Source: Radio New Zealand
Hurricanes player Warner Dearns celebrates after he scores a try. Photosport
A Hurricane warning is in effect in Super Rugby Pacific. The ‘Canes have climbed to the top of the ladder, edging out the Brumbies on points differential and with a game in hand. The Brumbies have well and truly stalled after roaring out of the gates, losing their last two to the Reds and Drua respectively to concede top spot to the ‘Canes.
A blockbuster derby awaits as the competition leaders head under the roof in Dunedin to meet the Highlanders. The game will see a plethora of mouth-watering matchups including Jordie Barrett against Timoci Tavatavanawai, Peter Lakai squaring off with the rising Lucas Casey and two of the competition’s form wingers in Caleb Tangitau and Fehi Fineanganofo. Expect a slobberknocker in the deep south.
After a rough start to the year, the Crusaders recovered with a win in the southern derby last weekend, and head to the North Shore to meet a struggling Moana Pasifika. Moana finally get to play in Albany, their fortress of 2025, but sitting bottom of the ladder, it remains to be seen whether the same atmosphere will be on show.
A second generation star makes his long awaited Super Rugby debut, Payton Spencer named on the bench for the Blues, who head across the Tasman to meet the Waratahs, looking to keep an impressive streak in tact.
Selection notes
Crusaders prop Fletcher Newell will play his 50th Super Rugby match, while Nelson’s Cooper Grant makes his debut at first five. Kurtis Macdonald will also make his first appearance off the pine.
Making an obvious impact in Napier, Hurricanes front row Xavier Numia, Asafo Aumua, and Pasilio Tosi resume their place in the starting XV.
Co-captain Hugh Renton is back with the Highlanders for the first time since April last year while Mako teammate Andrew Knewstubb will play his first Super Rugby match coming off the bench.
Skipper Luke Jacobson returns at No.8 while Chiefs flanker Jahrome Brown returns to Canberra to take on his old side.
Former All Black Julian Savea is in the starting lineup for Moana for his first match of the 2026 season after recovering from a groin injury.
Last week’s Blues’ debutant Malachi Wrampling earns his first start.
Injury ward
Grant gets his callup for the Crusaders with Rivez Reihana out with delayed concussion symptoms. Skipper David Havili is also out with a heel injury.
Moana Pasifika’s Joel Lam has been given the No.9 jersey with Jonathan Taumateine, and Melani Matavao both injured and Augustine Pulu suspended for three weeks.
Sam Nock sits out for the Blues with concussion after taking the high shot from Pulu, with Stephen Perofeta and Patrick Tuipulotu still a couple of weeks away from a return to action.
Chiefs and All Blacks No.8 Wallace Sititi is nursing a hamstring injury, targeting return in round eight at the earliest.
The Hurricanes will be without Tyrel Lomax for up to three weeks with an ankle complaint, Isaia Walker-Leawere sits out the week due to concussion protocol and Kini Naholo’s foot is between two and four weeks from full fitness.
Highlanders playmakers Cameron Millar is out with concussion with Finn Hurley, yet to appear in 2026, not set to play before round eight.
Key stats
Blues captain Dalton Papali’i is leading the competition with 87 tackles, equalling his career high with 25 last Sunday.
The Highlanders have not beaten the Hurricanes since 2020, a nine-game losing streak.
Tavatavanawai has made 36 tackle breaks this season, 12 ahead of second.
The Chiefs have won their last five against the Brumbies.
Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa leads the way for linebreaks and tacklebreaks for forwards in Super Rugby.
The Blues are on an 11-game winning streak against the Waratahs.
Highlanders vs Hurricanes
Kick-off: 7:05pm Friday 20 March
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Live blog updates on RNZ
Highlanders:
1. Ethan de Groot 2. Jack Taylor 3. Angus Ta’avao 4. Oliver Haig 5. Te Kamaka Howden 6. Sean Withy 7. Lucas Casey 8. Hugh Renton (cc) 9. Folau Fakatava 10. Reesjan Pasitoa 11. Jona Nareki 12. Timoci Tavatavanawai (cc) 13. Jonah Lowe 14. Caleb Tangitau 15. Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
Bench: 16. Soane Vikena 17. Josh Bartlett 18. Sosefo Kautai 19. Tai Cribb 20. Veveni Lasaqa 21. Adam Lennox 22. Andrew Knewstubb (debut) 23. Tanielu Tele’a
“Every game that we play is a real arm wrestle for us, if we can play our best rugby then we are in with a chance.” – Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph.
Hurricanes:
1. Xavier Numia 2. Asafo Aumua 3. Pasilio Tosi 4. Caleb Delany 5. Warner Dearns 6. Devan Flanders 7. Peter Lakai 8. Brayden Iose 9. Cam Roigard 10. Ruben Love 11. Fehi Fineanganofo 12. Jordie Barrett (c) 13. Billy Proctor 14. Josh Moorby 15. Callum Harkin
Bench: 16. Vernon Bason (debut) 17. Siale Lauaki 18. Tevita Mafileo 19. Hugo Plummer 20. Brad Shields 21. Du’Plessis Kirifi 22. Ereatara Enari 23. Bailyn Sullivan
“We’re really excited to go down to Dunedin for our first Kiwi derby.” – Hurricanes coach Clark Laidlaw.
Brumbies vs Chiefs
Kick-off: 9:35pm Friday 20 March
GIO Stadium, Canberra
Live blog updates on RNZ
Chiefs:
1. Jared Proffit 2. Samisoni Taukei’aho 3. Reuben O’Neill 4. Josh Lord 5. Tupou Vaa’i (vc) 6. Simon Parker 7. Jahrome Brown 8. Luke Jacobson (c) 9. Cortez Ratima 10. Damian McKenzie 11. Etene Nanai-Seturo 12. Quinn Tupaea (vc) 13. Daniel Rona 14. Leroy Carter 15. Liam Coombes-Fabling
Bench: 16. Tyrone Thompson 17. Ollie Norris 18. George Dyer 19. Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi 20. Samipeni Finau 21. Xavier Roe 22. Josh Jacomb 23. Lalakai Foketi
“The Brumbies are a terrific side and the Force next week will be tough in Perth, so this is a good mini tour for us. If we get things right, it will help set us for the rest of the season.” – Head coach Jonno Gibbs.
Moana Pasifika vs Crusaders
Kick-off: 7:05pm Saturday 21 March
North Harbour Stadium, Auckland
Live blog updates on RNZ
Moana:
1. Tito Tuipulotu 2. Millennium Sanerivi 3. Atu Moli 4. Tom Savage 5. Allan Craig 6. Miracle Faiilagi (c) 7. Niko Jones 8. Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa 9. Joel Lam 10. Patrick Pellegrini 11. Glen Vaihu 12. Julian Savea 13. Lalomilo Lalomilo 14. Tevita Latu 15. William Havili
Bench: 16. Mamoru Harada 17. Abraham Pole 18. Chris Apoua 19. Veikoso Poloniati 20. Dominic Ropeti 21. Siaosi Nginingini 22. Jackson Garden-Bachop 23. Tevita Ofa.
“We’re in search of playing our game and hopefully we can get it..” – Head coach Fa’alogo Tana Umaga.
Crusaders:
1. Finlay Brewis 2. George Bell 3. Fletcher Newell 4. Tahlor Cahill 5. Jamie Hannah 6. Ethan Blackadder (vc) 7. Johnny Lee 8. Christian Lio-Willie 9. Noah Hotham 10. Cooper Grant (debut) 11. Sevu Reece 12. Dallas McLeod 13. Braydon Ennor 14. Chay Fihaki 15. Will Jordan (c)
Bench: 16. Manumaua Letiu 17. George Bower 18. Seb Calder 19. Antonio Shalfoon 20. Xavier Saifoloi 21. Kyle Preston 22. Leicester Fainga’anuku 23. Kurtis Macdonald (debut).
“We’re going week by week. The aim is to back up a win with a win, build our consistency, prepare well, and hit the ground running. We haven’t had the quickest starts, so doing those things will make it very satisfying.” – Crusaders coach Rob Penney.
Waratahs vs Blues
Kick-off: 9:35pm Saturday 21 March
Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Live blog updates on RNZ
Blues:
Ofa Tu’ungafasi 2. Bradley Slater 3. Sam Matenga 4. Josh Beehre 5. Sam Darry 6. Anton Segner 7. Dalton Papali’i (c) 8. Malachi Wrampling 9. Finlay Christie 10. Beauden Barrett 11. Caleb Clarke 12. Pita Ahki 13. AJ Lam 14. Codemeru Vai 15. Zarn Sullivan
Bench: 16. James Mullan 17. Mason Tupaea 18. Marcel Renata 19. Che Clark 20. Torian Barnes 21. Taufa Funaki 22. Xavi Taele 23. Payton Spencer (debut).
“The Waratahs are always a dangerous side particularly at home in Sydney, so we’ll need to be accurate and disciplined for 80 minutes.” – Blues coach Vern Cotter.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
