Super Rugby Pacific Team Tracker: Waratahs drop NRL-bound Wallaby for Crusaders match

Mark-Nawaqanitawase-Waratahs-SRP-2024-Alamy

Check out the teams ahead of the eighth round of Super Rugby Pacific action with the action kicking off on Friday between Moana Pasifika and the Reds at Semenoff Stadium in Whangarei.

The Waratahs have sprung a surprise by dropping NRL-bound Wallabies flyer Mark Nawaqanitawase from their matchday squad for their clash with the Crusaders in Sydney later on Friday.

Ironically, Nawaqanitawase‘s spot on the right wing has been taken by Triston Reilly, who represented Wests Tigers in the NRL last year.

Friday

Moana Pasifika v Reds

Semenoff Stadium, Whangarei

Moana: 15 Danny Toala, 14 Viliami Fine, 13 Henry Taefu, 12 Julian Savea, 11 Fine Inisi, 10 William Havili, 9 Ereatara Enari, 8 Sione Havili Talitui (c), 7 Jacob Norris, 6 Irie Papuni, 5 Allan Craig, 4 Tom Savage, 3 Sione Mafileo, 2 Samiuela Moli, 1 Abraham Pole

Replacements: 16 Sama Malolo, 17 Sateki Latu, 18 Sekope Kepu, 19 Ola Tauelangi, 20 Miracle Failagi, 21 Melani Matavao, 22 Christian Lealiifano, 23 Nigel Ah Wong

Reds: 15 Jock Campbell, 14 Suli Vunivalu, 13 Josh Flook, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Jordan Petaia, 10 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 9 Tate McDermott (cc), 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Liam Wright (cc), 5 Ryan Smith, 4 Seru Uru, 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 2 Matt Faessler, 1 Peni Ravai

Replacements: 16 Josh Nasser, 17 Alex Hodgman, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Angus Blyth, 20 John Bryant, 21 Kalani Thomas, 22 Lawson Creighton, 23 Mac Grealy

Waratahs v Crusaders

Allianz Stadium, Sydney

Waratahs: 15 Max Jorgensen, 14 Triston Reilly, 13 Izaia Perese, 12 Lalakai Foketi, 11 Dylan Pietsch, 10 Tane Edmed, 9 Jake Gordon (c), 8 Langi Gleeson, 7 Charlie Gamble, 6 Lachlan Swinton, 5 Ned Hanigan, 4 Jed Holloway, 3 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 2 Julian Heaven, 1 Hayden Thompson-Stringer

Replacements: 16 Theo Fourie, 17 Lewis Ponini, 18 Tom Ross, 19 Miles Amatosero, 20 Hugh Sinclair, 21 Jack Grant, 22 Will Harrison, 23 Joey Walton

Crusaders: 15 Chay Fihaki, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Levi Aumua, 12 Dallas McLeod, 11 Johnny McNicholl, 10 Riley Hohepa, 9 Noah Hotham, 8 Cullen Grace, 7 Tom Christie (c), 6 Ethan Blackadder, 5 Jamie Hannah, 4 Quinten Strange, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 George Bell, 1 George Bower

Replacements: 16 Brodie McAlister, 17 Joe Moody, 18 Owen Franks, 19 Dom Gardiner, 20 Christian Lio-Willie, 21 Mitchell Drummond, 22 Rivez Reihana, 23 Macca Springer

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Saturday

Hurricanes v Chiefs

Sky Stadium, Wellington

Hurricanes: 15 Ruben Love, 14 Josh Moorby, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Kini Naholo, 10 Brett Cameron, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Brayden Iose, 7 Peter Lakai, 6 Brad Shields (c), 5 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 4 Caleb Delany, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Xavier Numia

Replacements: 16 James O’Reilly, 17 Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Justin Sangster, 20 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 21 Devan Flanders, 22 Richard Judd, 23 Peter Umaga-Jensen

Chiefs: 15 Shaun Stevenson, 14 Emoni Narawa, 13 Daniel Rona, 12 Anton Lienert-Brown, 11 Etene Nanai-Seturo, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Luke Jacobson (c), 6 Samipeni Finau, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 3 Reuben O’Neill, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 Aidan Ross

Replacements: 16 Bradley Slater, 17 Ollie Norris, 18 George Dyer, 19 Jimmy Tupou, 20 Kaylum Boshier, 21 Xavier Roe, 22 Josh Ioane, 23 Rameka Poihipi

Melbourne Rebels v Highlanders

AAMI Park, Melbourne

Rebels: 15 Andrew Kellaway, 14 Lachie Anderson, 13 Filipo Daugunu, 12 David Feliuai, 11 Darby Lancaster, 10 Carter Gordon, 9 Ryan Louwrens, 8 Vaiolini Ekuasi, 7 Maciu Nabolakasi, 6 Josh Kemeny, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Tuaina Taii Tualima, 3 Sam Talakai (c), 2 Jordan Uelese, 1 Matt Gibbon

Replacements: 16 Alex Mafi, 17 Isaac Kailea, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Angelo Smith, 20 Daniel Maiava, 21 Jack Maunder, 22 Matt Proctor, 23 Nick Jooste

Highlanders: 15 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, 14 Timoci Tavatavanawai, 13 Jonah Lowe, 12 Sam Gilbert, 11 Jona Nareki, 10 Ajay Faleafaga, 9 Folau Fakatava, 8 Nikora Broughton, 7 Billy Harmon (c), 6 Sean Withy, 5 Pari Pari Parkinson, 4 Oliver Haig, 3 Saula Ma’u, 2 Henry Bell, 1 Daniel Lienert-Brown

Replacements: 16 Ricky Jackson, 17 Ethan de Groot, 18 Rohan Wingham, 19 Hugo Plummer, 20 Will Stodart, 21 James Arscott, 22 Matt Whaanga, 23 Connor Garden-Bachop