Super Rugby Pacific Team Tracker: All Blacks star to hit 50 for Crusaders while Wallabies back makes long-awaited return

Check out the teams ahead of the 16th round of Super Rugby Pacific, where back-row star Ethan Blackadder returns to the Crusaders side for their clash with the Brumbies in Canberra on Saturday.

The injury-prone All Black has recovered from a hamstring issue and start on the blindside flank in what will be a momentous occasion as he makes his 50th appearance for the Christchurch-based outfit.

Elsewhere, Wallabies centre Josh Flook makes his long-awaited return to action for the Reds after recovering from rupturing his hamstring tendon during a Round Three clash with the Western Force.

Friday

Highlanders v Chiefs
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin

Highlanders: 15 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, 14 Jonah Lowe, 13 Tanielu Tele’a, 12 Timoci Tavatavanawai (cc), 11 Taniela Filimone, 10 Cameron Millar, 9 Folau Fakatava, 8 Sean Withy, 7 Veveni Lasaqa, 6 Te Kemaka Howden, 5 Tai Cribb, 4 Fabian Holland, 3 Saula Ma’u, 2 Jack Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot (cc)
Replacements: 16 Ioane Moananu, 17 George Bower, 18 Kershawl Sykes-Martin, 19 Jamie Hannah, 20 Corey Kellow, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 James O’Connor, 23 Dallas McLeod

Chiefs: 15 Shaun Stevenson, 14 Leroy Carter, 13 Daniel Rona, 12 Quinn Tupaea, 11 Etene Nanai-Seturo, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Xavier Roe, 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Luke Jacobson (c), 6 Samipeni Finau, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Josh Lord, 3 Reuben O’Neill, 2 Bradley Slater, 1 Jared Proffit
Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Ollie Norris, 18 George Dyer, 19 Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20 Simon Parker, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Josh Jacomb, 23 Manasa Mataele

Brumbies v Crusaders
GIO Stadium, Canberra

Brumbies: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Andy Muirhead, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 David Feliuai, 11 Corey Toole, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Ryan Lonergan, 8 Tuaina Taii Tualima, 7 Rory Scott, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Tom Hooper, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Feao Fotuaika, 2 Billy Pollard, 1 James Slipper
Replacements: 16 Lachlan Lonergan, 17 Lington Ieli, 18 Rhys van Nek, 19 Lachlan Shaw, 20 Luke Reimer, 21 Harrison Goddard, 22 Declan Meredith, 23 Ollie Sapsford

Crusaders: 15 Johnny McNicholl, 14 Chay Fihaki, 13 Levi Aumua, 12 Dallas McLeod, 11 Sevu Reece, 10 Rivez Reihana, 9 Noah Hotham, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Tom Christie, 6 Ethan Blackadder, 5 Antonio Shalfoon, 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Tamaiti Williams, 2 Codie Taylor (c), 1 George Bower
Replacements: 16 George Bell, 17 Lewis Ponini, 18 Seb Calder, 19 Tahlor Cahill, 20 Corey Kellow, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 James O’Connor, 23 Braydon Ennor

All Blacks star makes timely return for crucial Super Rugby Pacific clash with Waratahs

Saturday

Blues v Waratahs
Eden Park, Auckland

Blues: 15 Corey Evans, 14 Mark Tele’a, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 AJ Lam, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Finlay Christie, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Dalton Papali’i, 6 Anton Segner, 5 Laghlan McWhannell, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Joshua Fusitu’a
Replacements: 16 Kurt Eklund, 17 Jordan Lay, 18 Angus Ta’avao, 19 Josh Beehre, 20 Adrian Choat, 21 Sam Nock, 22 Harry Plummer, 23 Cole Forbes

Waratahs: 15 Lawson Creighton, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Henry O’Donnell, 12 Joey Walton, 11 Triston Reilly, 10 Jack Bowen, 9 Teddy Wilson, 8 Langi Gleeson, 7 Jamie Adamson, 6 Hugh Sinclair (c), 5 Miles Amatosero, 4 Fergus Lee-Warner, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 David Porecki, 1 Angus Bell
Replacements: 16 Mahe Vailanu, 17 Tom Lambert, 18 Daniel Botha, 19 Ben Grant, 20 Leafi Talataina, 21 Jack Grant, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Darby Lancaster

Hurricanes v Moana Pasifika
Sky Stadium, Wellington

Hurricanes: 15 Ruben Love, 14 Bailyn Sullivan, 13 Billy Proctor (cc), 12 Peter Umaga-Jensen, 11 Fehi Fineanganofo, 10 Brett Cameron, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Peter Lakai, 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi (cc), 6 Devan Flanders, 5 Hugo Plummer, 4 Zach Gallagher, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Jacob Devery, 1 Xavier Numia
Replacements: 16 Raymond Tuputupu, 17 Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Will Tucker, 20 Brad Shields (cc), 21 Ereatara Enari, 22 Jone Rova, 23 Tjay Clarke

Moana: 15 Tevita Ofa, 14 Kyren Taumoefolau, 13 Lalomilo Lalomilo, 12 Julian Savea, 11 Solomon Alaimalo, 10 Patrick Pellegrini, 9 Jonathan Taumateine, 8 Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa, 7 Ardie Savea (c), 6 Miracle Faiilagi, 5 Samuel Slade, 4 Tom Savage, 3 Feleti Sae-Ta’ufo’ou, 2 Millennium Sanerivi, 1 Tito Tuipulotu
Replacements: 16 Samiuela Moli, 17 Abraham Pole, 18 Chris Apoua, 19 Allan Craig, 20 Lotu Inisi, 21 Melani Matavao, 22 Jackson Garden-Bachop, 23 Pepesana Patafilo

Reds v Fijian Drua
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Reds: 15 Jock Campbell, 14 Lachie Anderson, 13 Josh Flook, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Tim Ryan, 10 Tom Lynagh, 9 Tate McDermott (c), 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Joe Brial, 5 Ryan Smith, 4 Josh Canham, 3 Zane Nonggorr, 2 Richie Asiata, 1 Sef Fa’agase
Replacements: 16 Josh Nasser, 17 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 18 Nick Bloomfield, 19 Angus Blyth, 20 John Bryant, 21 Kalani Thomas, 22 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 23 Filipo Daugunu

Drua: 15 Selestino Ravutaumada, 14 Ponipate Loganimasi, 13 Iosefo Masi, 12 Tuidraki Samusamuvodre, 11 Taniela Rakuro, 10 Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 9 Philip Baselala, 8 Kitione Salawa, 7 Motikiai Murray, 5 Isoa Nasilasi 4 Mesake Vocevoce, 3 Samuela Tawake, 2 Tevita Ikanivere (c), 1 Haereiti Hetet
Replacements: 16 Zuriel Togiatama, 17 Peni Ravai, 18 Mesake Doge, 19 Joseva Tamani, 20 Elia Canakiavata, 21 Simione Kuruvoli, 22 Inia Tabuavou, 23 Isikeli Rabitu

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