Team Selection - Super Rugby - Round 3

A Wednesday afternoon fitness test will determine if Dane Coles plays against the Blues on Friday night.

The Hurricanes captain is yet to take the park this Super Rugby season after suffering a calf muscle in the lead-up to the round one loss to the Brumbies. Coles has been bracketed, however, to start at hooker at Eden Park with Leni Apisai, who has worn the No 2 jumper for the opening two rounds.

Coles isn't the only Hurricane with a fitness issue to resolve. Wings Cory Jane (head knock) and Nehe Milner-Skudder (unspecified leg problem) are options for the vacant right wing spot, along with Jason Woodward.

The interesting bit there is that James Marshall seems to have played Milner-Skudder out of fullback, provided you believe what was in the Hurricanes' pres release on Wednesday. He and Jane weren't described as wings for nothing and, with Julian Savea on the other flank, it appears one of them might be surplus to requirements each week.

The Blues team to play the Hurricanes at Eden Park on Friday

Lolagi Visinia, Rene Ranger, Male Sa'u, George Moala, Tevita Li, Ihaia West, Bryn Hall, Akira Ioane, Blake Gibson, Jerome Kaino (c), Josh Bekhuis, Steven Luatua, Charlie Faumuina, James Parsons, Ofa Tu'ungafasi.

Reserves: Quentin MacDonald, Nic Mayhew, Sione Mafileo, Patrick Tuipulotu, Kara Pryor, Billy Guyton, Matt McGahan, Melani Nanai.

Blues
1. Charlie Faumuina, 2. James Parsons, 3. Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 4. Josh Bekhuis, 5. Steven Luatua, 6. Jerome Kaino (c), 7. Blake Gibson, 8. Akira Ioane, 9. Bryn Hall, 10. Ihaia West, 11. Tevita Li, 12. Male Sa’u, 13. Melani Nanai 14. Rene Ranger, 15. Lolagi Visinia.

Reserves: Quentin MacDonald, Nic Mayhew, Sione Mafileo, Patrick Tuipulotu, Kara Pryor, Billy Guyton, Matt McGah an, Melani Nanai.

 Western Force:

Dane Haylett-Petty, Luke Morahan, Ben Tapuai, Solomoni Rasolea, Semisi Masirewa, Jono Lance, Ian Prior, Ben McCalman, Matt Hodgson (capt), Brynard Stander, Adam Coleman, Ross Haylett-Petty, Jermaine Ainsley, Heath Tessmann, Pek Cowan.

 Reserves: Nathan Charles, Chris Heiberg, Guy Millar, Steve Mafi, Angus Cottrell, Alby Mathewson, Peter Grant, Marcel Brache.

Wellington based Super Rugby franchise the Hurricanes have been given a boost for their match against the Blues in Auckland as wings Nehe Milner-Skudder and Cory Jane will both start.

Milner-Skudder and Jane both passed fitness tests but team captain Dane Coles will miss another week of Super Rugby after succumbing to a calf strain.

Milner-Skudder will start on the right wing after recovering from the bruised knee that kept him out of the Hurricanes last match, while fellow wing Cory Jane has passed his concussion testing and will take his place in the reserves.

Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd had given the trio until today to prove their fitness and though disappointed that Coles had been ruled out, was pleased to have his two outside backs available.

Hurricanes

15 James Marshall, 14 Nehe Milner-Skudder, 13 Vince Aso, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara (c), 8 Victor Vito, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Brad Shields, 5 Mark Abbott, 4 Blade Thomson, 3 Jeff Toomaga-Allen, 2 Leni Apisai, 1 Reggie Goodes

Replacments :

Ricky Riccitelli, Chris Eves, Loni Uhila, Vaea Fifita, Callum Gibbins, Jamison Gibson-Park, Willis Halaholo, Cory Jane.

Reds team to play the Rebels
1. Sef Fa’agase (run-on debut)
2. Andrew Ready (run-on debut)
3. Greg Holmes
4. Cadeyrn Neville
5. Rob Simmons (C)
6. Hendrik Tui
7. Waita Setu (run-on debut)
8. Jake Schatz
9. Nick Frisby
10. Jake McIntyre
11. Eto Nabuli
12. Anthony Fainga’a
13. Samu Kerevi
14. Chris Feauai-Sautia
15. Karmichael Hunt

16. Matt Mafi (potential Queensland/Super Rugby debut)
17. Ben Daley
18. Sam Talakai
19. Ben Matwijow
20. Curtis Browning
21. Scott Gale
22. Sam Greene
23. Ayumu Goromaru

15 Jaco Van Der Walt, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Warwick Tecklenberg, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Jacques van Rooyen

Substitutes: 16 Armand Van Der Merwe, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Julian Redelinghuys, 19 Robert Kruger, 20 Ruan Ackermann, 21 Dillon Smit, 22 Jacques Nel, 23 Andries Coetzee

...can't read it so am reposting top section

Team Selection - Super Rugby - Round 3
March 06, 2016, 10:29:25

Blues  vs  Hurricanes

15  Lolagi Visinia, 14  Rene Ranger, 13  Male Sa'u, 12  George Moala, 11  Tevita Li, 10  Ihaia West, 9  Bryn Hall, 8  Akira Ioane, 7  Blake Gibson,  6  Jerome Kaino (c), 5  Josh Bekhuis, 4  Steven Luatua, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 James Parsons, 1  Ofa Tu'ungafasi.

Replacements : 

16  Quentin MacDonald, 17  Nic Mayhew, 18  Sione Mafileo,  19  Patrick Tuipulotu 20 Kara Pryor, 21  Billy Guyton, 22 Matt McGahan, 23  Melani Nanai

15  Dane Haylett-Petty, 14  Luke Morahan, 13  Ben Tapuai, 12. Solomoni (Junior) Rasolea, 11  Semisi Masirewa, 10   Jono Lance, 9  Ian Prior, 8  Ben McCalman, 7  Matt Hodgson, 6  Brynard Stander, 5  Adam Coleman, 4  Ross Haylett-Petty, 3  Jermaine Ainsley, 2  Heath Tessmann, 1  Pekahou Cowan

Replacements :

16  Nathan Charles, 17  Chris Heiberg, 18  Guy Millar, 19  Sitiveni (Stevie) Mafi, 20  Angus Cottrell, 21  Alby Mathewson, 22  Peter Grant, 23  Marcel Brache 

15  Aidan, Toua, 14  Henry Speight, 13  Tevita Kuridrani, 12  Matt Toomua, 11  Joe Tomane,  10  Christian Leali’ifano, 9  Tomas Cubelli, 8  Jarrad Butler, 7  David Po [removed], 6  Scott Fardy, 5   Sam Carter, 4  Rory Arnold, 3  Ben Alexander, 2 Steven Moore (c), 1  Scott Sio

Replacements :

16  Joss Mann-Rhea,  17  Allan Alaalatoa, 18  Leslie Leulua’iali’i-Makin, 19  Tom Dtaniforth, 20  Jordan Smiles, 21  Michael Dowsett,  22  Andrew Smith, 23  Nigel Ah Wong  

15   Ben Smith ( c ),  14  Matt Faddes, 13   Malakai Fekitoa, 12  Rob Thompson,  11  Patrick Osborne, 10  Lima Sopoaga, 9.  Aaron Smith,  8   Liam Squire, 7   Dan Pryor,  6   Luke Whitelock, 5   Joe Wheeler,  4   Alex Ainley, 2   Liam Coltman, 3   Siosiua Halanukonuka

Replacements :

16   Ash Dixon,  17  Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18   Ross Geldenhuys, 19  Elliot Dixon,  20   Shane Christie, 21  Josh Renton, 22   Hayden Parker, 23   Jason Emery

15 Jaco Van Der Walt, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Warwick Tecklenberg, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Jacques van Rooyen

Replacements :

16 Armand Van Der Merwe, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Julian Redelinghuys, 19 Robert Kruger, 20 Ruan Ackermann, 21 Dillon Smit, 22 Jacques Nel, 23 Andries Coetzee

15   Karmichael Hunt, 14  Chris Feauai-Sautia, 13  Samu Kerevi, 12  Anthony Fainga’a, 11  Eto Nabuli, 10  Jake McIntyre, 9   Nick Frisby, 8  Jake Schatz, 7  Waita Setu, 6  Hendrik Tui, 5  Rob Simmons (c), 4  Cadeyrn Neville, 3  Greg Holmes, 2  Andrew Ready, 1  Sef Fa’agase

Replacements :

 16  Matt Mafi,  17  Ben Daley, 18  Sam Talakai, 19  Ben Mabwijow, 20 Curtis Browning, 21  Scott Gale,  22  Aam Greene, 23  Avumu Goromaru    

15  Jurgen Visser, 14  Luzuko Vulindlu,13  Stefan Watermeyer, 12  Shane Gates, 11  Malcolm Jaer, 10  Louis Fouche, 9  Ntando Kebe, 8  Jacques Engelbrecht, 7  Thembelani Bholi, 6  Chris Cloete, 5 JC Astle, 4  Steven Sykes (c), 3  Jacobie Adriaanse, 2  Edgar Matutlule,  1 Schalk Feirreira

Replacements : 

16  Sithembiso Sithole, 17  Martin Bezuidenhout, 18  Tom Botha, 19  Schalk Oelofse, 20  CJ Velleman, 21  Kevin Luiters, 22  Elgar Watts, 23  Jaco van Tonder

15  Damian McKenzie, 14  Glen Fisiiahi, 13  Seta Tamanivalu, 12  Charlie Ngatai, 11 James Lowe, 10  Aaron Cruden (c), 9   Brad Weber, 8  Michael Leitch, 7  Sam Cane, 6 Taleni Seu, 5 Johan Bardoul, 4  Michael Allardice, 3  Siate Tokolahi, 2        Nathan Harris, 1   Mitchell Graham

Replacements :

16   Rhys Marshall, 17  Pauliasi Manu, 18  Atu Moli, 19  James Tucker, 20  Maama Vaipulu, 21  Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 22      Anton Lienert-Brown, 23  Sam McNicol