Super Rugby Pacific Team Tracker: Wallabies legend makes long-awaited comeback while All Blacks powerhouse returns

David Skippers
Kurtley Beale and Asafo Aumua image

Western Force full-back Kurtley Beale and Hurricanes hooker Asafo Aumua.

Check out the teams ahead of the 12th round of Super Rugby Pacific, where legendary Wallabies utility back Kurtley Beale is set to return to action for the Western Force against the Blues in Auckland.

The 36-year-old has been sidelined since last June after he sustained an Achilles injury shortly after he earned a recall to the Wallabies squad for their 2024 Test campaign.

Beale has made a full recovery, however, and will start at full-back for the Force against the Blues at Eden Park on Friday..

Meanwhile powerhouse All Blacks hooker Asafo Amua has overcome a concussion setback and has been named in the Hurricanes‘ run-on side for Saturday’s Super Rugby Pacific derby with the Chiefs in Wellington.

Friday

Blues v Western Force
Eden Park, Auckland

Blues: 15 Stephen Perofeta, 14 Cole Forbes, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Xavi Taele, 11 AJ Lam, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Taufa Funaki, 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 Mason Tupaea, 18 Angus Ta’avao, 19 Josh Beehre, 20 Cam Christie, 21 Adrian Choat, 22 Sam Nock, 23 Corey Evans

Force: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Harry Potter, 13 Bayley Kuenzle, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 Mac Grealy, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Henry Robertson, 8 Reed Prinsep, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 5 Darcy Swain, 4 Jeremy Williams (c), 3 Tom Robertson, 2 Nic Dolly, 1 Ryan Coxon
Replacements: 16 Albert Alcock, 17 Atu Moli, 18 Josh Smith, 19 Josh Thompson, 20 Will Harris, 21 Nic White, 22 Max Burey, 23 George Poolman

Saturday

Fijian Drua v Reds
HFC Bank Stadium, Suva

Drua: 15 Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 14 Selestino Ravutaumada, 13 Vuate Karawalevu, 12 Inia Tabuavou, 11 aniela Rakuro, 10 Kemu Valetini, 9 Simione Kuruvoli, 8 Kitione Salawa, 7 Isoa Tuwai, 6 Etonia Waqa, 5 Isoa Nasilasila, 4 Mesake Vocevoce, 3 Mesake Doge (c), 2 Zuriel Togiatama, 1 Peni Ravai
Replacements: 16 Tevita Ikanivere, 17 Haereiti Hetet, 18 Samuela Tawake, 19 Leone Rotuisolia, 20 Joseva Tamani, 21 Elia Canakiavata, 22 Philip Baselala, 23 Isikeli Rabitu

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Reds: 15 Jock Campbell, 14 Lachie Anderson, 13 Dre Pakeho, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Tim Ryan, 10 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 9 Tate McDermott (c), 8 Joe Brial, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Seru Uru, 5 Angus Blyth, 4 Ryan Smith, 3 Zane Nonggorr, 2 Richie Asiata, 1 Sef Fa’agase
Replacements: 16 Max Craig, 17 Alex Hodgman, 18 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 19 Josh Canham, 20 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 21 Kalani Thomas, 22 Tom Lynagh, 23 Heremaia Murray

Hurricanes v Chiefs
Sky Stadium, Wellington

Hurricanes: 15 Callum Harkin, 14 Ngane Punivai, 13 Billy Proctor (cc), 12 Riley Higgins, 11 Kini Naholo, 10 Ruben Love, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Peter Lakai, 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi (cc), 6 Brayden Iose, 5 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 4 Caleb Delany, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 21 Asafo Aumua, 1 Tevita Mafileo
Replacements: 16 Raymond Tuputupu, 17 Xavier Numia, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Zach Gallagher, 20 Brad Shields (cc), 21 Ereatara Enari, 22 Riley Hohepa, 23 Bailyn Sullivan

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

Brumbies v Waratahs
GIO Stadium, Wellington

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 Allan Alaalatoa (c), 2 Billy Pollard, 1 James Slipper
Replacements: 16 Lachlan Lonergan, 17 Lington Ieli, 18 Feao Fotuaika, 19 Lachlan Shaw, 20 Luke Reimer, 21 Klayton Thorn, 22 Declan Meredith, 23 Ollie Sapsford

Waratahs: 15 Joseph Suaalii, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Lalakai Foketi, 12 Joey Walton, 11 Triston Reilly, 10 Lawson Creighton, 9 Jake Gordon (cc), 8 Langi Gleeson, 7 Jamie Adamson, 6 Rob Leota, 5 Ben Grant, 4 Hugh Sinclair (cc), 3 Daniel Botha, 2 Ethan Dobbins, 1 Angus Bell
Replacements: 16 Mahe Vailanu, 17 Tom Lambert, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Miles Amatosero, 20 Leafi Talataina, 21 Teddy Wilson, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Henry O’Donnell

Sunday

Highlanders v Moana Pasifika
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin

Highlanders: 15 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, 14 Sam Gilbert, 13 Thomas Umaga-Jensen, 12 Timoci Tavatavanawai (cc), 11 Jonah Lowe, 10 Cameron Millar, 9 Nathan Hastie, 8 Hugh Renton (cc), 7 Sean Withy, 6 Te Kamaka Howden, 5 Oliver Haig, 4 Fabian Holland, 3 Saula Ma’u, 2 Soane Vikena, 1 Ethan de Groot
Replacements: 16 Jack Taylor, 17 Josh Bartlett, 18 Rohan Wingham, 19 Mitch Dunshea, 20 Veveni Lasaqa, 21 Folau Fakatava, 22 Taine Robinson, 23 Jake Te Hiwi

Moana: 15 William Havili, 14 Tevita Ofa, 13 Lalomilo Lalomilo, 12 Danny Toala, 11 Kyren Taumoefolau, 10 Jackson Garden-Bachop, 9 Jonathan Taumateine, 8 Semisi Tupou Ta’elioa, 7 Ardie Savea (c), 6 Miracle Faiilagi, 5 Samuel Slade, 4 Tom Savage, 3 Chris Apoua, 2 Millennium Sanerivi, 1 Tito Tuipulotu Replacements: 16 Tomasi Maka, 17 Monu Moli, 18 Pone Fa’amausili, 19 Ofa Tauatevalu, 20 Sione Havili Talitui, 21 Melani Matavao, 22 Julian Savea, 23 Patrick Pellegrini

READ MORE: Wallabies: Kurtley Beale determined to overcome ‘dagger in the heart’ setback