Super Rugby Pacific Team Tracker: Contrasting news on Damian McKenzie and Beauden Barrett as All Blacks hopeful misses qualifying final
Chiefs playmaker Damian McKenzie and Blues counterpart Beauden Barrett (inset).
Check out the teams ahead of the Super Rugby Pacific play-off clashes, where there’s contrasting news for New Zealand playmakers Damian McKenzie and Beauden Barrett.
McKenzie has recovered from concussion and has been named to start at fly-half for the Chiefs in their encounter against the Reds in Hamilton on Saturday.
Meanwhile, fellow All Blacks star Barrett is still sidelined with a quadricep injury which rules him out of the Blues’ match in Christchurch against the Crusaders in Saturday’s early game.
The Crusaders, who are Super Rugby Pacific‘s defending champions, have been bolstered by the return of hybrid player Leicester Fainga’anuku, who will line up on the openside flank after being rested last weekend.
In other action, the top seeded Hurricanes welcome back New Zealand star Jordie Barrett, who has been declared fit after nursing a hamstring injury, but All Blacks hopeful and the tournament’s top try-scorer Fehi Fineanganofo misses out on selection as he is still recovering from a similar issue.
Friday
Hurricanes v Brumbies
Hnry Stadium, Wellington
Hurricanes: 15 Callum Harkin, 14 Josh Moorby, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett (cc), 11 Kini Naholo, 10 Ruben Love, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Peter Lakai, 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi (cc), 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 Tyrel Lomax, 19 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 20 Brayden Iose, 21 Ereatara Enari, 22 Jone Rova, 23 Ngane Punivai
Brumbies: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Andy Muirhead, 13 Hudson Creighton, 12 David Feliuai, 11 Corey Toole, 10 Declan Meredith, 9 Ryan Lonergan, 8 Charlie Cale, 7 Luke Reimer, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Cadeyrn Neville, 4 Lachlan Shaw, 3 Allan Alaalatoa (c), 2 Lachlan Lonergan, 1 James Slipper
Replacements: 16 Billy Pollard, 17 Blake Schoupp, 18 Rhys van Nek, 19 Nick Frost, 20 Rory Scott, 21 Klayton Thorn, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Ollie Sapsford
Saturday
Crusaders v Blues
One NZ Stadium, Christchurch
Crusaders: 15 Johnny McNicholl, 14 Chay Fihaki, 13 Dallas McLeod, 12 David Havili (c), 11 Sevu Reece, 10 Taha Kemara, 9 Noah Hotham, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 6 Ethan Blackadder, 5 Jamie Hannah, 4 Antonio Shalfoon, 3 George Bower, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Finlay Brewis
Replacements: 16 Manumaua Leitu, 17 Jack Sexton, 18 Gus Brown, 19 Tahlor Cahill, 20 Dom Gardiner, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Rivez Reihana, 23 Braydon Ennor
Blues: 15 Zarn Sullivan, 14 AJ Lam, 13 Xavi Taele, 12 Pita Ahki, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Stephen Perofeta, 9 Sam Nock, 8 Malachi Wrampling, 7 Anton Segner, 6 Torian Barnes, 5 Sam Darry, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Bradley Slater, 1 Ofa Tu’ungafasi
Replacements: 16 Eli Oudenryn, 17 Mason Tupaea, 18 Flyn Yates, 19 Josh Beehre, 20 Hoskins Sotutu, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Corey Evans, 23 Payton Spencer
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Chiefs v Reds
FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
Chiefs: 15 Isaac Hutchinson, 14 Liam Coombes-Fabling, 13 Kyle Brown, 12 Quinn Tupaea, 11 Kyren Taumoefolau, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Luke Jacobson (c), 6 Simon Parker, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Josh Lord, 3 Sione Ahio, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 Ollie Norris
Replacements: 16 Brodie McAlister, 17 Jared Proffit, 18 George Dyer, 19 Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20 Samipeni Finau, 21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22 Josh Jacomb, 23 Leroy Carter
Reds: 15 Jock Campbell, 14 Lachie Anderson, 13 Josh Flook, 12 Filipo Daugunu, 11 Tim Ryan, 10 Carter Gordon, 9 Tate McDermott, 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Fraser McReight (c), 6 Joe Brial, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Josh Canham, 3 Zane Nonggorr, 2 Josh Nasser, 1 Aidan Ross
Replacements: 16 Matt Faessler, 17 George Blake, 18 Massimo De Lutiis, 19 Hamish Muller, 20 Vaiuta Latu, 21 Kalani Thomas, 22 Ben Volavola, 23 Treyvon Pritchard
