Super Rugby Pacific Team Tracker: All Blacks star makes long-awaited return from injury while Zac Lomax set for first start
Western Force flyer Zac Lomax (inset) and Blues lock Patrick Tuipulotu.
Check out the teams ahead of the 10th round of Super Rugby Pacific, where experienced All Blacks lock Patrick Tuipulotu will makes his first appearance of the season for the Blues.
Tuipulotu has been sidelined since last season after undergoing shoulder surgery but will return to action on Friday when he captains the Blues in their New Zealand derby against the Highlanders at Eden Park.
Meanwhile, in other action, former Australia rugby league star Zac Lomax has been promoted to the Western Force‘s starting line-up for their clash against the Crusaders in Perth on Saturday.
Lomax came off the bench to make his rugby union debut in the Force’s narrow 24-22 defeat against the Fijian Drua in Lautoka last weekend. The 26-year-old impressed during a 20-minute cameo as he made two clean breaks, gained 40 metres and also caught the eye with his aerial skills.
He starts on the right wing against the Crusaders and will be determined to build on his Drua performance against Super Rugby Pacific‘s defending champions.
Friday
Blues v Highlanders
Eden Park, Auckland
Blues: 15 Zarn Sullivan, 14 Cole Forbes, 13 AJ Lam, 12 Xavi Taele, 11 Codemeru Vai, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Finlay Christie, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Dalton Papali’i, 6 Anton Segner, 5 Sam Darry, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Bradley Slater, 1 Mason Tupaea
Replacements: 16 Kurt Eklund, 17 Ben Ake, 18 Sam Matenga, 19 Josh Beehre, 20 Torian Barnes, 21 Malachi Wrampling, 22 Taufa Funaki, 23 Pita Ahki
Highlanders: 15 Taine Robinson, 14 Caleb Tangitau, 13 Tanielu Tele’a, 12 Timoci Tavatavanawai (cc), 11 Jona Nareki, 10 Cam Millar, 9 Adam Lennox, 8 Nikora Broughton, 7 Veveni Lasaqua, 6 Sean Withy, 5 Mitch Dunshea, 4 Te Kamaka Howden, 3 Angus Ta’avao, 2 Jack Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot (cc)
Replacements: 16 Soane Vikena, 17 Josh Bartlett, 18 Saula Ma’u, 19 Oliver Haig, 20 Lucas Casey, 21 Folau Fakatava, 22 Xavier Tito-Harris, 23 Finn Hurley
Waratahs v Moana Pasifika
Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Waratahs: 15 Sid Harvey, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Joey Walton, 12 Lawson Creighton, 11 Max Jorgensen, 10 Jack Debreczeni, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Pete Samu, 7 Charlie Gamble, 6 Angus Scott-Young, 5 Miles Amatosero, 4 Matt Philip (c), 3 Daniel Botha, 2 Ethan Dobbins, 1 Tom Lambert
Replacements: 16 Folau Fainga’a, 17 Isaac Kailea, 18 Siosifa Amone, 19 Angus Blyth, 20 Clem Halaholo, 21 Jamie Adamson, 22 Teddy Wilson, 23 Triston Reilly
Moana Pasifika: 15 William Havili, 14 Tuna Tuitama, 13 Solomon Alaimalo, 12 Tevita Latu, 11 Glen Vaihu, 10 Patrick Pellegrini, 9 Melani Matavao, 8 Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa, 7 Semisi Paea, 6 Miracle Faiilagi (c), 5 Veikoso Poloniati, 4 Tom Savage, 3 Chris Apoua, 2 Millennium Sanerivi, 1 Abraham Pole
Replacements: 16 Samiuela Moli, 17 Malakai Hala-Ngatai, 18 Paula Latu, 19 Jimmy Tupou, 20 Ola Tauelangi, 21 Jonathan Taumateine, 22 Faletoi Peni, 23 Tyler Pulini
Saturday
Chiefs v Hurricanes
FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
Chiefs: 15 Liam Coombes-Fabling, 14 Leroy Carter, 13 Quinn Tupaea, 12 Reon Paul, 11 Kyren Taumoefolau, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Simon Parker, 7 Luke Jacobson (c), 6 Samipeni Finau, 5 Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 4 Josh Lord, 3 George Dyer, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 Ollie Norris
Replacements: 16 Brodie McAlister, 17 Jared Proffit, 18 Reuben O’Neill, 19 Fita Sa, 20 Kaylum Boshier, 21 Wallace Sititi, 22 Xavier Roe, 23 Josh Jacomb
Hurricanes: 15 Callum Harkin, 14 Josh Moorby, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett (cc), 11 Fehi Fineanganofo, 10 Ruben Love, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Peter Lakai, 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi (cc), 6 Devan Flanders, 5 Warner Dearns, 4 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 3 Pasilio Tosi, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Xavier Numia
Replacements: 16 Jacob Devery, 17 Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18 Tevita Mafileo, 19 Caleb Delany, 20 Brad Shields, 21 Braydon Iose, 22 Ere Enari, 23 Jone Rova
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Brumbies v Fijian Drua
GIO Stadium, Canberra
Brumbies: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Ollie Sapsford, 13 Kadin Pritchard, 12 David Feliuai, 11 Corey Toole, 10 Declan Meredith, 9 Ryan Lonergan (c), 8 Tuaina Taii Tualima, 7 Luke Reimer, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Lachlan Shaw, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Billy Pollard, 1 James Slipper
Replacements: 16 Lachlan Lonergan, 17 Blake Schoupp, 18 Darcy Breen, 19 Toby MacPherson, 20 Rory Scott, 21 Klayton Thorn, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Andy Muirhead
Fijian Drua: 15 Isikeli Rabitu, 14 Isikeli Basiyalo, 13 Tuidraki Samusamuvodre, 12 Virimi Vakatava, 11 Manasa Mataele, 10 Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 9 Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 8 Isoa Tuwai, 7 Kitione Salawa, 6 Etonia Waqa, 5 Isoa Nasilasila, 4 Temo Mayanavanua (c), 3 Samuela Tawake, 2 Zuriel Togiatama, 1 Emosi Tuqiri
Replacements: 16 Kavaia Tagivetaua, 17 Penaia Cakobau, 18 Mesake Doge, 19 Mesake Vocevoce, 20 Joseva Tamani, 21 Simione Kuruvoli, 22 Kemu Valetini, 23 Inia Tabuavou
Western Force v Crusaders
HBF Park, Perth
Western Force: 15 Mac Grealy, 14 Zac Lomax, 13 George Bridge, 12 Bayley Kuenzle, 11 Dylan Pietsch, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Henry Robertson, 8 Vaiolini Ekuasi, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 5 Darcy Swain, 4 Jeremy Williams (c), 3 Misinale Epenisa, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Tom Robertson
Replacements: 16 Nic Dolly, 17 Sef Fa’agase, 18 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 19 Franco Molina, 20 Will Harris, 21 Nathan Hastie, 22 Hamish Stewart, 23 Kurtley Beale
Crusaders: 15 Johnny McNicholl, 14 Chay Fihaki, 13 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 12 Dallas McLeod, 11 Macca Springer, 10 Taha Kemara, 9 Louie Chapman, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Johnny Lee, 6 Dom Gardiner, 5 Jamie Hannah, 4 Tahlor Cahill, 3 Seb Calder, 2 George Bell, 1 Finlay Brewis
Replacements: 16 Manumau Letiu, 17 George Bower, 18 Kershawl Sykes-Martin, 19 Will Tucker, 20 Corey Kellow, 21 Noah Hotham, 22 Rivez Reihana, 23 Sevu Reece
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