Super Rugby Pacific: Week 11 team announcements

All five New Zealand Super Rugby teams are playing in round 11.

 

Hurricanes v NSW Waratahs

7pm Friday, May 3

Sky Stadium, Wellington

All Blacks Jordie Barrett and TJ Perenara will come off the bench against the Waratahs, as Hurricanes coach Clark Laidlaw rotates his line-up, after their first defeat of the season.

Riley Higgins and Richard Judd will move into the starting XV.

Kianu Kereru-Symes in action for Hawke's Bay.
Kianu Kereru-Symes in action for Hawke's Bay. Photo credit: Photosport

With James O'Reilly the latest hooker ruled out by injury, Laidlaw has brought Hawke's Bay No.2 Kianu Kereru-Symes into the starting line-up, whilke Bailyn Sullivan will start on the wing.

Hurricanes: 1-Pouri Rakete-Stones, 2-Kianu Kereru-Symes, 3-Tyrel Lomax, 4-Caleb Delany, 5-Isaia Walker-Leawere, 6-Devan Flanders, 7-Peter Lakai, 8-Brayden Iose, 9-Richard Judd, 10-Brett Cameron, 11-Bailyn Sullivan, 12-Riley Higgins, 13-Billy Proctor, 14-Josh Moorby, 15-Ruben Love

Reserves: 16-Raymond Tuputupu, 17-Xavier Numia, 18-Pasilio Tosi, 19-Justin Sangster, 20-Du’Plessis Kirifi, 21-TJ Perenara, 22-Jordie Barrett, 23-Salesi Rayasi

 

Blues v Melbourne Rebels

9:30pm Friday, May 3

AAMI Stadium, Melbourne

Loose forward Cameron Sufoa has returned to the Blues playing squad, after apparently winning his battle with cancer, and will come off the bench against the Rebels.

Wellington prop PJ Sheck will make his Blues debut in the starting XV, after making a previous appearance for the Highlanders last season.

In the midfield, AJ Lam replaces Bryce Heem at second-five.

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

Reserves: 16-Kurt Eklund, 17-Joshua Fusitu'a, 18-Marcel Renata, 19-Sam Darry, 20-Cam Suafoa, 21-Sam Nock, 22-Corey Evans, 23-Bryce Heem

 

Highlanders v Moana Pasifika

2pm Saturday, May 4

Teufaiva Stadium, Nuku'alofa

Prop Ethan de Groot has been given All Blacks rest from his team's visit to Tonga, while Cam Millar replaces injured Wales international Rhys Patchell at first-five, as they chase back-to-back wins for the first time this season.

Otherwise, coach Clarke Dermody retains the same line-up that edged Western Force last week, with rooke Jake Te Hiwi retaining his spot at second-five.

Jake Te Hiwi in action for the Highlanders.
Jake Te Hiwi in action for the Highlanders. Photo credit: Getty Images

Highlanders: 1-Daniel Lienert-Brown, 2-Henry Bell, 3-Saula Ma’u, 4-Mitch Dunshea, 5-Fabian Holland, 6-Oliver Haig, 7-Sean Withy, 8-Billy Harmon (c), 9-Folau Fakatava, 10-Cameron Millar, 11-Connor Garden-Bachop, 12-Jake Te Hiwi, 13-Tanielu Tele'a, 14-Timoci Tavatavanawai, 15-Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens

Reserves: 16-Jack Taylor, 17-Ayden Johnstone, 18-Jermaine Ainsley, 19-Will Tucker, 20-Nikora Broughton, 21-James Arscott, 22-Sam Gilbert, 23-Martín Bogado

 

Crusaders v Queensland Reds

4:30pm Saturday, May 4

Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch

Crusaders has made three notable changes to his starting XV that overwhelmed Melbourne Rebels last week, with David Havili claiming the No.10 jersey, and Wales internationals Leigh Halfpenny and Johnny McNicholl at fullback and winger respectively.

Havili's elevation shuffles Rivez Reihana back to the bench, while McNicholl surrenders the No.15 jersey he wore last week.

Johnny McNicholl in action for the Crusaders.
Johnny McNicholl in action for the Crusaders. Photo credit: Photosport

Coach Rob Penney has retained the reshuffled loose forward trio that saw Christian Lio-Willie at No.8, Cullen Grace at blindside flanker and Ethan Blackadder at openside.  

Crusaders: 1-George Bower, 2-Brodie McAlister, 3-Fletcher Newell, 4-Scott Barrett (c), 5-Quinten Strange, 6-Cullen Grace, 7-Ethan Blackadder, 8-Christian Lio-Willie, 9-Mitchell Drummond, 10-David Havili, 11-Sevu Reece, 12-Dallas McLeod, 13-Levi Aumua, 14-Johnny McNicholl, 15-Leigh Halfpenny

Reserves: 16-George Bell, 17-Joe Moody, 18-Owen Franks, 19-Jamie Hannah, 20-Corey Kellow, 21-Noah Hotham, 22-Rivez Reihana, 23-Chay Fihaki

 

Chiefs v Western Force

7pm Saturday, May 4

FMG Stadium, Hamilton

Winger Etene Nanai-Seturo has been named at fullback for the Chiefs, after All Blacks hopeful Shaun Stevenson tweaked a hamstring against NSW Waratahs last week. 

International midfield Quinn Tupaea claims the No.12 jersey, while hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho is given the week off, replaced by Bradley Slater in the front row. Naitoa Ah Kuoi will start in the second row, while captain Luke Jacobson returns from a week off on the bench.

Etene Nanai-Seturo in action for the Chiefs.
Etene Nanai-Seturo in action for the Chiefs. Photo credit: Photosport

Chiefs: 1-Aidan Ross, 2-Bradley Slater, 3-George Dyer, 4-Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 5-Tupou Vaa'i, 6-Sampeni Finau, 7-Kaylum Boshier, 8-Wallace Setiti, 9-Cortez Ratima, 10-Damian McKenzie, 11-Daniel Rona, 12-Quinn Tupaea, 13-Anton Lienert-Brown, 14-Emoni Narawa, 15-Etene Nanai-Seturo

Reserves: 16-Tyrone Thompson, 17-Ollie Norris, 18-Kauvaka Kaivelata, 19-Manaaki Selby-Rickit, 20-Luke Jacobson, 21-Simon Parker, 22-Xavier Roe, 23-Josh Ioane 

 

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