Super Rugby Pacific Team Tracker: Will Jordan back to bolster Crusaders while Wallabies star ruled fit for Brumbies
Crusaders full-back Will Jordan and Brumbies skipper Allan Alaalatoa.
Check out the teams ahead of the Super Rugby Pacific play-off clashes, where All Blacks star Will Jordan makes a return from a knee injury for the Crusaders’ clash with the Reds in Christchurch on Friday.
Jordan, who has been sidelined for the past three weeks with a medial ligament strain, is back in the Crusaders’ run-on side at full-back for the eagerly anticipated encounter.
Meanwhile, the Brumbies have been bolstered after it was confirmed that their captain, Wallabies prop Allan Alaalatoa, has recovered from a calf injury and will lead the side for their clash with the Hurricanes in Canberra on Saturday.
The Hurricanes have also received some good news after All Blacks hooker Asafo Aumua was declared fit for that match as there was a concern over his availability after he limped off the field during a training session on Tuesday.
Friday
Crusaders v Reds
Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch
Crusaders: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Chay Fihaki, 13 Braydon Ennor, 12 David Havili (c), 11 Sevu Reece, 10 Rivez Reihana, 9 Noah Hotham, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Tom Christie, 6 Ethan Blackadder, 5 Antonio Shalfoon, 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Tamaiti Williams
Replacements: 16 George Bell, 17 George Bower, 18 Kershawl Sykes-Martin, 19 Tahlor Cahill, 20 Cullen Grace, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 James O’Connor, 23 Dallas McLeod
Reds: 15 Jock Campbell, 14 Lachie Anderson, 13 Josh Flook, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Filipo Daugunu, 10 Tom Lynagh, 9 Tate McDermott (c), 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Joe Brial, 5 Ryan Smith, 4 Josh Canham, 3 Zane Nonggorr, 2 Richie Asiata, 1 Sef Fa’agase
Replacements: 16 Josh Nasser, 17 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 18 Nick Bloomfield, 19 Angus Blyth, 20 John Bryant, 21 Kalani Thomas, 22 Dre Pakeho, 23 Tim Ryan
Saturday
Chiefs v Blues
FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
Chiefs: 15 Shaun Stevenson, 14 Emoni Narawa, 13 Daniel Rona, 12 Gideon Wrampling, 11 Leroy Carter, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Simon Parker, 7 Luke Jacobson (c), 6 Samipeni Finau, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 3 George Dyer, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 Aidan Ross
Replacements: 16 Brodie McAlister, 17 Ollie Norris, 18 Reuben O’Neill, 19 Josh Lord, 20 Wallace Sititi, 21 Xavier Roe, 22 Josh Jacomb, 23 Etene Nanai-Seturo
Blues: 15 Corey Evans, 14 Mark Tele’a, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 AJ Lam, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Finlay Christie, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Dalton Papali’i, 6 Adrian Choat, 5 Laghlan McWhannell, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Joshua Fusitu’a
Replacements: 16 Kurt Eklund, 17 Jordan Lay, 18 Angus Ta’avao, 19 Josh Beehre, 20 Anton Segner, 21 Sam Nock, 22 Harry Plummer, 23 Cole Forbes
Brumbies v Hurricanes
GIO Stadium, Canberra
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 Harrison Goddard, 22 Declan Meredith, 23 Ollie Sapsford
Hurricanes: 15 Ruben Love, 14 Bailyn Sullivan, 13 Billy Proctor (cc), 12 Peter Umaga-Jensen, 11 Fatafehi Fineanganofo, 10 Brett Cameron, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Peter Lakai, 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi (cc), 6 Devan Flanders, 5 Caleb Delany, 4 Zach Gallagher, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Asafo Aumua (cc), 1 Xavier Numia
Replacements: 16 Raymond Tuputupu, 17 Tevita Mafileo, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Hugo Plummer, 20 Brad Shields (cc), 21 Ereatara Enari, 22 Ngatungane Punivai, 23 Callum Harkin
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