Teams and previews via SA Rugby Magazine. Make sure to check the teams and do your homework before placing any wagers! Safe betting folks.
CRUSADERS V BLUES (Saturday, 09:05, Christchurch)
All Blacks wing duo Sevu Reece and George Bridge will start for the Crusaders in their clash with the Blues in Christchurch on Saturday.
Reece and Bridge replace the in-form Will Jordan and Leicester Faingaanuku, respectively, with Jordan dropping to the bench while Faingaanuku is left out of the match-day 23 entirely.
There is also rotation among the Crusaders’ scrumhalves as Bryn Hall starts with Mitchell Drummond reverting to the reserves.
The only other changes to the starting lineup come in the back row. Ethan Blackadder sustained a knee injury at training last week and was ruled out of the win over the Highlanders. His replacements, Sione Havili and Tom Sanders, will rotate this week, with Sanders to start and Havili named on the bench. The rest of the forward pack is unchanged.
The Crusaders have an opportunity to extend their lead at the top of the standings in Super Rugby Aotearoa, while a Blues win on Saturday night would have them overtake the home side at the halfway point of the competition.
Crusaders – 15 David Havili, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Braydon Ennor, 12 Jack Goodhue, 11 George Bridge, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Bryn Hall, 8 Whetukamokamo Douglas, 7 Tom Christie, 6 Tom Sanders, 5 Mitchell Dunshea, 4 Sam Whitelock, 3 Mike Alaalatoa, 2 Codie Taylor (c), 1 Joe Moody.
Subs: 16 Andrew Makalio, 17 George Bower, 18 Oli Jager, 19 Quinten Strange, 20 Sione Havili, 21 Mitchell Drummond, 22 Fetuli Paea, 23 Will Jordan.
Harry Plummer will start at inside centre for the Blues in their top-of-the-table Aotearoa match against the Crusaders in Christchurch on Saturday.
The 22-year-old, who is more accustomed to playing flyhalf, has been brought into the Blues’ midfield after coming off the bench in the previous three Super Rugby matches. The in-form TJ Faiane has been named on the bench as a result.
In the only other change to the starting lineup scrumhalf Finlay Christie gets his first start of the tournament after making a good impact from the bench to date.
Meanwhile, the Blues will be further strengthened by the return of All Black Karl Tu’inukuafe and Blake Gibson, both having recovered from injuries.
‘We know that we will need to be very accurate with and without the ball while the battle in the forwards for clean front-foot possession with be a key,’ Blues coach Leon McDonald said.
‘If we can implement our game plan and execute, then there is no reason why we can’t provide a stern test. And if the weather plays ball, it should be a cracking game.’
Blues – 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Mark Telea, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Harry Plummer, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Otere Black, 9 Finlay Christie, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Dalton Papalii, 6 Akira Ioane, 5 Josh Goodhue, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 3 Ofa Tuungafasi, 2 James Parsons, 1 Alex Hodgman.
Subs: 16 Kurt Eklund, 17 Karl Tu’inukuafe, 18 Sione Mafileo, 19 Aaron Carroll, 20 Blake Gibson, 21 Jonathan Ruru, 22 TJ Faiane, 23 Matt Duffie.
HURRICANES V HIGHLANDERS (Sunday, 05:35, Wellington)
The absence of co-captain Dane Coles headlines the five changes to the Hurricanes lineup for their match against the Highlanders in Wellington on Sunday.
All Blacks hooker Coles has dropped out of the team due to a calf injury and is replaced by Asafo Aumua. Thankfully for the Hurricanes, coach Jason Holland described Coles’ injury as ‘nothing serious’.
Flank Reed Prinsep and prop Fraser Armstrong will also miss Sunday’s match through injury and are respectively replaced by Devan Flanders and Ben May.
Meanwhile, flyhalf Fletcher Smith will make his first start of the tournament, with Jackson Garden-Bachop given the weekend off.
There is also rotation in midfield as Vince Aso returns at outside centre to partner Ngani Laumape, with Peter Umaga-Jensen dropping out of the matchday 23 entirely as a result.
Loose forward Murphy Taramai will make his Hurricanes debut from the bench.
Hurricanes – 15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Vince Aso, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Ben Lam, 10 Fletcher Smith, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 6 Devan Flanders, 5 Scott Scrafton, 4 James Blackwell, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Ben May.
Subs: 16 Ricky Riccitelli, 17 Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18 Alex Fidow, 19 Vaea Fifita, 20 Murphy Taramai, 21 Jamie Booth, 22 Billy Proctor, 23 Wes Goosen.
Scott Gregory will make his return to the Highlanders starting lineup for their match against the Hurricanes in Wellington on Sunday.
Gregory – who endured a tough first start of the tournament in the loss against the Blues – replaces the injured Ngatungane Punivai on the right wing.
The rest of the backline remains unchanged as the Highlanders have largely stayed with the team that has done the business in the first three matches of Super Rugby Aotearoa.
In the forwards, impressive lock Josh Dickson has sustained a broken leg and will sit out the rest of the season. His place in the starting lineup is taken by Jack Whetton.
The Highlanders have opted for a 6-2 split on the bench with lock Manaaki Selby-Rickit brought into the reserves, while Kayne Hammington and Bryn Gatland cover the backs.
Highlanders – 15 Michael Collins, 14 Scott Gregory, 13 Rob Thompson, 12 Sio Tomkinson, 11 Jona Nareki, 10 Mitch Hunt, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Marino Mikaele Tu’u, 7 Dillon Hunt, 6 Shannon Frizell, 5 Jack Whetton, 4 Pari Pari Parkinson, 3 Siate Tokolahi, 2 Ash Dixon, 1 Ayden Johnstone
Subs: 16 Liam Coltman, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Jeff Thwaites, 19 Manaaki Selby-Rickit, 20 Jesse Parete, 21 Kayne Hammington, 22 Bryn Gatland, 23 Teariki Ben-Nicholas.
