The teams for the first weekend of Super Rugby Pacific 2025 have been announced, with Ardie Savea set to make his Moana Pasifika debut as number eight and captain. They play the Force in the last game of the round, while the Crusaders host the Hurricanes in the opening match on Friday night. The feature game of the weekend sees the Blues and Chiefs play a rematch of last year's final, at Eden Park on Saturday evening.
Ardie Savea of Moana Pasifika. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
Other talking points from the team namings:
Blues coach Vern Cotter has benched former All Black halfback Finlay Christie in favour of Taufa Funaki. He's also opted to put Beauden Barrett at fullback, with Harry Plummer at first five. An injury to Hoskins Sotutu gives Cam Suafoa a start at number right.
Damian McKenzie is also playing fullback this weekend, with rising star Josh Jacomb given the nod at 10 for the Chiefs. That bumps Emoni Narawa to the bench, so former All Blacks Sevens player Leroy Carter will debut on the wing. All Blacks Tupou Vaa'i, Samipeni Finau and Anton Lienert-Brown will be eased back into action off the bench.
Noah Hotham starts at halfback for the Crusaders, with Kyle Preston on the bench. That means there's no room for stalwart Mitch Drummond. Taha Kemara starts at 10, with former Wallaby James O'Connor on the bench.
Taine Robinson, who moved south from the Crusaders last season, has been given the starting first five spot in the Highlanders over Cam Millar. Sam Gilbert shifts to fullback to accommodate new co-captain Timoci Tavatavanawai at second five, while Southland wing Michael Manson will make his debut.
Callum Harkin was not contracted at the start of the season but will start at fullback for the Hurricanes. Another Sevens player, Fatafehi Fineanganofo, gets a start on the wing. Harry Godfrey was won the race for the starting first five spot ahead of Riley Hohepa.
Taranaki player Josh Jacomb. Photo: Chris Symes / www.photosport.nz
Crusaders v Hurricanes
Kick-off: 7:05pm, Friday Feb 14
Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch
Live blog updates on RNZ Sport
Crusaders: 1. Tamaiti Williams 2. Ioane Moananu 3. Fletcher Newell 4. Scott Barrett 5. Antonio Shalfoon 6. Cullen Grace 7. Ethan Blackadder 8. Christian Lio-Willie 9. Noah Hotham 10. Taha Kemara 11. Sevu Reece 12. David Havili (c) 13. Levi Aumua 14. Chay Fihaki 15. Will Jordan
Bench: 16. Manumaua Letiu 17. George Bower 18. Sam Matenga 19. Tahlor Cahill 20. Corey Kellow 21. Kyle Preston 22. James O'Connor 23. Dallas McLeod
Hurricanes: 1. Xavier Numia 2. Jacob Devery 3. Tevita Mafileo 4. Caleb Delany 5. Isaia Walker-Leawere 6. Brad Shields (cc) 7. Du'Plessis Kirifi (cc) 8. Brayden Iose 9. Cameron Roigard 10. Harry Godfrey 11. Peter Umaga-Jensen 12. Bailyn Sullivan 13. Kini Naholo 14. Fatafehi Fineanganofo 15. Callum Harkin
Bench: 16. Raymond Tuputupu 17. Pouri Rakete-Stones 18. Pasilio Tosi 19. Hugo Plummer 20. Peter Lakai 21. Ereatara Enari 22. Riley Hohepa 23. Ngatungane Punivai
Waratahs v Highlanders
Kick-off: 9:35pm, Friday Feb 14
Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Live blog updates on RNZ Sport
Highlanders: 1. Ethan de Groot 2. Soane Mikaele Vikena 3. Saula Ma'u 4. Fabian Holland 5. Mitch Dunshea 6. Lui Naeata 7. Sean Withy 8. Hugh Renton (cc) 9. Nathan Hastie 10. Taine Robinson 11. Caleb Tangitau 12. Timoci Tavatavanawai (cc) 13. Tanielu Tele'a 14. Michael Manson 15. Sam Gilbert
Bench: 16. Henry Bell 17. Daniel Lienert-Brown 18. Sefo Kautai 19. Nikora Broughton 20. Veveni Lasaqa 21. Folau Fakatava 22. Cameron Millar 23. Finn Hurley
Blues v Chiefs
Kick-off: 7:05pm, Saturday Feb 15
Eden Park, Auckland
Live blog updates on RNZ Sport
Blues: 1. Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 2. Ricky Riccitelli, 3. Marcel Renata, 4. Laghlan McWhannell, 5. Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 6. Anton Segner, 7. Dalton Papali'i, 8. Cameron Suafoa, 9. Taufa Funaki, 10. Harry Plummer, 11. Caleb Clarke, 12. AJ Lam, 13. Rieko Ioane, 14. Mark Tele'a, 15. Beauden Barrett
Bench: 16. Nathaniel Pole, 17. Josh Fusitua, 18. Angus Ta'avao, 19. Che Clark, 20. Adrian Choat, 21. Finlay Christie, 22. Corey Evans, 23. Cole Forbes
Chiefs: 1. Ollie Norris 2. Brodie McAlister 3. George Dyer 4. Naitoa Ah Kuoi 5. Josh Lord 6. Simon Parker 7. Kaylum Boshier 8. Luke Jacobson (c) 9. Xavier Roe 10. Josh Jacomb 11. Etene Nanai-Seturo 12. Quinn Tupaea 13. Daniel Rona 14. Leroy Carter 15. Damian McKenzie
Bench: 16. Bradley Slater 17. Aidan Ross 18. Reuben O'Neill 19. Tupou Vaa'i 20. Samipeni Finau 21. Cortez Ratima 22. Anton Lienert-Brown 23. Emoni Narawa
Force v Moana Pasifika
Kick-off: 9:35pm, Saturday Feb 15
HBF Park, Perth
Live blog updates on RNZ Sport
Moana Pasifika: 1. James Lay 2. Millennium Sanerivi 3. Feleti Sae-Ta'ufo'ou 4. Samuel Slade 5. Allan Craig 6. Miracle Faiilagi 7. Sione Havili Talitui 8. Ardie Savea (c) 9. Jonathan Taumateine 10. Jackson Garden-Bachop 11. Kyren Taumoefolau 12. Lalomilo Lalomilo 13. Pepesana Patafilo 14. Solomon Alaimalo 15. William Havili
Bench: 16. Sama Malolo 17. Tito Tuipulotu 18. Chris Apoua 19. Tom Savage 20. Ola Tauelangi 21. Semisi Tupou Tailoa 22. Melani Matavao 23. Danny Toala
