Official team lists and injury news for NZ teams in this week's round of Super Rugby Pacific.
Moana Pasifika v Crusaders
Friday, May 19, 7:05pm
Go Media Stadium, Auckland
All Blacks rest orders has seen the Crusaders name a young team to play Moana Pasifika at Go Media Stadium on Friday.
Prop Kershawl Sykes-Martin and hooker Brodie McAlister join regular Tamaiti Williams in a newlook front row, while Sione Havili Talitui slots into the No.6 jersey to partner Corey Kellow and Cullen Grace in the back row.
Noah Hotham gets another rare start at halfback and forms a young combination with new first-five Fergus Burke.
Dallas McLeod moves back from the right wing to his usual midfield spot, where he is joined by All Black Jack Goodhue.
The in-from Will Jordan marks his return to the rugby field with another start at fullback.
Crusaders: 1-Kershawl Sykes-Martin, 2-Brodie McAlister, 3-Tamaiti Williams, 4-Scott Barrett, 5-Zach Gallagher, 6-Sione Havili Talitui, 7-Corey Kellow, 8-Cullen Grace, 9-Noah Hotham, 10-Fergus Burke, 11-Macca Springer, 12-Dallas McLeod, 13-Jack Goodhue, 14-Chay Fihaki, 15-Will Jordan.
Reserves: 16-Ioane Moananu, 17-Andrew Turner, 18-Seb Calder, 19-Dom Gardiner, 20-Christian Lio-Willie, 21-Mitchell Drummond, 22-Taha Kemara, 23-Wil Gualter.
Reds v Blues
Friday, May 19, 9:35pm
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Blues coach Leon MacDonald has made a raft of adjustments to his squad for Friday's jaunt to Queensland.
With several players on All Blacks rest, MacDonald has made seven changes to the starting XV that lost to the Crusaders in Christchurch last weekend.
Up front, Jordan Lay, Cameron Suafoa and Akira Ioane return to the run-on side, while in the backs, Sam Nock starts at halfback, with Bryce Heem getting the nod at centre and AJ Lam on the left wing.
Patrick Tuipulotu will lead the side, while Dalton Papali'i serves a three-week suspension.
"We saw just last week how good they can be by knocking over the Chiefs at home," said Tuipulotu. "This is going to be a stern test for the boys, but I feel we have the team who can get the job done on Friday.
"It's a quick turnaround for us, so it will be good to get over to Brisbane, get settled and get a training in, before we look to inject some momentum into our campaign, before two games at Eden Park to round out the regular season."
Finlay Christie, Caleb Clarke, Ofa Tuungafasi and Rieko Ioane will each take their designated All Blacks rest week.
All Blacks back Stephen Perofeta is still recovering from his shoulder injury, but wil travel with the side.
Blues: 1-Jordan Lay, 2-Ricky Riccitelli, 3-Marcel Renata, 4-Patrick Tuipulotu, 5-Cameron Suafoa, 6-Akira Ioane, 7-Adrian Choat, 8-Hoskins Sotutu, 9-Sam Nock, 10-Beauden Barrett, 11-AJ Lam, 12-Harry Plummer, 13-Bryce Heem, 14-Mark Telea, 15-Zarn Sullivan.
Reserves: 16-Kurt Eklund, 17-Joshua Fusitu'a, 18-Nepo Laulala/James Lay, 19-James Tucker, 20-Anton Segner, 21-Taufa Funaki, 22-Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 23-Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
Highlanders v Rebels
Saturday, May 20, 4:35pm
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Halfback Aaron Smith and prop Ethan de Groot return from All Blacks rest, as the Highlanders try to keep their dwindling playoff hopes alive against the Melbourne side.
Sam Gilbert combines with Fetuli Paea in the midfield, with Connor Garden-Bachop preferred at fullback. International flanker Shannon Frizell packs down in the second row.
Former England international Freddie Burns again takes the No.10 jersey, with Mitch Hunt poised to play his 50th Super Rugby game for the southerners off the bench.
Highlanders: 1-Ethan de Groot, 2-Andrew Makalio, 3-Jermaine Ainsley, 4-Shannon Frizell, 5-Max Hicks, 6-Sean Withy, 7-Billy Harmon, 8-Hugh Renton, 9-Aaron Smith, 10-Freddie Burns, 11-Jona Nareki, 12-Sam Gilbert, 13-Fetuli Paea, 14-Jonah Lowe, 15-Connor Garden-Bachop
Reserves: 16-Leni Apisai, 17-Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18-Saula Ma’u, 19-Marino Mikaele-Tu'u, 20-James Lentjes, 21-Folau Fakatava, 22-Mitch Hunt, 23-Thomas Umaga-Jensen
Chiefs v Hurricanes
Saturday, May 20, 7:05pm
FMG Stadium, Hamilton
Hurting from their first loss of the season, the Chiefs welcome back several All Blacks from rest protocols, as they face their nearest local-derby rivals at home.
Hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho, lock Brodie Retallick, flanker Sam Cane, halfback Brad Weber bolster the line-up to face the Hurricanes, but All Blacks lock Josh Lord will sit out with injury.
"Whilst the loss last week hurt, there is value, if we are able to adjust and grow from the lessons we learned, and that has been our focus this week," said coach Clayton McMillan.
"The Hurricanes pose significant challenges, particularly through their attack, where they lead the competition in tries, clean breaks, defenders beaten, offloads and post-contact carry metres, so we understand the challenge that’s coming and will need to be on."
Chiefs: 1-Aidan Ross, 2-Samisoni Taukei'aho, 3-George Dyer, 4-Brodie Retallick, 5-Tupou Vaa'i, 6-Pita Gus Sowakula, 7-Sam Cane, 8-Luke Jacobson, 9-Brad Weber, 10-Damian McKenzie, 11-Etene Nanai-Seturo, 12-Anton Lienert-Brown, 13-Alex Nankivell, 14-Emoni Narawa, 15-Shaun Stevenson
Reserves: 16-Tyrone Thompson, 17-Ollie Norris, 18-John Ryan, 19-Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20-Simon Parker, 21-Cortez Ratima, 22-Josh Ioane, 23-Rameka Poihipi
Hurricanes coach Jason Holland has opted to sit All Blacks stars Ardie Savea and Jordie Barrett in the top-of-the-table clash with the Chiefs, naming Julian Savea as captain in his brother's absence.
Hookers Asafo Aumu and Dane Coles, and prop Tyrel Lomax are also missing from the gameday squad, with Jaconb Devery drawing another start in the No.2 jersey.
Hurricanes: 1-Xavier Numia, 2-Jacob Devery, 3-Owen Franks, 4-James Blackwell, 5-Isaia Walker-Leawere, 6-Devan Flanders, 7-Du'Plessis Kirifi, 8-Brayden Iose, 9-Cam Roigard, 10-Aidan Morgan, 11-Kini Naholo, 12-Peter Umaga-Jensen, 13-Billy Proctor, 14-Julian Savea, 15-Josh Moorby
Reserves: 16-Hame Faiva, 17-Tevita Mafileo, 18-Pailio Tosi, 19-Justin Sangster, 20-Caleb Delany, 21-Jamie Booth, 22-Riley Hohepa, 23-Salesi Rayasi
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