The Crusaders host the Hurricanes and the Chiefs travel to the Blues. Take a look at all the lineups for Round 7 of Super Rugby Aotearoa, before making any bets this weekend.
Teams via SA Rugby Magazine
Crusaders v Hurricanes (Saturday, 09:05, Christchurch)
Cold start, with light winds and a high of 13 degrees
Will Jordan will start at fullback for the Crusaders in place of the injured David Havili against the Hurricanes in Christchurch on Saturday.
Crusaders vice-captain Havili has been ruled out for the rest of the season after fracturing the base of his right thumb against the Blues, meaning the competition’s leading try-scorer, Jordan, will start at fullback.
Jack Goodhue joins Whetukamokamo Douglas as vice-captain in Havili’s absence, and is set to partner with Fetuli Paea in the midfield this week, after centre Braydon Ennor was ruled out with a toe injury.
Brett Cameron and Leicester Fainga’anuku have both joined the match-day 23 this week, and will provide cover on the bench.
Crusaders – 15 Will Jordan, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Fetuli Paea, 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 Michael Alaalatoa, 2 Codie Taylor (c), 1 Joe Moody.
Subs: 16 Andrew Makalio, 17 George Bower, 18 Oliver Jager, 19 Quinten Strange, 20 Sione Havili, 21 Mitchell Drummond, 22 Brett Cameron, 23 Leicester Fainga’anuku.
Kobus van Wyk has been left out the Hurricanes’ match-day 23 for Saturday’s crucial clash with the Crusaders in Christchurch.
Van Wyk makes way for compatriot Wes Goosen on the right wing, with the former dropping out of the playing squad altogether.
Hurricanes co-captain Dane Coles is nursing a back injury and did not travel with the team, and Asafo Aumua cracks the nod as the starting hooker with Ricky Riccitelli providing cover off the bench.
In the only other change to the lineup, Fraser Amstrong replaces Ben May at loosehead prop.
On the bench, Chase Tiatia, Tevita Mafileo and Vince Aso come into the fold.
Hurricanes – 15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Wes Goosen, 13 Peter Umaga-Jensen, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Ben Lam, 10 Jackson Garden-Bachop, 9 TJ Perenara (c-c), 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 6 Reed Prinsep, 5 Scott Scrafton, 4 James Blackwell, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Fraser Amstrong.
Subs: 16 Ricky Riccitelli, 17 Tevita Mafileo, 18 Alex Fidow, 19 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 20 Vaea Fifita, 21 Jamie Booth, 22 Vince Aso, 23 Chase Tiatia.
Blues vs Chiefs (Sunday, 05:35, Auckland)
Cloudy patches, with light winds and a high of 14 degrees
Beauden Barrett will shift from fullback to flyhalf in one of five changes to the Blues’ starting lineup for their clash against the Chiefs in Auckland on Sunday.
Barrett – who has been used exclusively at fullback since joining the Blues – will make his first start for his new side at flyhalf, with doubts lingering over Otere Black’s fitness.
Black came off after a bump to his neck last week against the Hurricanes, and while he passed the HIA, there is stiffness with neck movement. He has been bracketed on the bench with wing Emoni Narawa.
Matt Duffie will take Barrett’s place at fullback and is joined in the back three by Caleb Clarke, who returns to the starting lineup after being rested last weekend. There is also a return to the starting lineup for TJ Faiane, who was utilised off the bench against the Crusaders and Hurricanes.
In the forwards, the Blues have welcomed back flank Blake Gibson, who returns after a hamstring twinge to play at openside in his 50th game. Meanwhile, Gerard Cowley-Tuioti starts at lock, with Josh Goodhue dropping to the bench to manage his workload after starting every match of the Blues’ campaign so far.
In the reserves, there are returns from injury for All Blacks loosehead Karl Tu’inukuafe and scrumhalf Sam Nock, who has missed the last two games.
Blues – 15 Matt Duffie, 14 Mark Telea, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 TJ Faiane, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Finlay Christie, 8 Akira Ioane, 7 Dalton Papalii, 6 Blake Gibson, 5 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 3 Ofa Tuungafasi, 2 Kurt Eklund, 1 Alex Hodgman.
Subs: 16 Tolai Luteru, 17 Karl Tu’inukuafe,, 18 Sione Mafileo, 19 Josh Goodhue, 20 Tony Lamborn, 21 Sam Nock, 22 Otere Black/Emoni Narawa, 23 Harry Plummer.
Warren Gatland has made just one personnel change to the Chiefs’ starting lineup for their showdown with the Blues in Auckland on Sunday.
Despite underperforming, Gatland has largely stuck with same side, with the exception of loosehead prop where Reuben O’Neill replaces Aidan Ross.
There are two new additions to the bench where Ollie Norris comes in to take the vacant spot left by O’Neill and Lisati Milo-Harris takes over from Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi as the back-up scrumhalf.
The match between the Chiefs and Blues kicks off at 05:35am on Sunday morning [SA time].
Chiefs – 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Sean Wainui, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Alex Nankivell, 11 Solomon Alaimalo, 10 Kaleb Trask, 9 Brad Weber, 8 Pita Gus Sowakula, 7 Sam Cane (c), 6 Lachlan Boshier, 5 Mitchell Brown, 4 Tupou Vaa’i, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Bradley Slater, 1 Reuben O’Neill.
Subs: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Ollie Norris, 18 Ross Geldenhuys, 19 Adam Thomson, 20 Mitchell Karpik, 21 Lisati Milo-Harris, 22 Aaron Cruden, 23 Quinn Tupaea.
