Super Rugby Pacific Team Tracker: Highlanders spring a surprise by dropping All Black for Reds clash

Folau-Fakatava-Highlanders-v-Blues-SRP-2024-

Check out the teams ahead of the ninth round of Super Rugby Pacific with the action kicking off on Friday between the Fijian Drua and the Hurricanes at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva.

Meanwhile, the Highlanders have sprung a surprise by dropping All Blacks scrum-half Folau Fakatava for their clash against the Reds in Brisbane later on Friday.

Friday

Fijian Drua v Hurricanes

HFC Bank Stadium, Suva

Drua: 15 Ilaisa Droasese, 14 Selestino Ravutaumada, 13 Iosefo Masi, 12 Kemu Valetini, 11 Epeli Momo, 10 Isikeli Rabitu, 9 Simione Kuruvoli, 8 Elia Canakaivata, 7 Kitione Salawa, 6 Vilive Miramira, 5 Leone Rotuisolia, 4 Isoa Nasilasila, 3 Mesake Doge, 2 Tevita Ikanivere (c), 1 Haereiti Hetet

Replacements: 16 Zuriel Togiatama, 17 Livai Natave, 18 Samu Tawake, 19 Mesake Vocevoce, 20 Meli Derenalagi, 21 Peni Matawalu, 22 Michael Naitokani, 23 Junior Ratuva

Hurricanes: 15 Josh Moorby, 14 Kini Naholo, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Salesi Rayasi, 10 Aidan Morgan, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Devan Flanders, 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 6 Brad Shield (c), 5 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 4 Ben Grant, 3 Pasilio Tosi, 2 James O’Reilly, 1 Tevita Mafileo

Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Xavier Numia, 18 Siale Lauaki, 19 Caleb Delany, 20 Peter Lakai, 21 Richard Judd, 22 Ruben Love, 23 Bailyn Sullivan

Reds v Highlanders

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Reds: 15 Jock Campbell, 14Suli Vunivalu, 13 Jordan Petaia, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Mac Grealy, 10 Tom Lynagh, 9 Kalani Thomas, 8 Harry Wilson, 7 John Bryant, 6 Liam Wright (c), 5 Ryan Smith, 4 Cormac Daly, 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 2 Matt Faessler, 1 Alex Hodgman

Replacements: 16 Josh Nasser, 17 Peni Ravai, 18 Sef Fa’agase, 19 Angus Blyth,20 Joe Brial, 21 Louis Werchon, 22 Lawson Creighton, 23 Tim Ryan

Highlanders: 15 Connor Garden-Bachop, 14 Timoci Tavatavanawai, 13 Tanielu Tele’a, 12 Sam GIlbert, 11 Jona Nareki, 10 Cameron Millar, 9 James Arscott, 8 Billy Harmon (c), 7 Sean Withy, 6 Oliver Haig, 5 Pari Pari Parkinson, 4 Hugo Plummer, 3 Saula Ma’’u, 2 Ricky Jackson, 1 Ethan de Groot

Replacements: 16 Henry Bell, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Rohan Wingham, 19 Will Stodart, 20 Nikora Broughton, 21 Folau Fakatava, 22 Ajay Faleafaga, 23 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens

Super Rugby Pacific Team of the Week: ‘Remarkable’ TJ Perenara and a Sevens convert catch the eye

Saturday

Blues v Brumbies

Eden Park, Auckland

Blues: 15 Cole Forbes, 14 Mark Tele’a, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Bryce Heem, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Harry Plummer, 9 Taufa Funaki, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Dalton Papali’i, 6 Akira Ioane, 5 Laghlan McWhannell, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Ofa Tu’ungafasi

Replacements: 16 Kurt Eklund, 17 Joshua Fusitu’a, 18 Angus Ta’avao, 19 Sam Darry, 20 Adrian Choat, 21 Sam Nock, 22 Lucas Cashmore, 23 AJ Lam

Brumbies: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Ollie Sapsford, 13 Hudson Creighton, 12 Tamati Tua, 11 Corey Toole, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Ryan Lonergan (c), 8 Charlie Cale, 7 Jahrome Brown, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Cadeyrn Neville, 4 Darcy Swain, 3 Sefo Kautai, 2 Billy Pollard, 1 James Slipper

Replacements: 16 Connal McInerney, 17 Blake Schoupp, 18 Rhys Van Nek, 19 Nick Frost, 20 Tom Hooper, 21 Luke Reimer, 22 Harrison Goddard, 23 Jack Debreczeni

Western Force v Crusaders

HBF Park, Perth

Force: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Bayley Kuenzle, 13 Sam Spink, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 Chase Tiatia, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Nic White (c), 8 Reed Prinsep, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Will Harris, 5 Thomas Franklin, 4 Sam Carter, 3 Santiago Medrano, 2 Tom Horton, 1 Ryan Coxon

Replacements: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Marley Pearce, 18 Tiaan Tauakipulu, 19 Izack Rodda, 20 Michael Wells, 21 Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 22 Max Burey, 23 Henry O’Donnell

Crusaders: 15 Chay Fihaki, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Levi Aumua, 12 Dallas McLeod, 11 Macca Springer, 10 Riley Hohepa, 9 Mitchell Drummond, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Tom Christie (c), 6 Ethan Blackadder, 5 Jamie Hannah, 4 Quinten Strange, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Brodie McAlister, 1 Joe Moody

Replacements: 16 George Bell, 17 George Bower, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Dom Gardiner, 20 Cullen Grace, 21 Noah Hotham, 22 Rivez Reihana, 23 Ryan Crotty