All NZ team line-ups for week nine of the southern hemisphere competition.
Crusaders v Melbourne Rebels
7:05pm Friday, April 26
Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch
The return of captain Scott Barrett and All Black midfielder David Havili couldn't have come at a better time for the struggling Crusaders. The five-time defending champions are in the midst of their worst Super Rugby season in club history, down the bottom of the table with only one win on the season.
Barrett hasn’t played since suffering a broken finger in their third-round loss to the Fijian Drua, while Havili has been out since leaving from the field with a calf injury in their round-five loss to the Blues.
Crusaders' fans will hope their return will help them turn their season around, starting with a big win over the Melbourne Rebels in Christchurch.
Crusaders: 1-George Bower, 2-Brodie McAlister, 3-Fletcher Newell, 4-Scott Barrett (C), 5-Quinten Strange, 6-Cullen Grace, 7-Ethan Blackadder, 8-Christian Lio-Willie, 9-Micthell Drummond, 10-Rivez Reihana, 11-Heremaia Murray, 12-Dallas McLeod, 13-Levi Aumua, 14-Sevu Reece, 15-Johnny McNicholl
Reserves: 16-George Bell, 17-Joe Moody, 18-Owen Franks, 19-Jamie Hannah, 20-Corey Kellow, 21-Noah Hotham, 22-David Havili, 23-Chay Fihaki
Chiefs v NSW Waratahs
9:35pm Friday, April 26
Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Kaylum Boshier will captain for the first time this Super Rugby Pacific season for the Chiefs match in Sydney against the Waratahs. He replaces regular skipper Luke Jacobson who is being rested.
In the backs Cortez Ratima commands the starting halfback role, as does Damian McKenzie at first five. Xavier Roe and Josh Ioane drop back to the bench. Fullback Shaun Stevenson has also recovered from an injury that saw him leave the field during their round right loss to the Hurricanes.
Chiefs: 1-Aidan Ross, 2-Samisoni Taukei'aho, 3-George Dyer, 4-Jimmy Tupou, 5-Tupou Vaa'i, 6-Samipeni Finau, 7-Kaylum Boshier (C), 8-Wallace Sititi, 9-Cortez Ratima, 10-Damian McKenzie, 11-Etene Nanai-Seturo, 12-Rameka Polhipi, 13-Anton Lienert-Brown, 14-Emoni Narawa, 15-Shaun Stevenson
Reserves: 16-Tyrone Thompson, 17-Jared Proffit, 18-Reuben O'Neill, 19-Manaaki Selby-Rickit, 20-Simon Parker, 21-Xacier Roe, 22-Josh Ioane, 23-Quinn Tupaea
Hurricanes v ACT Brumbies
4:35pm Saturday, April 27
GIO Stadium, Canberra
The undefeated Hurricanes have named a strong side for their 400th Super Rugby match against the third-placed Brumbies in Canberra.
James O'Reilly replaces the injured Asafo Aumua while Xavier Numia, Tyrel Lomax, Caleb Delany, Brayden Iose, Brett Cameron and Ruben Love all return to the starting team, after sitting out their sides 38-15 Round nine win over the Fijian Drua in Suva.
Midfeilder Peter Umaga-Jensen makes his first start of the season at centre while Billy Proctor rests a minor knee niggle.
Hooker Raymond Tuputupu and midfielder Riley Higgins come onto the bench, with Bailyn Sullivan rounding out the 23.
Hurricanes: 1-Xavier Numia, 2-James O'Reilly, 3-Tyrel Lomax, 4-Celeb Delany, 5-Isaia Walker-Leawere, 6-Brad Shields (C), 7-Du'Plessis Kirifi, 8-Brayden Iose, 9-TJ Perenara, 10-Brett Cameron, 11-Salesi Rayasi, 12-Jordie Barrett, 13-Peter Umaga-Jenson, 14-Kini Naholo, 15-Ruben Love
Reserves: 16-Raymond Tuputupu, 17-Tevita Mafileo, 18-Pasili Tosi, 19-Ben Grant, 20-Peter Lakai, 21-Richard Judd, 22-Riley Higgins, Bailyn Sullivan
Highlanders v Western Force
7:05pm Saturday, April 27
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Following a challenging outing in Australia, where they were unable to secure any competition points against the Reds or the Rebels, the Highlanders are calling on experience for their match with the Force.
Loose forward Hugh Renton and experienced front rower Jermaine Ainsley are welcomed back from injury onto the bench while rangy lock, Fabian Holland, returns from concussion protocols to start. He will partne with 37-cap Super Rugby player, Mitch Dunshea, who is set to make his Highlanders debut after recovering from Achilles injury sustained during the 2023 NPC.
Meanwhile, Welshman Rhys Patchell returns at first five-eighth, reforming his partnership with Folau Fakatava
Highlanders: 1-Ethan de Groot, 2-Henry Bell, 3-Saula Ma'u, 4-Micth Dunshea, 5-Fabian Holland, 6-Oliver Haig, 7-Sean Withy, 8-Billy Harmon, 9-Folau Fakatava, 10-Rhys Patchell, 11-Connor Garden-Bachop, 12-Jake Te Hiwi, 13-Tanielu Tele'a, 14-Timoci Tavatavanawai, 15-Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
Reserves: 16-Jack Taylor, 17-Daniel Linert-Brown, 18-Jermaine Ainsley, 19-Will tucker, 20-Hugh Renton, 21-James Arscott, 22-Cameron Millar, 23-Martin Bogado
Blues vs Queensland Reds
9:35pm Saturday, April 27
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
After a successful return from injury off the bench last weekend, lock Sam Darry moves into the starting side for the Blues’ match against the Reds in Brisbane on Saturday.Darry is one of many additions to the starting XV, with Soane Vikena at hooker, Angus Ta’avao in at tighthead prop, A.J. Lam on the right wing, and Anton Segner at blindside flanker.
James Thompson is in line for a debut off the bench, providing cover in the loose forwards, while Marcel Renata, Laghlan McWhannell and Caleb Clarke all move back to the bench.
Akira Ioane isn't travelling with the side as he awaits the birth of his first child.
Blues: 1-Ofa Tu'uungafasi, 2-Soane Vikena, 3-Angus Ta'avao, 4-Patrick Tuipulotu (C), 5-Sam Darry, 6-Anton Segner, 7-Dalton Papali'l, 8-Hoskins Sotutu, 9-Taufa Funaki, 10-Harry plummer, 11-Mark Tele'a, 12-Bryce Heem, 13-Rieko Ioane, 14-A.J. Lam- 15-Cole Forbes
Reserves: 16-Kurt Eklund, 17-Joshua Fusitu'a, 18-Marcel Renata, 19-Laghlan McWhannell, 20-James Thompson, 21-Sam Nock, 22-Corey Evens, 23-Caleb Clarke
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