Blues injuries vs Crusaders; Chiefs strong
- Dave Worsley
- Mar 19
- 3 min read
Plenty of questions going into Super Rugby Pacific Round 6, mainly are the Blues done for the season, are the Crusaders back and can the Chiefs continue?
All Blacks star Ardie Savea is out of Moana Pasifika's lineup a week after their win over the Hurricanes.
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He sustained a hamstring complaint in his last game, Savea is also due an international break.-Englishman Tom Savage takes over as captain.
Form flanker Simon Parker and Anton Lienert-Brown are missing from the Chiefs with injury, replaced by Kaylum Boshier and Gideon Wrampling in the starting lineup. Quinn Tupaea is rotated to the bench for the clash at Pukekohe.
Moana Pasifika vs Chiefs, Navigation Homes Stadium, Pukekohe, Friday, March 21, 7:05pm
MOANA PASIFIKA: William Havili, Losi Filipo, Pepesana Patafilo, Lalomilo Lalomilo, Kyren Taumoefolau, Patrick Pellegrini, Jonathan Taumateine; Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa, Miracle Faiilagi, Ola Tauelangi, Allan Craig, Tom Savage (capt), Sione Mafile'o, Millennium Sanerivi, Abraham Pole. Reserves: Sama Malolo, Tito Tuipulotu, Chris Apoua, Michael Curry, Semisi Paea, Melani Matavao, Tevita Ofa, Tuna Tuitama
CHIEFS: Shaun Stevenson, Emoni Narawa, Daniel Rona, Gideon Wrampling, Leroy Carter, Damian McKenzie, Xavier Roe; Luke Jacobson (capt), Kaylum Boshier, Samipeni Finau, Tupou Vaa’i, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Reuben O’Neill, Bradley Slater, Jared Proffit. Reserves: Samisoni Taukei'aho, Aidan Ross, Sione Ahio, James Thompson, Jahrome Brown, Cortez Ratima, Josh Jacomb, Quinn Tupaea
Highlanders vs Queensland Reds, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, Saturday, March 22, 4:35pm
Season star Timoci Tavatavanawai moves back out to the wing for the Highlanders as Thomas Umaga-Jensen starts at second-five.
TK Howden is at lock, with Fabian Holland coming off the bench and Daniel Lienert-Brown is back from suspension as a win is there for the taking against the inconsistent Reds.
HIGHLANDERS: Finn Hurley, Caleb Tangitau, Tanielu Tele’a, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Timoci Tavatavanawai (capt), Taine Robinson, Nathan Hastie; Nikora Broughton, Veveni Lasaqa, Sean Withy, Mitch Dunshea, Te Kamaka (TK) Howden, Saula Ma’u, Soane Vikena, Ethan de Groot. Reserves: Jack Taylor, Josh Bartlett, Sefo Kautai, Fabian Holland, Will Stodart, James Arscott, Ajay Faleafaga, Sam Gilbert
Blues vs Crusaders, Eden Park, Auckland, Saturday, March 22, 7:05pm
Stephen Perofeta is back from injury and into a Blues starting XV at Eden Park against old rivals the Crusaders while Hoskins Sotutu returns from suspension to start at the back of scrum. .
Twenty-year-old midfielder Xavi Taele is retained after his solid debut last weekend, But a dozen player are absent with injury
Ethan Blackadder was going to be in, but is now out with his place taken by Tom Christie for the Crusader. Noah Hotham returns from an injury picked up in their first game but is now in a serious battle to get the starting halfback spot back from Kyle Preston.
Brydon Ennor is also out with a hamstring issue.
BLUES: Corey Evans, Mark Tele'a, Rieko Ioane, Xavi Taele, Caleb Clarke, Stephen Perofeta, Sam Nock; Hoskins Sotutu, Dalton Papali’i, Cameron Christie, Josh Beehre, Patrick Tuipulotu (capt), Angus Ta'avao, Kurt Eklund, Joshua Fusitu’a. Reserves: James Mullan, Jordan Lay, Marcel Renata, Laghlan McWhannell, Tristyn Cook, Finlay Christie, Harry Plummer, Cole Forbes
CRUSADERS: Will Jordan, Chay Fihaki, Dallas McLeod, David Havili (capt), Sevu Reece, Taha Kemara, Kyle Preston; Christian Lio-Willie, Tom Christie, Cullen Grace, Antonio Shalfoon, Scott Barrett, Fletcher Newell, Codie Taylor, Tamaiti Williams. Reserves: Ioane Moananu, George Bower, Seb Calder, Quinten Strange, Corey Kellow, Noah Hotham, James O'Connor, Macca Springer