All Black front rowers Tyrel Lomax and Asafo Aumua are back for the Hurricanes this weekend, as they try and get their season back on track against the Highlanders in Dunedin. Lock Zach Gallagher gets his first start of the season after missing the first four rounds with injury.
"Well, it's certainly a boost," said Hurricanes coach Clark Laidlaw.
"They've been putting the work, you hear Zach and these guys talking about how hard they've been training. So to have a bench, the strength and depth, that maybe we thought we'd start the season with, is coming to fruition a little bit upfront."
Super Rugby Pacific standings after round four. Photo:
Other team news:
Highlanders props Ethan de Groot and Saula Ma'u return to the front row alongside Southland hooker Jack Taylor. Nathan Hastie gets a start at halfback following a standout performance against Moana Pasifika and Jona Nareki takes his place on the left wing after returning from injury. First five Ajay Faleafaga makes his first appearance in the match day team as Cam Millar recovers from concussion.
Braydon Ennor comes back into the Crusaders' starting side for their match against the Force after another long injury break, starting at centre after this week being linked with French club Montpellier. Macca Springer gets his first start of the season on the wing.
Anton Segner moves to number eight to try and kickstart the Blues' disjointed forward efforts of late. Finlay Christie has been replaced at halfback by Sam Nock, Harry Plummer moves back to first five for the injured Beauden Barrett while Corey Evans gets the nod at fullback.
Meanwhile Clayton McMillan has bolstered up his side with the return of Luke Jacobson, Brodie McAlister, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Simon Parker and Jahrome Brown all returning to the starting XV after their loss to the Drua last weekend. However, the biggest addition is Damian McKenzie returning from injury and wearing the number 10 jersey for the first time this season.
Team lists
Highlanders v Hurricanes
Kick-off: 7:05pm Friday 14 March
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Live blog updates on RNZ Sport
Ruben Love and Asafo Aumua of the Hurricanes celebrate, 2024 Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Highlanders: 1. Ethan de Groot, 2. Jack Taylor, 3. Saula Ma'u, 4. Fabian Holland, 5. Mitch Dunshea, 6. Te Kamaka TK Howden, 7. Sean Withy VC, 8. Nikora Broughton, 9. Nathan Hastie, 10. Taine Robinson, 11. Jona Nareki, 12. Timoci Tavatavanawai C, 13. Tanielu Tele'a, 14. Caleb Tangitau, 15. Sam Gilbert
Bench: 16. Soane Vikena, 17. Josh Bartlett, 18. Sefo Kautai, 19. Will Stodart, 20. Veveni Lasaqa, 21. James Arscott, 22. Ajay Faleafaga, 23. Jake Te Hiwi.
Hurricanes: 1. Xavier Numia, 2. Jacob Devery, 3. Tevita Mafileo, 4. Caleb Delany, 5. Zach Gallagher, 6. Brad Shields (cc), 7. Du'Plessis Kirifi (cc), 8. Peter Lakai, 9. Cam Roigard, 10. Harry Godfrey, 11. Kini Naholo, 12. Peter Umaga-Jensen, 13. Bailyn Sullivan, 14. Ngatungane Punivai, 15. Ruben Love
Bench: 16. Asafo Aumua, 17. Tyrel Lomax, 18. Isaia Walker-Leawere, 19. Brayden Iose, 20. Jordi Viljoen, 21. Riley Hohepa, 22. Fatafehi Fineanganofo
Crusaders v Force
Kick-off: 4:35pm Saturday 15 March
Apollo Projects Stadium
Live blog coverage on RNZ Sport
Macca Springer of the Crusaders scores the second try during the Super Rugby Pacific match against Moana Pasifika Photo: Photosport
Crusaders: 1. Tamaiti Williams, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Fletcher Newell, 4. Scott Barrett, 5. Antonio Shalfoon, 6. Corey Kellow, 7. Tom Christie, 8. Christian Lio-Willie, 9. Kyle Preston, 10. Taha Kemara, 11. Macca Springer, 12. David Havili (c), 13. Braydon Ennor, 14. Sevu Reece, 15. Will Jordan
Bench: 16. Ioane Moananu, 17. George Bower, 18. Seb Calder, 19. Tahlor Cahill, 20. Ethan Blackadder, 21. Mitchell Drummond, 22. James O'Connor, 23. Levi Aumua
Blues v Chiefs
Kick-off: 7:05pm Saturday 15 March
FMG Stadium Waikato
Live blog coverage on RNZ Sport
Leroy Carter of the Chiefs celebrates his try with Damian McKenzie. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
Chiefs: 1. Ollie Norris, 2. Brodie McAlister, 3. George Dyer, 4. Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 5. Tupou Vaa'i, 6. Simon Parker, 7. Jahrome Brown, 8. Luke Jacobson (c), 9. Xavier Roe, 10. Damian McKenzie, 11. Leroy Carter, 12. Quinn Tupaea, 13. Anton Lienert-Brown, 14. Emoni Narawa, 15. Shaun Stevenson
Bench: 16. Samisoni Taukei'aho, 17. Aidan Ross, 18. Sione Ahio, 19. Jimmy Tupou, 20. Samipeni Finau, 21. Cortez Ratima, 22. Josh Jacomb, 23. Daniel Rona
Blues: 1. Jordan Lay, 2. Kurt Eklund, 3. Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 4. Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 5. Laghlan McWhannell, 6. Cameron Christie, 7. Dalton Papali'i, 8. Anton Segner, 9. Sam Nock, 10. Harry Plummer, 11. Caleb Clarke, 12. Xavi Taele, 13. Rieko Ioane, 14. Mark Tele'a, 15. Corey Evans
Bench: 16. Nathaniel Pole, 17. Joshua Fusitu'a, 18. Angus Ta'avao, 19. Josh Beehre, 20. Cameron Suafoa, 21. Finlay Christie, 22. Stephen Perofeta, 23. AJ Lam
Other games:
Brumbies v Drua
Kick-off: 9:35pm Friday 14 March
GIO Stadium, Canberra
Reds v Waratahs
Kick-off: 9:35pm Saturday 15 March
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
