Beale named to start in dance of the desperates

The Western Force have wasted no time getting Kurtley Beale into the fold with the Wallabies veteran named to start at fullback against the defending champion Crusaders on Saturday night.

Beale signed with the Force on April 6 but the club had a Super Rugby Pacific bye last weekend.

Read on for all the round nine team news.

Watch all the action from the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season, with every match ad free, live and and on demand on Stan Sport

Ben Grant during a Hurricanes training session at NZCIS in Wellington.

DRUA vs HURRICANES in Suva, Friday 5.05pm kickoff AEST

Giant Queenslander Ben Grant will make a surprise Hurricanes debut in the opening match of round nine in Fiji.

Grant’s arrival in Wellington this season flew under the radar despite his 205cm frame but Hurricanes coach Clark Laidlaw has opted to start him in one of Super Rugby’s most difficult away trips.

The 25-year-old lock was born in Townsville and has previously played for the Perth Spirit, Western Force, San Diego Legion and North Harbour.

“It’s pleasing to see another couple of our squad set to make their debuts, with Ben Grant and Siale Lauaki coming into the side,” Laidlaw said.

“Siale is a product of our Hurricanes development pathway and has a big future with our club after an outstanding under-20 World Cup in 2023.”

DRUA (1-15): Haereiti Hetet, Tevita Ikanivere (c), Mesake Doge, Isoa Nasilasila, Leone Rotuisolia, Vilive Miramira, Kitione Salawa, Elia Canakaivata, Simione Kuruvoli, Isikeli Rabitu, Epeli Momo, Kemu Valetini, Iosefo Masi, Selestino Ravutaumada, Ilaisa Droasese

Reserves: Zuriel Togiatama, Livai Natave, Samu Tawake, Mesake Vocevoce, Meli Derenalagi, Peni Matawalu, Michael Naitokani, Junior Ratuva

HURRICANES (1-15): Tevita Mafileo, James O’Reilly, Pasilio Tosi, Ben Grant, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Brad Shields (c), Du’Plessis Kirifi, Devan Flanders, TJ Perenara, Aidan Morgan, Salesi Rayasi, Jordie Barrett, Billy Proctor, Kini Naholo, Josh Moorby

Reserves: Asafo Aumua, Xavier Numia, Siale Lauaki, Caleb Delany, Peter Lakai, Richard Judd, Ruben Love, Bailyn Sullivan

Referee: Paul Williams

REDS vs HIGHLANDERS in Brisbane, Friday 7.35pm kickoff AEST

The Reds will have to overcome the loss of key players Tate McDermott, Fraser McReight, Seru Uru and Josh Flook against the Highlanders.

McDermott and McReight are both suspended, Uru is out for at least a month after requiring surgery on an injured thumb and Flook is sidelined with a shoulder injury.

“It wasn’t ideal in the game, fairly costly as we saw,” Reds coach Les Kiss said of the two red cards in the loss to Moana Pasifika.

“It’s uncharacteristic but it’s been dealt with, we’ll move on… the opportunity in this now is to give more exposure to players who were playing off the bench and other players in the program to step up.”

Kalani Thomas will start at halfback, John Bryant at openside flanker and Cormac Daly at lock.

Jordan Petaia has been moved to outside centre with allows Suliasi Vunivalu to return to the right wing.

REDS (1-15): Alex Hodgman, Matt Faessler, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Cormac Daly, Ryan Smith, Liam Wright (c), John Bryant, Harry Wilson, Kalani Thomas, Tom Lynagh, Mac Grealy, Hunter Paisami, Jordan Petaia, Suliasi Vunivalu, Jock Campbell

Reserves: Josh Nasser, Peni Ravai, Sef Fa’agase, Angus Blyth, Joe Brial, Louis Werchon, Lawson Creighton, Tim Ryan

HIGHLANDERS (1-15): Ethan de Groot, Ricky Jackson, Saula Ma’u, Hugo Pummer, Pari Pari Parkinson, Oliver Haig, Sean Withy, Billy Harmon (c), James Arscott, Cameron Millar, Jona Nareki, Sam Gilbert, Tanielu Tele’a, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Connor Garden-Bachop

Reserves: Henry Bell, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Rohan Wingham, Will Stodart, Nikora Broughton, Folau Fakatava, Ajay Faleafaga, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens

Referee: Jordan Way

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BLUES vs BRUMBIES in Auckland, Saturday 5.05pm kickoff AEST

The third placed Brumbies are again flying the flag for Australian teams in Super Rugby and will get a stern test of their title credentials against the second placed Blues at Eden Park.

Aussie teams have been more competitive against their New Zealand rivals this season with a 41.7 per cent trans-Tasman win rate.

“Clearly the Brumbies are tracking really well this season, they’ve been impressive both offensively and defensively and will be a handful,” Blues coach Vern Cotter said.

“We’re locked together on points, we’ve won the same number of games and whoever wins on Saturday will claim outright second on the points table – it’s a big match there’s no doubt about that.”

BLUES (1-15): Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Ricky Riccitelli, Marcel Renata, Patrick Tuipulotu (c), Laghlan McWhannell, Akira Ioane, Dalton Papali’i, Hoskins Sotutu, Taufa Funaki, Harry Plummer, Caleb Clarke, Bryce Heem, Rieko Ioane, Mark Tele’a, Cole Forbes

Reserves: Kurt Eklund, Joshua Fusitu’a, Angus Ta’avao, Sam Darry, Adrian Choat, Sam Nock, Lucas Cashmore, AJ Lam

BRUMBIES (1-15): James Slipper, Billy Pollard, Sefo Kautai, Darcy Swain, Cadeyrn Neville, Rob Valetini, Jahrome Brown, Charlie Cale, Ryan Lonergan (c), Noah Lolesio, Corey Toole, Tamati Tua, Hudson Creighton, Ollie Sapsford, Tom Wright

Reserves: Connal McInerney, Blake Schoupp, Rhys van Nek, Nick Frost, Tom Hooper, Luke Reimer, Harrison Goddard, Jack Debreczeni,

Referee: Ben O’Keeffe

Kurtley Beale addresses the media during a Western Force Super Rugby media opportunity.

FORCE vs CRUSADERS in Perth, Saturday 7.35pm kickoff AEST

This is a true dance of the desperates between the bottom two teams on the ladder.

Under new coach Rob Penney, the defending champion Crusaders are unrecognisable from Scott Robertson’s all conquering squad.

The Force have wasted no time getting Kurtley Beale into the fold with the Wallabies veteran named to start at fullback.

Simon Cron’s squad has also been boosted by the presence of experienced forwards Michael Wells and Izack Rodda on the bench after returning from knee and quad injuries respectively.

FORCE (1-15): Ryan Coxon, Tom Horton, Santiago Medrano, Sam Carter, Tom Franklin, Will Harris, Carlo Tizzano, Reed Prinsep, Nic White (c), Ben Donaldson, Chase Tiatia, Hamish Stewart, Sam Spink, Bayley Kuenzle, Kurtley Beale

Reserves: Ben Funnell, Marley Pearce, Tiaan Tauakipulu, Izack Rodda, Michael Wells, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Max Burey, Henry O’Donnell

CRUSADERS (1-15): Joe Moody, Brodie McAlister, Owen Franks, Quinten Strange, Jamie Hannah, Ethan Blackadder, Tom Christie (c), Christian Lio-Willie, Mitch Drummond, Riley Hohepa, Macca Springer, Dallas McLeod, Levi Aumua, Sevu Reece, Chay Fihaki

Reserves: George Bell, George Bower, Fletcher Newell, Dominic Gardiner, Cullen Grace, Noah Hotham, Rivez Reihana, Ryan Crotty

Referee: Reuben Keane

BYES: CHIEFS, MOANA PASIFIKA, REBELS, WARATAHS