Official team lists and injury news for this week's rounds of Super Rugby Pacific and Aupiki.
SUPER RUGBY AUPIKI
Hurricanes Poua v Chiefs Manawa
3:30pm Tuesday, March 15
FMG Stadium, Hamilton
Black Ferns Sevens captain Sarah Hirini will lead the very first Hurricanes Poua side from the openside flank, with veteran Black Fern, now international referee Selica Winiata at fullback.
Hurricanes: 1-Leilani Perese, 2-Jayme Nuku, 3-Marilyn Live, 4-Rachael Rakatau, 5-Joanah Ngan-Woo, 6-Layla Sae, 7-Sarah Hirini, 8-Kaipo Olsen-Baker, 9-Iritana Hohaia, 10-Carys Dallinger, 11-Ayesha Leti-I'iga, 12-Monica Tagoai, 13-Janna Vaughan, 14-Cheyelle Robins-Reti, 15-Selica Winiata
Reserves: 16-Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate, 17-Ngano Tavake, 18-Esther Tilo-Faiaoga, 19-Kahurangi Sturmey, 20-Sam Tipene, 21-Ana Afuie, 22-Rhiarna Ferris, 23-Teilah Ferguson, 24-Crystal Mayes, 25-Rangimarie Sturmey
Chiefs coach Allan Bunting has named an unchanged forward pack, but has tweaked his backline, introducing halfback Araiana Bayler, midfielder Renee Wickliffe and winter Langi Veainu for their first starts of the season.
Olympic sevens gold medallist Ruby Tui drops to the bench, making way for Veainu.
Chiefs: 1-Angel Mulu, 2-Luka Connor, 3-Tanya Kalounivale, 4-Victoria Edmonds, 5-Harono Te Iringa, 6-Pia Tapsell, 7-Les Elder, 8-Kennedy Simon, 9-Ariana Bayler, 10-Kelly Brazier, 11-Langi Veainu, 12-Renee Wickliffe, 13-Carla Hohepa, 14-Portia Woodman, 15-Hazel Tubic
Reserves: 16-Merania Paraone, 17-Awhina Tangen-Wainohu, 18-Santo Taumata, 19-Mia Anderson, 20-Jayjay Taylor, 21-Tynealle Fitzgerald, 22-Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu, 23-Georgia Daals, 24-Chelsea Semple, 25-Ruby Tui
Blues v Matatū
7pm Tuesday, March 15
FMG Stadium, Hamilton
Coach Willie Walker has named six Black Ferns and two Black Ferns Sevens stars for the Blues' official Super Rugby Aupiki debut, but is still missing captain Aroha Savage and veteran Eloise Blackwell.
Blues: 1-Krystal Murray, 2-Rebecca Todd, 3-Aldora Itunu, 4-Cindy Nelles, 5- Maiakawanakaulani Roos, 6-Shannon Leota, 7-Tafito Lafele, 8-Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, 9-Melanie Puckett, 10-Patricia Maliepo, 11-Natahlia Moors, 12-Ruahei Demant, 13-Theresa Fitzpatrick, 14-Shyanne Thompson, 15-Tyla Nathan-Wong
Reserves: 16-Chryss Viliko, 17-Olivia Ward-Duin, 18-Marie-Cilia Po’e-Tofaeono, 19-Sophie Fisher, 20-Vineta Teutau, 21-Tenaija Fletcher, 22-Krysten Cottrell, 23-Mele Hufanga, 24-Sam Curtis, 25-Princess Elliot
Matatū have shifted captain Alana Bremner to the back of the scrum, while Australian international Arabella McKenzie gets her first start at first-five.
Vice-Captain Kendra Reynolds will make her Super Rugby Aupiki debut at openside flanker, while Black Ferns star Kendra Cocksedge remains unavailable due to injury.
Matatū: 1-Pip Love, 2-Georgia Ponsonby, 3-Amy Rule, 4-Michaela Leonard, 5-Chelsea Bremner, 6-Lucy Jenkins, 7-Kendra Reynolds, 8-Alana Bremner, 9-Di Hiini, 10-Arabella McKenzie, 11-Grace Steinmetz, 12-Liv McGoverne, 13-Amy du Plessis, 14-Martha Mataele, 15-Renee Holmes
Reserves: 16-Steph Te Ohaere-Fox, 17-Lucy Anderson, 18-Ashley Palu, 19-Natalie Delamere, 20-Julia Gorinski, 21-Rosie Kelly, 22-Terauoriwa Gapper, 23-Kilisitina Vea, 24-Tayla Simspon, 25-Greer Muir.
SUPER RUGBY PACIFIC
Moana Pasifika v Chiefs
7pm Saturday, March 19
Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland
There are three changes to the starting team that fought to a loss against the Crusaders in round three.
Manu Samoa loose forward Alamanda Motuga is sidelined with a wrist injury, which sees Solomone Funaki move from blindside to openside flanker. That makes way for Tonga international Sione Tu'ipulotu to wear the No.6 jersey in his debut match.
A new halves combination will be on show, with Jonathan Taumateine and Christian Leali'ifano taking the reins from Ereatara Enari and Lincoln McClutchie respectively.
Moana Pasifika: 1-Ezekiel Lindenmuth, 2-Luteru Tolai, 3-Sekope Kepu, 4-Mike McKee, 5-Samuel Slade, 6-Sione Tu'ipulotu, 7-Solomone Funaki, 8-Henry Time-Stowers, 9-Jonathan Taumateine, 10-Christian Leali'ifano, 11-Neria Fomai, 12-Danny Toala, 13-Levi Aumua, 14-Tima Fainga’anuku, 15-William Havili
Reserves: 16-Samiuela Moli, 17-Taukiha’amea Koloamatangi, 18-Joe Apikotoa, 19-Alex McRobbie, 20-Josh Kaifa, 21-Ereatara Enari, 22-Lincoln McClutchie, 23-Fine Inisi
The Chiefs have made several changes to the side that earned a last-gasp win over the Crusaders last week, with All Blacks Sam Cane, Anton Lienert-Brown, Samisoni Taukei'aho, Angus Ta'avao and Josh Lord all unavailable due to injury.
In the forwards, All Black Tupou Vaa'i moves back to blindside flanker to combine with Hamilton Burr, who will make his Super Rugby Pacific debut filling in for Cane on the openside.
In the backline, Brad Weber returns to start at halfback to pair up with in-form first-five Bryn Gatland. After scoring the matchwinner last week, Rameka Poihipi gains his first start with Alex Nankivell in the midfield.
In the outside backs, Jonah Lowe returns to the starting line-up on the left wing, with Emoni Narawa shifting to the right wing and Māori All Black Kaleb Trask claiming his first start of the year at fullback.
Chiefs: 1-Ollie Norris, 2-Bradley Slater, 3-Sione Mafileo, 4-Laghlan McWhannell, 5-Brodie Retallick, 6-Tupou Vaa’i, 7-Hamilton Burr, 8-Pita Gus Sowakula, 9-Brad Weber, 10-Bryn Gatland, 11-Jonah Lowe, 12-Rameka Poihipi, 13-Alex Nankivell, 14-Emoni Narawa, 15-Kaleb Trask
Reserves: 16-Tyrone Thompson, 17-Atu Moli, 18-Solomone Tukuafu, 19-Samipeni Finau, 20- Mitch Brown, 21-Rivez Reihana, 22-Josh Ioane, 23-Quinn Tupaea
SUPER RUGBY AUPIKI
Matatū v Hurricanes Poua
5pm Sunday, March 20
FMG Stadium, Hamilton
Black Ferns linchpin Kendra Cocksedge will make her Super Rugby debut for Matatū, named at halfback for their season finale against Hurricanes Poua.
Cocksedge, 33, hasn't featured in their opening two matches of the competition, but will run out in the No.9 jersey on Sunday, as her side tries avoid a last-placed finish.
Captain Alana Bremner switches to the blindside of the scrum as part of a new-look loose forward trio, with Greer Muir making her first start at No.8, while Kendra Reynolds starts on the openside.
Matatū: 1-Pip Love, 2-Georgia Ponsonby, 3-Amy Rule, 4-Michaela Leonard, 5-Chelsea Bremner, 6-Alana Bremner (c), 7-Kendra Reynolds, 8-Greer Muir, 9-Kendra Cocksedge, 10-Terauoriwa Gapper, 11-Grace Steinmetz, 12-Olivia McGoverne, 13-Amy du Plessis, 14-Martha Mataele, 15-Renee Holmes.
Reserves: 16-Steph Te Ohaere-Fox, 17-Lucy Anderson, 18-Ashley Palu, 19-Natalie Delamare, 20-Julia Gorinski, 21-Rosie Kelly, 22-Arabella McKenzie, 23-Kilisitina Vea, 24-Tayla Simpson, 25-Lucy Jenkins
Black Fern Te Kura Ngata-Aerangamate will start at hooker for Hurricanes Poua, as one of three changes to the side that ran out against Chiefs Manawa.
Wellington captain Jackie Patea-Fereti will enter the second row, combining with Joanah Ngan-Woo, while Crystal Mayes comes onto the wing, with Cheyelle Robins-Reti moving to fullback to replace Black Fern Selica Winiata.
Hurricanes Poua: 1-Marilyn Live, 2-Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate, 3-Leilani Perese, 4-Jackie Patea-Fereti, 5-Joanah Ngan-Woo, 6-Layla Sae, 7-Sarah Hirini, 8-Kaipo Olsen-Baker, 9-Iritana Hohaia, 10-Carys Dallinger, 11-Ayesha Leti-I'iga, 12-Monica Tagoai, 13-Janna Vaughan, 14-Crystal Mayes, 15-Cheyelle Robins-Reti
Reserves: 16-Jayme Nuku, 17-Ngano Tavake, 18-Esther Tilo-Faiaoga, 19-Rachel Rakatau, 20-Kat Brown, 21-Ana Afuie, 22-Rhiarna Ferris, 23-Amanda Rasch, 24-Teliah Ferguson, 25-Rangimarie Sturmey
Blues v Chiefs Manawa
7:30pm Sunday, March 20
FMG Stadium, Hamilton
Captain Aroha Savage and Black Ferns veteran Eloise Blackwell will bolster the Blues, as they try to clinch the inaugural Aupiki title against the Chiefs.
Savage will slot into the starting No.8 spot, shifting Liana Mikaele-Tu’u to the side of the scrum, while lock Blackwell will come off the bench in support of second-rowers Maia Roos and Cindy Nelles.
Coach Willie Walker has named an unchanged starting backline.
Blues: 1. Krystal Murray, 2. Rebecca Todd, 3. Aldora Itunu, 4. Cindy Nelles, 5. Maiakawanakaulani Roos, 6. Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, 7. Tafito Lafele, 8. Aroha Savage, 9. Melanie Puckett, 10. Patricia Maliepo, 11. Natahlia Moors, 12. Ruahei Demant, 13. Theresa Fitzpatrick, 14. Shyanne Thompson, 15. Tyla Nathan-Wong
Reserves: 16-Chryss Viliko, 17-Olivia Ward-Duin, 18-Marie-Cilia Po’e-Tofaeono, 19-Christo Tofa, 20-Vineta Teutau, 21-Eloise Blackwell, 22-Krysten Cottrell, 23-Mele Hufanga, 24-Sam Curtis, 25-Princess Elliot
Chiefs coach Allan Bunting has named an unchanged forward pack and a high-octane backline that combines sevens stars Kelly Brazier, Ruby Tui, Stacey Fluhler and Portia Woodman for the first time.
Chiefs: 1-Angel Mulu, 2-Luka Connor, 3-Tanya Kalounivale, 4-Pia Tapsell, 5-Harono Te Iringa, 6- Victoria Edmonds, 7-Les Elder, 8-Kennedy Simon, 9-Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu, 10-Kelly Brazier, 11-Ruby Tui, 12-Carla Hohepa, 13-Stacey Fluhler, 14-Portia Woodman, 15. Hazel Tubic
Reserves: 16-Grace Houpapa-Barrett, 17-Awhina Tangen-Wainohu, 18-Santo Taumata, 19- Chyna Hohepa, 20-Mia Anderson, 21-Tynealle Fitzgerald, 22-Ariana Bayler, 23-Chelsea Semple, 24-Renee Wickliffe, 25-Langi Veainu
Join Newshub from 7pm Saturday for live updates of the Super Rugby Pacific clash between the Chiefs and Moana Pasifika
