It’s Super Round Time
Round two of Super Rugby Pacific this weekend takes all teams to Melbourne to play their matches at AAMI Park.
It was a concept first meant to take place in round two last season, but due to Covid-19 got pushed back to round 10, along with one of the matches (Moana Pasifika v Force) having to be scrapped.
This year, it will indeed take place before AFL season kicks off, giving officials more chance of showcasing and growing the game in Victoria.
Three days of doubleheaders are on the menu, with an intriguing all-Kiwi affair to kick it off on Friday night as two wounded Crusaders and Highlanders sides go head to head in the latest edition of their southern derby.
Injuries force changes
Injuries to Crusaders No 8 Cullen Grace (shoulder) and tighthead prop Fletcher Newell (knee and foot) have forced Scott Robertson to tinker with his forward pack for the southern derby.
But cushioning that blow for the defending champs, who were humbled by the Chiefs 31-10 at home in the season opener, is the return of Sam Whitelock.
The All Blacks test centurion missed the opening round with concussion and replaces Mitchell Dunshea, who drops out of the match-day 23.
The withdrawal of Newell means Tamaiti Williams starts in the No 3 jersey, and with Grace out Christian Lio-Willie is promoted to start at the back of the scrum after an impressive debut off the bench last weekend.
Robertson has adjusted his midfield, switching David Havili from fullback to second five-eighth, with Jack Goodhue, who started at No 12 last week, moving to centre, and Braydon Ennor relegated to the reserves.
Fergus Burke, who had a crack at playing in the position in the pre-season, has been promoted to fullback.
Blindside flanker Shannon Frizell and loosehead prop Ethan de Groot will miss the Highlanders’ match against the Crusaders
because of the All Blacks’ loadmanagement programme.
Loose forward Marino Mikaele-Tu’u will also be absent because he damaged ribs in the opening moments of the 60-20 loss to the Blues in the opening round, and is expected to be sidelined for several weeks.
Wing Jona Nareki, a late withdrawal from that game because of a foot injury, was also not considered for this fixture in Melbourne. All Blacks halfback Aaron Smith remains off-limits, with Highlanders coach Clarke Dermody electing to rest him from the first two rounds. Smith, along with Frizell and de Groot will be available for the next match against the Chiefs in Hamilton.
Tactical move
Hurricanes coach Jason Holland has made three changes to the starting team which pumped the Reds 47-13 in Townsville last weekend.
All Blacks tighthead prop Tyrel Lomax is promoted to the run-on side, swapping roles with former All Black Owen Franks, who will play from the bench.
In the loose forwards, Brayden Iose (blindside) and Du’Plessis Kirifi (openside) have been promoted to start alongside skipper Ardie Savea, with Devan Flanders out with concussion and talented teen Peter Lakai, who got an hour of action on debut, dropping to the reserves.
The only change to the 23 sees Riley Higgins, the 20-year-old midfielder who earned one cap late last season, come onto the bench, seeing the Canes revert to a traditional 5-3 forwards-backs split.