Official team lists and injury news for this week's round of Super Rugby Pacific and Super Rugby Aupiki.
Super Rugby Pacific
Crusaders v Chiefs
7:05pm Friday, February 24
Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch
Veteran lock Sam Whitelock will miss the Crusaders' season-opener with concussion, replaced in the second row by Mitch Dunshea.
Wing/fullback Will Jordan is also sidelined by the inner ear condition that saw him withdraw from the All Blacks end-of-year tour to Europe. In this place, David Havili will shift back to the No.15 jersey that first earnt him international selection in 2017.
Loose forward Ethan Blackadder and midfielder Jack Goodhue will return, after missing most of last season with injuries, while Macca Springer and former Highlander Christian Lio-Willie are poised to make their Crusaders debuts off the bench.
Crusaders: 1-Joe Moody, 2-Codie Taylor, 3-Fletcher Newell, 4-Scott Barrett (c), 5-Mitch Dunshea, 6-Ethan Blackadder, 7-Tom Christie, 8-Cullen Grace, 9-Mitch Drummond, 10-Richie Mo'unga, 11-Leicester Fainga'anuku, 12-Jack Goodhue, 13-Baydon Ennor, 14-Sevu Reece, 15-David Havili
Replacements: 16-Brodie McAlister, 17-George Bower, 18-Tamaiti Williams, 19-Zach Gallagher, 20-Christian Lio-Willie, 21-Fergus Burke, 22-Macca Springer
Damian McKenzie has been handed the No.10 jersey for the Chiefs' Super Rugby Pacific opener, travelling to face the reigning champions, the Crusaders.
McKenzie, 27, makes his first Super Rugby start since 2021, after spending last year playing in Japan.
And while the versatile playmaker's time with the Chiefs has been split between first-five and fullback, coach Clayton McMillan has backed McKenzie at No.10 to start the season.
McKenzie is one of a host of All Blacks named for the Chiefs' opener, with 10 of the starting XV boasting test experience, with another - Josh Ioane - on the bench.
In the front row, the impressive Samisoni Taukei'aho starts at hooker after a breakthrough season with the All Blacks last year, flanked by Aidan Ross and George Dyer as the two starting props.
Brodie Retallick and Tupou Vaa'i form an all-international locking pair, while the loose forward trio of Pita Gus Sowakula, co-captain Sam Cane and Luke Jacobson are also capped All Blacks.
Co-captain Brad Weber starts at halfback alongside McKenzie, as another test pairing.
In midfield, All Black Anton Lienert-Brown starts at second-five, alongside Alex Nankivell - playing his final season in New Zealand before a move to Munster.
On the bench, Ireland prop John Ryan has been named for his maiden Super Rugby appearance, after signing to replace Angus Ta'avao, injured for the entire 2023 campaign.
Chiefs: 1-Aidan Ross, 2-Samisoni Taukei'aho, 3-George Dyer, 4-Brodie Retallick, 5-Tupou Vaa'i, 6-Pita Gus Sowakula, 7-Sam Cane (cc), 8-Luke Jacobson, 9-Brad Weber (cc), 10-Damian McKenzie, 11-Etene Nanai-Seturo, 12-Anton Lienert-Brown, 13-Alex Nankivell, 14-Solomon Alaimalo, 15-Shaun Stevenson
Reserves: 16-Bradley Slater, 17-Ollie Norris, 18-John Ryan, 19-Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20-Samipeni Finau, 21-Cortez Ratima, 22-Josh Ioane, 23-Rameka Poihipi
Highlanders v Blues
7:05pm Saturday, February 25
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
The Highlanders feature three All Blacks in their starting side in Ethan de Groot, Shannon Frizell, and Folau Fakatava.
Fakatava gets the start in place of Aaron Smith, with the All Blacks incumbent to be rested for the opening two rounds of the competition.
All Blacks squad member Billy Harmon captains the side from the side of the scrum, while English import Freddie Burns has been named to the bench.
Highlanders: 1-Ethan de Groot, 2-Rhys Marshal 3-Jermaine Ainsley, 4-Patrick Tuipulotu, 5-Josh Dickson, 6-Shannon Frizell, 7-Billy Harmon (capt), 8-Marino Mikaele Tu'u, 9-Folau Fakatava, 10-Mitch Hunt, 11-Jona Nareki, 12-Thomas Umaga-Jensen, 13-Josh Timu, 14-Jonah Lowe, 15-Sam Gilbert
Reserves: 16-Andrew Makalio, 17-Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18-Saula Mau, 19-Will Tucker, 20-Sean Withy, 21-Kemara – Hauiti Parapara, 22-Freddie Burns, 23-Connor Garden-Bachop
16. Andrew Makalio, 17. Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18. Saula Mau, 19. Will Tucker, 20. Sean Withy, 21. Kemara – Hauiti Parapara, 22. Freddie Burns, 23. Connor Garden-Bachop
Star first-five Beauden Barrett has been cleared to start for the Blues in their Super Rugby Pacific season opener against the Highlanders.
Barrett missed the Blues' pre-season campaign due to illness but will feature in the run-on side on Saturday.
He's one of 13 All Blacks players in the starting XV, with lock Cameron Suafoa and hooker Kurt Eklund the only two not to have worn the black jersey.
It will be a milestone match for prop Nepo Laulala, who'll play his 100th game for the Blues.
Blues: 1-Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 2-Kurt Eklund, 3-Nepo Laulala, 4-Patrick Tuipulotu, 5-Cameron Suafoa, 6-Akira Ioane, 7-Dalton Papali'i, 8-Hoskins Sotutu, 9-Finlay Christie, 10-Beauden Barrett, 11-Caleb Clarke, 12-Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 13-Rieko Ioane, 14-Mark Telea, 15-Stephen Perofeta
Reserves: 16-Ricky Riccitelli, 17-Joshua Fusitu'a, 18-Marcel Renata, 19-James Tucker, 20-Adrian Choat, 21-Taufa Funaki, 22-Bryce Heem, 23-AJ Lam
Reds v Hurricanes
9:35pm Saturday, February 25
Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
Prodigious teen Peter Lakai will make his Super Rugby debut as part of the Hurricanes' run-on side against the Reds.
The 19-year-old was a key factor in Wellington's charge to the National Provincial Championship title last year and was rewarded with a call-up to the Canes.
He'll start in the No. 7 jersey alongside Ardie Savea, keeping the likes of Du'Plessis Kirifi and Brayden Iose on the bench.
Lakai is one of two debutants, with Hawke's Bay first-five Harry Godfrey named to the bench.
Dane Coles will start at hooker to kick off his final Super Rugby season, with fellow All Black Asafo Aumua backing up off the bench.
Jodie Barrett picks up where he left off last season in the midfield, pairing with Billy Proctor.
Hurricanes: 1-Xavier Numia, 2-Dane Coles, 3-Owen Franks, 4-James Blackwell, 5-Isaia Walker-Leawere, 6-Devan Flanders, 7-Peter Lakai, 8-Ardie Savea (capt), 9-Cameron Roigard, 10-Aidan Morgan, 11-Salesi Rayasi, 12-Jordie Barrett, 13-Billy Proctor, 14-Julian Savea, 15-Josh Moorby
Reserves: 16-Asafo Aumua, 17-Tevita Mafileo, 18-Tyrel Lomax, 19-Caleb Delany, 20-Du’Plessis Kirifi, 21-Brayden Iose, 22-Jamie Booth, 23-Harry Godfrey
Super Rugby Aupiki
Hurricanes Poua v Chiefs Manawa
2:05pm Saturday, February 25
Levin Domain
Hurricanes Poua: 1-Krystal Murray, 2-Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate, 3-Cristo Tofa, 4-Joanah Ngan-Woo, 5-Jackie Patea-Fereti, 6-Kahurangi Sturmey, 7-Rhiarna Ferris, 8-Layla Sae, 9-Iritana Hohaia, 10-Carys Dallinger, 11-Ayesha Leti-I'iga, 12-Monica Tagoai , 13-Shakira Baker, 14-Bernadette Robertson, 15-Isabella Waterman
Reserves: 16-Saphire Abraham, 17-Cilia-Marie Po'e-Tofaeono, 18-Sosoli Talawadua, 19-Rachael Rakatau, 20-Kaipo Olsen-Baker, 21-Milly Mackey, 22-Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali, 23-Crystal Mayes
Chiefs Manawa: 1-Kate Henwood, 2-Luka Connor, 3-Tanya Kalounivale, 4-Kelsie Thwaites, 5-Chelsea Bremner, 6-Charmaine Smith, 7-Tynealle Fitzgerald, 8-Kennedy Simon (capt), 9-Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu, 10-Hazel Tubic, 11-Georgia Daals, 12-Azalleyah Maaka, 13-Carla Hohepa, 14-Mererangi Paul, 15-Tenika Willison
Reserves: 16-Grace Houpapa-Barrett, 17-Te Urupounamu McGarvey, 18-Santo Taumata, 19-Dhys Faleafaga, 20-Victoria Makea, 21-Violet Hapi-Wise, 22-Abigail Roache, 23-Apii Nicholls
Matatū v Blues
4:45pm Saturday, February 25
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Matatū: 1-Pip Love, 2-Georgia Ponsonby, 3-Amy Rule, 4-Alana Bremner, 5-Cindy Nelles, 6-Lucy Jenkins, 7-Kendra Reynolds, 8-Marcelle Parkes, 9-Di Hiini, 10-Rosie Kelly, 11-Martha Mataele, 12-Grace Brooker, 13-Amy du Plessis, 14-Chey Robins-Reti, 15-Renee Holmes
Reserves: 16-Nat Delamere, 17-Ellis Doyle, 18-Ona Palu, 19-Sera Naiqama, 20-Leah Miles, 21-Georgia Cormick, 22-Charntay Poko, 23-Grace Steinmetz
Blues: 1-Chryss Viliko, 2-Grace Gago, 3-Esther Faiaoga-Tilo , 4-Eloise Blackwell, 5-Maiakawanakaulani Roos, 6-Charmaine McMenamin, 7-Tafito Lafaele, 8-Liana Mikaele-Tu'u, 9-Ariana Bayler, 10-Ruahei Demant, 11-Katelynn Vahaakolo, 12-Hayley Hutana, 13-Sylvia Brunt, 14-Jaymie Kolose, 15-Kiritapu Demant
Reserves: 16-Alakoka Po'oi, 17-Toka Natua, 18- Sophie Fisher, 19-Maama Vaipulu, 20-Shannon Leota, 21-Melanie Puckett, 22-Patricia Maliepo, 23-Tara Turner
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