Super Rugby Pacific Team Tracker: Mixed news for Crusaders’ All Blacks trio while Zac Lomax finally set for Force debut after false start
Check out the teams ahead of the ninth round of Super Rugby Pacific, where Will Jordan and Codie Taylor were late withdrawals for the Crusaders’ clash with the Reds in Brisbane on Saturday.
The Crusaders have confirmed that the All Blacks stars were included in their original starting line-up but were forced to withdraw due to injuries.
Full-back Jordan has been ruled out due to a calf muscle injury while veteran hooker Taylor is sidelined with a hamstring issue.
Despite losing the services of that experienced duo, the defending champions have been boosted by the return to action of their captain, David Havili, who has recovered from a foot injury, and will start at inside centre against the Reds.
Meanwhile, in other Super Rugby Pacific action, former rugby league star Zac Lomax is finally set to make his rugby union debut for the Western Force in their encounter against the Fijian Drua in Lautoka on Saturday.
The flyer was set to make his bow in the 15-a-side code in the Force’s win over the Reds last weekend but was forced to withdraw shortly before the clash due to hamstring tightness from which he has now recovered.
Friday
Highlanders v Brumbies
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Highlanders: 15 Taine Robinson, 14 Caleb Tangitau, 13 Jonah Lowe, 12 Timoci Tavatavanawai (cc), 11 Jona Nareki, 10 Cam Millar, 9 Nic Shearer, 8 Nikora Broughton, 7 Veveni Lasaqa, 6 TK Howden, 5 Mitch Dunshea, 4 Oliver Haig, 3 Angus Ta’avao, 2 Jack Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot
Replacements: 16 Henry Bell, 17 Josh Bartlett, 18 Saula Ma’u, 19 Hugh Renton, 20 Sean Withy, 21 Adam Lennox, 22 Reesjan Pasitoa, 23 Taniela Tele’a
Brumbies: 15 Andy Muirhead, 14 Ollie Sapsford, 13 Kadin Pritchard, 12 David Feliuai, 11 Corey Toole, 10 Declan Meredith, 9 Ryan Lonergan (c), 8 Charlie Cale, 7 Rory Scott, 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 Luke Reimer, 21 Klayton Thorn, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Hudson Creighton
Saturday
Moana Pasifika v Chiefs
Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua
Moana: 15 William Havili, 14 Solomon Alaimalo, 13 Tevita Latu, 12 Lalomilo Lalomilo, 11 Glen Vaihu, 10 Jackson Garden-Bachop, 9 Augustine Pulu, 8 Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa, 7 Niko Jones, 6 Miracle Faiilagi (c), 5 Veikoso Poloniati, 4 Tom Savage, 3 Paula Latu, 2 Millennium Sanerivi, 1 Malakai Hala-Ngatai
Replacements: 16 Samiuela Moli, 17 Abraham Pole, 18 Atu Moli, 19 Jimmy Tupou, 20 Semisi Paea, 21 Melani Matavao, 22 Patrick Pellegrini, 23 Tyler Pulini
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Chiefs: 15 Liam Coombes-Fabling, 14 Leroy Carter, 13 Kyle Brown, 12 Quinn Tupaea, 11 Kyren Taumoefolau, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Simon Parker, 7 Jahrome Brown, 6 Samipeni Finau, 5 Tupou Vaa’i (c), 4 Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 3 Reuben O’Neill, 2 Tyrone Thompson, 1 Ollie Norris
Replacements: 16 Brodie McAlister, 17 Jared Profitt, 18 Sione Ahio, 19 Fiti Sa, 20 Luke Jacobson, 21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22 Josh Jacomb, 23 Reon Paul
Fijian Drua v Western Force
Churchill Park, Lautoka
Drua: 15 Isikeli Rabitu, 14 Isikeli Basiyalo, 13 Tuidraki Samusamuvodre (cc), 12 Iosefo Namoce, 11 Ilaisa Droasese, 10 Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 9 Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 8 Elia Canakaivata, 7 Motikiai Murray, 6 Etonia Waqa, 5 Joseva Tamani, 4 Isoa Nasilasila (cc), 3 Mesake Doge, 2 Zuriel Togiatama, 1 Haereiti Hetet
Replacements: 16 Mesulame Dolokoto, 17 Emosi Tuqiri, 18 Samuela Tawake, 19 Mesake Vocevoce, 20 Kitione Salawa, 21 Vilive Miramira, 22 Simione Kuruvoli, 23 Manasa Mataele
Force: 15 Mac Grealy, 14 George Bridge, 13 Hamish Stewart, 12 Bayley Kuenzle, 11 Dylan Pietsch, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Henry Robertson, 8 Vaiolini Ekuasi, 7 Jack Daly, 6 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 5 Jeremy Williams (c), 4 Franco Molina, 3 Misinale Epenisa, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Sef Fa’agase
Replacements: 16 Nic Dolly, 17 Marley Pearce, 18 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 19 Lopeti Faifua, 20 Will Harris, 21 Agustin Moyano, 22 Kurtley Beale, 23 Zac Lomax
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Hurricanes v Blues
Hnry Stadium, Wellington
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 Caleb Delany, 3 Pasilio Tosi, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Xavier Numia
Replacements: 16 Raymond Tuputupu, 17 Siale Lauaki, 18 Tevita Mafileo, 19 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 20 Brad Shields, 21 Brayden Iose, 22 Ereatara Enari, 23 Jone Rova
Blues: 15 Zarn Sullivan, 14 Codemeru Vai, 13 AJ Lam, 12 Xavi Taele, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Finlay Christie, 8 Malachi Wrampling, 7 Anton Segner, 6 Che Clark, 5 Sam Darry (c), 4 Josh Beehre, 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Bradley Slater, 1 Ofa Tu’ungafasi
Replacements: 16 James Mullan, 17 Mason Tupaea, 18 Sam Matenga, 19 Tristyn Cook, 20 Torian Barnes, 21 Taufa Funaki, 22 Pita Ahki, 23 Payton Spencer
Reds v Crusaders
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Reds: 15 Jock Campbell, 14 Filipo Daugunu, 13 Josh Flook, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Tim Ryan, 10 Carter Gordon, 9 Kalani Thomas, 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Fraser McReight (c), 6 Joe Brial, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Seru Uru, 3 Nick Bloomfield, 2 Matt Faessler, 1 Aidan Ross
Replacements: 16 Richie Asiata, 17 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Hamish Muller, 20 Vaiuta Latu, 21 Louis Werchon, 22 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 23 Isaac Henry
Crusaders: 15 Johnny McNicholl, 14 Chay Fihaki, 13 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 12 David Havili (c), 11 Sevu Reece, 10 Taha Kemara, 9 Noah Hotham, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Corey Kellow, 6 Dom Gardiner, 5 Jamie Hannah, 4 Antonio Shalfoon, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 George Bell, 1 George Bower
Replacements: 16 Manumaua Letiu, 17 Finlay Brewis, 18 Seb Calder, 19 Tahlor Cahill, 20 Johnny Lee, 21 Louie Chapman, 22 Rivez Reihana, 23 Dallas McLeod
