Source: Radio New Zealand
Jordie Barrett is back in the capital and will start in the midfield against Moana. Photosport
The Hurricanes have entered the chat.
After sitting out round one with the bye, the Canes will open their campaign in the capital on Friday night against a buoyant Moana side bringing Pasifika bragging rights back from Lautoka. Jordie Barrett is back after a sabbatical in Ireland while Japan captain Warner Dearns makes his Super Rugby debut. Coach Clark Laidlaw will also have plenty of fire-power from the pine in the form of All Blacks Cam Roigard and Billy Proctor.
For Moana, it was a case of ‘Ardie who? as Tana Umaga’s men pulled off one of the toughest tasks in Super Rugby, victory in the sweltering fortress of Lautoka over the Drua in round one. They return to Wellington for the first time since the Canes crushed them 64-12 to close out their 2025 campaign.
Umaga has opted to give seven debutants a run at the caketin, while Sam Moli will lead the team with Miracle Faiʻilagi to bring impact from the bench.
After surviving gruelling New Zealand derbies in round one, the Highlanders and Chiefs will collide in another all-kiwi clash under the roof in Dunedin. A clutch Cameron Millar penalty and gutsy defence in the dying stages saw the Highlanders earn their first win since May of 2025 as they upset the defending champion Crusaders in round one.
The Chiefs’ win came in far more controversial fashion, with All Blacks lock Tupou Vaa’i’s early try against the Blues awarded at the time, later ruled to constitute an illegal action as he left the ground to launch over two defenders. The result struck however, unlike many passes in a clunky display by both sides. The same fixture closed out the regular 2025 season with the Chiefs taking a 41-24 victory.
Closing out the weekend is one of Super’s greatest rivalries. The Crusaders and Brumbies have engaged in several iconic battles over 30 seasons, including the 2000 and 2004 deciders. It was a typically thrilling encounter the last time these sides met, the Crusaders snatching a 33-31 win courtesy of a late George Bell try. Round one brought contrasting fortunes for both teams, the defending champion Crusaders edged by their southern rivals while the Brumbies battered the Force 56-24 in Perth.
Elsewhere, the Blues head across the Tasman to meet the Force with both teams searching for their first wins of the season and the Waratahs host the Drua in Sydney.
Other selection notes
A big weekend for Japanese rugby with both Dearns and Mamoru Harada making their debuts, Harada named on the bench for Moana Pasifika.
Also joining Super Rugby ranks will be newcomers Alefosio Aho, Faletoi Peni, Simon Peter Toleafoa, Lolani Faleiva Konrad Toleafoa former Brisbane Bronco Israel Leota, all earning callups for Moana.
Cortez Ratima will sit out the trip to Dunedin for the birth of his second child while Emoni Narawa will play his 50th match for the Chiefs. Jona Nareki will also notch his half century for the Highlanders.
Injury ward
The Chiefs will be without bruising flanker Samipeni Finau who is recovering from while Wallace Sititi is out for the week with a hamstring niggle. Du’Plessis Kirifi misses the next fortnight for the Hurricanes as he manages a calf complaint while Ruben Love’s ankle will keep him out of action for the next month at least.
Moana are still without former All Black Augustine Pulu, lock Jimmy Tupou and the promising young Niko Jones. For the Highlanders, Finn Hurley is still at least three weeks from a return while Xavier Tito-Harris and Andrew Knewstubb could be back for round three.
The Blues are down their two top locks with Sam Darry out with concussion and Patrick Tuipulotu still recovering from a shoulder injury, targeting a round six return.
Team lists
Hurricanes vs Moana
Kick-off: 7:05pm Friday February 20
Sky Stadium, Wellington
Live blog updates on RNZ
Hurricanes: 1 Xavier Numia, 2 Asafo Aumua, 3 Siale Lauaki, 4 Hugo Plummer, 5 Warner Dearns, 6 Devan Flanders, 7 Peter Lakai, 8 Brayden Iose, 9 Ereatara Enari, 10 Brett Cameron, 11 Fehi Fineanganofo, 12 Jordie Barrett (c), 13 Bailyn Sullivan, 14 Josh Moorby, 15 Callum Harkin
Bench: 16 Jacob Devery, 17 Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18 Tevita Mafileo, 19 Matolu Petaia, 20 Brad Shields, 21 Arese Poliko, 22 Cam Roigard, 23 Billy Proctor
“It was a huge crowd against Moana last year, so hopefully we can create that again and put in a performance that gets our fans excited and gets them coming back for the rest of the season.” – Hurricanes coach Clark Laidlaw
Moana Pasifika: 1 Abraham Pole, 2 Samiuela Moli (c), 3 Feleti Sae-Ta’ufo’ou, 4 Veikoso Poloniati, 5 Alefosio Aho, 6 Semisi Paea, 7 Konrad Toleafoa, 8 Dominic Ropeti, 9 Siaosi Nginingini, 10 Patrick Pellegrini, 11 Tuna Tuitama, 12 Faletoi Peni, 13 Glen Vaihu, 14 Israel Leota, 15 Simon Peter Toleafoa
Bench: 16 Mamoru Harada, 17 Tito Tuipulotu, 18 Lolani Faleiva, 19 Allan Craig, 20 Miracle Faiilagi, 21 Melani Matavao, 22 William Havili, 23 Tevita Ofa
“It’s a great opportunity to showcase the depth within our group, if we want to get all the way to the end of this competition, we’re going to need everybody.” – Moana coach Tana Umaga
Highlanders vs Chiefs
Kick off: 7.05pm Saturday February 21
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Live blog updates on RNZ
Highlanders: 1 Ethan de Groot, 2 Jack Taylor, 3 Rohan Wingham, 4 Oliver Haig, 5 Mitch Dunshea, 6 Te Kamaka Howden, 7 Sean Withy (VC), 8 Lucas Casey, 9 Folau Fakatava, 10 Cameron Millar, 11 Jona Nareki (50th Highlanders Game), 12 Timoci Tavatavanawai (C), 13 Jonah Lowe, 14 Caleb Tangitau, 15 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
Bench: 16 Henry Bell, 17 Josh Bartlett, 18 Sosefo Kautai, 19 Will Stodart, 20 Veveni Lasaqa, 21 Adam Lennox, 22 Reesjan Pasitoa, 23 Tanielu Tele’a
“The Chiefs are a bit like the Crusaders, stacked with All Blacks and have performed very well in recent seasons, so another huge challenge for us and one we are looking forward to.” – Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph
Chiefs: 1 Jared Proffit, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 3 George Dyer, 4 Josh Lord, 5 Tupou Vaa’i (vc), 6 Kaylum Boshier, 7 Jahrome Brown, 8 Luke Jacobson (c), 9 Xavier Roe, 10 Josh Jacomb, 11 Leroy Carter, 12 Quinn Tupaea (vc), 13 Daniel Rona, 14 Kyren Taumoefolau, 15 Etene Nanai-Seturo
Bench: 16 Tyrone Thompson, 17 Benet Kumeroa, 18 Reuben O’Neill, 19 Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20 Simon Parker, 21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22 Tepaea Cook-Savage, 23 Emoni Narawa
“These local derbies are brutal. There is no inch given and it will go up another notch against the Highlanders who are coming off an equally tough win against the defending champions Crusaders.” – Chiefs coach Jonno Gibbs
Force vs Blues
Kick off 9.35pm Saturday February 21
HBF Park, Perth
Blues: 1 Joshua Fusitu’a, 2 Bradley Slater, 3 Marcel Renata, 4 Laghlan McWhannell, 5 Josh Beehre, 6 Anton Segner, 7 Dalton Papali’i (c), 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 9 Finlay Christie, 10 Stephen Perofeta, 11 Caleb Clarke, 12 Pita Ahki, 13 AJ Lam, 14 Cole Forbes, 15 Zarn Sullivan
Bench: 16 Kurt Eklund, 17 Mason Tupaea, 18 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 19 Che Clark, 20 Torian Barnes, 21 Sam Nock, 22 Xavi Taele, 23 Codemeru Vai
“Going over there, we know we need to be at our best. We’ve taken a lot of lessons from last week and the focus is on being accurate, disciplined, and connected for the full 80 minutes.” – Blues coach Vern Cotter
Crusaders vs Brumbies
Kick off 3.35pm Sunday February 22
Apollo Projects Stadium in Christchurch
Live blog updates on RNZ
Crusaders: 1 Finlay Brewis, 2 George Bell, 3 Fletcher Newell, 4 Antonio Shalfoon, 5 Jamie Hannah, 6 Dom Gardiner, 7 Ethan Blackadder, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 9 Noah Hotham, 10 Rivez Reihana, 11 Sevu Reece, 12 David Havili (c), 13 Braydon Ennor, 14 Chay Fihaki, 15 Will Jordan
Bench: 16 Codie Taylor, 17 Tamaiti Williams, 18 Seb Calder, 19 Tahlor Cahill, 20 Corey Kellow, 21 Louie Chapman, 22 Taha Kemara, 23 Leicester Fainga’anuku
“We always look in the mirror first. Collectively, we could have done some things a little differently, but it is what it is. We’ve got to look forward now and take what we learned into the game we’ve got at home on Sunday.” – Crusaders coach Rob Penney
Waratahs vs Fijian Drua
Kick off 9.35pm Friday February 20
Allianz Stadium, Sydney
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
