Official team lists and injury news for the opening round of Super Rugby Pacific playoffs.
Crusaders v Chiefs
7:05pm Friday, June 10
Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch
Tom Christie will replace injured All Black Ethan Blackadder at openside flanker for the Crusaders' home semi-final against the Chiefs.
Blackadder's dislocated shoulder has forced the only change to Scott Robertson's starting XV from last week's win over Queensland Reds, with the bench also unchanged, apart from Corey Kellow's inclusion to cover the loose forwards.
The match marks the 100th in Robertson's tenure as coach - his record is 83 wins, four draws and 12 losses.
Crusaders: 1-George Bower, 2-Codie Taylor, 3-Oli Jager, 4-Scott Barrett (c), 5-Sam Whitelock, 6-Pablo Matera, 7-Tom Christie, 8-Cullen Grace, 9-Bryn Hall, 10-Richie Mo'unga, 11-Leicester Fainga'anuku, 12-David Havili, 13-Jack Goodhue, 14-Sevu Reece, 15-Will Jordan
Reserves: 16-Brodie McAlisters, 17-Tamaiti Williams, 18-Fletcher Newell, 19-Zach Gallagher, 20-Corey Kellow, 21-Mitch Drummond, 22-Braydon Ennor, 23-George Bridge
All Blacks captain Sam Cane will return to the Chiefs line-up off the bench for their semi-final clash with the Crusaders, after missing two weeks with a knee injury, providing some relief to All Blacks coach Ian Foster, who saw openside options Blackadder and Dalton Papalii fall to injury last week.
Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan has made only one change to the starting XV that fronted NSW Waratahs, replacing fullback Emoni Narawa with Josh Ioane.
Chiefs: 1-Aidan Ross, 2-Samisoni Taukei’aho, 3-Angus Ta’avao, 4-Brodie Retallick, 5-Tupou Vaa’i, 6-Samipeni Finau, 7-Luke Jacobson, 8-Pita Gus Sowakula, 9-Brad Weber (c), 10-Bryn Gatland, 11-Etene Nanai-Seturo, 12-Quinn Tupaea, 13-Alex Nankivell, 14-Jonah Lowe, 15-Josh Ioane
Reserves: 16-Bradley Slater, 17-Ollie Norris, 18-George Dyer, 19-Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20-Sam Cane, 21-Xavier Roe, 22-Rameka Poihipi, 23-Chase Tiatia
Blues v Brumbies
7:05pm Saturday, June 11
Eden Park, Auckland
The Blues have made some tweaks to their starting side to take on the Brumbies in their big semi-final showdown this weekend.
In the forwards, Nepo Laulala has been promoted from the bench to start in place of fellow All Blacks prop Ofa Tuungafasi, while Josh Goodhue earns the start at lock ahead of James Tucker.
The only change in the backline involves the loss of wing Bryce Heem due to a head knock suffered in the quarter-final win over the Highlanders last weekend.
With Caleb Clarke yet to recover from the hamstring injury suffered in the week 13 win over the Brumbies, AJ Lam now starts on the left wing, shifting Mark Telea across to the ring wing.
"This is what we have worked so hard for all year both as individuals and a team," said coach Leon MacDonald. "This is the occasion that you want to play in – at our home, in front of our fans and family, against a worthy foe for the chance to play in the final.
"That said, it is still a simple game of rugby and we must do those simple things well - take care of our set-phase, be combative at the breakdown, and earn the right to unleash our backs.
"Discipline will be a key. We cannot give them a free ride down the ground and likewise we will be putting pressure on them not to step over the mark."
Blues: 1-Alex Hodgman, 2-Kurt Eklund 3-Nepo Laulala, 4-Josh Goodhue, 5-Tom Robinson, 6-Akira Ioane, 7-Adrian Choat, 8-Hoskins Sotutu, 9-Finlay Christie, 10-Beauden Barrett, 11-AJ Lam, 12-Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 13-Rieko Ioane, 14-Mark Telea, 15-Stephen Perofeta
Reserves: 16-Soane Vikena, 17-Karl Tu'inukuafe, 18-Ofa Tuungafasi, 19-Luke Romano, 20-James Tucker, 21-Sam Nock, 22-Tamati Tua, 23-Zarn Sullivan
The Brumbies will welcome back loose forward Rob Valetini but lose centre Len Ikitau to suspension for their semi-final against the high-flying Blues on Saturday.
Valetini will start at No. 8 in the clash at Eden Park, with Pete Samu switching to openside flanker and Tom Hooper retaining his spot on the blindside.
Ikitau was suspended for three weeks after being red-carded for a high tackle on Hurricanes first-five Aidan Morgan in the quarter-final in Canberra over the weekend.
Brumbies: 1-James Slipper, 2-Folau Fainga'a, 3-Allan Alaalatoa, 4-Darcy Swain, 5-Cadeyrn Neville, 6-Tom Hooper, 7-Pete Samu, 8-Rob Valetini, 9-Nic White, 10-Noah Lolesio, 11-Andy Muirhead, 12-Irae Simone, 13-Ollie Sapsford, 14-Tom Wright, 15-Tom Banks
Reserves: 16-Lachlan Lonergan, 17-Scott Sio, 18-Sefo Kautai, 19-Nick Frost, 20-Luke Reimer, 21-Jahrome Brown, 22-Ryan Lonergan, 23-Hudson Creighton
Join us this weekend for live updates of the Super Rugby Pacific semi-finals
