David Pocock has been named to make his Super Rugby return for the Brumbies this week, while fellow Wallabies Adam Coleman and Reece Hodge are set for their first Super Rugby appearances of 2019.
Pocock was forced from the field early in Round 1 with concussion and wasn’t fit to play in his side’s demolition of the Chiefs last week, but the star flanker has been passed for the Brumbies’ trip across the ditch to play the Hurricanes, who will be without Jordie Barrett but get to welcome back his brother, Beauden, for his first game of the year.
Pocock is one of four changes made by ACT coach Dan McKellar to his run-on forward pack; Scott Sio will make his first starting appearance of the year, replacing James Slipper in the front row, as will Pete Samu in the no.6 jersey, and Blake Enever has swapped into the second row in place of Sam Carter.
For the Rebels, Wallabies regulars Adam Coleman and Reece Hodge will make their 2019 debuts against the Highlanders from the bench. Both missed Melbourne’s Round 1 win against the Brumbies in Canberra due to injury.
The Highlanders, meanwhile, have named a weakened squad. Under an agreement between the New Zealand Rugby Union and the Kiwi Super Rugby coaches, no All Blacks player is allowed to play more than 180 minutes across the first three rounds this season.
That means Ben Smith, Aaron Smith, Luke Whitelock and Liam Coltman all have been left out of the Highlanders 23 this weekend, with Ash Dixon set to take over the captaincy in the absence of Ben Smith and Whitelock.
Bryn Gatland will make his club debut, while hooker Ricky Jackson, prop Josh Iosefo-Scott and halfback Folau Fakatava have been included on the bench, all in line for a potential Super Rugby debut.
Back in Australia, the Reds have made a couple of changes to their run-on side for Saturday night’s meeting with the Crusaders.
Harry Hockings will start at lock, as Lukhan Salakaia-Loto shifts to blindside flanker for the Reds’ first home match of 2019. A reshuffle to the back row sees Angus Scott-Young at number eight, with Caleb Timu on the bench alongside Scott Higginbotham, who missed last week’s narrow loss to the Highlanders.
Bookmark this page and keep checking back to The Roar throughout the week as all the Super Rugby teams are named for Round 3.
Hurricanes
1. Chris Eves, 2. Dane Coles (c), 3. Ben May, 4. James Blackwell, 5. Liam Mitchell, 6. Vaea Fifita, 7. Du’Plessis Kirifi, 8. Ardie Savea, 9. TJ Perenara, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Ben Lam, 12. Ngani Laumape, 13. Matt Proctor, 14. Vince Aso, 15. Chase Tiatia
Bench: 16. Ricky Riccitelli, 17. Xavier Numia, 18. Jeff To’omaga-Allen, 19. Isaia Walker-Leawere, 20. Reed Prinsep, 21. Richard Judd, 22. Jackson Garden-Bachop, 23. Wes Goosen
Brumbies
1. Scott Sio, 2. Folau Fainga’a, 3. Allan Alaalatoa, 4. Rory Arnold, 5. Blake Enever, 6. Pete Samu, 7. David Pocock, 8. Lachlan McCaffrey, 9. Joe Powell, 10. Christian Lealiifano, 11. Chance Peni, 12. Irae Simone, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 14. Andy Muirhead, 15. Tom Banks
Bench: 16. Josh Mann-Rea, 17. James Slipper, 18. Leslie Leauluaialii-Makin, 19. Darcy Swain, 20. Tom Cusack, 21. Matt Lucas, 22. Wharenui Hawera, 23. Tom Wright
Rebels
1. Tetra Faulkner, 2. Anaru Rangi, 3. Sam Talakai, 4. Luke Jones, 5. Matt Philip, 6. Angus Cottrell, 7. Brad Wilkin, 8. Isi Naisarani, 9. Will Genia, 10. Quade Cooper, 11. Marika Koroibete, 12. Billy Meakes, 13. Tom English, 14. Jack Maddocks, 15. Dane Haylett-Petty
Bench: 16. Robbie Abel, 17. Matt Gibbon, 18. Jermain Ainsley, 19. Adam Coleman, 20. Richard Hardwick, 21. Rob Leota, 22. Michael Ruru, 23. Reece Hodge
Highlanders
1. Daniel Lienert-Brown, 2. Ash Dixon (c), 3. Siate Tokolahi, 4. Jackson Hemopo, 5. Pari Pari Parkinson, 6. Shannon Frizell, 7. Jimmy Lentjes, 8. Elliot Dixon, 9. Kayne Hammington, 10. Bryn Gatland, 11. Josh McKay, 12. Teihorangi Walden, 13. Thomas Umaga-Jensen, 14. Waisake Naholo, 15. Josh Ioane
Bench: 16. Ricky Jackson, 17. Ayden Johnstone, 18. Josh Iosefa-Scott, 19. Tom Franklin, 20. Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, 21. Folau Fakatava, 22. Patelesio Tomkinson, 23. Marty Banks
Chiefs
Still to come.
Sunwolves
Still to come.
Reds
1. Feao Fotuaika, 2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 3. Taniela Tupou, 4. Izack Rodda, 5. Harry Hockings, 6. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 7. Liam Wright, 8. Angus Scott-Young, 9. Moses Sorovi, 10. Hamish Stewart, 11. Sefa Naivalu, 12. Samu Kerevi (c), 13. Jordan Petaia, 14. Chris Feauai-Sautia, 15. Bryce Hegarty
Bench: 16. Alex Mafi, 17. JP Smith, 18. Ruan Smith, 19. Caleb Timu, 20. Scott Higginbotham, 21. Tate McDermott, 22. Duncan Paia’aua, 23. Isaac Lucas
Crusaders
Still to come.
Lions
Still to come.
Bulls
1. Lizo Gqoboka, 2 Schalk Brits, 3. Trevor Nyakane, 4. Jason Jenkins, 5. Eli Synman, 6. Ruan Steenkamp, 7. Hanro Liebenberg, 8. Duane Vermeulen, 9. Embrose Parker, 10, Handre Pollard, 11. Rosko Specman, 12. Dylan Sage, 13. Jesse Kriel, 14. Cornal Hendricks, 15. Warrick Gelant
Bench: 16. Corniel Els, 17. Simphiwe Matanzima, 18. Dayan Ver Der Westhuizen, 19. Jannes Kirsten, 20. Tim Agaba, 21. Ivan Van Zyl, 22. Manie Libbok, 23. Divan Rossouw
Sharks
Still to come.
Stormers.
Still to come.
Jaguares
Still to come.
Blues
Still to come.
All times AEDT.
nakervis
Roar Rookie
Whose that Rebels coach.? I loved the pass from Cooper to Jack Maddocks. Thats what we want to see. Passes to nowhere trusting there will be someone there.
Rugby wizard
Guest
You do make valid points ,I think Higgs coming from injury is probably the reason he is not starting,AYS does have limited experience at 8,so not picking Timu at 8 is a bit mindboggling.
CUW
Roar Rookie
so May return ? i mean return in the month of mAy? :P
CUW
Roar Rookie
great , tnkx :D now lets tell that to FAF :P i wonder if this LAW is enforced stringently?
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
RW, I could understand benching or dropping SLS on that basis, but I don’t get shifting him to 6 (not his best spot and he’s not the Reds best 6) and ASY to 8 where he has no substantial SR experience and when Timu and Higgs are available. It beefs up the pack but only by a handful of kegs.
Zee-Unit
Guest
Potential Potential Potential. " better lock pairing than Giffen and Eales " . Come on mate you need your Wizard licence revoked as you have no spells left. Thorn is a not a good coach, the Crusaders will run rings around these bozos.
Matt
Guest
Yeah, Azza said Havili was on the bench ?. And Taufua is still playing ? Still too strong for the woeful Reds. They are terrible in defence so QLD Reds will put up a fight for 40, but be done by 25 points after 80. Thorn will be on shaky ground after that loss as they will definitely not beat the Waratahs away the next week. 0/3. Clean out your office Bradley.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Interesting. Isn't the way I'd go but then again I got burned using this tactic in a gf a couple of years ago. Their quicker backrow dominated the early ruck contest and they skipped ahead. Didn't get the benefit of the additional big ball carriers until after I sped our pack up so we could even up the contest. Fingers crossed these guys have better luck
AJ
Guest
According to Jim Tucker's article in the Courier Mail its a plan by Jim McKay to disrupt them off their game. The Reds were 3 from 3 vs the Crusaders when he was there 2010/11.
Corw
Roar Rookie
Valetini is not injured. https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-union/it-s-the-right-time-mckellar-makes-big-back-row-change-for-nz-clash-20190227-p510i9.html
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Yeah not liking the look of that, jeznez. Big risk.
AJ
Guest
True. We cant expect the Reds are going to be perfect and when they make mistakes, poor kick, overthrown lineout, penalty in the wrong area.......the Crus will make you pay. Their first half last week was scary. I'd like to see the Reds keep storming their way up field and getting points. Hopefully improve kicking options and tighter defence of their line. Maybe they catch the boys on an off night?
Rugby wizard
Guest
Initially it was feared his season is over,but the latest news is out for 6-8 weeks.
Baylion
Roar Rookie
Ah! Got it Law 8 19 The kicking team must indicate their intention to kick for goal without delay. 20 If the team indicates to the referee the intention to kick at goal, they must kick at goal. The intention to kick can be communicated to the referee or signalled by the arrival of the kicking tee or sand, or when the player makes a mark on the ground.
Baylion
Roar Rookie
Seems one of the Sales staff (sic) made a mistake and brought on the kicking tee, which I suppose is a tacit decision that they will kick at goal. Can see how the ref came to his decision
Baylion
Roar Rookie
Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Dan du Plessis, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 SP Marais, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ali Vermaak Replacements: 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Chris van Zyl, 20 Jaco Coetzee, 21 Justin Phillips, 22 Ruhan Nel, 23 Dillyn Leyds
Rugby wizard
Guest
I dont like the Idea of Loto at 6,he was slow for wallabies at getting back in defence which resulted in gaps being exploited by test opposition. The wallabies culture is more a everybody plays for themselves and play the way you want. At the Reds it's different and let's not forget Ryan is better than Grey.
Rugby wizard
Guest
I called it a few days ago that Thorn will go for Hockings at lock,Loto didnt play too his full potential against Highlanders and he has too realise that this is not the wallabies this is Thorns Reds,he wants players playing too their potential week in week out. Rodda and Hockings have the potential too be a better lock pairing than Giffen and Eales,and under the guidance of Thorn it's possible. Head too head -Rodda 2.02m Eales 2.00m -Hockings 2.06m Giffen 1.98m -Rodda 119KG Eales 118KG -Hockings 118KG Giffen 110KG There is more too it than weight and height ,and it doesn't mean the 2 young locks will be better, but the Thorn Factor is huge.
CUW
Roar Rookie
so the saffa version of Pooper continues. :D Bulls to nip this one
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
Tooly, its not only D.Pocock, the Tongan Thor Taniela Tupou has been playing since mid last year with some neck injuries. Though he got his injury when both front rows went down. The bloke who pulled the scrum down didn't even get penalised, SA refs seem lenient on that one.