Official team lists and injury news for this week's round of Super Rugby Pacific and Super Rugby Aupiki.
Super Rugby Pacific
Chiefs v Highlanders
7:05pm Friday, March 10
FMG Stadium, Hamilton
The tabletopping Chiefs have rung the changes for their clash against the last-placed Highlanders in their first home match of Super Rugby Pacific 2023.
With two wins from two, coach Clayton McMillan has swapped out both props from the side that defeated Moana Pasifika.
Ireland international John Ryan will make his first start of the year, joined by Aidan Ross to go with Samisoni Taukei'aho, who keeps hold of the No.2 jersey.
Elsewhere, Naitoa Ah-Kuoi replaces Pita Gus Sowakula at No.6, while winger Emoni Narawa comes into the side for his first start of the season, in place of Liam Coombes-Fabling.
On the bench, Josh Ioane takes Bryn Gatland's spot to deputise for Damian McKenzie, while Taranaki's Daniel Roa has been named to debut in the No.23 jersey.
Chiefs: 1-Aidan Ross, 2-Samisoni Taukei'aho, 3-John Ryan, 4-Brodie Retallick, 5-Tupou Vaa'i, 6-Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 7-Sam Cane (cc), 8-Luke Jacobson, 9-Brad Weber (cc), 10-Damian McKenzie, 11-Etene Nanai-Seturo, 12-Rameka Poihipi, 13-Alex Nankivell, 14-Emoni Narawa, 15-Shaun Stevenson
Reserves: 16-Bradley Slater, 17-Ollie Norris, 18-George Dyer, 19-Samipeni Finau, 20-Pita Gus Sowakula, 21-Cortez Ratima, 22-Josh Ioane, 23-Daniel Roa
The Highlanders' bid for a first win of 2023 has been boosted by the return of three All Blacks, including halfback Aaron Smith.
Smith has missed the first two rounds of the year as part of an extended pre-season break.
He's joined by Ethan de Groot and Shannon Frizell, who both missed the Highlanders' loss to the Crusaders in Melbourne.
Mitch Hunt regains the No.10 jersey, while English import Freddie Burns shifts to fullback.
Highlanders: 1-Ethan de Groot, 2-Rhys Marshall, 3-Jermaine Ainsley, 4-Pari Pari Parkinson, 5-Josh Dickson, 6-Shannon Frizell, 7-James Lentjes (c), 8-Hugh Renton, 9-Aaron Smith, 10-Mitch Hunt, 11-Mosese Dawai, 12-Thomas Umaga-Jensen, 13-Josh Timu, 14-Martin Bogado, 15-Freddie Burns
Reserves: 16-Leni Apisai, 17-Ayden Johnstone, 18-Saula Mau ,19-Fabian Holland, 20-Sean Withy, 21-Kemara Hautiti-Parapara, 22-Fetuli Paea, 23-Connor Garden-Bachop
Fijian Drua v Crusaders
4:35pm Saturday, March 11
Churchill Park, Fiji
Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson has overhauled his side for their clash with Fijian Drua in Lautoka.
There are seven changes to the starting XV that crushed the Highlanders in Melbourne, with a further six to the reserves bench, where three players are poised to make their Super Rugby debuts.
Among those All Blacks being rested are Richie Mo'unga, Codie Taylor and Jack Goodhue, replaced by Fergus Burke, Quentin MacDonald and Braydon Ennor respectively.
Kershawl Sykes-Martin, Ioane Moananu, and Taha Kemara line up on a new-look reserves bench, from where they'll likely get their first taste of Super Rugby action.
Meanwhile, captain Scott Barrett will play his 100th game for the franchise.
Crusaders: 1-George Bower, 2-Quentin MacDonald, 3-Tamaiti Williams, 4-Scott Barrett (c), 5-Sam Whitelock, 6-Sione Havili Talitui, 7-Tom Christie, 8-Christian Lio-Willie, 9-Willi Heinz, 10-Fergus Burke, 11-Macca Springer, 12-David Havili, 13-Braydon Ennor, 14-Sevu Reece, 15-Chay Fihaki
Reserves: 16-Ioane Moananu, 17-Kershawl Sykes-Martin, 18-Seb Calder, 19-Zach Gallagher, 20-Corey Kellow, 21-Noah Hotham, 22-Taha Kemara, 23-Dallas McLeod
Hurricanes v Blues
7:05pm Saturday, March 11
Sky Stadium, Wellington
The Blues have resisted any panic changes to their gameday squad after last weekend's close loss to the Brumbies in Melbourne.
The only change to the starting XV sees AJ Lam slot into the No. 14 jersey in place of in-form wing Mark Telea, who will sit the match out as a precaution after suffering a head knock on Sunday.
All Blacks prop Ofa Tu'ungafasi also wasn;t considered due to concussion, with Alex Hodgman replacing him on the bench - the only new face among the reserves.
"It's early in the competition and we know we weren't at our best against a good Brumbies side," said coach Leon MacDonald.
"There's certainly no panic around the place, we just want to see improvement in a few areas this weekend."
Blues: 1-Joshua Fusitu’a, 2-Ricky Riccitelli, 3-James Lay, 4-Patrick Tuipulotu, 5-Cameron Suafoa, 6-Tom Robinson/Adrian Choat, 7-Dalton Papali'i, 8-Hoskins Sotutu, 9-Finlay Christie, 10-Beauden Barrett, 11-Caleb Clarke, 12-Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 13-Rieko Ioane, 14-AJ Lam, 15-Stephen Perofeta
Reserves: 16-Kurt Eklund, 17-Alex Hodgman, 18-Nelp Laulala, 19-James Tucker, 20-Adrian Choat, 21-Taufa Funaki, 22-Bryce Heem, 23-Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
The Hurricanes have made three changes to the team which edged the Rebels across the ditch last weekend.
Rookie stand-out Peter Lakai shifts to No. 8 to replace captain Ardie Savea, who has been suspended for one-game due to the throat-slitting gesture he made at AAMI Park.
Brett Cameron has overcome his injury concerns and will make his Hurricanes debut at first-five, shifting Aidan Morgan to the bench.
Flanker Devan Flanders will return from a concussion-enforced absence, meaning Brayden Iose moves to the reserves.
Veteran hooker Dane Coles will stand in as captain in place of Savea.
Hurricanes: 1-Xavier Numia, 2-Dane Coles, 3-Tyrel Lomax, 4-James Blackwell, 5-Isaia Walker-Leawere, 6-Devan Flanders, 7-Du'Plessis Kirifi, 8-Peter Lakai, 9-Cameron Roigard, 10-Brett Cameron, 11-Salesi Rayasi, 12-Jordie Barrett, 13-Billy Proctor, 14-Julian Savea, 15-Josh Moorby
Reserves: 16-Asafo Aumua, 17-Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18-Pasilio Tosi, 19-Caleb Delany, 20-TK Howden, 21-Jamie Booth, 22-Aidan Morgan, 23-Riley Higgins
Super Rugby Aupiki
Chiefs Manawa v Matatū
2:05pm Saturday, March 11
FMG Stadium, Hamilton
Chiefs: 1-Awhina Tangen-Wainohu, 2-Luka Connor, 3-Tanya Kalounivale, 4-Kelsie Thwaites, 5-Chelsea Bremner, 6-Charmaine Smith, 7-Tynealle Fitzgerald, 8-Kennedy Simon (C), 9-Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu, 10-Hazel Tubic, 11-Georgia Daals, 12-Azalleyah Maaka, 13-Carla Hohepa, 14-Mererangi Paul, 15-Tenika Willison
Reserves: 16-Grace Houpapa-Barrett, 17-Kate Henwood, 18-Te Urupounamu McGarvey, 19-Dhys Faleafaga, 20-Victoria Makea, 21-Violet Hapi-Wise, 22-Abigail Roach, 23-Apii Nicholls
Matatū: 1-Pip Love, 2-Georgia Ponsonby, 3-Amy Rule, 4-Alan Bremner, 5-Cindy Nelles, 6-Lucy Jenkins, 7-Kendra Reynolds, 8-Marcelle Parkes, 9-Di Hiini, 10-Rosie Kelly, 11-Grace Steinmetz, 12-Grace Brooker, 13-Amy du Plessis, 14-Chey Robins-Reti, 15-Renee Holmes
Reserves: 16-Nat Delamere, 17-Ona Palu, 18-Steph Te-Ohaere Fox, 19-Emma Dermody, 20-Atlanta Lolohea, 21-Georgia Cormick, 22-Martha Mataele, 23-Charntay Poko
Hurricanes Poua v Blues Women
4:35pm Saturday, March 11
Sky Stadium, Wellington
Hurricanes: 1-Krystal Murray, 2-Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate, 3-Cilia-Marie Po'e-Tofaeono, 4-Joanah Ngan-Woo, 5-Rachael Rakatau (c), 6-Layla Sae, 7-Rhiarna Ferris, 8-Kaipo Olsen-Baker, 9-Iritana Hohaia, 10-Carys Dallinger, 11-Ayesha Leti-I'iga, 12-Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali, 13-Shakira Baker, 14-Autumn-Rain Stephens-Daly, 15-Crystal Mayes
Reserves: 16-Saphire Abraham, 17-Sosoli Talawadua, 18-Cristo Tofa, 19-Maddie Feaunati, 20-Aroha Savage, 21-Milly Mackey, 22-Monica Tagoai, 23-Isabella Waterman
Blues: 1-Chryss Viliko, 2-Grace Gago, 3-Sophie Fisher, 4-Maama Vaipulu, 5-Maiakawanakaulani Roos, 6-Charmaine McMenamin, 7-Tafito Lafaele, 8-Liana Mikaele-Tu'u, 9-Ariana Bayler, 10-Ruahei Demant, 11-Katelynn Vahaakolo, 12-Patricia Maliepo, 13-Sylvia Brunt, 14-Jaymie Kolose, 15-Kiritapu Demant
Reserves: 16-Alakoka Po'oi, 17-Toka Natua, 18-Eloise Blackwell, 19-Eloise Blackwell, 20-Shannon Leota, 21-Melanie Puckett, 22-Krysten Cottrell, 23-Tara Turner
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