There may be three teams on a bye, but there’s still plenty of Super Rugby action on the calendar this weekend. Check out the full Round 4 teams for every side here.
The Melbourne Rebels have been hit with two massive injuries ahead of their clash with the Sharks, with groin injuries sidelining both five-eighth Matt Toomua and utility back Reece Hodge. Hodge is expected to miss six weeks with the injury, while Toomua’s prognosis is not yet known.
Replacing them in the XV are Andrew Deegan – who’ll don the no.10 jersey – and Andrew Kellaway.
The Brumbies have been forced to make a host of changes for their huge test against the Chiefs on Saturday, with Folau Fainga’a’s absence due to a toe injury the headline exclusion. Connal McInerney is his replacement at lock, while Irae Simone also returns from illness to resume his role at inside centre. Andy Muirhead shifts to the left wing at Tom Wright’s expense, while Cadeyrn Neville replaces Darcy Swain in the second row.
Junior Wallaby Lachlan Lonergan has been named on the bench as he gears up for a potential Super Rugby debut.
The Chiefs, for their part, have also made several changes. All Blacks Sam Cane, Luke Jacobson and Anton Lienert-Brown are among the inclusions.
Brad Thorn has named an unchanged line-up following the Reds’ controversial loss to the Jaguares last week, but has welcomed back three players from injury to return via the bench. Harry Hoopert, Fraser McReight and Scott Malolua are set to come on as finishers against the Sunwolves, while Ed Craig is also in line for a potential Super Rugby debut.
The Crusaders will be without captain Scott Barrett for their round-opening clash with the Highlanders, with a knee injury sidelining the skipper alongside Oli Jager (concussion). Luke Romano and Michael Alaalatoa are the replacements in the forwards. The Highlanders have made just two changes to their side. Kirisi Kuridrani comes in on the right wing to replace the suspended Sio Tomkinson, while Michael Collins moves to fullback, forcing Josh McKay to the bench.
Keep this post bookmarked, as we’ll reveal every Super Rugby team for Round 4 as they’re announced.
All times listed are AEDT – Sydney/Melbourne time
Crusaders
1. Joe Moody, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Michael Alaalatoa, 4. Luke Romano, 5. Mitchell Dunshea, 6. Cullen Grace, 7. Tom Christie, 8. Tom Sanders, 9. Bryn Hall, 10. Richie Mo’unga, 11. George Bridge, 12. Jack Goodhue, 13. Braydon Ennor, 14. Sevu Reece, 15. David Havili (c)
Reserves
16. Andrew Makalio, 17. Isi Tuungafasi, 18. George Bower, 19. Ethan Roots, 20. Sione Havili, 21. Mitchell Drummond, 22. Brett Cameron, 23. Leicester Faingaanuku
Highlanders
1. Ayden Johnstone, 2. Liam Coltman, 3. Siate Tokolahi, 4. Jesse Parete, 5. Josh Dickson, 6. Shannon Frizell, 7. James Lentjes (c), 8. Marino Mikaele Tu’u, 9. Aaron Smith, 10. Mitch Hunt, 11. Jona Nareki, 12. Josh Ioane, 13. Rob Thompson, 14. Kirisi Kuridrani, 15. Michael Collins
Reserves
16. Ash Dixon, 17. Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18. Conan O’Donnell, 19. Jack Whetton, 20. Teariki Ben-Nicholas, 21. Kayne Hammington, 22. Teihorangi Walden, 23. Josh McKay
Rebels
1. Matt Gibbon, 2. Steve Misa, 3. Jermaine Ainsley, 4. Ross Haylett-Petty, 5. Matt Philip, 6. Michael Wells, 7. Richard Hardwick, 8. Isi Naisarani, 9. Ryan Louwrens, 10. Andrew Deegan, 11. Marika Koroibete, 12. Billy Meakes, 13. Campbell Magnay, 14. Andrew Kellaway, 15. Dane Haylett-Petty (c)
Reserves
16. Anaru Rangi, 17. Cameron Orr, 18. Ruan Smith, 19. Gideon Koegelenberg, 20. Angus Cottrell, 21. Rob Leota, 22. Frank Lomani, 23. Tom English
Sharks
15. Aphelele Fassi, 14. Madosh Tambwe, 13. Jeremy Ward, 12. Andre Esterhuizen (c), 11. Makazole Mapimpi, 10. Curwin Bosch, 9. Sanele Nohamba, 8. Sikumbuzo Notshe, 7. Tyler Paul, 6. James Venter, 5. Hyron Andrews, 4. Ruben van Heerden, 3. Thomas du Toit, 2. Kerron van Vuuren, 1. Ox Nche
Reserves
16. Craig Burden, 17. Mzamo Majola, 18. John-Hubert Meyer, 19. Le Roux Roets, 20. Henco Venter, 21. Louis Schreuder, 22. Marius Louw, 23. Lwazi Mvovo
Chiefs
1. Aidan Ross, 2. Bradley Slater, 3. Atu Moli, 4. Michael Allardice, 5. Mitchell Brown, 6. Luke Jacobson, 7. Sam Cane (c), 8. Pita Gus Sowakula, 9. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 10. Aaron Cruden, 11. Sam McNicol, 12. Alex Nankivell, 13. Anton Lienert-Brown, 14. Sean Wainui, 15. Damian McKenzie
Reserves
16. Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17. Reuben O’Neill, 18. Ross Geldenhuys, 19. Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20. Mitchell Karpik, 21. Lisati Milo-Harris, 22. Kaleb Trask, 23. Quinn Tupaea
Brumbies
1. James Slipper, 2. Connal McInerney, 3. Allan Alaalatoa (c), 4. Cadeyrn Neville, 5. Murray Douglas, 6. Rob Valetini, 7. Will Miller, 8. Pete Samu, 9. Joe Powell, 10. Noah Lolesio, 11. Andy Muirhead, 12. Irae Simone, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 14. Solomone Kata, 15. Tom Banks
Reserves
16. Lachlan Lonergan, 17. Scott Sio, 18. Tom Ross, 19. Nick Frost, 20. Lachlan McCaffrey, 21. Ryan Lonergan, 22. Bayley Kuenzle, 23. Toni Pulu
Reds
1. JP Smith, 2. Alex Mafi, 3. Taniela Tupou, 4. Izack Rodda, 5. Angus Blyth, 6. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 7. Liam Wright (c), 8. Harry Wilson, 9. Tate McDermott, 10. James O’Connor, 11. Henry Speight, 12. Hamish Stewart, 13. Hunter Paisami, 14. Chris Feauai-Sautia, 15. Jock Campbell
Reserves
16. Ed Craig, 17. Harry Hoopert, 18. Josh Nasser, 19. Harry Hockings, 20. Fraser McReight, 21. Scott Malolua, 22. Isaac Lucas, 23. Bryce Hegarty
Sunwolves
1. Chris Eves, 2. Jaba Bregvadze, 3. Conraad van Vuuren, 4. Corey Thomas, 5. Michael Stolberg, 6. Kyo Yoshida, 7. Mitch Jacobson, 8. Jake Schatz, 9. Naoto Saito, 10. Garth April, 11. James Dargaville, 12. Ben Te’o, 13. JJ Engelbrecht, 14. Siosaia Fifita, 15. Jordan Jackson-Hope
Reserves
16. Effie Ma’afu, 17. Nic Mayhew, 18. Hencus van Wyk, 19. Kotaro Yatabe, 20. Tevita Tupou, 21. Rudy Paige, 22. Keisuke Moriya, 23. Shogo Nakano
Stormers
15. Dillyn Leyds, 14. Sergeal Petersen, 13. Ruhan Nel, 12. Jamie Roberts, 11. Seabelo Senatla, 10. Damian Willemse, 9. Herschel Jantjies, 8. Juarno Augustus, 7. Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6. Jaco Coetzee, 5. JD Schickerling, 4. Salmaan Moerat, 3. Frans Malherbe, 2. Scarra Ntubeni, 1. Steven Kitshoff (c)
Reserves
16. Chad Solomon, 17. Ali Vermaak, 18. Wilco Louw, 19. Chris van Zyl, 20. Johan du Toit, 21. Ernst van Rhyn, 22. Godlen Masimla, 23. Jean-Luc du Plessis
Jaguares
15. Emiliano Boffelli, 14. Bautista Delguy, 13. Santiago Chocobares, 12. Juan Cruz Mallía, 11. Sebastien Cancelliere, 10. Domingo Miotti, 9. Tomás Cubelli (c) , 8. Rodrigo Bruni, 7. Tomás Lezana, 6. Francisco Gorrison, 5. Lucas Paulos, 4. Matías Alemanno, 3. Santiago Medrano, 2. Santiago Socino, 1. Nahuel Tetaz Chapparro
Reserves
16. Julián Montoya, 17. Mayco Vivas, 18. Joel Sclavi, 19. Guido Petti, 20. Marcos Kremer, 21. Gonzalo Bertranou, 22. Joaquin Diaz Bonilla, 23. Matias Moroni
Bulls
15. Warrick Gelant, 14. Cornal Hendricks, 13. Johnny Kotze, 12. Burger Odendaal (c), 11. Rosko Specman, 10. Morne Steyn, 9. Ivan van Zyl, 8. Josh Strauss, 7. Wian Vosloo, 6. Jeandre Rudolph, 5. Juandre Kruger, 4. Andries Ferreira, 3. Trevor Nyakane, 2. Jaco Visagie, 1. Lizo Gqoboka
Reserves
16. Corniel Els, 17. Gerhard Steenkamp, 18. Wiehahn Herbst, 19. Ruan Nortje, 20. Ruan Steenkamp 21. Embrose Papier, 22. Manie Libbok, 23. Divan Rossouw
Blues
1. Karl Tu’inukuafe, 2. James Parsons, 3. Sione Mafileo, 4. Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 5. Jacob Pierce, 6. Tom Robinson, 7. Tony Lamborn, 8. Hoskins Sotutu, 9. Jonathan Ruru, 10. Otere Black, 11. Mark Telea, 12. Harry Plummer, 13. Joe Marchant, 14. Emoni Narawa, 15. Stephen Perofeta
Reserves
16. Kurt Eklund, 17. Ezekiel Lindenmuth, 18. Ofa Tuungafasi, 19. Aaron Carroll, 20. Dalton Papalii, 21. Sam Nock, 22. TJ Faiane, 23. Matt Duffie
MitchO
Guest
Thanks Geoff. Glad the issue is my ignorance and not the coaches.
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Rebels will fund it tough to win the game up front and the whole game as a result. Brums up against it with the Chiefs but at good odds they are a worthwhile punt. Reds should knock off the Sunwolves by 30 but a win to the visitors is possible. If it comes down to the last 10 minutes, the Reds will choke.
BledisloeAsUsual
Guest
Don't forget Sunwolves are in the Oz conference, so Reds can't field a weak team against them! If the Sunwolves (who've beaten the rebels who in turn beat the Tahs) can beat the Reds and challenge the Brumbies they are on track to top the conference! Bloody hell, opened a long neck to watch rugby at 7:30 and nothing was on dammit.
ethan
Guest
Jaguares have been using heavy rotation for years. Probably to combat the travel, and because they have the depth to manage it pretty well. If they can keep it pretty tight in the first half, they should finish strongly with that bench.
Hazel Nutt
Roar Rookie
Thanks mate, work's internet filters are fine with me accessing the Roar but FB and the team websites are blocked for some reason. I'll have to watch the full replay tonight either way.
Charlie Turner
Guest
Ok....plan B covered.
Markus
Roar Rookie
Take off and nuke the entire site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Though if you look at the Tahs website it has a 4pm kickoff, but the FB page says 6:30 kick off. So I don't know what to believe
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Streamed on the Tah website I believe. The previous game was and also a full replay available.
Charlie Turner
Guest
The mumps.....wtf! What kind of third world backwater is Canberra? Erect blockades on all access roads and disinfect that wretched city using a squadron of aerial tankers. #disinfectheswamp
Hazel Nutt
Roar Rookie
Hey Paul, can you please tell me where this is being played and if it's being streamed anywhere? Thanks!
Charlie Turner
Guest
The Reds will win this game by 25.....take that to the bank!
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Puts last week's match in context given the late withdrawals.
Markus
Roar Rookie
Tom Wright the latest to fall to a mumps outbreak in the squad, after Simone Swain and Kuenzle all pulled out of last week's matchday 23. Get your booster shots, people!
Hazel Nutt
Roar Rookie
Does anyone else get the impression that Quesada is heavily rotating players to create some depth in his squad? If so, it's smart planning for coming years, and he's obviously confident he can do so without harming their finals chances. Perhaps he's even thinking ahead to when he inevitably becomes the coach of Los Pumas? Happy to see Gorrissen getting another run.
Tree Son
Roar Rookie
I always feel like defending JOC for some reason. His faults seem the most forgivable type to me. Maybe playing inside will save him some wear and tear for the international season.
Gazza
Guest
QC would and should stroll into the Wallabies now Cheika has left in disgrace .Do it Rennie
bigbaz
Roar Guru
I'd rest our top players against the Saders and the Chiefs.
concerned supporter
Roar Rookie
Why did the Brumbies dump, Tom Wright? He and Kata had no ball last game.
Dwards
Roar Rookie
So much speed in those back 3. Really enjoying how the Sharks are playing the game at the moment