Check out all the teams, via SA Rugby Magazine, for Super Rugby AU’s round 4 action.
Rebels v Waratahs (Friday, 11:05, Sydney)
Reece Hodge has returned to the Rebels starting lineup for Friday’s Super Rugby AU showdown with the Waratahs in Sydney.
In one of three changes to the side, Hodge slots back in at outside centre at the expense of Campbell Magnay, who picked up an injury in training earlier in the week.
Rookie lock Trevor Hosea is fast tracked into the second row, while loosehead prop Cameron Orr comes into the starting side with Matt Gibbon dropping back to the bench.
Rebels – 15 Dane Haylett-Petty (c), 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Reece Hodge, 12 Billy Meakes, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Matt To’omua, 9 Ryan Louwrens, 8 Michael Wells, 7 Richard Hardwick, 6 Josh Kemeny, 5 Trevor Hosea, 4 Matt Philip, 3 Pone Fa’amausili, 2 Jordan Uelese, 1 Cameron Orr.
Subs: 16 Efitusi Maafu, 17 Matt Gibbon, 18 Jermaine Ainsley, 19 Michael Stolberg, 20 Esei Haangana, 21 Rob Leota, 22 Frank Lomani, 23 Andrew Deegan.
The Waratahs have named an unchanged starting lineup, but made four changes to the bench ahead of their showdown with the Rebels in Sydney on Friday.
Despite the Waratahs’ agonising 24-23 defeat by the Brumbies last week, coach Rob Penney has kept the faith in the same starting XV.
Penney has made a host of changes to the bench, with Jake Gordon returning from a hamstring injury to headline the inclusions.
Rookie hooker Joe Cotton comes into the match-day 23 as well, along with Chris Talakai and Jed Holloway.
Waratahs – 15 Jack Maddocks, 14 James Ramm, 13 Joey Walton, 12 Karmichael Hunt, 11 Alex Newsome, 10 Will Harrison, 9 Mitch Short, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Lachlan Swinton, 5 Rob Simmons (c), 4 Ned Hanigan, 3 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 2 Tom Horton, 1 Tom Robertson.
Subs: 16 Joe Cotton, 17 Tetera Faulkner, 18 Chris Talakai, 19 Tom Staniforth, 20 Jed Holloway, 21 Jake Gordon, 22 Mark Nawaqanitawase, 23 Ben Dondaldson.
Brumbies v Western Force (Saturday, 11:15, Sydney)
Bayley Kuenzle will start at flyhalf as one of five changes to the Brumbies lineup for Saturday’s match against the Force in Sydney.
In a slightly altered backline, Kuenzle comes in for the injured Noah Lolesio, while Solomone Kata takes over from Andy Muirhead on the right wing.
There are three changes in the pack, where flank Will Miller, lock Nick Frost and prop Scott Sio come into the side at the expense of Tom Cusack, Darcy Swain and James Slipper.
Brumbies – 15 Tom Banks, 14 Solomone Kata, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Irae Simone, 11 Tom Wright, 10 Bayley Kuenzie, 9 Joe Powell, 8 Pete Samu, 7 Will Miller, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Nick Frost, 4 Murray Douglas, 3 Allan Alaalatoa (c), 2 Folau Fainga’a, 1 Scott Sio.
Subs: 16 Connal McInerney, 17 Harry Lloyd, 18 James Slipper, 19 Ben Hyne, 20 Lachlan McCaffrey, 21 Issak Fines, 22 Mack Hansen, 23 Andy Muihead.
Former All Blacks centre Richard Kahui is set to make his Western Force debut after being named on the bench against the Brumbies in Sydney on Saturday.
With Saturday’s match the Force will unveil two star players in Kahui and former Wallabies scrumhalf Nick Frisby.
Frisby has been named in the starting lineup in place of Force captain Ian Prior, who sustained a shoulder injury in last weekend’s loss to the Reds. The 27-year-old scrumhalf spent five seasons at the Reds, making 66 Super Rugby appearances before moving to Europe and playing for Bordeaux and the Glasgow Warriors.
Former All Blacks lock Jeremy Thrush will captain the side in Prior’s absence.
In other changes to the starting lineup, inside centre Henry Taefu replaces Nick Jooste in the starting lineup, while veteran prop Greg Holmes will miss several weeks with a broken thumb.
Meanwhile, Kahui will return to southern-hemisphere rugby after spending the past seven seasons in Japan. The 35-year-old, who was part of the All Black’s 2011 World Cup-winning squad, will add plenty of experience to a youthful Force lineup.
Western Force – 15 Jack McGregor, 14 Byron Ralston, 13 Marcel Brache, 12 Henry Taefu, 11 Brad Lacey, 10 Jono Lance, 9 Nick Frisby, 8 Brynard Stander, 7 Tevin Ferris, 6 Henry Stowers, 5 Fergus Lee Warner, 4 Jeremy Thrush (c), 3 Kieran Longbottom, 2 Feleti Kaitu’u, 1 Angus Wagner.
Subs: 16 Andrew Ready, 17 Chris Heiberg, 18 Tom Sheminant, 19 Ollie Atkins 20 Ollie Callan, 21 Jacob Abel, 22 Richard Kahui, 23 Kyle Godwin.
