Super Rugby Pacific: Crusaders start Leicester Fainga’anuku at 7, Hurricanes, Blues, Chiefs, Highlanders name teams

Wednesday, 22 April 2026

Befitting a massive opening night under the roof, Crusaders coach Rob Penney produced a left field selection to further heighten the anticipation.

Penney named 12-test All Blacks winger Leicester Fainga’anuku as his openside flanker, as the Crusaders open the sold out One New Zealand Te Kaha Stadium against the Waratahs on Friday night to kick off Super Round.

Predominantly a midfield back since his return from France, Fainga’anuku will make his first Super Rugby Pacific start in the forwards.

The move was not a complete surprise, with the 26-year-old having played in the back row for Toulon as well as some in-game shifts to the pack for the Crusaders this season.

“It’s a bit more fun in the forwards. You can do a bit more, get into the dirty work instead of the flash stuff. I quite like it in there,” he said on Wednesday.

Crusaders midfielder Leicester Fainga’anuku (red headgear) trains on the side of the scrum at One New Zealand Stadium on Wednesday in preparation for his debut at No 7.

Hurricanes coach rejects ‘Captain Hindsight’ over Roigard sub

The Fainga’anuku selection is the biggest talking point of Super Round as the coaches unveil their lineups for a big weekend in Christchurch:

Crusaders v Waratahs, 7.35pm Friday

Fainga’anuku will join Christian Lio-Willie and Dom Gardiner in the starting loose forward trio, in a side featuring six changes from that which turned a 19-0 lead into a 31-26 defeat to the Western Force in Perth.

Codie Taylor returns at hooker after two weeks out with injury with George Bell reverting to the bench, while captain David Havili is back at second five-eighth after missing last week’s game with concussion.

Du’Plessis Kirifi is poised to raise 100 Super Rugby appearances in Christchurch.

Noah Hotham returns as starting halfback, with Kyle Preston on the bench after several weeks out with a knee injury, while in the pack Antonio Shalfoon comes in at lock for Jamie Hannah and Fletcher Newell resumes at tighthead prop after an All Blacks rest week.

All Blacks flanker Ethan Blackadder expected to return next week from a calf injury, but fullback Will Jordan (calf) is still sidelined for 3-5 weeks and winger Chay Fihaki (hamstring) for 4-6 weeks.

Crusaders: Johnny McNicholl, Sevu Reece, Braydon Ennor, David Havili (capt), Macca Springer, Taha Kemara, Noah Hotham, Christian Lio-Willie, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Dom Gardiner, Tahlor Cahill, Antonio Shalfoon, Fletcher Newell, Codie Taylor, Finlay Brewis. Reserves: George Bell, George Bower, Seb Calder, Jamie Hannah, Johnny Lee, Kyle Preston, Rivez Reihana, Dallas McLeod.

Hurricanes v Brumbies, 5.05pm Saturday

Hurricanes co-captain Du’Plessis Kirifi will play his 100th Super Rugby match amid a new-look forward pack for their Anzac Day clash with the Brumbies.

Kirifi will start at No 7 in a pack with five changes from their 22-17 loss to the Chiefs, including an entirely new front row as they play for the trophy bearing the name of Gallipoli war hero Captain Alfred Shout.

Stephen Perofeta in a rare Blues appearance this year, in pre-season against the Hurricanes.

Siale Lauaki, Raymond Tuputupu and Tevita Mafileo will wear the smallest numbers with Xavier Numia, Asafo Aumua and Pasilio Tosi coming off the bench. No 8 Brayden Iose and lock Caleb Delany also return to the run-on side, with All Blacks loose forward Peter Lakai also on the bench.

The starting backline is unchanged, while Counties Manukau winger Josh Gray is poised for a debut off the bench.

The Hurricanes’ 2025 season was ended by the Brumbies who won the qualifying final 35-28 in Canberra, but the Canes have won their last four against the men from ACT in New Zealand.

Hurricanes: Callum Harkin, Josh Moorby, Billy Proctor, Jordie Barrett (co-capt), Fehi Fineanganofo, Ruben Love, Cam Roigard, Brayden Iose, Du’Plessis Kirifi (co-capt), Devan Flanders, Warner Dearns, Caleb Delany, Tevita Mafileo, Raymond Tuputupu, Siale Lauaki. Reserves: Asafo Aumua, Xavier Numia, Pasilio Tosi, Brad Shields, Peter Lakai, Ereatara Enari, Jone Rova, Josh Gray.

Blues v Reds, 7.35pm Saturday

The Blues welcome back six-test All Black Stephen Perofeta from his latest calf injury for Saturday night’s showdown with the Reds.

Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens dives over to score for the Highlanders against the Crusaders in Christchurch.

Perofeta suffered chronic calf, and then also knee, issues last year that limited him to just five Super games and wiped him out of the NPC, and has again been sidelined since round four of this campaign.

But the 29-year-old will make his return from the bench this weekend for Vern Cotter’s outfit, who remain without fellow All Blacks Caleb Clarke and Ofa Tu’ungafasi due to their own calf injuries. In-form young loose forward Malachi Wrampling (hamstring) is also out.

On the back of their 47-40 home win over the Highlanders, Cotter made a solitary change in the starting pack, where try-scoring debutant Ben Ake comes in for a maiden start, swapping spots with Mason Tupaea.

In the backs, Pita Ahki swaps in for Xavi Taele at second-five, while Kade Banks gets his first start of the season, on the right wing, with Cole Forbes shifting across to the left and Codemeru Vai left out.

Blues: Zarn Sullivan, Kade Banks, AJ Lam, Pita Ahki, Cole Forbes, Beauden Barrett, Finlay Christie, Hoskins Sotutu, Dalton Papali’i, Anton Segner, Sam Darry, Patrick Tuipulotu (capt), Marcel Renata, Bradley Slater, Ben Ake. Reserves: James Mullan, Mason Tupaea, Sam Matenga, Josh Beehre, Torian Barnes, Taufa Funaki, Stephen Perofeta, Xavi Taele.

Highlanders v Moana Pasifika, 2pm Sunday

Former Canterbury fullback Isaac Hutchinson will make his Chiefs debut in familiar territory.

Fullback Jacob Ratumaitavuki- Kneepkens makes a surprise return to the Highlanders starting line-up to offset the loss of the luckless Finn Hurley, who is facing another stint on the sidelines.

Hurley has been ruled out for 4-6 weeks after picking up a hamstring injury in the loss to the Blues last weekend.

Head coach Jamie Joseph lamented Hurley’s bad luck after his encouraging cameo against the Blues, but was pleased to welcome back Ratumaitavuki- Kneepkens. The Taranaki flyer has returned ahead of schedule from an ankle injury.

Joseph has also opted for a 6-2 bench split in anticipation of a physical encounter against Moana Pasifika, who pushed the Waratahs all the way in Sydney last weekend.

Highlanders: Jacob Ratumaitavuki- Kneepkens, Jonah Lowe, Tanielu Tele’a, Timoci Tavatavanawai (co-capt), Xavier Tito-Harris, Cameron Millar, Adam Lennox, Nikora Broughton, Veveni Lasaqa, Oliver Haig, Tomas Lavanini, Mitch Dunshea, Saula Ma’u, Soane Vikena, Ethan de Groot (co-capt). Reserves: Jack Taylor, Josh Bartlett, Angus Ta’avao, Te Kamaka Howden, Hugh Renton, Lucas Casey, Folau Fakatava, Taine Robinson.

Moana Pasifika: William Havili, Tuna Tuitama, Solomon Alaimalo, Tevita Latu, Glen Vaihu, Patrick Pellegrini, Jonathan Taumateine, Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa, Semisi Paea, Miracle Faiilagi (capt), Jimmy Tupou, Allan Craig, Chris Apoua, Millennium Sanerivi, Abraham Pole. Reserves: Mamoru Harada, Malakai Hala-Ngatai, Paula Latu, Tom Savage, Ola Tauelangi, Augustine Pulu, Lalomilo Lalomilo, Israel Leota.

Chiefs v Fijian Drua, 4.30pm Sunday

The top-of-the-table Chiefs will be without captain Luke Jacobson and field two debutants in their pre-bye clash with the Fijian Drua on Sunday.

On the back of celebrating his 100th game for the franchise with a win, in the 22-17 extra-time thriller against the Hurricanes in Hamilton, Jacobson was “pretty banged up and pretty stiff round his neck,” coach Jono Gibbes said.

Jacobson joins fellow loose forwards Kaylum Boshier (concussion) and Samipeni Finau (quad haematoma) in the casualty ward. Wallace Sititi, fresh off his match-winning try on return from injury, takes Jacobson’s spot at No 8, with Taranaki rep Michael Loft brought onto the bench for a debut.

There are further changes to the pack, with Tupou Vaa’i back from concussion to captain the side, fellow All Black Samisoni Taukei’aho left out, and loosehead props Jared Proffit and Ollie Norris trading starting/finishing duties.

With Kyren Taumoefoalu and Josh Jacomb both out for family reasons, there are several tweaks to the backline, highlighted by a debut at fullback for 22-year-old Cantab Isaac Hutchinson, who has recovered from his serious knee injury sustained 10 months ago.

Scorer of the crucial try to level the scores last weekend, winger Daniel Sinkinson gets a first start, while centre Kyle Brown returns from injury, which allows Quinn Tupaea to slide back to second-five.

Chiefs: Isaac Hutchinson, Leroy Carter, Kyle Brown, Quinn Tupaea, Daniel Sinkinson, Damian McKenzie, Cortez Ratima, Wallace Sititi, Jahrome Brown, Simon Parker, Tupou Vaa’i (capt), Josh Lord, George Dyer, Brodie McAlister, Jared Proffit. Reserves: Tyrone Thompson, Ollie Norris, Benét Kumeroa, Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Michael Loft, Xavier Roe, Tepaea Cook-Savage, Lalakai Foketi.