Source: Radio New Zealand
The Blues and Fijian Drua will play for the inaugural Joeli Vidiri Trophy this weekend. Photosport
The final piece of the All Black’s puzzle now awaits.
With Dave Rennie’s coaching squad assembled, the new crew will now turn their attention to the players they will task with resurrecting the national side.
Their next audition comes in round seven of Super Rugby Pacific, where the men from the capital still lead the pack. The Hurricanes sit in top spot with a game in hand and will host a resurgent Reds side fresh off an upset in Fiji.
All Black flyer Leroy Carter will start at centre for the Chiefs as they travel to Perth to take on a flailing Force outfit.
The late, great Joeli Vidiri’s legacy will be celebrated as the Blues and Fijian Drua battle for his namesake trophy at the ground where he electrified crowds in the late 90’s and early 2000’s.
Though buoyed by his All Blacks promotion, Tana Umaga has the unenviable task of dragging Moana off the bottom of the ladder as they host the Highlanders in Albany.
The defending champion Crusaders have the bye.
Selection notes
Highlanders halfback Nic Shearer has been given the No.9 jersey for his first match in Super Rugby, with Folau Fakatava dropping out of the 23 altogether.
Giant lock Fiti Sa will bring his 2.03 metre frame off the pine for a Chiefs debut while Damian McKenzie has been moved to fullback with Josh Jacomb taking the reins at 10.
Paula Latu will get his first Super Rugby cap off the bench for Moana, as will loose forward Jed Melvin for the Blues. Highlanders centre Jonah Lowe plays his 50th Super Rugby match.
Injury ward
The Chiefs are without All Blacks Tupou Vaa’i and Wallace Sititi with midfielders Daniel Rona and Lalakai Foketi also sidelined.
Julian Savea’s return for Moana Pasifika lasted just five minutes last weekend before dislocating his shoulder, while Tom Savage sits the week out with a head knock.
For the Highlanders, Mitch Dunshea’s calf is still at least two weeks from full fitness with Cam Millar still out with concussion.
The Blues have three players out with concussion; Laghlan McWhannell, Sam Nock, and Zarn Sullivan, with All Blacks Dalton Papali’i, Stephen Perofeta and Hoskins Sotutu all joining the side’s growing injury list.
Callum Harkin is also missing this week for the Hurricanes after failing an HIA at the weekend.
Key stats
- The Hurricanes have won the last 10 on the trot against the Reds.
- Brumbies flanker Charlie Cale leads the try scorers with eight.
- Moana Pasifika are on a five-game losing streak.
- Force lock Jeremy Williams leads the pack for lineout steals with seven.
- Quinn Tupaea at the Chiefs tops the turnover charts with eight.
- The Blues have never lost to the Fijian Drua.
Moana Pasifika vs Highlanders
Kick-off: 7:05pm Friday 27 March
North Harbour Stadium, Auckland
Live blog updates on RNZ
Moana Pasifika:
1. Abraham Pole 2. Millennium Sanerivi 3. Feleti Sae-Ta’ufo’ou 4. Veikoso Poloniati 5. Allan Craig 6. Miracle Faiilagi (c) 7. Niko Jones 8. Dominic Ropeti 9. Joel Lam 10. Jackson Garden-Bachop 11. Glen Vaihu 12. Lalomilo Lalomilo 13. Tevita Latu 14. Solomon Alaimalo 15. William Havili.
Bench: 16. Samiuela Moli 17. Malakai Hala-Ngatai 18. Paula Latu (*debut) 19. Alefosio Aho 20. Ola Tauelangi 21. Siaosi Nginingini 22. Patrick Pellegrini 23. Tevita Ofa.
“I have great belief about what we’re trying to do here and the movement behind Moana Pasifika, I still do, and will always have a place in my heart with this club and this movement,” – Coach Fa’alogo Tana Umaga.
Highlanders:
Ethan de Groot 2. Jack Taylor 3. Angus Ta’avao 4. Oliver Haig 5. Tomas Lavanini 6. Te Kamaka Howden 7. Veveni Lasaqa 8. Hugh Renton (cc) 9. Nic Shearer (Super Rugby debut) 10. Reesjan Pasitoa 11. Jona Nareki 12. Tanielu Tele’a 13. Jonah Lowe 14. Caleb Tangitau 15. Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens.
Bench: 16. Henry Bell 17. Daniel Lienert-Brown 18. Rohan Wingham 19. Will Stodart 20. Sean Withy 21. Adam Lennox 22. Andrew Knewstubb 23. Timoci Tavatavanawai (cc).
“They are a big, physical side that play a direct style of game, and we will need to meet that challenge. In this competition every week is a tough game,” – Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph.
Hurricanes vs Reds
Kick-off: 4:35pm Saturday 28 March
Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington
Live blog updates on RNZ
Hurricanes:
1. Xavier Numia 2. Asafo Aumua 3. Tyrel Lomax 4. Caleb Delany 5. Warner Dearns 6. Devan Flanders 7. Du’Plessis Kirifi (cc) 8. Peter Lakai 9. Cam Roigard 10. Ruben Love 11. Fehi Fineanganofo 12. Jordie Barrett (cc) 13. Billy Proctor 14. Bailyn Sullivan 15. Josh Moorby.
Bench: 16. Vernon Bason 17. Siale Lauaki 18. Pasilio Tosi 19. Isaia Walker-Leawere 20. Brayden Iose 21. Ereatara Enari 22. Lucas Cashmore 23. Jone Rova.
“We’re really looking forward to playing a top-quality side in the Reds, who have won four games on the bounce,” – Hurricanes coach Clark Laidlaw.
Blues vs Fijian Drua
Kick-off: 7:05pm Saturday 28 March
Eden Park, Auckland
Live blog updates on RNZ
Blues:
1. Ofa Tu’ungafasi 2. Bradley Slater 3. Marcel Renata 4. Josh Beehre 5. Sam Darry (c) 6. Torian Barnes 7. Anton Segner 8. Malachi Wrampling 9. Taufa Funaki 10. Beauden Barrett 11. Caleb Clarke 12. Pita Ahki 13. AJ Lam 14. Cole Forbes 15. Payton Spencer.
Bench: 16. James Mullan 17. Mason Tupaea 18. Sam Matenga 19. Che Clark 20. Jed Melvin (debut) 21. Finlay Christie 22. Xavi Taele 23. Codemeru Vai.
“The Drua are a dangerous side when you give them space. They play with a lot of flair and confidence, so for us it’s about being accurate, controlling the tempo and making good decisions under pressure,” – Blues coach Vern Cotter.
Western Force vs Chiefs
Kick-off: 9:35pm Saturday 28 March
HBF Park, Perth
Live blog updates on RNZ
Chiefs:
1. Jared Proffit 2. Brodie McAlister 3. George Dyer 4. Josh Lord 5. Naitoa Ah Kuoi 6. Samipeni Finau 7. Luke Jacobson (c) 8. Simon Parker 9. Xavier Roe 10. Josh Jacomb 11. Etene Nanai-Seturo 12. Quinn Tupaea (vc) 13. Leroy Carter 14. Emoni Narawa 15. Damian McKenzie.
Bench: 16. Samisoni Taukei’aho 17. Ollie Norris 18. Sione Ahio 19. Fiti Sa 20. Kaylum Boshier 21. Cortez Ratima 22. Kyle Brown 23. Kyren Taumoefolau.
“We don’t take the Force lightly, especially on their home patch and after the loss to the Brumbies last week it’s important we get the little things right on Saturday,” – Chiefs coach Jonno Gibbs.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
