The latest on line-ups and injuries for all NZ franchises.
Crusaders v Moana Pasifika
7:05pm Friday, May 31
Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch
Coach Rob Penney has opted to rest All Blacks Fletcher Newell and Sevu Reece for their critical final round-robin match of 2024 against the Moana Pasifika.
Reece, who has played every game this season, will be spelled by Macca Springer, while Tamaiti Williams will start in the No. 3 jersey.
The Crusaders must win to keep their title defence alive and will rely on other results to book their spot in the post-season.
Midfielder David Havili has been ruled out with injury, replaced by Ryan Crotty in the starting side.
"We've got plenty of faith in the cover," said Penney. "You just can't keep pushing people out.
The boys have been tremendous but there's creaks. They've been with the medical team a bit more often than they were a month ago and we've just got to be mindful of that."
Crusaders: 1-Joe Moody, 2-Codie Taylor, 3-Tamaiti Williams, Fletcher Newell, 4-Antonio Shalfoon, 5-Quinten Strange, 6-Cullen Grace, 7-Ethan Blackadder, 8-Christian Lio-Willie, 9-Noah Hotham, 10-Fergus Burke, 11-Macca Springer, 12- Ryan Crotty, 13-Dallas McLeod, 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-Taine Robinson, 23-Heremaia Murray
Hurricanes v Highlanders
4:35pm Saturday, June 1
Sky Stadium, Wellington
The Hurricanes will welcome the timely return of hooker Asafo Aumua for their derby against the Landers.
After a month on the sidelines with a knee injury, Aumua reclaims the No. 2 jersey from Raymond Tuputupu, who has received a three-week ban for his dangerous tackle last weekend against the Chiefs.
Lock James Tucker also returns to the run-on side. After missing the Chiefs game with injury, Du'Plessis Kirifi comes in at No. 7, with Peter Lakai shifting to the bench.
In his 50th game for the Hurricanes, Salesi Rayasi starts on the left wing in place of Kini Naholo.
Hurricanes: 1-Xavier Numia, 2-Asafo Aumua, 3-Pasilio Tosi, 4-James Tucker, 5-Isaia Walker-Leawere, 6-Devan Flanders, 7-Du'Plessis Kirifi, 8-Brayden Iose, 9-TJ Perenara, 10-Brett Cameron, 11-Salesi Rayasi, 12-Jordie Barrett (c), 13-Billy Proctor, 14-Josh Moorby, 15-Ruben Love
Reserves: 16-James O'Reilly, 17-Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18-Tevita Mafileo, 19-Justin Sangster, 20-Peter Lakai, 21-Jordi Viljoen, 22-Riley Higgins, 23-Bailyn Sullivan
For the Highlanders, a forwards reshuffle sees lock Will Tucker pair up with Fabian Holland. Max Hicks, Billy Harmon and Nikora Broughton complete the loose forward trio.
James Arscott will get his second start of the season ahead of Folau Fakatava at halfback, while Finn Hurley laces up for his first start at fullback.
All Blacks pro Ethan de Groot will make his 50th appearance for the franchise.
Highlanders: 1-Ethan de Groot (cc), 2-Henry Bell, 3-Jermaine Ainsley, 4-Will Tucker, 5-Fabian Holland, 6-Max Hicks, 7-Billy Harmon (cc), 8-Nikora Broughton(cc), 9-James Arscott, 10-Ajay Falegaga, 11-Jona Nareki, 12-Sam Gilbert, 13-Matt Whaanga, 14- Connor Garden-Bachop, 15-Finn Hurley
Reserves: 16-Jack Taylor, 17-Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18-Saula Ma'u, 19-Tom Sanders, 20-Hayden Michaels, 21-Folau Fakatava, 22-Jake Te Iwi, 23-Martin Bogado
Blues v Chiefs
7:05pm Saturday, June 1
Eden Park, Auckland
The Blues bring All Blacks Dalton Papali'i and Finlay Chistie back into the fold for their final match of the regular season.
Papali'i is back at openside flanker after being rested last week, shifting Adrian Choat to the bench.
Christie has recovered from a groin injury and will make his comeback from the bench behind Taufa Funaki.
Caleb Clarke is back on the left wing and AJ Lam shifts into second five-eight for the match in an otherwise unchanged backline.
Marcel Renata is also back from injury and will start in the front row to make his 50th appearance for the Bluesl.
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-AJ Lam, 13-Rieko Ioane, 14-Mark Tele'a, 15-Stephen Perofeta
Reserves: 16-Kurt Eklund, 17-Joshua Fusitu'a, 18-Angus Ta'avao, 19-Cameron Suafoa, 20-Adrian Choat, 21-Finaly Christie, 22-Corey Evans, 23-Cole Forbes
For the Chiefs, All Blacks hitman Samipeni Finau returns to the starting XV, alongside freshly fit lock Jimmy Tupou and prop Ollie Norris.
Anton Lienert-Brown, Tupou Vaa'i will sit out, while Samisoni Taukei'aho shifts to the bench.
Chiefs: 1-Aidan Ross, 2-Bradley Slater, 3-George Dyer, 4-Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 5-Jimmy Tupou, 6-Samipeni Finau, 7-Luke Jacobson, 8-Wallace Sititi, 9-Cortez Ratima, 10-Damian McKenzie, 11-Etene Nani-Seturo, 12-Rameka Pohipi, 13-Daniel Rona, 14-Emoni Narawa, 15-Shaun Stevenson
Reserves: 16-Samisoni Taukei'aho, 17-Ollie Norris, 18-Sione Ahio, 19-Simon Parker, 20-Kaylum Boshier, 21-Xavier Roe, 22-Quinn Tupaea, 23-Peniasi Malimali
