All Blacks and Wallabies front-row duo back for Super Rugby Pacific semi-finals: Team news
Hurricanes tighthead prop Tyrel Lomax and Wallabies loosehead prop James Slipper.
The knockout stages of Super Rugby Pacific continue this weekend as the semi-final action gets underway at Eden Park in Auckland on Friday where the Blues are hosting the Brumbies.
With regular Blues skipper Patrick Tuipulotu ruled out through injury, Sam Darry comes into their run-on side as the only replacement after last weekend’s quarter-final victory over the Fijian Drua.
Meanwhile, the Brumbies have received a massive shot in the arm with the news that veteran Wallabies loosehead prop James Slipper has recovered from injury to take his place in the men from Canberra’s run-on side.
In the other Super Rugby Pacific semi-final, the Hurricanes have been boosted by the return to fitness of All Blacks tighthead prop Tyrel Lomax, who has been sidelined for the past month with an ankle injury.
The Hurricanes are hosting the Chiefs, who have named an unchanged matchday squad after they beat the Reds in their quarter-final.
Friday
Blues v Brumbies
Eden Park, Auckland
Blues: 15 Stephen Perofeta, 14 Mark Tele’a, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 AJ Lam, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Harry Plummer, 9 Finlay Christie, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Dalton Papali’i (c), 6 Akira Ioane, 5 Josh Beehre, 4 Sam Darry, 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Ofa Tu’ungafasi
Replacements: 16 Kurt Eklund, 17 Joshua Fusitu’a, 18 Angus Ta’avao, 19 James Thompson, 20 Adrian Choat, 21 Taufa Funaki, 22 Corey Evans, 23 Cole Forbes
Brumbies: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Andy Muirhead, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Tamati Tua, 11 Corey Toole, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Ryan Lonergan, 8 Charlie Cale, 7 Rory Scott, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Tom Hooper, 4 Darcy Swain, 3 Allan Alaalatoa (c), 2 Billy Pollard, 1 James Slipper
Replacements: 16 Liam Bowron, 17 Rhys van Nek, 18 Sosefo Kautai, 19 Nick Frost, 20 Jahrome Brown, 21 Luke Reimer, 22 Harrison Goddard, 23 Ollie Sapsford
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Kick-off: 19:05 local (08:05 BST, 07:05 GMT)
Referee: James Doleman
Assistant Referees: Jono Bredin, Fraser Hannon
Saturday
Hurricanes v Chiefs
Sky Stadium, Wellington
Hurricanes: 15 Ruben Love, 14 Josh Moorby, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Salesi Rayasi, 10 Brett Cameron, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Brayden Iose, 7 Peter Lakai, 6 Brad Shields (c), 5 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 4 Justin Sangster, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Pouri Rakete-Stones
Replacements: 16 James O’Reailly, 17 Tevita Mafileo, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 James Tucker, 20 Devan Flanders, 21 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 22 Richard Judd, 23 Bailyn Sullivan
Chiefs: 15 Shaun Stevenson, 14 Emoni Narawa, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Rameka Poihipi, 11 Etene Nanai-Seturo, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Luke Jacobson (c), 6 Samipeni Finau, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Jimmy Tupou, 3 George Dyer, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 Aidan Ross
Replacements: 16 Bradley Slater, 17 Jared Proffit, 18 Reuben O’Neill, 19 Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20 Simon Parker, 21 Xavier Roe, 22 Quinn Tupaea, 23 Daniel Rona
Venue: Sky Stadium, Wellington
Kick-off: 16:35 local (05:35 BST, 04:35 GMT)
Referee: Angus Gardner
Assistant Referees: Damon Murphy, Matt Kellahan
READ MORE: Super Rugby Pacific Team of the Week: Hurricanes’ All Blacks star and hopefuls lead the way