Super Rugby Pacific Team Tracker: All Blacks hopeful gets new role for Blues after overseas-bound star’s season ended through injury
Reds number eight Harry Wilson (inset) and Blues flanker Anton Segner.
Check out the teams ahead of the 14th round of Super Rugby Pacific, where Anton Segner will start on the openside flank for the Blues in Saturday’s New Zealand derby against the Hurricanes at Eden Park.
The 24-year-old has been mentioned as a possible bolter for the All Blacks later this year after shining for the Blues as their starting blindside flanker alongside the experienced Dalton Papali’i and Hoskins Sotutu for the Auckland-based franchise.
However, first-choice openside flanker Papali’i, who will leave the Blues to join Top 14 outfit Castres after the Super Rugby Pacific campaign, has been ruled out for the rest of the season due to a fractured jaw sustained against the Crusaders in Christchurch last weekend, which sees Segner shifting to the other side of the scrum.
Meanwhile, All Blacks star Beauden Barrett returns to the Blues’ run-on side at fly-half in place of Stephen Perofeta, who drops down to the replacements bench.
In other action, Wallabies skipper Harry Wilson will captain the Reds in their Australian derby against the Western Force in Perth.
Wilson takes over the Reds’ captaincy as the men from Brisbane’s regular skipper, Fraser McReight, has been rested for that encounter.
Friday
Chiefs v Highlanders
FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
Chiefs: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Liam Coombes-Fabling, 13 Kyle Brown, 12 Lalakai Foketi, 11 Kyren Taumoefolau, 10 Josh Jacomb, 9 Xavier Roe, 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Luke Jacobson (c), 6 Simon Parker, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 3 Siona Ahio, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 Ollie Norris
Replacements: 16 Brodie McAlister, 17 Benét Kumeroa, 18 George Dyer, 19 Fiti Sa, 20 Samipeni Finau, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Daniel Rona, 23 Isaac Hutchinson
Highlanders: 15 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, 14 Caleb Tangitau, 13 Taniela Tele’u, 12 Timoci Tavatavanawai (cc), 11 Jonah Lowe, 10 Cameron Millar, 9 Adam Lennox, 8 Nikora Broughton, 7 Lucas Casey, 6 Te Kamaka Howden, 5 Mitch Dunshea, 4 Tomas Lavanini, 3 Angus Ta’avao, 2 Jack Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot (cc)
Replacements: 16 Henry Bell, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Saula Ma’u, 19 Oliver Haig, 20 Sean Withy, 21 Veveni Lasaqa, 22 Folau Fakatava, 23 Taine Robinson
Saturday
Fijian Drua v Waratahs
HFC Bank Stadium, Suva
Drua: 15 Isikeli Rabitu, 14 Frank Lomani (cc), 13 Tuidraki Samusamuvodre, 12 Virimi Vakatawa, 11 Manasa Mataele, 10 Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 9 Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 8 Elia Canakaivata, 7 Kitione Salawa, 6 Etonia Waqa, 5 Temo Mayanavanua (cc), 4 Isoa Nasilasila, 3 Mesake Doge, 2 Zuriel Togiatama, 1 Peni Ravai
Replacements: 16 Kavaia Tagivetaua, 17 Emosi Tuqiri, 18 Samuela Tawake, 19 Mesake Vocevoce, 20 Vilive Miramira, 21 Isoa Tuwai, 22 Philip Baselala, 23 Kemu Valetini
Waratahs: 15 Max Jorgensen, 14 Harry Potter, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Lawson Creighton, 11 Triston Reilly, 10 Jack Bowen, 9 Teddy Wilson, 8 Angus Scott-Young, 7 Charlie Gamble, 6 Clem Halaholo, 5 Miles Amatosero, 4 Matt Philip (c), 3 Dan Botha, 2 Ioane Moananu, 1 Jack Barrett
Replacements: 16 Oniti Finau, 17 Isaac Kailea, 18 Apolosi Ranawai, 19 Ben Grant, 20 Jamie Adamson, 21 Michael McDonald, 22 Jack Debreczeni, 23 Sid Harvey
Blues v Hurricanes
Eden Park, Auckland
Blues: 15 Zarn Sullivan, 14 AJ Lam, 13 Xavi Taele, 12 Pita Ahki, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Sam Nock, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Anton Segner, 6 Malachi Wrampling, 5 Sam Darry, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Bradley Slater, 1 Ofa Tu’ungafasi
Replacements: 16 Kurt Eklund, 17 Mason Tupaea, 18 Flyn Yates, 19 Laghlan McWhannell, 20 Torian Barnes, 21 Che Clark, 22 Finlay Christie, 23 Stephen Perofeta
Hurricanes: 15 Callum Harkin, 14 Fehi Fineanganofo, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett (c), 11 Kini Naholo, 10 Ruben Love, 9 Ereatara Enari, 8 Devan Flanders, 7 Peter Lakai, 6 Brad Shields, 5 Warner Dearns, 4 Caleb Delany, 3 Pasilio Tosi, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Xavier Numia
Replacements: 16 Raymond Tuputupu, 17 Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18 Siale Lauaki, 19 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 20 Brayden Iose, 21 Jordi Viljoen, 22 Jone Rova, 23 Bailyn Sullivan
Want more from Planet Rugby? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for world-class coverage you can trust.
Western Force v Reds
HBF Park, Perth
Force: 15 Mac Grealy, 14 Zac Lomax, 13 George Bridge, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 Dylan Pietsch, 10 Max Burey, 9 Nathan Hastie, 8 Vailoni Ekuasi, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 5 Darcy Swain, 4 Jeremy Williams (c), 3 Misinale Epenisa, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Harry Johnson-Holmes
Replacements: 16 Nic Dolly, 17 Marley Pearce, 18 Sef Fa’agase, 19 Franco Molina, 20 Will Harris, 21 Agustin Moyano, 22 Bayley Kuenzle, 23 Kurtley Beale
Reds: 15 Jock Campbell, 14 Tim Ryan, 13 Isaac Henry, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Lachie Anderson, 10 Carter Gordon, 9 Louis Werchon, 8 Harry Wilson (c), 7 Joe Bryant, 6 Joe Brial, 5 Seru Uru, 4 Hamish Muller, 3 Massimo De Luttis, 2 Josh Nasser, 1 George Blake
Replacements: 16 Matt Faessler, 17 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Charlie Brosnan, 20 Vaiuta Latu, 21 Kalani Thomas, 22 Ben Volavola, 23 Treyvon Pritchard