Vital cross-Auckland clash in Super Rugby
- Dave Worsley
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
Another round of Super Rugby Paciific and another round of rivalry for New Zealand sides with big name players in and out.
The Hurricanes open round nine with an all-New Zealnad clash when they host the Crusaders on Friday night in Wellington.
The Hurricanes have kept Riley Hohepa at first five wit apparently Ruben Love a chance to fill in as well. Raymond Tuputupu comes onto the bench for his first appearance of the season.
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For the Crusaders Levi Aumua is back at centre withe Dallas McLeod injured and Sevu Reece back to the wing. Scott Barrett and Jamie Hannah form a new second row, but Codie Taylor is missing and replaced by Ioane Moananu.
The Canes having a mixed season while there are still some doubts about the Crusaders, despite their first win in Suva against the Fijian Drua.
There's the cross-Auckland rivalry between the in-form Moana Pasifika and the slightly off-form Blues and will the 'visitors' have more fans at Eden Park than the home team?
Moana Pasifika have never beaten the Blues and coach Tana Umaga has suprisingly benched form first five Patrick Pellegrini in favour of Jackson Garden-Bachop.
However, his bench is strong with the experienced Sione Havili Talitui and James Lay back from injury on the bench.
And triple try-scorer from last week Feleti Sae-Ta'ufo'ou starts at prop again.
The Blues have Finlay Christie starting again at halfback along side last week's gam-winner Beauden Barrett while the remainder of the backline has the usual big names.
In the forwards Angus Ta'avao is in to start while Patrick Tuipulotu starts after he was lucky not to miss a week after a carded clearance.
Meanwile Damian McKenzie moves back to fullback for the table-topping Chiefs for their game in Sydney against the Waratahs, with Josh Jacomb starting at 10.
The Chiefs have beaten the Waratahs the last eight occasions and have bought back Samisoni Taukei'aho,Tupou Vaa'i and Gideon Wrampling into the starting XV.
The Highlanders will be without Sean Withy three games thanks to a suspension for knees to the try scorers head last round in Perth.
However Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens is back after a long injury layoff as is Folau Fakatava back to starting while is at the back of the Hugh Renton.
Hurricanes v Crusaders, 7:05pm Friday 11 April, Sky Stadium, Wellington
Hurricanes: 1. Xavier Numia, 2. Asafo Aumua, 3. Tyrel Lomax, 4. Caleb Delany, 5. Isaia Walker-Leawere, 6. Brayden Iose, 7. Du'Plessis Kirifi, 8. Peter Lakai, 9. Cam Roigard, 10. Riley Hohepa, 11. Kini Naholo, 12. Peter Umaga-Jensen, 13. Bailyn Sullivan, 14. Ngatungane Punivai, 15. Ruben Love Reserves: 16. Raymond Tuputupu, 17. Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18. Pasilio Tosi, 19. Will Tucker, 20. Brad Shields, 21. Ereatara Enari, 22. Callum Harkin, 23. Fatafehi Fineanganofo
Crusaders: 1. Tamaiti Williams, 2. Ioane Moananu, 3. Fletcher Newell, 4. Scott Barrett, 5. Jamie Hannah, 6. Cullen Grace, 7. Ethan Blackadder, 8. Christian Lio-Willie, 9. Noah Hotham, 10. Taha Kemara, 11. Sevu Reece, 12. David Havili (c), 13. Levi Aumua, 14. Chay Fihaki, 15. Will Jordan Reserves 16. Matt Moulds, 17. George Bower, 18. Kershawl Skyes-Martin, 19. Antonio Shalfoon, 20. Tom Christie, 21. Mitch Drummond, 22. James O'Connor, 23. Macca Springer
Chiefs v Waratahs, 9.35pm Allianz Stadium, Sydney, Australia
Chiefs: 1. Ollie Norris, 2. Samisoni Taukei'aho, 3. George Dyer, 4. Manaaki Selby-Rickit, 5. Tupou Vaa'i, 6. Samipeni Finau, 7. Luke Jacobson, 8. Simon Parker, 9. Cortez Ratima, 10. Josh Jacomb, 11. Leroy Carter, 12. Quinn Tupaea, 13. Gideon Wrampling, 14. Shaun Stevenson, 15. Damian McKenzie Reserves: 16. Bradley Slater, 17. Jared Profit, 18. Reuben O'Neill, 19. Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20. Kaylum Boshier, 21. Xavier Roe, 22. Daniel Rona, 23. Emoni Narawa
Blues v Moana Pasifika, 4:35pm Saturday 12 April, Eden Park, Auckland
Blues: 1. Joshua Fusitu'a, 2. Ricky Riccitelli, 3. Angus Ta'avao, 4. Patrick Tuipulotu, 5. Josh Beehre, 6. Anton Segner, 7. Dalton Papali'i, 8. Hoskins Sotutu, 9. Finlay Christie, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Caleb Clarke, 12. AJ Lam, 13. Rieko Ioane, 14. Mark Tele'a, 15. Corey Evans Reserves:16. Kurt Eklund, 17. Mason Tupaea, 18. PJ Sheck, 19. Cam Christie, 20. Adrian Choat, 21. Taufa Funaki, 22. Harry Plummer, 23. Stephen Perofeta
Moana Pasifika: 1. Abraham Pole, 2. Millennium Sanerivi, 3. Feleti Sae-Ta'ufo'ou, 4. Samuel Slade, 5. Allan Craig, 6. Miracle Faiilagi, 7. Ardie Savea, 8. Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa, 9. Melani Matavao, 10. Jackson Garden-Bachop, 11. Pepesana Patafilo, 12. Danny Toala, 13. Lalomilo Lalomilo, 14. Kyren Taumoefolau, 15. William Havili Reserves: Bench: 16. Sama Malolo, 17. James Lay, 18. Chris Apoua, 19. Tom Savage, 20. Sione Havili Talitui, 21. Aisea Halo, 22. Patrick Pellegrini, 23. Fine Inisi
Highlanders v Fijian Drua, 7:05pm Saturday 12 April, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Highlanders: 1. Ethan de Groot, 2. Henry Bell, 3. Sosefo Kautai, 4. Will Stodart, 5. Fabian Holland, 6. Oliver Haig, 7. Veveni Lasaqa, 8. Hugh Renton, 9. Folau Fakatava, 10. Cameron Millar, 11. Jona Nareki, 12. Timoci Tavatavanawai, 13. Thomas Umaga-Jensen, 14. Taniela Filimone, 15. Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens Reserves: 16. Jack Taylor, 17. Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18. Saula Ma'u, 19. Tai Cribb, 20. Nikora Broughton, 21. Adam Lennox, 22. Sam Gilbert, 23. Tanielu Tele'a