga-Jensen, 13-Denny Solomona, 14-Sam Gilbert, 15-Connor Garden-Bachop
Reserves: 16-Andrew Makalio, 17-Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18-Saula Mau, 19-Max Hicks, 20-Bill Harmon, 21-Folau Fakatava, 22-Mitch Hunt, 23-Fetuli Paea
More to come
