Wallace Sititi. Photo: Aaron Gillions/ActionPress
It's a short round of Super Rugby Pacific this weekend, but it's made up for by the fact that we've got a premier match up on Saturday night. The Chiefs have named Wallace Sititi into their starting lineup after two appearances off the bench in his faster than anticipated comeback, for their match against the Crusaders in Christchurch.
Damian McKenzie is also back after missing two matches with injury, he takes the place of Josh Jacomb at first five in an otherwise unchanged Chiefs lineup.
Meanwhile, the Crusaders have named Rivez Reihana to start at first five ahead in the wake of Taha Kemara's injury. James O'Connor stays on the bench, but it's a welcome back to Brayden Ennor at centre from injury.
The only other NZ side in action this weekend is the Blues, who are taking a mostly unchanged team up to Suva to face the Drua. The only shift is AJ Lam coming back into the starting side after mysteriously being benched shortly before kick-off last weekend, also Finlay Christie and Zarn Sullivan return to the bench.
Blues player AJ Lam scores a try during Blues v Crusaders at Eden Park. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
Blues v Fijian Drua
Kick-off: 7:05pm Friday 9 May
HFC Bank Stadium, Suva
Live blog updates on RNZ Sport
Blues: 1. Joshua Fusitu'a, 2. Ricky Riccitelli, 3. Marcel Renata, 4. Patrick Tuipulotu (capt), 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. Corey Evans
Bench: 16. Kurt Eklund, 17. Mason Tupaea, 18. Angus Ta'avao, 19. Josh Beehre, 20. Adrian Choat, 21. Finlay Christie, 22. Harry Plummer, 23. Zarn Sullivan
Rivez Reihana. Photo: photosport
Crusaders v Chiefs
Kick-off: 7:05pm Saturday 10 May
Apollo Projects Stadium
Live blog updates on RNZ Sport
Crusaders: 1. Tamaiti Williams, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Fletcher Newell, 4. Scott Barrett, 5. Antonio Shalfoon, 6. Cullen Grace, 7. Tom Christie, 8. Christian Lio-Willie, 9. Noah Hotham, 10. Rivez Reihana, 11. Sevu Reece, 12. David Havili, 13. Braydon Ennor, 14. Chay Fihaki, 15. Will Jordan
Bench: 16. Ioane Moananu, 17. George Bower, 18. Seb Calder, 19. Jamie Hannah, 20. Corey Kellow, 21. Kyle Preston, 22. James O'Connor, 23. Dallas McLeod
Chiefs: 1. Ollie Norris, 2. Brodie McAlister, 3. George Dyer, 4. Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 5. Tupou Vaa'i, 6. Simon Parker, 7. Luke Jacobson, 8. Wallace Sititi, 9. Cortez Ratima, 10. Damian McKenzie, 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'Neil, 19. Josh Lord, 20. Samipeni Finau, 21. Xavier Roe, 22. Josh Jacomb, 23. Gideon Wrampling
Also:
Waratahs v Reds
Kick-off: 9:35pm Friday 9 May
Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Force v Brumbies
Kick-off: 9:35pm Saturday 10 May
HBF Park, Perth
Moana Pasifika, Highlanders, Hurricanes - bye
