Official team lists and injury news for NZ teams in this week's round of Super Rugby Pacific.
Hurricanes v Brumbies
Friday, April 28, 7:05pm
Sky Stadium, Wellington
Julian Savea will bring up 150 game for the Hurricanes, named to start on the wing against the Brumbies on Friday.
Savea, 32, brings up the milestone after his debut in 2011, as his 149th Super Rugby game for the Hurricanes, to go with one against the British and Irish Lions in 2017.
Elsewhere, Asafo Aumua is retained at hooker with Dane Coles unavailable, and seeing Jacob Devery come onto the bench for his first game of 2023.
Isaia Walker-Leawere returns from injury to start in the second row alongside James Blackwell as the only change to the starting side from the defeat to the Chiefs two weeks ago.
Hurricanes: 1-Xavier Numia, 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-Cam Roigard, 10-Aidan Morgan, 11-Salesi Rayasi, 12-Jordie Barrett, 13-Peter Umaga-Jensen, 14-Julian Savea, 15-Josh Moorby
Reserves: 16-Jacob Devery, 17-Tevita Mafileo, 18-Owen Franks, 19-Caleb Delany, 20-Brayden Iose, 21-Jamie Booth, 22-Harry Godfrey, 23-Kini Naholo.
Waratahs v Highlanders
Friday, April 28, 9:35pm
Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Highlanders coach Clarke Dermody has rung the changes for Friday's clash against the NSW Waratahs, following their shock defeat to the Western Force.
All Blacks Aaron Smith and Folau Fakatava have made welcome returns, with the former starting and captaining the side.
The veteran halfback leads the team in regular skipper Billy Harmon's absence, who has returned to New Zealand for personal reasons.
Star fullback Sam Gilbert has moved to the midfield, with Connor Garden-Bachop taking his spot in the No.15 jersey.
Dermody is after a much-improved performance against the Waratahs, which saw them drop to seventh on the Super Rugby table.
"We were disappointed in our performance last week, as we didn't play anywhere close to our best, which we need to do to get the results we are looking for as a team," he said.
"The Waratahs are in a similar place to us, and we anticipate a real battle on Friday night as a win is vitally important to both teams."
Highlanders: 1-Ethan de Groot, 2-Andrew Makalio, 3-Jermaine Ainsley, 4-Fabian Holland, 5-Will Tucker, 6-Shannon Frizell, 7-Sean Withy, 8-Hugh Renton, 9-Aaron Smith ©, 10-Mitch Hunt, 11-Scott Gregory, 12-Sam Gilbert, 13-Fetuli Paea, 14-Jonah Lowe, 15-Connor Garden-Bachop
Reserves: 16-Rhys Marshal, 17-Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18-Saula Ma'u, 19-Pari Pari Parkinson, 20-Marino Mikaele-Tu'u, 21-Folau Fakatava, 22-Thomas Umaga-Jensen, 23- Jona Nareki
Fijian Drua v Blues
Saturday, April 29, 2:05pm
Churchill Park, Lautoka
The Blues have made six changes to their starting XV to face the Fijian Drua in Lautoka.
Fijian-born hooker Soane Vikena is promoted to make his first start, with Marcel Renata slotting in beside him at tighthead prop for the injured Nepo Laulala and Cameron Suafoa getting the nod at lock.
Captain Dalton Papali'i returns from a one-game absence, shifting Adrian Choat across to blindside flanker.
With Stephen Perofeta ruled out with a shoulder injury, Zarn Sullivan is promoted to start at fullback.
The Blues face a tough task against the Drua, who have proven a handful on home soil this season.
"We know these guys will be physical, we know the crowd will be loud and we know we'll need to be at our best to come away with the points on Saturday," said coach Leon MacDonald.
"It's no secret the Drua are a tough prospect at home - something we've already seen this Super Rugby campaign.
"We've tweaked a few things at training this week, including some 'heat' fitness sessions to simulate the conditions over there."
Blues: 1-Ofa Tuungafasi, 2-Soane Vikena, 3-Marcel Renata, 4-Cameron Suafoa, 5-Sam Darry, 6-Adrian Choat, 7-Dalton Papali'i (c), 8-Hoskins Sotutu, 9-Finlay Christie, 10-Beauden Barrett, 11-Caleb Clarke, 12-Harry Plummer, 13-Rieko Ioane, 14-Mark Telea, 15-Zarn Sullivan
Reserves: 16-Ricky Riccitelli, 17-Jordan Lay, 18-James Lay, 19-James Tucker, 20-Akira Ioane, 21-Sam Nock, 22-Bryce Heem, 23-AJ Lam
Chiefs v Crusaders
Saturday, April 29, 7:05pm
FMG Stadium, Waikato
Crusaders colossus Sam Whitelock will mark a special milestone this weekend, becoming the sixth NZ player to reach 350 first-class games.
Whitelock joins Liam Messam, Wyatt Crockett, Keven Mealamu, Sir Colin Meads and Aaron Smith, who hit the mark last month.
Coach Scott Robertson has made three changes to the starting XV that trounced the Rebels last weekend for their blockbuster clash with the undefeated Chiefs.
Cullen Grace has been promoted from the bench to start at No. 8, as has Dallas McLeod on the right wing, with Leicester Fainga'anuku returning from injury to start on the left.
Prop Oli Jager has been named on the bench, where he'll make his return from a lengthy layoff with a neck injury suffered during last year's National Provincial Championship.
Crusaders: 1-Joe Moody, 2-Codie Taylor, 3-Tamaiti Williams, 4-Scott Barrett, 5-Sam Whitelock, 6-Dom Gardiner, 7-Tom Christie, 8-Cullen Grace, 9-Mitch Drummond, 10-Richie Mo'unga, 11-Leicester Fainga'anuku, 12-David Havili, 13-Braydon Ennor, 14-Dallas McLeod, 15-Fergus Burke
Reserves: 16-Brodie McAlister, 17-Finlay Brewis, 18-Oliver Jager, 19-Quinten Strange, 20-Christian Lo-Willie, 21-Willi Heinz, 22-Jack Goodhue, 23-Macca Springer
The Chiefs have been fortified by their All Blacks contingent for their heavyweight showdown against the Crusaders.
Co-captains Sam Cane and Brad Weber return from a week of rest, as will loose forward Luke Jacobson and Tupou Vaa'i, who will start alongside Brodie Retallick at lock.
Emoni Narawa is back on the right wing, meaning Damian McKenzie shifts back to No. 10 and Shaun Stevenson to fullback.
Aidan Ross and George Dyer return to form a first-choice front row with All Blacks hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho.
Chiefs: 1-Aidan Ross, 2-Samisoni Taukei'aho, 3-George Dyer, 4-Brodie Retallick, 5-Tupou Vaa'i, 6-Samipeni Finau, 7-Sam Cane, 8-Luke Jacobson, 9-Brad Weber, 10-Damian McKenzie, 11-Etene Nanai-Seturo, 12-Rameka Poihipi, 13-Daniel Rona, 14-Emoni Narawa, 15-Shaun Stevenson
Reserves: 16-Tyrone Thompson, 17-Ollie Norris, 18-John Ryan, 19-Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20-Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 21-Cortez Ratima, 22-Bryn Gatland, 23-Lalomilo Lalomilo
