Each Wednesday you will find the latest squad news ahead of the weekend’s rugby - who is in, who is outand when all the footy is going ahead.
Blues team to face Highlanders
All Blacks duo Rieko Ioane and Finlay Christie will miss this weekend’s clash due to load management. Blues coach Vern Cotter said Ioane “felt his hammy a little” in last weekend’s win over the Fijian Drua and that this weekend was an “opportune time to manage his workload and make sure he’s 100 per cent”.
The side will welcome back several players for the match. Akira Ioane (calf), Ofa Tu’ungafasi (knee) and Bryce Heem (parental leave) all make their way back into the starting side, while Taufa Funaki and A.J. Lam move into the run-on XV in place of Christie and Rieko Ioane respectively. Ricky Riccitelli and Laghlan McWhannell also join the starting side.
Rieko Ioane (second from left) and Finlay Christie (far right) will miss this weekend's Blues game due to load management. Photo / Photosport
Highlanders team to face Blues
The Highlanders will run out a new-look front row this weekend, with Ethan de Groot and Jermaine Ainsley making their first starts of the season to pack down in the scrum on either side of Henry Bell.
The only other change to the starting line-up sees Max Hicks start at lock with Fabian Holland moving back to the bench.
Ricky Jackson and Ajay Faleafaga look set to feature in their first game of the season as they join the bench in place of Jack Taylor and Cameron Millar.
Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens made a strong start to life with the Highlanders. Photo / Photosport
Moana Pasifika team to face Fijian Drua
Unavailabilities have been unkind to Moana Pasifika this week, with Miracle Fai’ilagi, Alamanda Motuga, James Lay, Pepesana Patafilo, Samuel Slade and Suetena Asomua all out of the running to be selected for their match against the Fijian Drua.
That sees coach Tana Umaga forced to make changes, particularly in the forwards, with Abraham Pole, Allan Craig, Jacob Norris, Sione Havili Talitui and Henry Taefu joining the starting line-up.
Some familiar faces return to the bench, with former Wallabies Sekope Kepu and Christian Leali’ifan both in the reserves, alongside Sateki Latu, Irie Papuni , Kyren Taumoefolau and Ola Tauelangi, who are all set to make their debuts.
Moana Pasifika have made several changes to their side for this weekend's clash. Photo / Photosport
Crusaders team to face Waratahs
All Blacks prop Tamaiti Williams will miss this weekend’s match after picking up an injury in the side’s opening-round loss to the Chiefs.
However, the Crusaders welcome back Fletcher Newell and David Havili, who join the starting side at tighthead prop and second five-eighths respectively. Exciting young talents Noah Hotham and Taha Kemara will also start in the 9 and 10 jerseys after coming off the bench last weekend. Mitchell Drummond (halfback) and Dallas McLeod (second five-eighths) move back to the bench with Hotham and Havili joining the run-on side.
David Havili returns for the Crusaders this weekend. Photo / Photosport
Chiefs team to face the Brumbies
Clayton McMillan has made a string of changes to his side that beat the Crusaders in the opening match of the season, including three changes in the tight five.
Ollie Norris and George Dyer will start alongside hooker Bradley Slater in the front row, while Manaaki Selby-Rickit partners Tupou Vaa’i in the locking department.
Just one change comes in the backline, with Rameka Poihipi starting at second five-eighths in place of Quinn Tupaea, who was unavailable for selection, along with Emoni Narawa, Josh Lord, Kaleb Trask and Gideon Wrampling.
Shaun Stevenson in action for the Chiefs against the Crusaders. Photo / Photosport
Hurricanes team to face Reds
All Blacks halfback Cam Roigard returns to the starting XV this weekend for the Hurricanes, pushing Jordi Viljoen to the bench after a strong debut in round one. It’s a similar situation in the front row, with Tyrel Lomax joining the starting side and Pasilio Tosi moving to the reserves.
Loose forward duo Du’Plessis Kirifi and Devan Flanders have both been ruled out due to injury, which sees T.K. Howden and Brayden Iose join the starting side with Veveni Lasaqa in line to make his debut from the bench.
Co-captain and All Blacks second five-eighths Jordie Barrett will play his 100th game for the Hurricanes in the fixture.
