This weekend sees the start of Super Rugby, but only with 2 games in South Africa. For the rest of the Super Rugby Francises, including all New Zealand and Australian franchises, it’s another weekend of preparation matches for Super Rugby.
In New Zealand, the Hurricanes report that Tim Bateman has suffered a grade one medial knee ligament injury at training and will miss 2 to 6 weeks of rugby. Also in New Zealand the Crusaders have named Richie McCaw on the bench for their warm-up encounter with the Hurricanes.
In Australia, the Reds have made some changes amongst their props, with James Slipper in at loosehead and Greg Holmes in at tighthead and a few changes were made in the backline too, for their warm-up clash against the Melbourne Rebels. Also in Australia, Hugh McMeniman returns from injury and will run out for the Force A side to face the Pampas XV and Samoa A.
Hurricanes suffer Bateman blow:
Rugby365 reports that the Hurricanes have lost a second player ahead of their Super Rugby campaign, which starts with a testing two-match tour of South Africa.
Midfielder Tim Bateman has suffered a grade one medial knee ligament injury at training.
His leg was put in a splint and it is thought he will miss two to six weeks.
More is expected to be known by Thursday.
Flank Brad Shields has already been ruled out of the trip to the Republic with a more serious knee injury.
The Hurricanes get their campaign underway when they take on the Sharks in Durban next Saturday, February 22.
They then head to Cape Town to tackle the Stormers.
* Meanwhile the Hurricanes head to Levin this Friday for their final pre-season run.
With the team set to depart for South Africa on Saturday, coach Mark Hammett is giving his whole squad the opportunity to put their best foot forward against the Crusaders.
All Black Beauden Barrett slots into the flyhalf role, in what will be his first game back.
Newcomer Marty Banks has been named at fullback.
Captain Conrad Smith, Jeremy Thrush, and Cory Jane also return to the starting line-up, along with Alapati Leiua who returns from a hamstring injury.
Hurricanes: 15 Marty Banks, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith (Captain), 12 Tim Bateman, 11 Alapati Leiua, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Jack Lam, 6 Adam Hill, 5 Mark Abbott, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Ben Franks
Replacements: Motu Matu’u, Ash Dixon, John Schwalger, Brendon Edmonds, Chris Eves, James Broadhurst, Mark Reddish, Blade Thomson, Faifili Levave, Ardie Savea, Callum Gibbins, Chris Smylie, Billy Guyton, James Marshall, Hadleigh Parkes, Cardiff Vaega, Julian Savea, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Andre Taylor.
Date: Friday 14 February
Venue: Levin Domain, Levin
Kick-off: 16:00 NZ Time (05:00 SA Time, 03:00 GMT)
Referee: Mike Fraser
McCaw on the bench for Crusaders:
Rugby365 also reports that All Black captain Richie McCaw will return this week, but will be playing off the bench for the Crusaders.
The seven-time champion Crusaders head to Levin on Friday to play the Hurricanes in their final pre-season match before the 2014 Super Rugby competition begins.
Fellow All Black Matt Todd will start at No.7.
McCaw is one of 26 players named by coach Todd Blackadder for the match.
Fellow All Black Luke Whitelock gets his first match of the season at No.8, with Blackadder saying No.8 Kieran Read will be available for the Crusaders’ Round Two game against the Blues in Auckland.
Johnny McNicholl starts his first game on the wing.
Colin Slade has been handed the starting flyhalf role, with Tyler Bleyendaal to deputise from the bench.
Crusaders: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Johnny McNicholl, 13 Ryan Crotty (Captain), 12 Tom Taylor, 11 Nafi Tuitavake, 10 Colin Slade, 9 Willi Heinz, 8 Luke Whitelock, 7 Matt Todd, 6 George Whitelock, 5 Dominic Bird, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Ben Funnell, 1 Wyatt Crockett
Replacements: Corey Flynn, Tim Perry, Nepo Laulala, Samuel Whitelock, Richie McCaw, Andy Ellis, Tyler Bleyendaal, Rob Thompson, Zac Guildford, Reynold Lee-Lo, Jordan Taufua.
Date: Friday 14 February
Venue: Levin Domain, Levin
Kick-off: 16:00 NZ Time (05:00 SA Time, 03:00 GMT)
Referee: Mike Fraser
Reds change props:
According to rugby365, Reds coach Richard Graham made four changes to his side to take on the Melbourne Rebels in a pre-season match at Ballymore Stadium on Friday.
In the forwards, James Slipper has been moved from tighthead prop to loosehead and Greg Holmes moves from the reserves to starting tighthead.
In the backs, Chris Feauai-Sautia replaces Ben Tapuai in the starting lineup, while Rod Davies has been brought in to replace Aidan Toua, who is suffering from hamstring soreness following last weekend’s encounter with the Chiefs.
Davies will play on the wing, with Lachie Turner shifting to fullback.
James Hanson, Anthony Fainga’a and Jamie-Jerry Taulagi have been added to the reserves for their first match of 2014.
This will be Taulagi’s first match for the Reds.
Graham said it was important to see as many players as possible on the field before their first Super Rugby competition match on February 22.
“We tested a lot of combinations on the weekend and got our first look at the squad in a high-quality match environment,” Graham said.
“With only a week until the start of Super Rugby, our match against the Rebels provides another opportunity to give the playing group valuable game time.”
Graham also said the entire group was looking forward to playing at Ballymore.
“The Reds understand the winning history and proud traditions surrounding Ballymore. We train here every day, but the team hasn’t played here since 2010. We are hoping for a strong home crowd to cheer us on,” he said.
With only 26 players in the team to face the Rebels, several Reds squad members will play for Reds A in a curtain-raiser clash against the Australian Barbarians.
The side will be captained by Reds flank Beau Robinson and also feature fully contracted players Albert Anae, Dave McDuling, Blake Enever and Chris Kuridrani in the starting line-up.
The team will be rounded out by members of the Reds’ wider training squad and Reds Under-20 team.
“The squad has been training for a little over four months now. It is important to get them as much game time as possible heading into the season,” Graham said.
“This match against the Australian Barbarians will benefit our wider training squad and Under-20 team members and some of our players like Beau who are coming back from injury.
“We want all of the squad to be in the best possible position when it comes to selection for that first Super Rugby match against the Brumbies.”
Queensland Reds (v Melbourne Rebels): 15 Lachie Turner, 14 Rod Davies, 13 Chris Feauai-Sautia, 12 Mike Harris, 11 Dom Shipperley, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Jake Schatz, 7 Liam Gill, 6 Eddie Quirk, 5 James Horwill (Captain), 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Greg Holmes, 2 Saia Fainga’a, 1 James Slipper
Replacements – from: Ben Daley, James Hanson, Jono Owen, Blake Enever, Ed O’Donoghue, Curtis Browning, Nick Frisby, Chris Kuridrani, Anthony Fainga’a, Ben Tapuai, Jamie-Jerry Taulagi.
Date: Friday 14 February
Venue: Ballymore, Brisbane
Kick-off: 19:40 AEST (11:40 SA Time, 09:40 GMT)
Referee: James Leckie
Assistant referees: Damien Mitchelmore, Tim Clough
Reds A (v Australian Barbarians): 15 Jake McIntyre, 14 Kimami Sitauti, 13 Sam Johnson, 12 UJ Seuteni, 11 Chris Kuridrani, 10 Sam Greene, 9 Nigel Genia, 8 Tim Buchanan, 7 Beau Robinson (Captain), 6 Michael Gunn, 5 Blake Enever, 4 Dave McDuling, 3 Albert Anae, 2 Andrew Ready, 1 Pettowa Paraka
Replacements – from: Feleti Kaituu, Sef Faagaase, Phil Kite, Adam Korczyk, Lolo Fakasolia, Scott Gale, Veresa Mataitini.
Date: Friday 14 February
Venue: Ballymore, Brisbane
Kick-off: 15:40 AEST (07:40 SA Time, 05:40 GMT)
Referee: TBC
Hugh McMeniman back from injury:
Western Force forward Hugh McMeniman is set to return from a shoulder injury on Friday in the franchise’s final Super Rugby pre-season match against the Pampas XV and Samoa A in Perth.
McMeniman, who underwent shoulder surgery during 2013, is set to start at lock during the Force A match against Samoa A, with the Western Force to tackle Argentina’s Pampas XV in the main game.
The Western Force starting XV is set to feature five of the squad’s new recruits – including home-grown Perth products Ollie Hoskins and Zack Holmes, former Emerging Springbok lock Wilhelm Steenkamp, former Western Province outside back Marcel Brache and former Queensland Reds and Wallabies flyer Luke Morahan, who scored a double in last week’s trial win over Samoa A.
Matt Hodgson will captain the side that also features Wallabies No.8 Ben McCalman and wing Nick Cummins.
The Force will be looking to build upon last week’s 69-3 win over Samoa A as they take to the newly resurfaced nib Stadium for the first time in 2014.
The Pampas XV will use the match as part of their preparations for the 2014 Pacific Nations Cup, with their 30-man squad – including 18 players with international Test experience.
Western Force coach Michael Foley says both the Pampas XV and Samoa A will provide strong competition for the franchise ahead of its opening match of the Super Rugby season against the Waratahs in Sydney on Sunday, February 23.
“Last week was a good start and it’s important that we step it up again this week,” he said.
“We’re most pleased with the discipline we displayed under challenging circumstances.
“There were noticeable improvements in our contact and game understanding, and it’s important we continue to focus on the detail required to ensure we’re making the most of the opportunities we create.
“While our attitude in defence was very good, we appreciate that the Pampas XV and Samoa A, with a game under their belt, will pose a far greater challenge this week.”
Western Force: 15 Luke Morahan, 14 Marcel Brache, 13 Junior Rasolea, 12 Kyle Godwin, 11 Nick Cummins, 10 Zack Holmes, 9 Alby Mathewson, 8 Ben McCalman, 7 Matt Hodgson (Captain), 6 Angus Cottrell, 5 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 4 Sam Wykes, 3 Kieran Longbottom/Ollie Hoskins, 2 Nathan Charles, 1 Tetera Faulkner
Replacements: From curtain raiser.
Date: Friday 14 February
Venue: nib Stadium, Perth
Kick-off: 19:30 AEST (13:30 SA Time, 11:30 GMT)
Referee: Rohan Hoffmann (Australia)
Assistant referees: Alex Ninkov (Australia), Matt O’Brien (Australia)
Western Force A: 15 Jayden Hayward, 14 Patrick Dellit, 13 Chris Tuatara-Morrison, 12 Luke Burton, 11 Ed Stubbs, 10 Sias Ebersohn, 9 Ian Prior, 8 Brynard Stander, 7 Chris Alcock, 6 Rory Walton, 5 Phoenix Battye, 4 Hugh McMeniman, 3 Salesi Manu, 2 Heath Tessmann (Captain), 1 Pek Cowan
Replacements – from: Robbie Abel, Francois van Wyk, Chris Heiberg, Bruce Smith-Wright, Corey Thomas, Richard Hardwick, Kane Koteka, Ryan Louwrens, Dillyn Leyds, Brad Lacey, Dylan Sage, Dane Haylett-Petty.
Date: Friday 14 February
Venue: nib Stadium, Perth
Kick-off: 17:00 AEST (11:00 SA time, 09:00 GMT)
Referee: Graham Cooper (Australia)
Assistant referees: Rob Kellam (Australia), Patrick Davis (Australia)