Super Rugby Pacific Team Tracker: Ardie Savea set for Moana Pasifika debut while Joseph Suaalii continues in new Waratahs role
Ardie Savea of Moana Pasifika and Joseph Suaalii of the Waratahs.
Check out the teams ahead of the opening round of Super Rugby Pacific, where All Blacks star Ardie Savea will make his competitive debut for Moana Pasifika against the Western Force in Perth.
There is plenty of excitement ahead of the commencement of this year’s tournament and there are five matches scheduled for Friday and Saturday.
The Super Rugby Pacific action kicks off in Christchurch where the Crusaders host the Hurricanes in a New Zealand derby before focus shifts to Sydney where high profile Wallabies code hopper Joseph Suaalii will make his debut for the Waratahs against the Highlanders.
Suaalii shone at outside centre for the Wallabies during last year’s Autumn Nations Series but he will start at full-back on Friday, after new Waratahs head coach Dan McKellar used him in that position during their pre-season fixtures.
Friday
Crusaders v Hurricanes
Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch
Crusaders: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Chay Fihaki, 13 Levi Aumua, 12 David Havili (c), 11 Sevu Reece, 10 Taha Kemara, 9 Noah Hotham, 8 Christin Lio-Willie, 7 Ethan Blackadder, 6 Cullen Grace, 5 Antonio Shalfoon, 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Ioane Moananu, 1 Tamaiti Williams
Replacements: 16 Manumaua Letiu, 17 George Bower, 18 Sam Matenga, 19 Tahlor Cahil, 20 Corey Kellow, 21 Preston, 22 James O’Connor, 23 Dallas McLeod
Hurricanes: 15 Callum Harkin, 14 Fehi Fineanganofo, 13 Bailyn Sullivan, 12 Peter Umaga-Jensen, 11 Kini Naholo, 10 Harry Godfrey, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Brayden Iose, 7 DuPlessis Kirifi (cc), 6 Brad Shields (cc), 5 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 4 Caleb Delany, 3 Tevita Mafileo, 2 Jacob Devery, 1 Xavier Numia
Replacements: 16 Raymond Tuputupu, 17 Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Hugo Plummer, 20 Peter Lakai, 21 Ereatara Enari, 22 Riley Hohepa, 23 Ngatungane Puniva
Waratahs v Highlanders
Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Waratahs: 15 Joseph-Aukuso Suaali, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Lalakai Foketi, 12 Joey Walton, 11 Max Jorgensen, 10 Tane Edmed, 9 Jake Gordon (c), 8 Langi Gleeson, 7 Charlie Gamble, 6 Rob Leota, 5 Miles Amatosero, 4 Hugh Sinclair, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Dave Porecki, 1 Angus Bell
Replacements: 16 Mahe Vailanu, 17 Tom Lambert, 18 Siosifa Amone, 19 Ben Grant, 20 Jamie Adamson, 21 Jack Grant, 22 Jack Bowen, 23 Darby Lancaster
Highlanders: 15 Sam Gilbert, 14 Michael Manson, 13 Tanielu Tele’a, 12 Timoci Tavatavanawai (cc), 11 Caleb Tangitau, 10 Taine Robinson, 9 Nathan Hastie, 8 Hugh Renton (cc), 7 Sean Withy, 6 Lui Naeta, 5 Mitch Dunshea, 4 Fabian Holland, 3 Saula Ma’u, 2 Soane Vikena, 1 Ethan de Groot
Replacements: 16 Henry Bell, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Sefo Kautai, 19 Nikora Broughton, 20 Veveni Lasaqa, 21 Folau Fakatava, 22 Cameron Millar, 23 Finn Hurley
Saturday
Fijian Drua v Brumbies
HFC Bank Stadium, Suva
Drua: 15 Isikeli Rabitu, 14 Ponipate Loganimasi, 13 Iosefo Masi, 12 Kemu Valetini, 11 Vuate Karawalevu, 10 Caleb Muntz, 9 Simione Kuruvoli, 8 Elia Canakaivata, 7 Kitione Salawa, 6 Joseva Tamani, 5 Leone Rotuisolia, 4 Mesake Vocevoce, 3 Samuela Tawake, 2 Tevita Ikanivere (cc), 1 Haereiti Hetet
Replacements: 16 Mesulame Dolokoto, 17 Livai Natave, 18 Meli Tuni, 19 Vilive Miramira, 20 Isoa Tuwai, 21 Frank Lomani (cc), 22 Peni Matawalu, 23 Tuidraki Samusamuvodre
Brumbies: 15 Andy Muirhead, 14 Ollie Sapsford, 13 Hudson Creighton, 12 Austin Anderson, 11 Corey Toole, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Ryan Lonergan (c), 8 Rory Scott, 7 Luke Reimer, 6 Tuaina Taii Tualima, 5 Tom Hooper, 4 Lachlan Shaw, 3 Feao Fotuaika, 2 Billy Pollard, 1 Blake Schoupp
Replacements: 16 Lachlan Lonergan, 17 Lington Ieli, 18 Rhys van Nek, 19 Cadeyrn Neville, 20 Judah Saumaisue, 21 Harrison Goddard, 22 Declan Meredith, 23 Kadin Pritchard
Blues v Chiefs
Eden Park, Auckland
Blues: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Mark Tele’a, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 AJ Lam, 11 Calab Clarke, 10 Harry Plummer, 9 Taufa Funaki, 8 Cameron Suafoa, 7 Dalton Papali’i, 6 Anton Segner, 5 Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 4 Laghlan McWhannell, 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Ofa Tu’ungafasi
Replacements: 16 Nathaniel Pole, 17 Fusitua, 18 Ta’avao, 19 Che Clark, 20 Adrian Choat, 21 Fin Christie, 22 Corey Evans, 23 Cole Forbes
Chiefs: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Leroy Carter, 13 Daniel Rona, 12 Quinn Tupaea, 11 Etene Nanai-Seturo, 10 Josh Jacomb, 9 Xavier Roe, 8 Luke Jacobson (capt), 7 Kaylum Boshier, 6 Simon Parker, 5 Josh Lord, 4 Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 3 George Dyer, 2 Brodie McAlister, 1 Ollie Norris
Replacements: 16 Bradley Slater, 17 Aidan Ross, 18 Reuben O’Neill, 19 Tupou Vaa’i, 20 Samipeni Finau, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 Emoni Narawa
Western Force v Moana Pasifika
HBF Park, Perth
Force: 15 Mac Grealy, 14 Divad Palu, 13 Sio Tomkinson, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 Harry Potter, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Nic White, 8 Vaiolini Ekuasi; 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 5 Darcy Swain, 4 Jeremy Williams (c), 3 Tom Robertson, 2 Nic Dolly, 1 Marley Pearce
Replacements: 16 Tom Horton, 17 Atu Moli, 18 Tiaan Tauakipulu, 19 Reed Prinsep, 20 Will Harris, 21 Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 22 Max Burey, 23 Dylan Pietsch
Moana: 15 William Havili, 14Solomon Alaimalo, 13 Pepesana Patafilo, 12 Lalomilo Lalomilo, 11 Kyren Taumoefolau, 10 Jackson Garden-Bachop, 9 Jonathan Taumateine, 8 Ardie Savea (c), 7 Sione Havili Talitui, 6 Miracle Faiilagi, 5 Allan Craig, 4 Samuel Slade, 3 Feleti Sae-Ta’ufo’ou, 2 Millennium Sanerivi, 1 James Lay
Replacements: 16 Sama Malolo, 17 Tito Tuipulotu, 18 Chris Apoua, 19 Tom Savage, 20 Ola Tauelangi, 21 Semisi Tupou Tailoa, 22 Melani Matavao, 23 Danny Toala
