Plenty of intriguing Super Rugby matches await us this weekend as the season continues at full steam. Check out the full Round 5 teams for every side here.
The Rebels have been boosted by four big inclusions ahead of their round-opening clash with the Highlanders in Dunedin. Matt To’omua returns at flyhalf after missing last week, forwards Anaru Rangi and Angus Cottrell also make their returns, while Jordan Uelese also makes his first appearance of the season on the bench. Gideon Koegelenberg will also start at lock, marking his first Super Rugby start.
The Highlanders will have three potential debutants on the bench, with Daniel Lienert-Brown rotating back into the starting line-up.
The Waratahs have made just two changes to their XV following a bye last week, with Mark Nawaqanitawase back on the right wing and Lachlan Swinton replacing Jed Holloway on the flanks.
Brad Thorn has stocked up on the Reds bench, with Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Filipo Daugunu joining the reserves. Harry Hockings and Angus Scott-Young join the forwards in the run-on XV.
All times listed are AEDT – Sydney/Melbourne time
Highlanders
1. Daniel Lienert-Brown, 2. Ash Dixon, 3. Siate Tokolahi, 4. Jesse Parete, 5. Jack Whetton, 6. Teariki Ben-Nicholas, 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. Josh McKay, 15. Michael Collins
Reserves
16. Liam Coltman, 17. Ayden Johnstone, 18. Jeff Thwaites, 19. Manaaki Selby-Rickit, 20. Dillon Hunt, 21. Kayne Hammington, 22. Teihorangi Walden, 23. Scott Gregory
Rebels
1. Matt Gibbon, 2. Anaru Rangi, 3. Jermaine Ainsley, 4. Gideon Koegelenberg, 5. Matt Philip, 6. Angus Cottrell, 7. Richard Hardwick, 8. Isi Naisarani, 9. Ryan Louwrens, 10. Matt To’omua, 11. Marika Koroibete, 12. Billy Meakes, 13. Tom English, 14. Andrew Kellaway, 15. Dane Haylett-Petty (c)
Reserves
16. Jordan Uelese, 17. Cameron Orr, 18. Cabous Eloff, 19. Ross Haylett-Petty, 20. Rob Leota, 21. Frank Lomani, 22. Michael Wells, 23. Andrew Deegan
Waratahs
1. Angus Bell, 2. Robbie Abel, 3. Harry Johnson-Holmes, 4. Tom Staniforth, 5. Rob Simmons (c), 6. Lachlan Swinton, 7. Michael Hooper, 8. Jack Dempsey, 9. Jake Gordon, 10. Will Harrison, 11. Jack Maddocks, 12. Karmichael Hunt, 13. Alex Newsome, 14. Mark Nawaqanitawase, 15. Kurtley Beale
Reserves
16. Damien Fitzpatrick, 17. Tom Robertson, 18. Tetera Faulkner, 19. Ryan McCauley, 20. Jed Holloway, 21. Mitch Short, 22. Lalakai Foketi, 23. James Ramm
Lions
1. Dylan Smith, 2. Jan-Henning Campher, 3. Carlu Sadie, 4. Ruben Schoeman, 5. Marvin Orie, 6. Marnus Schoeman, 7. Vincent Tshituka, 8. Len Massyn, 9. Andre Warner, 10. Elton Jantjies (c), 11. Jamba Ulenga, 12. Daniel Kriel, 13. Maunel Rass, 14. Tyrone Green, 15. Andries Coetzee
Reserves
16. Pieter Jansen, 17. Sithembiso Sithole, 18. Frans van Wyk, 19. Willem Alberts, 20. Wilhelm VD Sluys, 21. Hacjivah Dayimani, 22. Morne VD Berg, 23. Wandisile Simelane
Hurricanes
1. Xavier Numia, 2. Asofo Aumua, 3. Tyrel Lomax, 4. James Blackwell, 5. Scott Scrafton, 6. Vaea Fifita, 7. Du’Plessis Kirifi, 8. Gareth Evans, 9. TJ Perenara (c), 10. Fletcher Smith, 11. Ben Lam, 12. Ngani Laumape, 13. Vince Aso, 14. Kobus van Wyk, 15. Chase Tiatia
Reserves
16. Ricky Riccitelli, 17. Ben May, 18. Alex Fidow, 19. Isaia Walker-Leawere, 20. Devan Flanders, 21. Jonathan Taumateine, 22. James Marshall, 23. Peter Umaga-Jensen
Sunwolves
1. Jarred Adams, 2. Jaba Bregvadze, 3. Hencus van Wyk, 4. Kotara Yatabe, 5. Michael Stolberg, 6. Tevita Tupou, 7. Mitch Jacobson, 8. Jake Schatz, 9. Rudy Paige, 10. Jumpei Ogura, 11. James Dargaville, 12. Shogo Nakano, 13. Keisuke Moriya, 14. Siosaia Fifita, 15. Alex Horan
Reserves
16. Efitusi Maafu, 17. Nic Mayhew, 18. Conraad van Vuuren, 19. Justin Downey, 20. Shunsuke Nunomaki, 21. Naota Saito, 22. JJ Engelbrecht, 23. Tautalatasi Tasi
Reds
1. JP Smith, 2. Alex Mafi, 3. Taniela Tupou, 4. Izack Rodda, 5. Harry Hockings, 6. Angus Scott-Young, 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. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 20. Fraser McReight, 21. Scott Malolua, 22. Isaac Lucas, 23. Filipo Daugunu
Sharks
1. Ox Nche, 2. Kerron van Vuuren, 3. Thomas du Toit, 4. Ruben van Heerden, 5. Hyron Andrews, 6. Dylan Richardson, 7. Henco Venter, 8. Sikumbuzo Notshe, 9. Louis Schreuder, 10. Curwin Bosch, 11. Lwazi Mvovo, 12. Andre Esterhuizen, 13. Lukhanyo Am (c), 14. Madosh Tambwe, 15. Aphelele Fassi
Reserves
16. Craig Burden, 17. Juan Schoeman, 18. John-Hubert Meyer, 19. Le Roux Roets, 20. Phepsi Buthelezi, 21. Sanele Nohamba, 22. Marius Louw, 23. Jeremy Ward
Stormers
1. Steven Kitshoff (c), 2. Scarra Ntubeni, 3. Wilco Louw, 4. Chris van Zyl, 5. JD Schickerling, 6. Jaco Coetzee, 7. Pieter-Steph du Toit, 8. Juarno Augustus, 9. Herschel Jantjies, 10. Damian Willemse, 11. Seabelo Senatla, 12. Jamie Roberts, 13. Ruhan Nel, 14. Sergeal Petersen, 15. Dillyn Leyds
Reserves
16. Chad Solomon, 17. Kwenzo Blose, 18. Frans Malherbe, 19. Salmaan Moerat, 20. Cobus Wiese, 21. Ernst van Rhyn, 22. Golden Masimla, 23. Jean-Luc du Plessis
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
Bulls
1. Lizo Gqoboka, 2. Jaco Visagie, 3. Trevor Nyakane (c), 4. Andries Ferreira, 5. Juandre Kruger, 6. Marco van Staden, 7. Josh Strauss, 8. Jeandre Rudolph, 9. Embrose Papier, 10. Morne Steyn, 11. Rosko Specman, 12. Johnny Kotze, 13. Nafi Tuitavake, 14. Cornal Hendricks, 15. Warrick Gelant
Reserves
16. Corniel Els, 17. Gerhard Steenekamp, 18. Wiehahn Herbst, 19. Ruan Nortje, 20. Ruan Steenkamp, 21. Ivan van Zyl, 22. Manie Libbok, 23. Divan Rossouw
Jaguares
1. Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 2. Julian Montoya, 3. Joel Sclavi, 4. Guido Petti, 5. Marcos Kremer, 6. Francisco Gorrissen, 7. Tomas Lezana, 8. Rodrigo Bruni, 9. Gonzalo Bertranou, 10. Joaquin Diaz Bonilla, 11. Emiliano Boffelli, 12. Jeronimo de la Fuente (c), 13. Matias Moroni, 14. Sebastian Cancelliere, 15. Santiago Carreras
Reserves
16. Santiago Socino, 17. Mayco Vivas, 18. Santiago Medrano, 19. Lucas Paulos, 20. Bautista Pedemonte, 21. Domingo Miotti, 22. Juan Cruz Mallia, 23. Santiago Chocobares
Paul D
Roar Rookie
I didn’t give it a close watch and missed the first 60 odd minutes. So will need to give it another look. Didn’t get a good look at who the Rebels selected so not sure of the quality of the opposition.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Shush! I was going to watch that later! . Although sounds like I would have twigged how the match was going fairly quickly. :stoked:
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Tahs A put 5 tries on the rebels A and held them to zip. So we have our win for the weekend :)
numpty
Roar Rookie
What was the brumbies start last year? Pretty sure they were about 2W from 5 or so to begin. Then came home with the wet sail. As I did in the first 3 rounds, I'm hoping the reds have that watershed win that gets them on a roll, hopefully this is the week.
Roger
Roar Rookie
Not convinced that Mapimpi needs resting - he does that between the occasional finishing off of a move! In all the Sharks games they have looked good for 60 minutes and then pretty ordinary for the remainder of the game - if they don't have a big lead they will lose.
Sinclair Whitbourne
Roar Rookie
No question that you need to see players at the ground as well as on TV to truly assess what they do/don't do. TV gives you the in close detail but you tend to lose things like what they are doing in back play, lines they are running (or walking), positional play. Sometimes with a wing/full back, or even 8, the position they are in means they don't need to make a tackle, or field a kick because it changes the options available to the other side - for example. At the ground you can see this wider picture but on TV the camera will be zoomed in on the ball carrier, ruck etc.
Bourkos
Roar Rookie
I feel like if Foketi moved to the Brumbies he would turn out to be a star ala Simone. He has had glimpses of brilliance and does the basics well. IMO he looks like he is being suffocated in the waratahs.
Hazel Nutt
Roar Rookie
Magnay is a huge loss for the Rebels! They looked so much stronger and more organised in the backs once he came in at 13. Any idea how long he's out for?
Hazel Nutt
Roar Rookie
I agree that large scale changes need to be made, but frankly I think they should go further. It's not panic changes to a starting side if they never worked out their best starting side to begin with! 1. HJH should definitely go back to LH and Robertson should be reserve TH behind Talakai. 2. I think Swinton has been lackluster at 6 but has the skills for a lock, and I would willingly sacrifice a big hitting 6 for some pace in defence off the blindside and a proper jackal, so either start Gamble at 6 or move Dempsey to 6 and bring Harris into 8. 3. I would like to see more of McDonald, he has impressed me more than Short. 4. I would like a look at Clark at 13, at least off the bench. 5. One way or another, someone has to challenge Hunt at 12. 6. Lisala was a standout last week, how he didn't even get a bench spot is anyone's guess. 7. Beale is done, Maddocks or Nawaqanitawase to start. Seriously, what do they have to lose at this point? Get a start on the new generation!
Lux Interior
Roar Rookie
Was posting to correct you on the Rennie/Penney thing but then realised every bugger already had. So I gave a shout out to my struggling H'lders instead. Apologies for any confusion.
Jacko
Guest
Yep apologies....Rnd 9 Tahs v SunWolves wooden spoon match LOL....I would expect the Tahs to win that quite comfortably at this stage
PeterK
Roar Guru
this year they beat the rebels not the tahs Tahs v Sunwolves will be a mighty battle to see who will be wooden spooners !
Jacko
Guest
Didnt the SunWolves beat the Tahs? What does that make Tahs then then? A bad Shute shield side?
Charging Rhino
Roar Guru
Sharks have to rest a few players including Mapimpi. Hopefully it doesn’t backfire. Good news is Lukhanyo Am is back after being rested last weekend.
PeterK
Roar Guru
Team that played rebels slightly weaker with Marky and Swinton the bench instead of starting. At least least week tahs had a 0-0 draw (the bye) so they are on an upward curve :)
PeterK
Roar Guru
He was handed the roster of dud recruiting by Hore and Gibson who promptly resigned after finishing signing up players. Considering the available money after Folau, Kepu, Foley, Latu, Phipps all departed they should have done a lot better in terms of new players.
Tuc Du Nard
Roar Rookie
Sorry but I don't get why Gordon is still starting other than he should have a better 50th than all his previous games. People talk about his running game but he is there to pass mostly and with pace. He is so overrated! He almost runs towards his fly half as he passes which slows things down. And then poor Will H has less time, poor kid. He'll be a better player just by having less time than usual because of his halfback. Penney should send Gordon back to club footy and bring in another.
HiKa
Roar Rookie
Blythe may be bigger but Hockings is just a better footballer.
Pilferer
Roar Rookie
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AJ
Guest
Blythe has done well but Hockings is a gun. Wait till he starts pinching a few lineouts and kickoffs. He is a game changer.