Josh Jacomb stays at No 10 for the Chiefs
- Dave Worsley
- Apr 30
- 3 min read
Updated: May 2
With the Crusaders on the bye week it's up to the Hurricanes and Chiefs to take charge in Super Rugby Pacific Round 12. while the Blues, Moana Pasifika and Highlanders are desperate for points.
Damian McKenzie is still out with Josh Jacomb starting at first-five, however, with Clayton McMillan going for a six forward/two back bench, including All Black Wallace Sititi as a impact player.
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Halfback Finlay Christie and fullback Zarn Sullivan have been dealt ruthlessly by the Blues after their loss to the Queensland Reds and are out of the squad to play the Western Force at Eden Park.
Taufa Funaki takes over at halfback after returning from injury. Mark Tele'a's suspension has AJ Lam move out to the wing and 20-year-old Xavi Taele getting a recall at 12.
Moana have named a strong side for their intriguing visit to Dunedin, with a super-charged loose forward trio of Miracle Faiilagi, Ardie Savea and Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa the most obvious threat.
It's a homecoming for Tupou-Ta'eiloa, who went to school at Otago Boys High. Kyren Tamoefolau comes back from injury onto the wing. Former Wallaby prop Pone Fa'amausili will debut off the bench.
The Highlanders have put Nathan Hastie back into the starting line-up ahead of Folau Fakatava while Timoci Tavatavanawai moves back into the midfield and Sam Gilbert goes back to the wing.
Blues v Force, 7:05pm Friday 2 May, Eden Park, Auckland
Blues: 1. Joshua Fusitu'a, 2. Ricky Riccitelli, 3. Marcel Renata, 4. Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 5. Laghlan McWhannell, 6. Anton Segner, 7. Dalton Papali'i, 8. Hoskins Sotutu, 9. Taufa Funaki, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. AJ Lam, 12. Xavi Taele, 13. Rieko Ioane, 14. Cole Forbes, 15. Stephen Perofeta Bench: 16. Kurt Eklund, 17. Mason Tupaea, 18. Angus Ta'avao, 19. Josh Beehre, 20. Cam Christie, 21. Adrian Choat, 22. Sam Nock, 23. Corey Evans
Hurricanes v Chiefs, 7:05pm Saturday 3 May, Sky Stadium, Wellington
Hurricanes: 1. Tevita Mafileo, 2. Asafo Aumua, 3. Tyrel Lomax, 4. Caleb Delany, 5. Isaia Walker-Leawere, 6. Brayden Iose, 7. Du'Plessis Kirifi (cc), 8. Peter Lakai, 9. Cam Roigard, 10. Ruben Love, 11. Kini Naholo, 12. Riley Higgins, 13. Billy Proctor (cc), 14. Ngatungane Punivai, 15. Callum Harkin Bench: 16. Raymond Tuputupu, 17. Xavier Numia, 18. Pasilio Tosi, 19. Zach Gallagher, 20. Brad Shields (cc), 21. Ereatara Enari, 22. Riley Hohepa, 23. Bailyn Sullivan
Chiefs: 1. Ollie Norris, 2. Bradley Slater, 3. George Dyer, 4. Josh Lord, 5. Tupou Vaa'i, 6. Samipeni Finau, 7. Kaylum Boshier, 8. Luke Jacobson (c), 9. Cortez Ratima, 10. Josh Jacomb, 11. Leroy Carter, 12. Quinn Tupaea, 13. Daniel Rona, 14. Emoni Narawa, 15. Shaun Stevenson Bench: 16. Samisoni Taukei'aho, 17. Aidan Ross, 18. Reuben O'Neill, 19. Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20. Simon Parker, 21. Wallace Sititi, 22. Xavier Roe, 23. Gideon Wrampling
Highlanders v Moana Pasifika, 3:35pm Sunday 4 May, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Highlanders: 1. Ethan de Groot, 2. Soane Vikena, 3. Saula Ma'u, 4. Fabian Holland, 5. Oliver Haig, 6. TK Howden, 7. Sean Withy, 8. Hugh Renton (cc), 9. Nathan Hastie, 10. Cameron Millar, 11. Jonah Lowe, 12. Timoci Tavatavanawai (cc), 13. Thomas Umaga-Jensen, 14. Sam Gilbert, 15. Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens Bench: 16. Jack Taylor, 17. Josh Bartlett, 18. Rohan Wingham, 19. Mitch Dunshea, 20. Veveni Lasaqa, 21. Folau Fakatava, 22. Taine Robinson, 23. Jake Te Hiwi
Moana Pasifika: 1. Tito Tuipulotu, 2. Millennium Sanerivi, 3. Chris Apoua, 4. Tom Savage, 5. Samuel Slade, 6. Miracle Faiilagi, 7. Ardie Savea (c), 8. Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa, 9. Jonathan Taumateine, 10. Jackson Garden-Bachop, 11. Kyren Taumoefolau, 12. Danny Toala, 13. Lalomilo Lalomilo, 14. Tevita Ofa, 15. William Havili Bench: 16. Tomasi Maka, 17. Monu Moli, 18. Pone Fa'amausili, 19. Ofa Tauatevalu, 20. Sione Havili Talitui, 21. Melani Matavao, 22. Julian Savea, 23. Patrick Pellegrini
