The Waratahs have made the decision to rest Michael Hooper from their clash with the Blues this weekend.
The skipper is the latest exclusion under the World Cup management policy which is effecting all three nations in the competition this season. It comes after they rested Bernard Foley, Adam Ashley-Cooper and Jack Dempsey from the Sunwolves clash last week, only to lose the match in Newcastle.
They will all return this week, while Kurtley Beale has been dropped to the reserves, with Will Miller taking Hooper’s spot.
The Reds have also been forced to make three changes ahead of their clash with the Stormers this weekend, however, it’s the positional swap for star winger Sefa Naivalu which will be the biggest talking points for the Queensland side.
Naivalu hs been shifted to outside centre, as the Reds continue their search of a winning combination after falling to the Rebels last week. He takes the spot of Duncan Paia’aua, who drops to the bench to accommodate the swap, while Jack Hardy makes his Super Rugby debut on the wing.
Both Chris Feauai-Sautia (hamstring) and Angus Scott-Young (concussion) have been ruled out by the Reds, with Brandon Paenga-Amosa to start at hooker, and Harry Hockings to start at lock.
The Highlanders are also among the sides to name their list for Round 8 as of Wednesday morning, with three of their All Blacks in Aaron Smith, Waisake Naholo and Liam Squire injured, replaced by Kayne Hammington, Matt Faddes and Shannon Frizell.
Richard Buckman and Teihorangi Walden are also set to replace Patelesio Tomkinson and Thomas Umaga-Jensen in the centres after their bye last week.
Be sure to bookmark this page and keep checking back throughout the week as all the teams are named for Round 8.
Highlanders
1. Ayden Johnstone, 2. Liam Coltman, 3. Tyrle Lomax, 4. Josh Dickson, 5. Tom Franklin, 6. Shannon Frizell, 7. James Lentjes, 8. Luke Whitelock, 9. Kayne Hammington, 10. Marty Banks, 11. Tevita Li, 12. Teihorangi Walden, 13. Richard Buckman, 14. Matt Faddes, 15. Ben Smith
Bench: 16. Ash Dixon, 17. Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18. Siate Tokolahi, 19. Jackson Hemopo, 20. Elliot Dixon, 21. Folau Fakatava, 22. Josh Ioane, 23. Rob Thompson
Hurricanes
1. Fraser Armstrong, 2. Ricky Riccitelli, 3. Ben May, 4. James Blackwell, 5. Kane Le’aupepe, 6. Vaea Fifita, 7. Ardie Savea, 8. Reed Prinsep, 9. TJ Perenara (c), 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Ben Lam, 12. Ngani Laumape, 13. Jordie Barrett, 14. Wes Goosen, 15. Chase Tiatia
Bench: 16. Asafo Aumua, 17. Chris Eves, 18. Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen, 19. Isaia Walker-Leawere, 20. Liam Mitchell, 21. Du’Plessis Kirifi, 22. Finlay Christie, 23. Matt Proctor
Reds
1. JP Smith, 2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 3. Ruan Smith, 4. Izack Rodda, 5. Harry Hockings, 6. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 7. Liam Wright, 8. Scott Higginbotham, 9. Tate McDermott, 10. Bryce Hegarty, 11. Jack Hardy, 12. Samu Kerevi (c), 13. Sefa Naivalu, 14. Filipo Daugunu, 15. Hamish Stewart
Bench: 16. Alex Mafi, 17. Harry Hoopert, 18. Taniela Tupou, 19. Angus Blyth, 20. Fraser McReight, 21. Moses Sorovi, 22. Duncan Paia’aua, 23. Isaac Lucas
Stormers
1. Corne Fourie, 2. Scarra Ntubeni, 3. Frans Malherbe, 4. Cobus Wiese, 5. Chris van Zyl, 6. Siya Kolisi (c), 7. Kobus van Dyk, 8. Jaco Coetzee, 9. Justin Phillips, 10. Jean-Luc du Plessis, 11. Dillyn Leyds, 12. Damian de Allende, 13. Ruhan Nel, 14. Seergeal Petersen, 15. Damian Willemse
Bench: 16. Bongi Mbonambi, 17. Steven Kitshoff, 18. Michael Kumbirai, 19. Salmaan Moerat, 20. Juarno Augustus, 21. Herschel Jantjies, 22. Joshua Stander, 23. SP Marais
Lions
1. Sti Sithole, 2. Macolm Marx (c), 3. Carlu Sadie, 4. Rhyno Herbst, 5. Marvin Orie, 6. Marnus Schoeman, 7. Cyle Brink, 8. Ruan Vermaak, 9. Ross Cronje, 10. Elton Jantjies, 11. Courtnall Skosan, 12. Lionel Mapoe, 13. Aphiwe Dyantyi, 14. Tyrone Green, 15. Andries Coetzee
Bench: 16. Jan-Henning Campher, 17. Nathan McBeth, 18. Franks van Wyk, 19. Wilhelm van der Sluys, 20. Stephan Lewies, 21. Nic Groom, 22. Hacjivah Dayimani, 23. Sylvian Mahuzza
Sharks
1. Beast Mtawarira, 2. Kerron van Vurren, 3. Coenie Oosthuizen, 4. Ruben van Heerden, 5. Hyron Andrews, 6. Luke Stringer, 7. Jacques Vermeulen, 8. Dan du Preez, 9. Louis Schreuder (c), 10. Robert du Preez, 11. Makazole Mapimpi, 12. Andre Esterhuizen, 13. Lukhanyo Am, 14. Lwazi Mvovo, 15. Curwin Bosch
Bench: 16. Fez Mbatha, 17. Juan Schoeman, 18. Thomas du Toit, 19. JJ van der Mescht, 20. Philip van der Walt, 21. Grant Williams, 22. Kobus van Wyk, 23. Aphelele Fassi
Crusaders
1. Joe Moody, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Owen Franks, 4. Scott Barrett, 5. Quinten Strange, 6. Ethan Blackadder, 7. Matt Todd (C), 8. Kieran Read, 9. Mitchell Drummond, 10. Richie Mo’unga, 11. Sevu Reece, 12. Ryan Crotty (VC), 13. Tim Bateman, 14. Will Jordan, 15. David Havili
Bench: 16. Ben Funnell, 17. Harry Allan, 18. Michael Alaalatoa, 19. Sam Whitelock (VC), 20. Jordan Taufua, 21. Bryn Hall, 22. Brett Cameron, 23. Leicester Faingaanuku
Brumbies
1. James Slipper, 2. Josh Mann-Rea, 3. Allan Alaalatoa, 4. Darcy Swain, 5. Murray Douglas, 6. Pete Samu, 7. Tom Cusack, 8. Lachlan Mccaffrey, 9. Joe Powell, 10. Christian Lealiifano, 11. Toni Pulu, 12. Irae Simone, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 14. Henry Speight, 15. Tom Banks
Bench: 16. Connal Mcinerney, 17. Vunipola Fifita, 18. Tom Ross, 19. Sam Carter, 20. Jahrome Brown, 21. Matt Lucas, 22. Jordan Jackson-Hope, 23. Andy Muirheadonvert Case
Blues
1. Alex Hodgman, 2. James Parsons, 3. Sione Mafileo, 4. Patrick Tuipulotu, 5. Josh Goodhue, 6. Tom Robinson, 7. Blake Gibson, 8. Akira Ioane, 9. Jonathan Ruru, 10. Otere Black, 11. Rieko Ioane, 12. Ma’a Nonu, 13. TJ Faiane, 14. Caleb Clarke, 15. Melani Nanai
Bench: 16. Matt Moulds, 17. Marcel Renata, 18. Ofa Tuungafasi, 19. Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 20. Dalton Papalii, 21. Sam Nock, 22. Harry Plummer, 23. Michael Collins
Waratahs
1. Harry Johnson-Holmes, 2. Damien Fitzpatrick, 3. Sekope Kepu, 4. Ned Hannigan, 5. Rob Simmons, 6. Jack Dempsey, 7. Will Miller, 8. Michael Wells, 9. Nick Phipps, 10. Bernard Foley, 11. Alex Newsome, 12. Karmichael Hunt, 13. Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14. Cam Clark, 15. Israel Folau
Bench: 16. Andrew Tuala, 17. Rory O’Connor, 18. Chris Talakai, 19. Tom Staniforth, 20. Lachlan Swinton, 21. Jake Gordon, 22. Kurtley Beale, 23. Lalakai Foketi
Rebels
1. Tetera Faulkner, 2. Anaru Rangi, 3. Jermaine Ainsley, 4. Matt Philip, 5. Adam Coleman, 6. Luke Jones, 7. Angus Cottrell c, 8. Isi Naisarani, 9. Will Genia, 10. Quade Cooper, 11. Marika Koroibete, 12. Billy Meakes, 13. Tom English, 14. Jack Maddocks, 15. Reece Hodge.
Bench: 16. Hugh Roach, 17. Matt Gibbon, 18. Pone Fa’amausili, 19. Ross Haylett-Petty, 20. Rob Leota, 21. Michael Ruru, 22. Campbell Magnay, 23. Semisi Tupou.
Sunwolves
1. Pauliasi Manu , 2. Java Bregvadze, 3. Jiwon Koo, 4. Mark Abbott, 5. Luke Thompson, 6. Ben Gunter, 7. Dan Pryor, 8. Hendrik Tui, 9. Kaito Shigeno, 10. Hayden Parker, 11. Semisi Masirewa, 12. Riichi Tatekawa, 13. Jason Emery, 14. Gerard van der Heever, 15. Ryohei Yamanaka
Bench: 16 Nathan Vella, 17 Masataka Mikami, 18 Hiroshi Yamashita, 19. Uwe Helu, 20 Grant Hattingh, 21 Jamie Booth, 22. Takuya Yamasawa, 23. Josh Timu
Bulls
1. Lizo Gqoboka, 2. Corniel Els, 3. Trevor Nyakane, 4. Hanro Liebenberg, 5. Eli Snyman, 6. Ruan Steenkamp, 7. Jannes Kirsten, 8. Duane Vermeulen (c), 9. Embrose Papier, 10. Manie Libbok, 11. Jade Stighling, 12. Burger Odendaal, 13. Dylan Sage, 14. Johnny Kotze, 15. Divan Rossouw
Bench: 16. Jaco Visagie, 17. Simphiwe Matanzima, 18. Conraad van Vurren, 19. Thembelani Bohli, 20. Tim Agaba, 21. Ivan van Zyl, 22. JT Jackson, 23. Cornal Hendricks
Jaguares
1. Mayco Vivas, 2. Julian Montoya, 3. Santiago Medrano, 4. Guido Petti, 5. Marcos Kremer, 6. Pablo Matera, 7. Tomas Lezana, 8. Javier Ortega Desio, 9 . Tomas Cubelli, 10. Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias, 11. Ramiro Moyano, 12. Jeronimo de la Fuente, 13. Matias Orlando, 14. Matias Moroni, 15. Emiliano Boffelli
Bench: 16. Agustin Creevy, 17. Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 18. Enrique Pieretto, 19. Tomas Lavanini, 20. Rodrigo Bruni, 21. Felipe Ezcurra, 22. Domingo Miotti, 23. Joaquin Tuculet
All times AEDT.
CUW
Roar Rookie
Rebels: 15 Reece Hodge, 14 Jack Maddocks, 13 Tom English, 12 Billy Meakes, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Isi Naisarani, 7 Angus Cottrell, 6 Luke Jones, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Matt Philip, 3 Jermaine Ainsley, 2 Anaru Rangi, 1 Tetera Faulkner Replacements: 16 Hugh Roach, 17 Matt Gibbon, 18 Pone Fa’amausili, 19 Ross Haylett-Petty, 20 Rob Leota, 21 Michael Ruru, 22 Campbell Magnay, 23 Semisi Tupou
CUW
Roar Rookie
oh yeah - Crusaders will unleash big Leicester Faingaanuku maybe when Reece comes off late in the 2nd half Crusaders: 15 David Havili, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Tim Bateman, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Sevu Reece, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Mitchell Drummond, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Matt Todd (c), 6 Ethan Blackadder, 5 Quinten Strange, 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Joe Moody Replacements: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Harry Allan, 18 Michael Alaalatoa, 19 Sam Whitelock, 20 Jordan Taufua, 21 Bryn Hall, 22 Brett Cameron, 23 Leicester Faingaanuku
Faith
Roar Rookie
H Parker is a Kiwi so Blues and the Clan will have first dibs ...
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Hehe, and the pool I’m putting in is going to be an ice skating rink ;)
bigbaz
Roar Guru
Believe QC is not signed for next year , might be a show , hey
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Yeah perhaps, don’t think it’s been tried. DP isn’t a strong tackler so 13 might be too much for him.
Hazel Nutt
Guest
I always wondered whether DP could sub at 13 outside SK? He always seems very active in organising the defence and attacks best when he has a little space to work with. I feel like SK is always pushed out of position when DP is brought on.
Blackbeard
Roar Rookie
Thanks, BL.
Andrew Johnson
Guest
I think it’s 5
CUW
Roar Rookie
well its not just stormers doing it Api Diyntie is also named at 13 for this weekend :) great minds think alike perhaps :P
CUW
Roar Rookie
Sharks: 15 Curwin Bosch, 14 Lwazi Mvovo, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Louis Schreuder (c), 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Jacques Vermeulen, 6 Luke Stringer, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Tendai Mtawarira Replacements: 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 JJ van der Mescht, 20 Philip van der Walt, 21 Grant Williams, 22 Kobus van Wyk, 23 Aphelele Fassi
CUW
Roar Rookie
Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Dillyn Leyds, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 9 Justin Phillips, 8 Jaco Coetzee, 7 Kobus van Dyk, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Chris van Zyl, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Corne Fourie Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Michael Kumbirai, 19 Salmaan Moerat, 20 Juarno Augustus, 21 Herschel Jantjies, 22 Joshua Stander, 23 SP Marais
CUW
Roar Rookie
Lions trying to burn the grass ? :P :D Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Tyrone Green, 13 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 12 Lionel Mapoe, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Ruan Vermaak, 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Rhyno Herbst, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Malcolm Marx (c), 1 Sti Sithole Replacements: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Frans van Wyk, 19 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 20 Stephan Lewies, 21 Nic Groom, 22 Hacjivah Dayimani, 23 Sylvian Mahuza/Wandisile Simelane
CUW
Roar Rookie
So finally Hurricanes have found a proper 2nd rower. i mean they used a guy who according to TV stats was only 1.90m in 2nd row. there are props taller than that ffs !!! also they need to find more 2nd rowers - coz Sam Lousi is moving to Scarlets next season. i think JB is better at 13 than anywhere else. but he needs to wwatch tackle techniqure - goes hign and dangeros at times. Hurricanes: 15 Chase Tiatia, 14 Wes Goosen, 13 Jordie Barrett, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Ben Lam, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara (c), 8 Reed Prinsep, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Vaea Fifita, 5 Kane Le’aupepe, 4 James Blackwell, 3 Ben May, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Fraser Armstrong Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Chris Eves, 18 Jeff To’omaga-Allen, 19 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 20 Liam Mitchell, 21 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 22 Finlay Christie, 23 Matt Proctor
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Sefa has played Super Rugby level at 13 before
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Sunwolves to take it the Rebels. Yep the Sunwolves could win this one, they will cause more than their fair share of upsets and near-upsets this year.
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Sunwolves to take it the Rebels. How good would that be. Srormers to beat Reds. Be interesting to see how the Reds forwards march up in the physicality stakes. Thor on bench again - go figure??? Hard to not pick the Saders but strange things happen in rugby. Emotional game for them (and the criwd) as first home game since the "outrage".
Baylion
Roar Rookie
Lions 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Tyrone Green, 13 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 12 Lionel Mapoe, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Ruan Vermaak, 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Rhyno Herbst, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Malcolm Marx (captain), 1 Sti Sithole Substitutes: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Frans van Wyk, 19 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 20 Stephan Lewies, 21 Nic Groom, 22 Hacjivah Dayimani, 23 Sylvian Mahuza/Wandisile Simelane Sharks 15 Curwin Bosch, 14 Lwazi Mvovo, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Louis Schreuder (captain), 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Jacques Vermeulen, 6 Luke Stringer, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Tendai Mtawarira Substitutes: 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 JJ van der Mescht, 20 Philip van der Walt, 21 Grant Williams, 22 Kobus van Wyk, 23 Aphelele Fassi Sharks players currently banned Jeremy Ward – to 19 April Marius Louw – to 13 April Akker van der Merwe – to 19 April Chilliboy Ralepelle awaiting results of tests on his B-sample
Smiggle Jiggle
Roar Guru
Australian rugby always assumes 13 is an "easy position" to play. Stormers will have a fun night out with a winger playing 13.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Yes, Timu has been our only real ball-running threat in the forwards.