Super Rugby Pacific Team Tracker: Damian McKenzie back at 15 for Chiefs while Wallabies star hits 100
Chiefs utility back Damian McKenzie and Reds scrum-half Tate McDermott.
Check out the teams ahead of the ninth round of Super Rugby Pacific, where All Blacks playmaker Damian McKenzie has been shifted from fly-half to full-back for the Chiefs’ clash against the Waratahs in Sydney on Saturday.
Chiefs head coach Clayton McMillan has made minor changes to his team after their win over the Reds in a top-of-the-table clash in Hamilton last weekend.
McKenzie’s move to the back means Josh Jacomb comes in to the run-on side to start at fly-half, and he is joined in the half-backs by All Blacks scrum-half Cortez Ratima, who will play his 50th game for the Chiefs.
Meanwhile, Wallabies scrum-half Tate McDermott is set to make his 100th appearance for the Reds when they take on the Brumbies in their eagerly anticipated Australian derby in Saturday’s late game in Brisbane.
Friday
Hurricanes v Crusaders
Sky Stadium, Wellington
Hurricanes: 15 Ruben Love, 14 Ngatungane Punivai, 13 Bailyn Sullivan, 12 Peter Umaga-Jensen, 11 Kini Naholo, 10 Riley Hohepa, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Peter Lakai, 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi (cc), 6 Brayden Iose, 5 Zach Gallagher, 4 Caleb Delany, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Asafo Aumua (cc), 1 Xavier Numia
Replacements: 16 Raymond Tuputupu, 17 Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18 Pasilo Tosi, 19 Will Tucker, 20 Brad Shields, 21 Ereatara Enari, 22 Callum Harkin, 23 Fatafehi Fineanganofo
Crusaders: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Chay Fihaki, 13 Levi Aumua, 12 David Havili (c), 11 Sevu Reece, 10 Taha Kemara, 9 Noah Hotham, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Ethan Blackadder, 6 Cullen Grace, 5 Jamie Hannah, 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Ioane Moananu, 1 Tamaiti Williams
Replacements: 16 Matt Moulds, 17 George Bower, 18 Kershawl Sykes-Martin, 19 Antonio Shalfoon, 20 Tom Christie, 21 Mitchell Drummond, 22 James O’Connor, 23 Macca Springer
Waratahs v Chiefs
Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Waratahs: 15 Joseph Suaalii, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Lalakai Foketi, 12 Joey Walton, 11 Triston Reilly, 10 Lawson Creighton, 9 Teddy Wilson, 8 Langi Gleeson, 7 Jamie Adamson, 6 Rob Leota, 5 Ben Grant, 4 Hugh Sinclair (c), 3 Daniel Botha, 2 Ethan Dobbins, 1 Angus Bell
Replacements: 16 Julian Heaven, 17 Isaac Kailea, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Miles Amatosero, 20 Leafi Talataina, 21 Jack Grant, 22 Jack Bowen, 23 Henry O’Donnell
Chiefs: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Shaun Stevenson, 13 Gideon Wrampling, 12 Quinn Tupaea, 11 Leroy Carter, 10 Josh Jacomb, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Simon Parker, 7 Luke Jacobson (c), 6 Samipeni Finau, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Manaaki Selby-Rickit, 3 George Dyer, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 Ollie Norris
Replacements: 16 Bradley Slater, 17 Jared Profit, 18 Reuben O’Neill, 19 Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20 Kaylum Boshier, 21 Xavier Roe, 22 Daniel Rona, 23 Emoni Narawa
Saturday
Blues v Moana Pasifika
Eden Park, Auckland
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 Anton Segner, 5 Josh Beehre, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 3 Angus Ta’avao, Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Joshua Fusitu’a
Replacements: 16 Kurt Eklund, 17 Mason Tupaea, 18 PJ Sheck, 19 Cam Christie, 20 Adrian Choat, 21 Taufa Funaki, 22 Harry Plummer, 23 Stephen Perofeta
Moana: 15 William Havili, 14 Kyren Taumoefolau, 13 Lalomilo Lalomilo, 12 Danny Toala, 11 Pepesana Patafilo, 10 Jackson Garden-Bachop, 9 Melani Matavao, 8 Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa, 7 Ardie Savea (c), 6 Miracle Faiilagi, 5 Allan Craig, 4 Samuel Slade, 3 Feleti Sae-Ta’ufo’ou, 2 Millennium Sanerivi, 1 Abraham Pole
Replacements: 16 Sama Malolo, 17 James Lay, 18 Chris Apoua, 19 Tom Savage, 20 Sione Havili Talitui, 21 Aisea Halo, 22 Patrick Pellegrini, 23 Fine Inisi
Highlanders v Fijian Drua
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Highlanders: 15 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, 14 Taniela Filimone, 13 Thomas Umaga-Jensen, 12 Timoci Tavatavanawai (cc), 11 Jona Nareki, 10 Cameron Millar, 9 Folau Fakatava, 8 Hugh Renton (cc), 7 Veveni Lasaqa, 6 Oliver Haig, 5 Fabian Holland, 4 Will Stodart, 3 Sosefo Kautai, 2 Henry Bell, 1 Ethan de Groot
Replacements: 16 Jack Taylor, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Saula Ma’u, 19 Tai Cribb, 20 Nikora Broughton, 21 Adam Lennox, 22 Sam Gilbert, 23 Tanielu Tele’a
Drua: 15 Caleb Muntz, 14 Selestino Ravutaumada, 13 Iosefo Masi (cc), 12 Inia Tabuavou, 11 Ponipate Longanimasi, 10 Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 9 Simione Kuruvoli, 8 Elia Canakaivata, 7 Isoa Tuwai, 6 Joseva Tamani, 5 Isoa Nasilasila, 4 Mesake Vocevoce, 3 Mesake Doge, 2 Mesulame Dolokoto (cc), 1 Haereiti Hetet
Replacements: 16 Zuriel Togiatama, 17 Peni Ravai, 18 Samuela Tawake, 19 Leone Rotuisolia, 20 Vilive Miramira, 21 Philip Baselala, 22 Isikeli Rabitu, 23 Tuidraki Samusamuvodre
Reds v Brumbies
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Reds: 15 Heremaia Murray, 14 Lachie Anderson, 13 Dre Pakeho, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Tim Ryan, 10 Tom Lynagh, 9 Tate McDermott (c), 8 Joe Brial, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Seru Uru, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Josh Canham, 3 Zane Nonggorr, 2 Matt Faessler, 1 Sef Fa’agase
Replacements: 16 Richie Asaita, 17 Alex Hodgman, 18 Jeffery Toomana-Allen, 19 Angus Blyth, 20 John Bryant, 21 Kalani Thomas, 22 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 23 Jock Campbell
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 Blake Schoupp, 18 Feao Fotuaika, 19 Lachlan Shaw, 20 Luke Reimer, 21 Harrison Goddard, 22 Declan Meredith, 23 Ollie Sapsford
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