Super Rugby Pacific Team Tracker: Joseph Suaalii returns for Waratahs and set to face Zac Lomax while All Blacks star’s experiment continues at Crusaders
Waratahs outside centre Joseph Suaalii and Crusaders hybrid player Leicester Fainga'anuku (inset).
Check out the teams ahead of the 12th round of Super Rugby Pacific, where the Waratahs have been boosted by the return to action of Joseph Suaalii for their clash with the Western Force in Sydney on Friday.
The Wallabies star has recovered from a hamstring injury, which has kept him on the sidelines since withdrawing from the Waratahs side during the warm-up ahead of their Round Four clash against the Hurricanes.
Suaalii will start at outside centre for the Waratahs, and his return has generated lots of excitement as it means he will go up against fellow former rugby league star Zac Lomax, who lines up on the right wing for the Force.
In other action, Super Rugby Pacific‘s defending champions the Crusaders are continuing with their experiment of playing All Blacks utility back Leciester Fainga’anuku when they face the Hurricanes in their eagerly anticipated New Zealand derby in Wellington on Friday.
Meanwhile, the Blues have sprung a surprise by dropping former World Rugby Player of the Year Beauden Barrett to their bench with fellow All Black Stephen Perofeta coming in to replace him at fly-half for their clash with Moana Pasifika.
Friday
Hurricanes v Crusaders
Hnry Stadium, Wellington
Hurricanes: 15 Callum Harkin, 14 Josh Moorby, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett (co-c), 11 Fehi Fineanganofo, 10 Ruben Love, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Peter Lakai, 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi (co-c), 6 Brayden Iose, 5 Warner Dearns, 4 Caleb Delany, 3 Pasilio Tosi, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Xavier Numia
Replacements: 16 Raymond Tuputupu, 17 Siale Lauaki, 18 Tevita Mafileo, 19 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 20 Brad Shields, 21 Devan Flanders, 22 Ereatara Enari, 23 Jone Rova
Crusaders: 15 Johnny McNicholl, 14 Dallas McLeod, 13 Braydon Ennor, 12 David Havili (c), 11 Macca Springer, 10 Taha Kemara, 9 Noah Hotham, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Leciester Fainga’anuku, 6 Ethan Blackadder, 5 Tahlor Cahill, 4 Antonio Shalfoon, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 George Bower
Replacements: 16 George Bell, 17 Kershawl Sykes-Martin, 18 Seb Calder, 19 Jamie Hannah, 20 Dom Gardiner, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Johnny Lee, 23 Rivez Reihana
Waratahs v Western Force
Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Waratahs: 15 Max Jorgensen, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Joey Walton, 11 Sid Harvey, 10 Lawson Creighton, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Pete Samu, 7 Charlie Gamble, 6 Angus Scott-Young, 5 Angus Blyth, 4 Matt Philip (c), 3 Siosifa Amone, 2 Ethan Dobbins, 1 Tom Lambert
Replacements: 16 Folau Fainga’a, 17 Isaac Kailea, 18 Apolosi Ranawai, 19 Miles Amatosero, 20 Jamie Adamson, 21 Teddy Wilson, 22 Jack Debreczeni, 23 Triston Reilly
Force: 15 Mac Grealy, 14 Zac Lomax, 13 George Bridge, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 Dylan Pietsch, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Henry Robertson, 8 Vaiolini Ekuasi, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 5 Darcy Swain, 4 Jeremy Williams (c), 3 Misinale Epenisa, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Tom Robertson
Replacements: 16 Nic Dolly, 17 Sef Fa’agase, 18 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 19 Franco Molina, 20 Will Harris, 21 Nathan Hastie, 22 Bayley Kuenzle, 23 Kurtley Beale
Saturday
Fijian Drua v Highlanders
Four R Stadium, Ba
Drua: 15 Isikeli Rabitu, 14 Frank Lomani (co-c), 13 Tuidraki Samusamuvodre, 12 Virimi Vakatawa, 11 Joji Nasova, 10 Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 9 Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 8 Elia Canakaivata, 7 Kitione Salawa, 6 Joseva Tamani, 5 Temo Mayanavanua (co-c), 4 Isoa Nasilasila, 3 Mesake Doge, 2 Zuriel Togiatama, 1 Haereiti Hetet
Replacements: 16 Kavaia Tagivetaua, 17 Emosi Tuqiri, 18 Peni Ravai, 19 Mesake Vocevoce, 20 Isoa Tuwai, 21 Philip Baselala, 22 Kemu Valetini, 23 Maika Tuitubou
Highlanders: 15 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, 14 Jonah Lowe, 13 Tanielu Tele’a, 12 Timoci Tavatavanawai (co-c), 11 Jona Nareki, 10 Cameron Millar, 9 Folau Fakatava, 8 Nikora Broughton, 7 Veveni Lasaqa, 6 Te Kamaka Howden, 5 Mitch Dunshea, 4 Oliver Haig, 3 Angus Ta’avao, 2 Jack Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot (co-c)
Replacements: 16 Soane Vikena, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Saula Ma’u, 19 Sean Withy, 20 Lucas Casey, 21 Adam Lennox, 22 Taine Robinson, 23 Xavier Tito-Harris
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Moana Pasifika v Blues
North Harbour Stadium, Auckland
Moana: 15 Glen Vaihu, 14 Israel Leota, 13 Solomon Alaimalo, 12 Tevita Latu, 11 Tuna Tuitama, 10 William Havili, 9 Jonathan Taumateine, 8 Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa, 7 Semisi Paea, 6 Miracle Faiilagi (c), 5 Jimmy Tupou, 4 Allan Craig, 3 Atu Moli, 2 Millenium Sanerivi, 1 Malakai Hala-Ngatai
Replacements: 16 Mamoru Harada, 17 Abraham Pole, 18 Chris Apoua, 19 Veikoso Poloniati, 20 Dominic Ropeti, 21 Augustine Pulu, 22 Jackson Garden-Bachop, 23 Tyler Pulini
Blues: 15 Zarn Sullivan, 14 Kade Banks, 13 Xavi Taele, 12 Pita Ahki, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Stephen Perofeta, 9 Sam Nock, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Anton Segner, 6 Torian Barnes, 5 Sam Darry, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Kurt Eklund, 1 Ben Ake
Replacements: 16 James Mullan, 17 Mason Tupaea, 18 Flyn Yates, 19 Josh Beehre, 20 Terrell Peita, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Beauden Barrett, 23 AJ Lam
Reds v Brumbies
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Reds: 15 Jock Campbell, 14 Filipo Daugunu, 13 Josh Flook, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Tim Ryan, 10 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 9 Kalani Thomas, 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Fraser McReight (c), 6 Joe Brial, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Seru Uru, 3 Zane Nonggorr, 2 Matt Faessler, 1 Aidan Ross
Replacements: 16 Josh Nasser, 17 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 18 Nick Bloomfield, 19 Hamish Muller, 20 Vaiuta Latu, 21 Louis Werchon, 22 Ben Volavola, 23 Treyvon Pritchard
Brumbies: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Andy Muirhead, 13 Kadin Pritchard, 12 David Feliuai, 11 Corey Toole, 10 Declan Meredith, 9 Ryan Lonergan (c), 8 Toby Macpherson, 7 Rory Scott, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Lachlan Shaw, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Rhys van Nek, 2 Lachlan Lonergan, 1 James Slipper
Replacements: 16 Liam Bowron, 17 Blake Schoupp, 18 Darcy Breen, 19 Cadeyrn Neville, 20 Luke Reimer, 21 Klayton Thorn, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Ollie Sapsford