Super Rugby Pacific semifinal teams: Beauden Barrett returns at fullback for Blues
Wednesday, 10 June 2026
Beauden Barrett has shaken off a quad injury to start at fullback with the Blues eyeing their second final in three years in Super Rugby Pacific.
The veteran All Blacks playmaker has missed their last two matches in their troubling run of four consecutive defeats.
The 2024 champions have still made the semifinals thanks to Super Rugby giving one team a life in the first round of the playoffs.
Barrett’s form was indifferent before the Blues’ slide — he has played at first five-eighth through the season — but his return will be welcome on the familiar turf of Wellington’s Hnry Stadium.
The 35-year-old spent eight years with the Hurricanes before moving to Auckland.
The Blues will still be massive underdogs against the runaway competition leaders in the second semifinal on Saturday night.
The Chiefs host the reigning champion Crusaders in Friday night’s first semifinal in Hamilton.
Scroll down to see each of the teams named by the four Kiwi sides.
Chiefs v Crusaders
Friday, 7.05pm, at FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
All Blacks winger Leroy Carter has tentatively been named on the bench on his comeback from a tight hamstring.
Carter remains behind Liam Coombes-Fabling on the Chiefs’ right flank. He was also a late withdrawal from their 46-24 win over the Reds in Hamilton last Saturday night.
Coombes-Fabling has been preferred to Daniel Sinkinson with the Crusaders, the defending champions, visiting on Friday night.
Coach Jono Gibbes has lost All Blacks loose forward Wallace Sititi this week after his sickening head knock against the Reds. He has been replaced by Samipeni Finau.
Simon Parker has moved to No 8 with Finau starting at blindside flanker and Kaylum Boshier making the bench.
The Chiefs are here again, in a position of strength and desperate to win their first title since 2013, and hoping to make home advantage count against their old tormentors.
Star playmaker Damian McKenzie will be making his 150th appearance for the Chiefs. Should they beat the Crusaders, they will be contesting their fifth final in six years.
Chiefs: Isaac Hutchinson, Liam Coombes-Fabling, Lalakai Foketi, Quinn Tupaea, Kyren Taumoefolau, Damian McKenzie, Cortez Ratima, Simon Parker, Luke Jacobson (capt), Samipeni Finau, Tupou Vaa’i, Josh Lord, Sione Ahio, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Ollie Norris. Reserves: Brodie McAlister, Jared Proffit, George Dyer, Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Kaylum Boshier, Xavier Roe, Josh Jacomb, Leroy Carter.
All Black prop Fletcher Newell is back from the worrying knee injury sustained against the Hurricanes a fortnight ago.
Newell’s return is timely for both the Crusaders and All Blacks, burying fears the tighthead prop was set for a lengthy stint on the sidelines.
It turns out Newell only missed one game — the Crusaders’ romp over the Blues in the qualifying finals last week — bolstering the defending champions’ pack for the rematch of last year’s final.
Fresh from scoring a hat-trick last week, fullback Johnny McNicholl has also been cleared to start after finishing the match against the Blues with a heavily strapped hand.
Centre Dallas McLeod, however, has been ruled out with a groin injury, propelling Braydon Ennor off the bench and into the No 13 jersey.
Outside back Macca Springer has been named on the pine, while No 7 Leicester Fainga’anuku will cover the midfield.
The return of Newell leaves George Bower covering tighthead prop, while the Crusaders remain without hooker George Bell.
Crusaders: Johnny McNicholl, Chay Fihaki, Braydon Ennor, David Havili (capt), Sevu Reece, Taha Kemara, Noah Hotham, Christian Lio-Willie, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Ethan Blackadder, Jamie Hannah, Antonio Shalfoon, Fletcher Newell, Codie Taylor, Finlay Brewis. Reserves: Manumau Letiu, Jack Sexton, George Bower, Tahlor Cahill, Dom Gardiner, Kyle Preston, Rivez Reihana, Macca Springer.
Hurricanes v Blues
Saturday, 7.05pm, at Hnry Stadium, Wellington
Fehi Fineanganofo is back.
The try-scoring machine thought his season might be over after hurting his hamstring in May, but will start on the left wing for a team that’s hardly missed a beat in his absence.
That’s despite Fineanganofo matching the Super Rugby record (16) alongside Joe Roff and Ben Lam, a mark he could now make his own.
The Hurricanes have otherwise named a predictable team, with wing Kini Naholo dropping back to the bench and Ngane Punivai, despite scoring a hat-trick last week against the Brumbies, missing out on the 23.
Two milestones headline the loose forwards, where blindside flanker Brad Shields will overtake Dane Coles as the third-most capped Hurricanes player in his 142nd match for the club, and No 8 Peter Lakai becomes the seventh player to reach 50 Hurricanes caps this season.
Hurricanes: Callum Harkin, Josh Moorby, Billy Proctor, Jordie Barrett (capt), Fehi Fineanganofo, Ruben Love, Cam Roigard, Peter Lakai, Du’Plessis Kirifi, Brad Shields, Warner Dearns, Caleb Delany, Pasilio Tosi, Asafo Aumua, Xavier Numia. Reserves: Raymond Tuputupu, Siale Lauaki, Tyrel Lomax, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Brayden Iose, Ere Enari, Jone Rova, Kini Naholo.
Barrett’s return at fullback comes without the comfort of the “lucky loser” format that kept the Blues in title contention despite their heavy defeat (52-31) to the Crusaders in Christchurch last Saturday.
With Stephen Perofeta retained at first-five, coach Vern Cotter has been forced into some key changes because of injuries and suspension.
Barrett’s comeback offsets the absence of incumbent fullback Zarn Sullivan, who has been ruled out with a foot injury, while Sam Nock has suffered a broken hand.
All Black Finlay Christie replaces Nock at halfback and Hoskins Sotutu, who could be making his final appearance before leaving for England, starts at No 8 in place of the banned Malachi Wrampling.
Cole Forbes is also back in the side on the right wing with AJ Lam shifting into midfield alongside Xavi Taele.
Loose forward Che Clark and halfback Taufa Funaki have been added to the bench.
Blues: Beauden Barrett, Cole Forbes, AJ Lam, Xavi Taele, Caleb Clarke, Stephen Perofeta, Finlay Christie, Hoskins Sotutu, Anton Segner, Torian Barnes, Sam Darry, Patrick Tuipulotu (capt), Marcel Renata, Bradley Slater, Ofa Tu’ungafasi. Reserves: Eli Oudenryn, Mason Tupaea, Flyn Yates, Josh Beehre, Che Clark, Taufa Funaki, Pita Ahki, Payton Spencer.