Official team lists and injury news for this week's round of Super Rugby Pacific and Super Rugby Aupiki.
Super Rugby Pacific
Hurricanes v Waratahs
7:05pm Friday, March 17
Sky Stadium, Wellington
Kini Naholo - younger brother of former All Blacks winger Waisake Naholo - will make his Hurricanes debut against the Waratahs, replacing Salesi Rayasi in the starting line-up.
The former Hastings Boys' High School star has previously played for both the Chiefs and Crusaders.
"Kini has got himself into good shape and is looking sharp," said Hurricanes coach Jason Holland. "He's a big threat with ball in hand and has earned this opportunity to start."
Former All Blacks lock Dominic Bird will also make his Hurricanes debut off the bench, after an extensive career that includes stints with the Crusaders and Chiefs, before heading offshore to France.
Hurricanes: 1-Xavier Numua, 2-Asafo Aumua, 3-Tyrel Lomax, 4-James Blackwell, 5-Isaia Walker-Leawere, 6-Devan Flanders, 7-Du'Plessis Kirifi, 8-Ardie Savea (c), 9-Cameron Roigard, 10-Brett Cameron, 11-Kini Naholo, 12-Jordie Barrett, 13-Billy Proctor, 14-Julian Savea, 15-Josh Moody
Reserves: 16-Dane Coles, 17-Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18-Pasilio Tosi, 19-Dominic Bird, 20-Brayden Iose, 21-Jamie Booth, 22-Aidan Morgan, 23-Bailyn Sullivan
Chiefs v Melbourne Rebels
4:35pm Saturday, March 18
FMG Stadium, Hamilton
Luke Jacobson will lead the Chiefs against the Melbourne Rebels on Saturday, with co-captains Sam Cane and Brad Weber sitting out the fixture at FMG Stadium.
The unbeaten Chiefs will tackle their first trans-Tasman opposition, with coach Clayton McMillan using the clash as an opportunity to try new combinations.
Lock Manaaki Selby-Rickit will make his Chiefs debut, while hooker Tyrone Thompson, halfback Cortez Ratima and first-five Bryn Gatland are all handed starts.
"We have players who have mandated breaks and for some that comes this week," McMillan said.
"More importantly, we have a squad of players who have trained outstandingly through the pre-season and early part of the competition, and are demanding their opportunity.
"The nature of the competition tests the depth and quality of your squad, and we are confident and excited for the guys who have had limited game time to take their opportunity."
Chiefs: 1-Aidan Ross, 2-Tyrone Thompson, 3-John Ryan, 4-Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 5-Manaaki Selby-Rickit, 6-Samipeni Finau, 7-Luke Jacobson, 8-Pita Gus Sowakula, 9-Cortez Ratima, 10-Bryn Gatland, 11-Etene Nanai-Seturo, 12-Rameka Poihipi, 13-Alex Nankivell, 14- Emoni Narawa, 15-Shaun Stevenson
Reserves: 16-Samisoni Taukei'aho, 17-Ollie Norris, 18-George Dyer, 19-Laghlan McWhannell, 20-Kaylum Boshier, 21-Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22-Josh Ioane, 23-Peniasi Malimali
Blues v Crusaders
7:05pm Saturday, March 18
Eden Park, Auckland
The Blues have welcomed back All Blacks winger Mark Telea for Saturday's rematch of last year's Super Rugby Pacific final against the Crusaders.
But they will have to topple the defending champions without veteran lock Patrick Tuipulotu, who has been ruled out with a knee injury.
Coach Leon MacDonald has opted for a new-look bench, with Soane Vikena, Jordan Lay, Taine Plumtree and Zarn Sullivan all in line for their first cap of 2023.
"It was a bruising encounter against the Hurricanes last weekend with a few sore bodies around Blues HQ at the start of the week," MacDonald said.
"Motivation for this match wasn't an issue; I know the boys still hurt from the final last year and want to put in a strong performance against a Crusaders side who we know will be hungry and determined."
Blues: 1-Alex Hodgman, 2-Ricky Riccitelli, 3-James Lay, 4-James Tucker, 5-Cameron Suafoa, 6-Adrian Choat, 7-Dalton Papalii, 8-Hoskins Sotutu, 9-Finlay Christie, 10-Beauden Barrett, 11-Caleb Clark, 12-Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 13-Rieko Ioane, 14-Mark Telea, 15-Stephen Perofeta.
Reserves: 16-Soane Vikena, 17-Jordan Lay, 18-Nepo Laulala, 19-Tom Robinson, 20-Taine Plumtree, 21-Taufa Funaki, 22-Bryce Heem, 23-Zarn Sullivan
Crusaders: 1-Joe Moody, 2-Codie Taylor, 3-Tamaiti Williams, 4-Scott Barrett, 5-Sam Whitelock, 6-Ethan Blackadder, 7-Tom Christie, 8-Sione Havili Talitui, 9-Mitchell Drummond, 10-Richie Mo'unga, 11-Leicester Fainga'anuku, 12-Dallas McLeod, 13-Braydon Ennor, 14-Sevu Reece, 15-Fergus Burke
Reserves: 16-Brodie McAlister, 17-Kershawl Sykes-Martin, 18-George Bower, 19-Zach Gallagher, 20-Christian Lio-Willie, 21-Willi Heinz, 22-Pepesana Patafilo, 23-Macca Springer
Highlanders v Western Force
3:35pm Sunday, March 19
Rugby Park, Invercargill
Rugby World Cup hopeful Folau Fakatava will start from the bench for the Highlanders' Super Rugby Pacific clash against the Western Force on Sunday.
The halfback returns from his All Blacks break, and will look to provide much-needed impact among the substitutes as his team hunt for their first win of the season.
The Highlanders have lost their opening three games of 2023, and are rooted to the bottom of the ladder as the only side without a point.
Fakatava is joined by Jonah Lowe, Sam Gilbert, and Josh Timu, who all return from injuries. Meanwhile, Fabian Holland and Andrew Makalio have also been handed starts in the forwards.
Coach Clarke Dermody understands his Highlanders team will need to vastly improve on last week's defeat to the Chiefs if they are to finally win.
"The start to our season has not been easy," he said. "We acknowledge our performances haven't been where we want them to be but look forward to showing what we have learnt from our defeats.
"The Force will be wanting to start a tough tour of New Zealand well, no doubt. However, our boys are excited about getting down to Invercargill to play in front of our southernmost fans."
Highlanders: 1-Ethan de Groot, 2-Andrew Makalio, 3-Jermaine Ainsley, 4-Fabian Holland, 5-Josh Bekhuis, 6-Shannon Frizell, 7-Billy Harmon, 8-Hugh Renton, 9-Aaron Smith, 10-Mitch Hunt, 11-Jonah Lowe, 12-Thomas Umaga-Jensen, 13-Josh Timu, 14-Martin Bogado, 15-Sam Gilbert
Reserves: 16-Rhys Marshall, 17-Ayden Johnstone, 18-PJ Sheck, 19-Max Hicks, 20-James Lentjes, 21-Folau Fakatavam 22-Cameron Millar, 23-Connor Garden-Bachop
Super Rugby Aupiki
Matatū v Blues Women
3:15pm Sunday, March 19
North Harbour Stadium, Auckland
Chiefs Manawa v Hurricanes Poua
6:05pm Sunday, March 19
FMG Stadium, Hamilton
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