Folau Fakatava of the Highlanders and Sevu Reece of the Crusaders compete for the ball during the round 11 Super Rugby Pacific match between Highlanders and Crusaders at Forsyth Barr Stadium, on April 26, 2025, in Dunedin. Photo: Joe Allison / Getty Images
Mitch Drummond starts for the Crusaders for the first time this season, it'll also be his 150th Super Rugby game as his largely symbolic role in the team now that Noah Hotham and Kyle Preston are on the books. Hotham looks to have sewn up the starting spot going forward and is given the week off, Scott Barrett and Jamie Hannah come back in as the second row, however Chay Fihaki is mysteriously missing for their match against the Highlanders.
The Highlanders need a miracle to jump from last place to the play-offs, Jamie Joseph has named a settled side for Friday night. Oliver Haig and Jona Nareki are out, replaced in the starting lineup by Tai Cribb and Taniela Filimone.
The in form but banged up Hurricanes have had some bad news with Brayden Iose ruled out for the season, however Devan Flanders has recovered from injury just in time to be a more than adequate replacement. Daniel Sinkinson gets his first start of the season opposite Fatafehi Fineanganofo, Bailyn Sullivan dropping to the bench, while Riley Higgins has missed the trip to Brisbane and is replaced by Peter Umaga-Jensen at second five. All four Hurricanes co-captains will start this game.
One change for Moana for their game against the Chiefs but it's a pretty significant one, with William Havili out. Tevita Ofa takes over at fullback and Solomon Alaimalo comes onto the wing, with Julian Savea and Jackson Garden-Bachop covering the backs.
Meanwhile the Chiefs have only made one change of their own after coming off their bye week, with Samisoni Taukei'aho coming back to start at hooker, swapping with Brodie McAlister.
Team lists
Photo: Photosport Ltd 2021
Crusaders v Highlanders
Kick-off: 7:05pm Friday 23 May
Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch
Live blog coverage on RNZ Sport
Crusaders: 1. Tamaiti Williams, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Kershawl Sykes-Martin, 4. Scott Barrett, 5. Jamie Hannah, 6. Cullen Grace, 7. Tom Christie, 8. Christian Lio-Willie, 9. Mitch Drummond, 10. Rivez Reihana, 11. Macca Springer, 12. David Havili (c), 13. Braydon Ennor, 14. Sevu Reece, 15. Johnny McNicholl
Bench: 16. George Bell, 17. George Bower, 18. Seb Calder, 19. Quinten Strange, 20. Corey Kellow, 21. Kyle Preston, 22. James O'Connor, 23. Dallas McLeod
Highlanders: 1. Ethan de Groot (cc), 2. Jack Taylor, 3. Saula Ma'u, 4. Mitch Dunshea, 5. Fabian Holland, 6. Te Kamaka Howden, 7. Veveni Lasaqa, 8. Sean Withy, 9. Folau Fakatava, 10. Taine Robinson, 11. Taniela Filimone, 12. Timoci Tavatavanawai (cc), 13. Tanielu Tele'a, 14. Jonah Lowe, 15. Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
Bench: 16. Soane Vikena, 17. Josh Bartlett, 18. Sosefo Kautai, 19. Tai Cribb, 20. Will Stodart, 21. Adam Lennox, 22. Cam Millar, 23. Thomas Umaga-Jensen
Pasilio Tosi of the Hurricanes celebrates scoring the game winning try in golden point during the Super Rugby Pacific match between the Hurricanes and the Reds. Photo: Photosport
Reds v Hurricanes
Kick-off: 9:35pm Friday 23 May
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Live blog coverage on RNZ Sport
Hurricanes: 1. Xavier Numia, 2. Asafo Aumua (cc), 3. Tyrel Lomax, 4. Zach Gallagher, 5. Isaia Walker-Leawere, 6. Brad Shields (cc), 7. Du'Plessis Kirifi (cc), 8. Peter Lakai, 9. Cam Roigard, 10. Ruben Love, 11. Fatafehi Fineanganofo, 12. Peter Umaga-Jensen, 13. Billy Proctor (cc), 14. Daniel Sinkinson, 15. Callum Harkin
Bench: 16. Raymond Tuputupu, 17. Tevita Mafileo/Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18. Pasilio Tosi, 19. Hugo Plummer, 20. Devan Flanders, 21. Ereatara Enari, 22. Brett Cameron, 23. Bailyn Sullivan
Shaun Stevenson scores during the Moana Pasifika v Chiefs, Super Rugby Pacific match, Navigation Homes Stadium, Pukekohe. Photo: Paul Taylor/ActionPress
Chiefs v Moana Pasifika
Kick-off: 7:05pm Saturday 24 May
FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
Live blog coverage on RNZ Sport
Chiefs: 1. Ollie Norris, 2. Samisoni Taukei'aho, 3. George Dyer, 4. Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 5. Tupou Vaa'i, 6. Simon Parker, 7. Luke Jacobson (c), 8. Wallace Sititi, 9. Cortez Ratima, 10. Damian McKenzie, 11. Leroy Carter, 12. Quinn Tupaea, 13. Daniel Rona, 14. Emoni Narawa, 15. Shaun Stevenson
Bench: 16. Brodie McAlister, 17. Aidan Ross, 18. Reuben O'Neill, 19. Josh Lord, 20. Samipeni Finau, 21. Xavier Roe, 22. Josh Jacomb, 23. Gideon Wrampling
Moana Pasifika: 1. Tito Tuipulotu, 2. Millennium Sanerivi, 3. Feleti Sae-Ta'ufo'ou, 4. Tom Savage, 5. Samuel Slade, 6. Miracle Faiilagi, 7. Ardie Savea (c), 8. Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa, 9. Jonathan Taumateine, 10. Patrick Pellegrini, 11. Solomon Alaimalo, 12. Danny Toala, 13. Lalomilo Lalomilo, 14. Kyren Taumoefolau, 15. Tevita Ofa
Bench: 16. Samiuela Moli, 17. Abraham Pole, 18. Chris Apoua, 19. Allan Craig, 20. Sione Havili Talitui, 21. Melani Matavao, 22. Julian Savea, 23. Jackson Garden-Bachop
Also:
Force v Waratahs
Kick-off: 9:35pm Saturday 24 May
HBF Park, Perth
Blues, Drua, Brumbies - bye
