Super Rugby Pacific: Week 12 team announcements

All five New Zealand Super Rugby teams are playing in round 12.

 

Chiefs v Moana Pasifika

7pm Friday, May 10

Auckland's Go Media Stadium

Utility back Gideon Wrampling and loose forward Hamilton Burr will make their season debuts for the Chiefs, as coach Clayton McMillan makes nine changes to his starting line-up.

Damian McKenzie in action for the Chiefs.
Damian McKenzie in action for the Chiefs. Photo credit: Photosport

All Blacks first-five Damian McKenzie and loose forward Samipeni Finau will both miss the Moana Pasifika fixture with injury, with rookie Josh Jacomb handed the No.10 jersey and captain Luke Jacobson returning to the starting line-up.

International hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho returns from a rest week, winger Emoni Narawa will take this game off, after a successful comeback from injury. 

Chiefs: 1-Ollie Norris, 2-Samisoni Taukei'aho, 3-Reuben O’Neill, 4-Manaaki Selby-Rickit, 5-Tupou Vaa'i, 6-Simon Parker, 7-Luke Jacobson (c), 8-Wallace Sititi, 9-Xavier Roe, 10-Josh Jacomb, 11-Daniel Rona, 12-Quinn Tupaea, 13-Anton Lienert-Brown, 14-Liam Coombes-Fabling, 15-Etene Nanai-Seturo

Reserves: 16-Tyrone Thompson, 17-Jared Proffit, 18-Sione Ahio, 19-Hamilton Burr, 20-Kaylum Boshier, 21-Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22-Rameka Poihipi, 23-Gideon Wrampling

 

Blues v Hurricanes

4:30pm Saturday, May 11

Auckland's Eden Park

Loose forward Akira Ioane returns to the starting XV, after a spell on the sidelines with injury, but brother Rieko will miss at least a week, after suffering concussion against Melbourne Rebels. 

Rieko Ioane celebrates brother Akira's 100th Super Rugby cap.
Rieko Ioane celebrates brother Akira's 100th Super Rugby cap. Photo credit: Photosport

Bryce Heem will start in place of Ioane, Sam Darry will lock the scrum with captain Patrick Tuipulotu, while fullback Zarn Sullivan is another returning from injury, likely facing off against brother Bailyn on Saturday.

Blues: 1-Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 2-Ricky Riccitelli, 3-Marcel Renata, 4-Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 5-Sam Darry, 6-Akira Ioane, 7-Dalton Papali’i, 8-Hoskins Sotutu, 9-Taufa Funaki, 10-Harry Plummer, 11-Caleb Clarke, 12-Bryce Heem, 13-AJ Lam, 14-Mark Tele'a, 15-Zarn Sullivan

Reserves: 16-Kurt Eklund, 17-Joshua Fusitu'a, 18-Angus Ta'avao, 19-Josh Beehre, 20-Adrian Choat, 21-Sam Nock, 22-Corey Evans, 23-Cole Forbes

All Blacks TJ Perenara and Jordie Barrett return to the starting line-up, after bench roles against NSW Waratahs, while captain Brad Shields is back from injury on the side of the scrum.

Kini Naholo replaces Bailyn Sullivan on the wing and Xavier Numia steps in for Pouri Rakete-Stones at prop.

Hurricanes: 1-Xavier Numia, 2-Kianu Kereru-Symes, 3-Tyrel Lomax, 4-Caleb Delany, 5-Isaia Walker-Leawere, 6-Brad Shields (C), 7-Peter Lakai, 8-Brayden Iose, 9-TJ Perenara, 10-Brett Cameron, 11-Kini Naholo, 12-Jordie Barrett, 13-Billy Proctor, 14-Josh Moorby, 15-Ruben Love

Reserves: 16-Raymond Tuputupu, 17-Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18-Pasilio Tosi, 19-Justin Sangster, 20-Devan Flanders, 21-Du’Plessis Kirifi, 22-Richard Judd, 23-Bailyn Sullivan 

 

Highlanders v Crusaders

7pm Saturday, May 11

Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium

Captain Billy Harmon will miss the southern derby with a cut hand, after leaving the field against Moana Pasifika last week, as All Blacks prop Ethan de Groot leads the Highlanders onto the park.

Billy Harmon runs onto the field in Tonga.
Billy Harmon runs onto the field in Tonga. Photo credit: Getty Images

Argentinian winger Martin Bogado replaces Connor Garden-Bachop, who suffered concussion in Tonga, while Cam Millar retains the No.10 jersey, after his best performance as a Highlander.

Highlanders: 1-Ethan de Groot (c), 2-Henry Bell, 3-Jermaine Ainsley, 4-Mitch Dunshea, 5-Fabian Holland, 6-Oliver Haig, 7-Sean Withy, 8-Nikora Broughton, 9-Folau Fakatava, 10-Cameron Millar, 11-Martín Bogado, 12-Jake Te Hiwi, 13-Tanielu Tele'a, 14-Timoci Tavatavanawai, 15-Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens

Reserves: 16-Jack Taylor, 17-Ayden Johnstone, 18-Saula Ma'u, 19-Will Tucker, 20-Will Stodart, 21-James Arscott, 22-Sam Gilbert, 23-Finn Hurley

All Blacks Tamaiti Williams and Codie Taylor return to the line-up, after long injury and rest absences.

Tamaiti Williams and Codie Taylor in action for the Crusaders.
Tamaiti Williams and Codie Taylor in action for the Crusaders. Photo credit: Getty Images

Captain Scott Barrett has been named, despite leaving the field early against Queensland Reds, but injury-plagued flanker Ethan Blackadder will miss another game, replaced by Corey Kellow.

Noah Hotham starts at halfback, David Havili retains the No.10 jersey, with Chay Fihaki and Johnny McNicholl at winger and fullback.

Crusaders: 1- Tamaiti Williams, 2-Codie Taylor, 3-Fletcher Newell, 4-Scott Barrett (c), 5-Quinten Strange, 6-Cullen Grace, 7-Corey Kellow, 8-Christian Lio-Willie, 9-Noah Hotham, 10-David Havili, Sevu Reece, 12- Dallas McLeod, 13-Levi Aumua, 14-Chay Fihaki, 15- Johnny McNicholl

Reserves: 16-George Bell, 17-George Bower, 18-Owen Franks, 19-Jamie Hannah, 20-Tom Christie, 21-Mitch Drummond, 22-Rivez Reihana, 23-Macca Springer

 

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