Super Rugby Pacific: Week nine team announcements

All NZ team line-ups for week nine of the southern hemisphere competition.

 

Hurricanes v Fijian Drua

7pm Friday, April 19

ANZ Stadium, Suva

Hurricanes coach Clark Laidlaw has made several key changes to his line-up for the dreaded trip to Fiji, with James O'Reilly at hooker, Aidan Morgan at first-five and Josh Moorby at fullback.

Regular starters Asafo Aumua, Peter Laki and Ruben Love will come off the bench, while All Blacks prop Tyrell Lomax  will take a rest. Lock Ben Grant will debut in the starting XV, while prop Siale Lauaki is poised for his first appearance from the bench.

Hurricanes: 1-Tevita Mafileo, 2-James O'Reilly, 3-Pasilio Tosi, 4-Ben Grant, 5-Isaia Walker-Leawere, 6-Brad Shields, 7-Du'Plessi Kirifi, 8-Devan Flanders, 9-TJ Perenara, 10-Aidan Morgan, 11-Salesi Rayasi, 12-Jordie Barrett, 13-Billy Proctor, 14-Kini Naholo, 15-Josh Moorby

Reserves: 16-Asafo Aumua, 17-Xavier Numia, 18-Siale Lauaki, 19-Caleb Delany, 20-Peter Lakai, 21-Richard Judd, 22-Ruben Love, 23-Bailyn Sullivan

TAB Odds: Hurricanes $1.25, Drua $4, Draw $21

 

Highlanders v Queensland Reds

9:30pm Friday, April 19

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Centre Tanielu Tele'a has returned from suspension to take the No.13 jersey, with Cameron Millar taking the reins at first-five and James Arscott replacing All Blacks halfback Folau Fakatava.

Highlanders prop Ethan de Groot.
Highlanders prop Ethan de Groot. Photo credit: Getty Images

International prop Ethan de Groot returns to the starting line-up, while a loose forward reshuffle sees captain Billy Harmon at No.8.

Highlanders: 1-Ethan de Groot, 2-Ricky Jackson, 3-Saula Ma'u, 4-Hugo Plummer, 5-Pari Pari Parkinson, 6-Oliver Haig, 7-Sean Withy, 8-Billy Harmon (c), 9-James Arscott, 10-Cameron Millar, 11-Jona Nareki, 12-Sam Gilbert, 13-Tanielu Tele'a, 14-Timoci Tavatavanawai, 15-Connor Garden-Bachop

Reserves: 16-Henry Bell, 17-Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18-Rohan Wingham, 19-Will Stodart, 20-Nikora Broughton, 21-Folau Fakatava, 22-Ajay Faleafaga, 23-Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens

TAB Odds: Reds $1.45, Highlanders $2.90, Draw $18

 

Blues v ACT Brumbies

7pm Saturday, April 20

Eden Park, Auckland

Lock Sam Darry will return from knee injury for a bench role, but the Blues continue to miss All Blacks Stephen Perofeta (shoulder) and Finlay Christie (groin), and fullback Zarn Sullivan (knee).

Taufa Funaki and Harry Plummer continue to occupy the inside-back positions, while international winger Mark Tele'a returns from a rest week against Western Force.

Mark Tele'a in action for the Blues.
Mark Tele'a in action for the Blues. Photo credit: Getty Images

Blues: 1-Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 2-Ricky Riccitelli, 3-Marcel Renata, 4-Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 5-Laghlan McWhannell, 6-Akira Ioane, 7-Dalton Papali'i, 8-Hoskins Sotutu, 9-Taufa Funaki, 10-Harry Plummer, 11-Caleb Clarke, 12-Bryce Heem, 13-Rieko Ioane, 14-Mark Tele'a, 15-Cole Forbes

Reserves: 16-Kurt Eklund, 17-Joshua Fusitu'a, 18-Angus Ta'avao, 19-Sam Darry, 20-Adrian Choat, 21-Sam Nock, 22-Lucas Cashmore, 23-AJ Lam

TAB Odds: Blues $1.25, Brumbies $4, Draw $18

 

Crusaders v Western Force

9:30pm Saturday, April 20

HBF Park, Perth

Crusaders coach Rob Penney has replaced his starting front row, with veterans Joe Moody, Brodie McAlister and Owen Franks taking the low numbers. Christian Lio-Willie takes the No.8 jersey, with Mitch Drummond at halfback.

Winger Johnny McNicholl will miss the game with a finger injury, replaced by Macca Springer.

Christian Lio-Willie scores a try for the Crusaders.
Christian Lio-Willie scores a try for the Crusaders. Photo credit: Getty Images

Crusaders: 1-Joe Moody, 2-Brodie McAlister, 3-Owen Franks, 4-Quinten Strange, 5-Jamie Hannah, 6-Ethan Blackadder, 7-Tom Christie (c), 8-Christian Lio-Willie, 9-Mitch Drummond, 10-Riley Hohepa, 11-Macca Springer, 12-Dallas McLeod, 13-Levi Aumua, 14-Sevu Reece, 15-Chay Fihaki

Reserves: 16-George Bell, 17-George Bower, 18-Fletcher Newell, 19-Dominic Gardinr, 20-Cullen Grace, 21-Noah Hotham, 22-Rivez Reihana, 23-Ryan Crotty

TAB Odds: Crusaders $1.17, Force $5, Draw $21

 

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