Super Rugby Pacific Team Tracker: Joseph Suaalii returns in new role for Waratahs while Wallabies star makes first Crusaders start

Check out the teams ahead of the seventh round of Super Rugby Pacific, where Wallabies star Joseph Suaalii makes his long-awaited return from injury for the Waratahs against the Hurricanes in Wellington on Friday.

After playing at full-back in their tournament opener against the Highlanders, Waratahs head coach has sprung a surprise by selecting Suaalii at outside centre for the Hurricanes clash.

Suaalii delivered some outstanding performances for the Wallabies on last year’s end-of-year tour to the United Kingdom and Ireland, and it will be interesting to see how he fares in that position this weekend.

Meanwhile, veteran Wallabies utility back James O’Connor will make his first start for the Crusaders in their clash against Moana Pasifika in Christchurch on Saturday.

O’Connor has been named at fly-half as the Crusaders go in search of a victory that will see them move above the Chiefs into pole position in the Super Rugby Pacific standings.

The Chiefs, Blues and Fijian Drua all have byes this weekend. In other action, the Highlanders have shifted their captain and All Blacks hopeful Timoci Tavatavanawai back to inside centre after he featured on the left wing in their loss to the Reds in Round Six.

Friday

Hurricanes v Waratahs
Sky Stadium, Wellington

Hurricanes: 15 Ruben Love, 14 Ngatungane Punivai, 13 Bailyn Sullivan, 12 Peter Umaga-Jensen, 11 Kini Naholo, 10 Riley Hohepa, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Peter Lakai, 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi (cc), 6 Brayden Iose, 5 Zach Gallagher, 4 Caleb Delany, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Asafo Aumua (cc), 1 Xavier Numia
Replacements: 16 Jacob Devery, 17 Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18 Tevita Mafileo, 19 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 20 Brad Shields, 21 Jordi Viljoen, 22 Fatafehi Fineanganofo, 23 Kade Banks

Waratahs: 15 Max Jorgensen, 14 Darby Lancaster, 13 Joseph Suaalii, 12 Joey Walton (c), 11 Archie Saunders, 10 Lawson Creighton, 9 Teddy Wilson, 8 Langi Gleeson, 7 Charlie Gamble, 6 Rob Leota, 5 Miles Amatosero, 4 Ben Grant, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Julian Heaven, 1 Angus Bell
Replacements: 16 Ethan Dobbins, 17 Isaac Kailea, 18 Daniel Botha, 19 Felix Kalapu, 20 Jamie Adamson, 21 Jack Grant, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Lalakai Foketi

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Brumbies v Highlanders
GIO Stadium, Canberra

Brumbies: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Andy Muirhead, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 David Feliuai, 11 Corey Toole, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Harrison Goddard, 8 Rob Valetini, 7 Rory Scott, 6 Tom Hooper, 5 Lachlan Shaw, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Allan Alaalatoa (c), 2 Billy Pollard, 1 James Slipper
Replacements: 16 Liam Bowron, 17 Blake Schoupp, 18 Rhys van Nek, 19 Cadeyrn Neville, 20 Tuaina Taii Tualima, 21 Klayton Thorn, 22 Jack Debreczeni, 23 Ollie Sapsford

Highlanders: 15 Sam Gilbert, 14 Caleb Tangitau, 13 Thomas Umaga-Jensen, 12 Timoci Tavatavanawai (c), 11 Jona Nareki, 10 Taine Robinson, 9 Nathan Hastie, 8 Sean Withy, 7 Veveni Lasaqa, 6 Te Kamaka (TK) Howden, 5 Mitch Dunshea, 4 Fabian Holland, 3 Saula Ma’u, 2 Soane Vikena, 1 Daniel Lienert-Brown
Replacements: 16 Henry Bell, 17 Josh Bartlett, 18 Sefo Kautai, 19 Will Stodart, 20 Michael Loft, 21 Adam Lennox, 22 Ajay Faleafaga, 23 Tanielu Tele’a

Saturday

Crusaders v Moana Pasifika
Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch

Crusaders: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Chay Fihaki, 13 Dallas McLeod, 12 David Havili (c), 11 Macca Springer, 10 James O’Connor, 9 Noah Hotham, 8 Fletcher Anderson, 7 Ethan Blackadder, 6 Cullen Grace, 5 Jamie Hannah, 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Ioane Moananu, 1 George Bower
Replacements: 16 Codie Taylor, 17 Tamaiti Williams, 18 Seb Calder, 19 Quinten Strange, 20 Xavier Saifoloi, 21 Mitch Drummond, 22 Rivez Reihana, 23 Levi Aumua

Moana Pasifika: 15 William Havili, 14 Tevita Ofa, 13 Pepesana Patafilo, 12 Lalomilo Lalomilo, 11 Solomon Alaimalo, 10 Patrick Pellegrini, 9 Jonathan Taumateine, 8 Ardie Savea (c), 7 Semisi Paea, 6 Miracle Faiilagi, 5 Allan Craig, 4 Samuel Slade, 3 Feleti Sae-ta’ufo’ou, 2 Millennium Sanerivi, 1 Tito Tuipulotu
Replacements: 16 Sama Malolo, 17 Abraham Pole, 18 Chris Apoua, 19 Tom Savage, 20 Alamanda Motuga, 21 Melani Matavao, 22 Jackson Garden-Bachop, 23 Tuna Tuitama

Reds v Western Force
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Reds: 15 Heremaia Murray, 14 Lachie Anderson, 13 Filipo Daugunu, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Tim Ryan, 10 Tom Lynagh, 9 Kalani Thomas, 8 Joe Brial, 7 John Bryant, 6 Seru Uru, 5 Ryan Smith (c), 4 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 3 Massimo De Lutiis, 2 Richie Asiata, 1 Alex Hodgman
Replacements: 16 Josh Nasser, 17 George Blake, 18 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 19 Angus Blyth, 20 Connor Vest, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 23 Dre Pakeho

Force: 15 Mac Grealy, 14 Harry Potter, 13 Sio Tomkinson, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 Dylan Pietsch, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Nic White, 8 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Will Harris, 5 Darcy Swain, 4 Jeremy Williams (c), 3 Tom Robertson, 2 Nic Dolly, 1 Marley Pearce
Replacements: 16 Tom Horton, 17 Ryan Coxon, 18 Atu Moli, 19 Vaiolini Ekuasi, 20 Reed Prinsep, 21 Isaak Fines-Leleiwasa, 22 Max Burey, 23 Reesjan Pasitoa

👀 READ MORE: 👉 Joseph Suaalii has ‘all the afterburners on’ ahead of return from injury for Waratahs