Super Rugby Pacific Team Tracker: Zac Lomax set to make long-awaited debut while All Blacks star hits 150
Zac Lomax of the Western Force and Codie Taylor of the Crusaders (inset).
Check out the teams ahead of the eighth round of Super Rugby Pacific, where former NRL star Zac Lomax is set to make his long-awaited rugby union debut.
There has been plenty of hype over Lomax after it was confirmed earlier this month that he had signed a two-year contract with Rugby Australia and the Western Force.
He was expected to make his debut in the 15-a-side code in the Force‘s clash with the Chiefs last week, but that did not happen.
However, the Perth-based outfit’s head coach, Simon Cron, has now included Lomax on his replacements bench for Saturday’s derby against the Reds in Brisbane.
There are only three matches scheduled for this weekend with the opening clash getting underway in Christchurch on Friday where the Crusaders will host the Fijian Drua.
The Crusaders will be happy to return to action on their home turf after having a bye in Round Seven and the big team news in their camp is regarding veteran All Blacks hooker Codie Taylor, who will make his 150th appearance for Super Rugby Pacific‘s defending champions.
Meanwhile, the only other clash of the weekend sees the Chiefs hosting the Waratahs in Hamilton on Saturday.
Friday
Crusaders v Fijian Drua
Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch
Crusaders: 15 Will Jordan (c), 14 Chay Fihaki, 13 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 12 Dallas McLeod, 11 Sevu Reece, 10 Taha Kemara, 9 Noah Hotham, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Johnny Lee, 6 Corey Kellow, 5 Jamie Hannah, 4 Antonio Shalfoon, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 George Bower
Replacements: 16 George Bell, 17 Jack Sexton, 18 Seb Calder, 19 Tahlor Cahill, 20 Dom Gardiner, 21 Louie Chapman, 22 Rivez Reihana, 23 Braydon Ennor
Joe Schmidt reveals the ‘good thing’ with Zac Lomax and which position suits him best in rugby union
Drua: 15 Iliasia Droasese, 14 Joji Nasova, 13 Virimi Vakatawa, 12 Iosefo Namoce, 11 Manasa Mataele, 10 Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 9 Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 8 Elia Canakaivata, 7 Kitione Salawa, 6 Etonia Waqa, 5 Isoa Nasilasila (c), 4 Joseva Tamani, 3 Mesake Doge, 2 Zuriel Togiatama, 1 Haereiti Hetet
Replacements: 16 Sairusi Ravudi, 17 Emosi Tuqiri, 18 Peni Ravai, 19 Mesake Vocevoce, 20 Isoa Tuwai, 21 Phillip Baselala, 22 Kemu Valetini, 23 Isikeli Rabitu
Saturday
Chiefs v Waratahs
FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
Chiefs: 15 Liam Coombes-Fabling, 14 Emoni Narawa, 13 Leroy Carter, 12 Quinn Tupaea, 11 Kyren Taumoefolau, 10 Josh Jacomb, 9 Xavier Roe, 8 Kaylum Boshier, 7 Luke Jacobson (c), 6 Samipeni Finau, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Josh Lord, 3 Reuben O’Neill, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 Ollie Norris
Replacements: 16 Brodie McAlister, 17 Jared Profitt, 18 George Dyer, 19 Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20 Simon Parker, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Kyle Brown, 23 Daniel Sinkinson
Waratahs: 15 Sid Harvey, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Triston Reilly, 12 Joey Walton, 11 Max Jorgensen, 10 Jack Debreczeni, 9 Teddy Wilson, 8 Pete Samu, 7 Charlie Gamble, 6 Clem Halaholo, 5 Miles Amatosero, 4 Matt Philip (c), 3 Dan Botha, 2 Ethan Dobbins, 1 Tom Lambert
Replacements: 16 Folau Fainga’a, 17 Jack Barrett, 18 Siosifa Amone, 19 Angus Blyth, 20 Jamie Adamson, 21 Jake Gordon, 22 Jack Bowen, 23 George Poolman
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Reds v Western Force
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Reds: 15 Jock Campbell, 14 Filipo Daugunu, 13 Josh Flook, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Treyvon Pritchard, 10 Carter Gordon, 9 Kalani Thomas, 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Fraser McReight (c), 6 Joe Brial, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Seru Uru, 3 Nick Bloomfield, 2 Josh Nasser, 1 Aidan Ross
Replacements: 16 Matt Faessler, 17 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Hamish Muller, 20 Vaiuta Latu, 21 Louis Werchon, 22 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 23 Tim Ryan
Force: 15 Mac Grealy, 14 Dylan Pietsch, 13 George Bridge, 12 Bayley Kuenzle, 11 Darby Lancaster, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Henry Robertson, 8 Vaiolini Ekuasi, 7 Jack Daly, 6 Nick Champion de Crespigny (c), 5 Darcy Swain, 4 Franco Molina, 3 Misinale Epenisa, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Tom Robertson
Replacements: 16 Nic Dolly, 17 Sef Fa’agase, 18 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 19 Lopeti Faifua, 20 Will Harris, 21 Nathan Hastie, 22 Kurtley Beale, 23 Zac Lomax
