All Blacks star Damian McKenzie in action for the Chiefs against the Blues and Springboks team in a huddle.
The teams have been named for the second round of Super Rugby Pacific, including the huge clash between the Chiefs and Crusaders on Friday.
Interestingly, the hosts have decided to keep Damian McKenzie at full-back despite Clayton McMillan’s claim after their victory over the Blues that he is the team’s first-choice fly-half.
“He’s our guy, you know he’s our 10,” head coach McMillan said after their 25-14 victory over the Blues.
“The other guys are talented and chasing him, but tonight Josh [Jacomb] got an opportunity and I thought he did extremely well.”
McKenzie’s switch to 10 coincided with the Chiefs wrestling control of the encounter last weekend, but Jacomb will remain in the key decision-making position for their match with the Crusaders.
The All Blacks star could well move there later in the game and also take that role later in the season, but for now he remains at 15.
On Saturday, title holders the Blues, who suffered that aforementioned opening-round loss, head to Dunedin to take on the Highlanders.
They will face a team that have joined the dark side by opting for a 6-2 split on the bench, copying the tactics which the Springboks made famous. That is despite regular criticism from New Zealand over South Africa’s forward-orientated approach.
It has been used once at international level by the All Blacks – against the Boks in a 2023 Rugby World Cup warm-up – but the traditional 5-3 is generally preferred in New Zealand.
Friday
Chiefs v Crusaders
FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
Chiefs: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Emoni Narawa, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Rameka Poihipi, 11 Leroy Carter, 10 Josh Jacomb, 9 Xavier Roe, 8 Luke Jacobson (c), 7 Jahrome Brown, 6 Simon Parker, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Josh Lord, 3 George Dyer, 2 Bradley Slater, 1 Aidan Ross
Replacements: 16 Brodie McAlister, 17 Jared Proffit, 18 Reuben O’Neill, 19 Manaaki Selby-Rickit, 20 Samipeni Finau, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Quinn Tupaea, 23 Gideon Wrampling
Crusaders: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Chay Fihaki, 13 Levi Aumua, 12 David Havili (c), 11 Sevu Reece, 10 Taha Kemara, 9 Kyle Preston, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Ethan Blackadder, 6 Cullen Grace, 5 Antonio Shalfoon, 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Ioane Moananu, 1 Tamaiti Williams
Replacements: 16 Manumaua Letiu, 17 George Bower, 18 Sam Matenga, 19 Tahlor Cahill, 20 Corey Kellow, 21 Mitchell Drummond, 22 James O’Connor, 23 Dallas McLeod
Queensland Reds v Moana Pasifika
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Reds: 15 Jock Campbell, 14 Tim Ryan, 13 Josh Flook, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Filipo Daugunu, 10 Tom Lynagh, 9 Tate McDermott (c), 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Seru Uru, 5 Ryan Smith, 4 Josh Canham, 3 Massimo De Lutiis, 2 Richie Asiata, 1 Sef Fa’agase
Replacements: 16 Matt Faessler, 17 George Blake, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Angus Blyth, 20 Joe Brial, 21 Kalani Thomas, 22 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 23 Lachie Anderson
Moana: 15 William Havili, 14 Solomon Alaimalo, 13 Pepesana Patafilo, 12 Lalomilo Lalomilo, 11 Kyren Taumoefolau, 10 Jackson Garden-Bachop, 9 Jonathan Taumateine, 8 Ardie Savea (c), 7 Sione Havili Talitui, 6 Miracle Faillagi, 5 Allan Craig, 4 Samuel Slade, 3 Feteleti Sae-Ta’ufo’ou, 2 Millennium Sanerivi, 1 James Lay
Replacements: 16 Sama Malolo, 17 Tito Tuipulotu, 18 Chris Apoua, 19 Tom Savage, 20 Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa, 21 Melani Matavao, 22 Danny Toala, 23 Losi Filipo
Saturday
Hurricanes v Fijian Drua
McLean Park, Napier
Hurricanes: 15 Callum Harkin, 14 Fatafehi Fineanganofo, 13 Bailyn Sullivan, 12 Peter Umaga-Jensen, 11 Kini Naholo, 10 Harry Godfrey, 9 Cameron Roigard, 8 Brayden Iose, 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi (cc), 6 Brad Shields (cc), 5 Hugo Plummer, 4 Caleb Delany, 3 Tevita Mafileo, 2 Jacob Devery, 1 Xavier Numia
Replacements: 16 Raymond Tuputupu, 17 Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Will Tucker, 20 Peter Lakai, 21 Ereatara Enari, 22 Riley Hohepa, 23 Ngatungane Puniva
Fijian Drua: 15 Ilaisa Droasese, 14 Junior Ratuva, 13 Tuidraki Samusamuvodre, 12 Inia Tabuavou, 11 Tanilea Rakuro, 10 Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 9 Frank Lomani (c), 8 Elia Canakaivata, 7 Motikiai Murray, 6 Meli Derenalagi, 5 Isoa Nasilasila, 4 Mesake Vocevoce, 3 Mesake Doge, 2 Zuriel Togiatama, 1 Emosi Tuqiri
Replacements: 16 Mesulame Dolokoto, 17 Peni Ravai, 18 Meli Tuni, 19 Leona Rotuisolia, 20 Kitione Salawa, 21 Peni Matawalu, 22 Caleb Muntz, 23 Iosefo Masi
Highlanders v Blues
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Highlanders: 15 Finn Hurley, 14 Sam Gilbert, 13 Tanielu Tele’a, 12 Timoci Tavatavanawai (cc), 11 Caleb Tangitau, 10 Taine Robinson, 9 Folau Fakatava, 8 Hugh Renton (cc), 7 Veveni Lasaqa, 6 Sean Withy, 5 Mitch Dunshea, 4 Fabian Holland, 3 Saula Ma’u, 2 Soane Mikaele Vikena, 1 Ethan de Groot
Replacements: 16 Jack Taylor, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Sefo Kautai, 19 Will Stodart, 20 Nikora Broughton, 21 Nathan Hastie, 22 Cameron Millar, 23 Lui Naeat
Blues: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Mark Tele’a, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 AJ Lam, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Harry Plummer, 9 Finlay Christie, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Dalton Papali’i, 6 Cameron Suafoa, 5 Laghlan McWhannell, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Ofa Tu’ungafasi
Replacements: 16 James Mullan, 17 Joshua Fusitu’a, 18 Angus Ta’avao, 19 Josh Beehre, 20 Adrian Choat, 21 Taufa Funaki, 22 Corey Evans, 23 Cole Forbes
Brumbies v Western Force
GIO Stadium, Canberra
Brumbies: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Andy Muirhead, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Ollie Sapsford, 11 Corey Toole, 10 Declan Meredith, 9 Ryan Lonergan (c), 8 Charlie Cale, 7 Luke Reimer, 6 Rory Scott, 5 Tom Hooper, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Billy Pollard, 1 James Slipper
Replacements: 16 Lachlan Lonergan, 17 Blake Schoupp, 18 Rhys van Nek, 19 Lachlan Shaw, 20 Tuaina Taii Tualima, 21 Harrison Goddard, 22 Jack Debreczeni, 23 Hudson Creighton
Western Force: 15 Mac Grealy, 14 Dylan Pietsch, 13 Sio Tomkinson, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 Harry Potter, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Nic White, 8 Reed Prinsep, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 5 Darcy Swain, 4 Jeremy Williams (c), 3 Tom Robertson, 2 Nic Dolly, 1 Marley Pearce
Replacements: 16 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17 Ryan Coxon, 18 Atu Moli, 19 Sam Carter, 20 Will Harris, 21 Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 22 Max Burey, 23 George Poolman
