Fijian Newbies Get Super Rugby Break
Apart from the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua, there are 12 players of Fijian heritage who are playing for their respective Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific clubs today.
The Reds who are here face the Drua. They have got Peni Ravai and Suliasi Vunivalu in their starting line-up while Seru Uru is on the bench.
Rob Valetini is the lone Fijian player in the Brumbies line-up while Crusaders have got halfback Noah Hotham, Sevu Reece, Jone Rova making his first start at centre, Chay Fihaki on the wing and George Bower starting from the bench.
Blues have got hooker Soane Vikena on the bench while Highlanders have named burly winger Timoci Tavatavanawai and dashing fullback Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens in their starting line-up.
TODAY’S TEAM LISTS
ACT BRUMBIES v CRUSADERS Venue:
BRUMBIES
Valetini, Ryan Lonergan, Noah Lolesio, Ollie Sapsford, Tamati Tua, Len Ikitau, Andy Muirhead, Tom Wright
Reserves: Liam Bowron, Rhys van Nek, Sosefo Kautai, Tom Hooper, Luke Reimer, Harrison Goddard, Jack Debreczeni, Ben O’Donnell
CRUSADERS (1-15): Joe Moody, Codie Taylor (c), Fletcher Newell, Antonio Shalfoon, Quinten Strange, Cullen Grace, Tom Christie, Christian Lio-Willie, Noah Hotham, Fergus Burke, Sevu Reece, David Havili, Jone Rova, Chay Fihaki, Johnny McNicholl. Reserves: George Bell, George Bower, Seb Calder, Jamie Hannah, Dom Gardiner, Mitch Drummond, Rivez Reihana, Macca Springer
MATCH OFFICIALS: Referee: Ben O’Keeffe; Assistant Referees: Stu Curran, Jackson Henshaw
BLUES v HIGHLANDERS Venue:
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
BLUES (1-15): Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Kurt Eklund, Marcel Renata, Laghlan McWhannell, Sam Darry, Adrian Choat, Dalton Papali’i (c), Akira Ioane, Sam Nock, Harry Plummer, Caleb Clarke, Corey Evans, Bryce Heem, AJ Lam, Cole Forbes.
Reserves: Soane Vikena, Mason Tupaea, Angus Ta’avao, Josh Beehre, Cameron Suafoa, Taufa Funaki, Stephen Perofeta, Kade Banks HIGHLANDERS (1-15): Ethan de Groot (c), Henry Bell, Jermaine Ainsley, Mitch Dunshea, Fabian Holland, Oliver Haig, Sean Withy, Nikora Broughton, Folau Fakatava, Cameron Millar, Martin Bogodo, Jake Te Hiwi, Tanielu Tele’a, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens.
Reserves: Jack Taylor, Ayden Johnstone, Saula Ma’u, Will Tucker, Will Stodart, James Arscott, Sam Gilbert, Finn Hurley
MATCH OFFICIALS: Referee: Paul Williams; Assistant Referees: Dan Waegna, Mike Winter