The Hurricanes reclaimed top spot on the Super Rugby Pacific table with a thrilling 38–31 victory over the Crusaders at Hnry Stadium, with Fehi Fineanganofo’s 15th try of the season moving him within two of the all-time single-season record.

Key moments

8 mins – TRY CRUSADERS: Leicester Fainga’anuku crashed over after a patient 14-phase build from a lineout 35 metres out, with Christian Lio-Willie and Noah Hotham making strong carries to set up the position. Taha Kemara converted. (Hurricanes 0–7 Crusaders)

21 mins – TRY HURRICANES: Cam Roigard tapped a penalty quickly and the Hurricanes hammered at the line, with Brayden Iose and Pasilio Tosi both going close before Du’Plessis Kirifi powered over from close range. Ruben Love converted. (Hurricanes 7–7 Crusaders)

30 mins – PENALTY HURRICANES: Ruben Love slotted a penalty after the Crusaders were penalised at scrum time, with Fletcher Newell singled out. (Hurricanes 10–7 Crusaders)

34 mins – PENALTY CRUSADERS: Taha Kemara levelled from near halfway after Du’Plessis Kirifi was penalised for not rolling at the breakdown. (Hurricanes 10–10 Crusaders)

36 mins – TRY HURRICANES: A Ruben Love high ball was tipped backwards by Macca Springer, and Billy Proctor claimed, beat two defenders and found Peter Lakai with an offload. Lakai charged towards the 22 and popped a short ball to Josh Moorby, who ran away to score. Love converted. (Hurricanes 17–10 Crusaders)

39 mins – TRY HURRICANES: A flat ball from Cam Roigard found Brayden Iose on the left touchline 40 metres out and he burst downfield into space, kicking infield with the outside of his right boot. Roigard followed through to gather the bounce and score. Love converted. (Hurricanes 24–10 Crusaders)

Half-time: Hurricanes 24–10 Crusaders. A cagey, kick-heavy opening gave way to a Hurricanes blitz either side of the 35th minute. The hosts scored two tries in three minutes to turn a 10-all contest into a 14-point lead. The Crusaders started strongly through Fainga’anuku’s opening try but faded as the Hurricanes’ back row of Kirifi, Iose and Lakai dominated the breakdown battle.

46 mins – TRY CRUSADERS: The Crusaders capitalised on a lost Hurricanes lineout throw, punching into the 22 before Noah Hotham spotted Warner Dearns drifting laterally around the fringes and darted through a gap from 15 metres out. Rivez Reihana converted. (Hurricanes 24–17 Crusaders)

53 mins – TRY HURRICANES: Xavier Numia fought past a tackle from Fletcher Newell to get the Hurricanes on the front foot, and Raymond Tuputupu came storming onto a short ball from Cam Roigard to power through and reach out to score. Love converted. (Hurricanes 31–17 Crusaders)

58 mins – TRY CRUSADERS: The Crusaders went off the top of a lineout drive, with Dallas McLeod’s decoy run drawing the defence. Rivez Reihana looped in behind and sliced clean through to score. Reihana converted his own try. (Hurricanes 31–24 Crusaders)

65 mins – TRY HURRICANES: A sloppy lineout saw the ball tipped down untidily by Caleb Delany, but Fehi Fineanganofo danced through traffic out of nothing, burst into the 22 and found Isaia Walker-Leawere in support. Walker-Leawere was tackled low by Reihana but offloaded back to Fineanganofo, who ran away to score his 15th try of the season. Referred to the TMO for a possible forward pass, but referee James Doleman ruled it was not clearly and obviously forward. Love converted. (Hurricanes 38–24 Crusaders)

77 mins – TRY CRUSADERS: Johnny McNicholl intercepted a short pass and found Macca Springer in space, who chipped ahead. Jordie Barrett won the race to the ball but was driven back into his own in-goal, giving the Crusaders a 5-metre scrum. Kyle Preston found Dom Gardiner crashing around the corner and the replacement loose forward powered over under the posts. The TMO checked the grounding but the try stood. Reihana converted. (Hurricanes 38–31 Crusaders)

Full-time: Hurricanes 38–31 Crusaders

Full match report to follow.

Teams

Hurricanes: 15 Callum Harkin, 14 Josh Moorby, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett (co-c), 11 Fehi Fineanganofo, 10 Ruben Love, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Peter Lakai, 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi (co-c), 6 Brayden Iose, 5 Warner Dearns, 4 Caleb Delany, 3 Pasilio Tosi, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Xavier Numia.
Replacements: 16 Raymond Tuputupu, 17 Siale Lauaki, 18 Tevita Mafileo, 19 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 20 Brad Shields, 21 Devan Flanders, 22 Ereatara Enari, 23 Jone Rova.

Crusaders: 15 Johnny McNicholl, 14 Macca Springer, 13 Dallas McLeod, 12 David Havili (c), 11 Kurtis MacDonald, 10 Taha Kemara, 9 Noah Hotham, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 6 Ethan Blackadder, 5 Tahlor Cahill, 4 Antonio Shalfoon, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 George Bower.
Replacements: 16 George Bell, 17 Jack Sexton, 18 Seb Calder, 19 Jamie Hannah, 20 Dom Gardiner, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Johnny Lee, 23 Rivez Reihana.

Match details

Hurricanes 38 (Tries: Kirifi 21′, Moorby 36′, Roigard 39′, Tuputupu 53′, Fineanganofo 65′; Conversions: Love 5/5; Penalties: Love 1/1)
Crusaders 31 (Tries: Fainga’anuku 8′, Hotham 46′, Reihana 58′, Gardiner 77′; Conversions: Kemara 1/1, Reihana 3/3; Penalties: Kemara 1/1)
Half-time: 24–10

Venue: Hnry Stadium, Wellington
Referee: James Doleman (New Zealand)

The title race takes centre stage in Wellington on Friday night when the table-topping Hurricanes host the fourth-placed Crusaders in a blockbuster derby that could all but end the defending champions’ hopes of a home quarter-final. Elsewhere, the return of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii headlines a tantalising Sydney showdown between the Waratahs and Western Force, while the battle for the final playoff spot intensifies when the Highlanders travel to Fiji.

With just five rounds remaining before the playoffs, the scramble for finals positions is reaching fever pitch. The Crusaders sit fourth on 26 points, just one clear of the Brumbies and three ahead of the sixth-placed Reds, but face a daunting run-in with all four remaining fixtures against New Zealand opposition. The Highlanders, meanwhile, are three points outside the top six and running out of road — with a bye in the final round and away trips to the Chiefs and Hurricanes still to come, anything less than a win in Ba on Saturday could prove fatal to their season.

Round 12 opens in the capital on Friday before shifting to Sydney for the battle of the NRL converts. Saturday serves up three matches across three time zones, beginning with the Fijian Drua hosting the Highlanders at their new home in Ba, the Blues taking on a winless Moana Pasifika at North Harbour Stadium, and an Australian derby between the Reds and Brumbies closing the weekend in Brisbane. The Chiefs enjoy the bye.

Friday 1 May

Hurricanes v Crusaders

Hnry Stadium, Wellington — 7:05pm NZST / 5:05pm AEST

The Hurricanes are the form team of the competition and they know it. Fresh off a 45–12 demolition of the Brumbies in Super Round — where Fehi Fineanganofo scored four tries to close in on the all-time season record — Clark Laidlaw’s side have won seven of their nine matches and sit level on 36 points with the idle Chiefs at the top of the table. A win on Friday and they will reclaim top spot outright.

Laidlaw has shuffled his front row, starting Xavier Numia and Pasilio Tosi either side of All Blacks hooker Asafo Aumua, and has swapped Devan Flanders for Brayden Iose at blindside flanker. The in-form backline is unchanged, with Ruben Love set to bring up his 50th Super Rugby cap at first five-eighth. A 6-2 bench split, with lock Isaia Walker-Leawere providing additional forward cover, underlines the hosts’ intentions to dominate up front.

The Crusaders arrive in Wellington with plenty to play for and plenty to prove. Captain David Havili will celebrate his 150th appearance for the franchise — joining an exclusive group that includes Wyatt Crockett, Sam Whitelock and Kieran Read — but he will need a complete performance from those around him. Rob Penney has persisted with Leicester Fainga’anuku at openside flanker after the wing-turned-loosie impressed in Super Round, where the Crusaders dispatched the Waratahs 35–20. The returning Ethan Blackadder, back from a calf injury that has kept him out since Round 6, adds steel at blindside flanker.

The defending champions’ challenge is underscored by their injury list. Will Jordan remains sidelined with a calf strain for at least another fortnight, Sevu Reece misses a second consecutive match through illness, and loosehead Finlay Brewis has joined the casualty ward with a calf complaint. Penney acknowledged the scale of the challenge, describing the Hurricanes as looking “free and unburdened” after several seasons of building together.

The Crusaders have won six of the last eight meetings between the sides, but this Hurricanes outfit is a different proposition to those of recent years. Expect the home side’s back-row trio of Kirifi, Iose and Lakai to set the tone at the breakdown.

Teams:

Hurricanes: 15 Callum Harkin, 14 Josh Moorby, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett (co-c), 11 Fehi Fineanganofo, 10 Ruben Love, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Peter Lakai, 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi (co-c), 6 Brayden Iose, 5 Warner Dearns, 4 Caleb Delany, 3 Pasilio Tosi, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Xavier Numia.
Replacements: 16 Raymond Tuputupu, 17 Siale Lauaki, 18 Tevita Mafileo, 19 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 20 Brad Shields, 21 Devan Flanders, 22 Ereatara Enari, 23 Jone Rova.

Crusaders: 15 Johnny McNicholl, 14 Dallas McLeod, 13 Braydon Ennor, 12 David Havili (c), 11 Macca Springer, 10 Taha Kemara, 9 Noah Hotham, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 6 Ethan Blackadder, 5 Tahlor Cahill, 4 Antonio Shalfoon, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 George Bower.
Replacements: 16 George Bell, 17 Kershawl Sykes-Martin, 18 Seb Calder, 19 Jamie Hannah, 20 Dom Gardiner, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Johnny Lee, 23 Rivez Reihana.

Referee: James Doleman. Assistant Referees: Fraser Hannon, Dan Moore. TMO: Glenn Newman.

Unavailable — Hurricanes: Tyrel Lomax (ankle/4 weeks), Hugo Plummer (ankle/1 week), Taine Roiri (hamstring/1–3 weeks), Jai Tamati (ankle/1 week), Brett Cameron (knee/season), Harry Godfrey (knee/season), Josh Timu (ankle/TBC), Riley Higgins (shoulder/TBC).

Unavailable — Crusaders: Will Jordan (calf/2–4 weeks), Sevu Reece (illness), Finlay Brewis (calf/2–4 weeks), Cullen Grace (knee/2–4 weeks), Chay Fihaki (hamstring/4–6 weeks), Tamaiti Williams (discitis/season), James White (shoulder/season), Aki Tuivailala (concussion/TBC), Will Tucker (concussion/TBC).

NSW Waratahs v Western Force

Allianz Stadium, Sydney — 7:35pm AEST

The headline writes itself. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii returns to the Waratahs starting XV for the first time since Round 2, lining up at outside centre in what could be a direct confrontation with fellow NRL convert Zac Lomax on the Force wing. Suaalii has been nursing a hamstring injury that flared during the warm-up against the Hurricanes early in the season, and Waratahs coach Dan McKellar made clear his star’s return has been managed carefully with the conditioning staff.

McKellar has also installed Lawson Creighton at flyhalf, while Apolosi Ranawai is in line for his debut off the bench after replacing the suspended Dan Botha, who received a two-week ban for dangerous play against the Crusaders in Super Round.

The Force, fresh off their bye, arrive in Sydney with arguably their strongest matchday 23 of the campaign. Coach Simon Cron has made one change, bringing Hamish Stewart into the starting inside centre role with Kurtley Beale shifting to the bench. Cron hinted at a potential tactical switch for Lomax into the midfield during the match, having been working on the dual-international’s game at outside centre as well as wing.

Both teams have identical 4-5 records but sit on 19 and 14 points respectively, making this a pivotal contest for finals aspirations — particularly for the Waratahs, who cannot afford to slip further behind the Reds and Highlanders. The Waratahs have won four of the last five meetings between the sides, though the Force’s improved pack — led by the formidable second-row pairing of Jeremy Williams and Darcy Swain — makes this a far tighter proposition than recent history suggests.

Teams:

Waratahs: 15 Max Jorgensen, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Joey Walton, 11 Sid Harvey, 10 Lawson Creighton, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Pete Samu, 7 Charlie Gamble, 6 Angus Scott-Young, 5 Angus Blyth, 4 Matt Philip (c), 3 Siosifa Amone, 2 Ethan Dobbins, 1 Tom Lambert.
Replacements: 16 Folau Fainga’a, 17 Isaac Kailea, 18 Apolosi Ranawai, 19 Miles Amatosero, 20 Jamie Adamson, 21 Teddy Wilson, 22 Jack Debreczeni, 23 Triston Reilly.

Force: 15 Mac Grealy, 14 Zac Lomax, 13 George Bridge, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 Dylan Pietsch, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Henry Robertson, 8 Vaiolini Ekuasi, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 5 Darcy Swain, 4 Jeremy Williams (c), 3 Misinale Epenisa, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Tom Robertson.
Replacements: 16 Nic Dolly, 17 Sef Fa’agase, 18 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 19 Franco Molina, 20 Will Harris, 21 Nathan Hastie, 22 Bayley Kuenzle, 23 Kurtley Beale.

Referee: Angus Gardner. Assistant Referees: George Myers, Matt Kellahan. TMO: James Leckie.

Unavailable — Waratahs: Daniel Botha (suspended/2 weeks), James Hendren (wrist), Harry Potter (concussion).

Unavailable — Force: Doug Phillipson (knee/short term), Ronan Leahy (knee/short term), Alex Harford (shoulder/medium term), Darby Lancaster (ankle/season).

Saturday 2 May

Fijian Drua v Highlanders

Four R Stadium, Ba — 4:00pm local / 2:00pm AEST

This is as close to a must-win match as the regular season offers, with the loser almost certainly waving goodbye to finals aspirations. The Highlanders sit seventh on 20 points, three behind the Reds in the last playoff spot, and with a bye in the final round plus road trips to Hamilton and Wellington still to come, their margin for error has evaporated entirely.

Jamie Joseph has made a key change at halfback, recalling Folau Fakatava to start ahead of Adam Lennox, who drops to the bench. Jona Nareki returns on the left wing after recovering from an ankle injury that kept him out of last week’s scrappy 27–17 win over Moana Pasifika. Caleb Tangitau, the form outside back who was tracking towards a first All Blacks call-up, remains absent with a concussion and could return next week.

The Drua will be playing at their new venue in Ba for the first time, with hot and humid conditions expected to test both sides. The Fijians sit ninth on the ladder with a 4-6 record and need a strong finish to salvage anything from their season. Virimi Vakatawa and Frank Lomani provide experience in the backline, while the loose forward trio of Joseva Tamani, Kitione Salawa and Elia Canakaivata will look to impose themselves physically against a Highlanders pack boasting the competition’s most formidable scrum.

The Highlanders have won all four previous meetings between the sides and will be confident of extending that record, but Fiji is an unforgiving destination and the Drua’s unpredictability at home has caught more fancied teams off guard before.

Teams:

Fijian Drua: 15 Isikeli Rabitu, 14 Frank Lomani, 13 Tuidraki Samusamuvodre, 12 Virimi Vakatawa, 11 Joji Nasova, 10 Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 9 Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 8 Elia Canakaivata, 7 Kitione Salawa, 6 Joseva Tamani, 5 Temo Mayanavanua (co-c), 4 Isoa Nasilasila, 3 Mesake Doge, 2 Zuriel Togiatama, 1 Haereiti Hetet.
Replacements: 16 Kavaia Tagivetaua, 17 Emosi Tuqiri, 18 Peni Ravai, 19 Mesake Vocevoce, 20 Isoa Tuwai, 21 Philip Baselala, 22 Kemu Valetini, 23 Maika Tuitubou.

Highlanders: 15 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, 14 Jonah Lowe, 13 Tanielu Tele’a, 12 Timoci Tavatavanawai (co-c), 11 Jona Nareki, 10 Cameron Millar, 9 Folau Fakatava, 8 Nikora Broughton, 7 Veveni Lasaqa, 6 Te Kamaka Howden, 5 Mitch Dunshea, 4 Oliver Haig, 3 Angus Ta’avao, 2 Jack Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot (co-c).
Replacements: 16 Soane Vikena, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Saula Ma’u, 19 Sean Withy, 20 Lucas Casey, 21 Adam Lennox, 22 Taine Robinson, 23 Xavier Tito-Harris.

Referee: Paul Williams. Assistant Referees: Angus Mabey, Mike Winter. TMO: Aaron Paterson.

Unavailable — Fijian Drua: Ponipate Loganimasi (arm), Motikiai Murray (arm), Epeli Momo (knee).

Unavailable — Highlanders: Caleb Tangitau (concussion/1–2 weeks), Finn Hurley (hamstring/3–5 weeks), Sefo Kautai (knee/1–2 weeks), Tai Cribb (shoulder/1–2 weeks), Josh Bartlett (foot/TBC), Dylan Pledger (ACL/season), Fabian Holland (shoulder/season), Josh Tengblad (knee/season), Reesjan Pasitoa (ankle/season).

Moana Pasifika v Blues

North Harbour Stadium, Auckland — 7:05pm NZST / 5:05pm AEST

There is a poignant undercurrent to this Auckland derby. With the franchise due to disband at season’s end, Moana Pasifika’s four remaining home matches carry an emotional weight beyond the scoreboard. Confirmation of another season without making the playoffs is expected this weekend — bottom of the table with four points and nine consecutive defeats, they trail the top six by 19 points.

Coach Tana Umaga has stuck with a largely settled side after their 27–17 defeat to the Highlanders in Super Round. William Havili continues at first five-eighth after shifting there when Patrick Pellegrini departed with a head knock, with Glen Vaihu at fullback. Israel Leota — the former Brisbane Broncos player who produced one of the tries of Super Round with a spectacular aerial effort — earns a second start on the right wing.

The Blues, for their part, are refreshed after a nervous 36–33 Super Point win over the Reds in which Beauden Barrett kicked the match-winning penalty. Coach Vern Cotter has rotated his squad, most notably demoting Barrett to the bench in favour of Stephen Perofeta at flyhalf and replacing Finlay Christie with Sam Nock at halfback. The big news is the return of All Blacks winger Caleb Clarke, who has shaken off a calf injury that kept him out for the past fortnight.

Dalton Papali’i remains sidelined with concussion, prompting Anton Segner’s shift to openside flanker with Torian Barnes starting at blindside. Two debutants — prop Flyn Yates and loose forward Terrell Peita — have been named on the bench and are poised for their first Super Rugby appearances.

The Blues sit third on 33 points, three behind the Chiefs and Hurricanes, and need to keep winning to secure a home quarter-final. This should be a comfortable assignment, though Moana Pasifika’s refusal to go quietly was evident against the Highlanders.

Teams:

Moana Pasifika: 15 Glen Vaihu, 14 Israel Leota, 13 Solomon Alaimalo, 12 Tevita Latu, 11 Tuna Tuitama, 10 William Havili, 9 Jonathan Taumateine, 8 Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa, 7 Semisi Paea, 6 Miracle Faiilagi (c), 5 Jimmy Tupou, 4 Allan Craig, 3 Atu Moli, 2 Millennium Sanerivi, 1 Malakai Hala-Ngatai.
Replacements: 16 Mamoru Harada, 17 Abraham Pole, 18 Chris Apoua, 19 Veikoso Poloniati, 20 Dominic Ropeti, 21 Augustine Pulu, 22 Jackson Garden-Bachop, 23 Tyler Pulini.

Blues: 15 Zarn Sullivan, 14 Kade Banks, 13 Xavi Taele, 12 Pita Ahki, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Stephen Perofeta, 9 Sam Nock, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Anton Segner, 6 Torian Barnes, 5 Sam Darry, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Kurt Eklund, 1 Ben Ake.
Replacements: 16 James Mullan, 17 Mason Tupaea, 18 Flyn Yates, 19 Josh Beehre, 20 Terrell Peita, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Beauden Barrett, 23 AJ Lam.

Referee: Nic Berry. Assistant Referees: Reuben Keane, Louis Trisley. TMO: Brett Cronan.

Unavailable — Moana Pasifika: Ngani Laumape (knee), Patrick Pellegrini (head knock), Niko Jones (calf), Melani Matavao (knee), Monu Moli (foot), Tito Tuipulotu (thumb), Paula Latu (head knock), Tupou Afungia (neck), Lalomilo Lalomilo (calf), Tevita Ofa (finger).

Unavailable — Blues: Dalton Papali’i (concussion), Taufa Funaki (shoulder), Cameron Christie (knee/season), Joshua Fusitu’a (bicep), Corey Evans (ankle), Jordan Lay (concussion), Ofa Tu’ungafasi (calf).

Queensland Reds v ACT Brumbies

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane — 7:35pm AEST

The round finishes with an Australian derby carrying significant finals implications. The Reds sit sixth on 23 points with a 5-4 record and appear to have turned a corner after an inconsistent opening to the season, while the Brumbies are fifth on 25 points but have lost their way alarmingly. Consecutive defeats to the Fijian Drua and a 45–12 thrashing at the hands of the Hurricanes in Super Round have exposed problems across the park — the lineout in particular was woeful against the Hurricanes, while Declan Meredith’s goal-kicking proved costly when he sliced two attempts for touch dead in the first half.

The Reds won the corresponding fixture earlier this season in Canberra and will sense an opportunity to leapfrog their rivals on the table. Fraser McReight captains a settled side, with the back-row combination of McReight, Harry Wilson and Joe Brial providing a formidable presence at the breakdown. The continued absence of Carter Gordon and Tom Lynagh at flyhalf means Harry McLaughlin-Phillips retains the number 10 jersey alongside halfback Kalani Thomas.

The Brumbies are also without Wallabies captain Allan Alaalatoa, who was a late withdrawal from Super Round with a concussion. Ryan Lonergan captains the side in his absence, with James Slipper anchoring a scrum that remains one of the competition’s most reliable. Rob Valetini and Rory Scott provide ball-carrying power from the back row, while Corey Toole’s pace on the left wing offers a constant threat if the Brumbies can generate front-foot ball.

The head-to-head record firmly favours the Brumbies, who have won four of the last five meetings. But the recent trajectory of both sides points towards a tight encounter that the Reds, backed by a Suncorp crowd, will be expected to shade.

Teams:

Reds: 15 Jock Campbell, 14 Filipo Daugunu, 13 Josh Flook, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Tim Ryan, 10 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 9 Kalani Thomas, 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Fraser McReight (c), 6 Joe Brial, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Seru Uru, 3 Zane Nonggorr, 2 Matt Faessler, 1 Aidan Ross.
Replacements: 16 Josh Nasser, 17 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 18 Nick Bloomfield, 19 Hamish Muller, 20 Vaiuta Latu, 21 Louis Werchon, 22 Ben Volavola, 23 Treyvon Pritchard.

Brumbies: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Andy Muirhead, 13 Kadin Pritchard, 12 David Feliuai, 11 Corey Toole, 10 Declan Meredith, 9 Ryan Lonergan (c), 8 Toby Macpherson, 7 Rory Scott, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Lachlan Shaw, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Rhys van Nek, 2 Lachlan Lonergan, 1 James Slipper.
Replacements: 16 Liam Bowron, 17 Blake Schoupp, 18 Darcy Breen, 19 Cadeyrn Neville, 20 Luke Reimer, 21 Klayton Thorn, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Ollie Sapsford.

Referee: Ben O’Keeffe. Assistant Referees: Todd Petrie, Warwick Lahmert. TMO: Richard Kelly.

Unavailable — Reds: Carter Gordon (injury), Tom Lynagh (injury), Tate McDermott (injury), Josh Canham (injury), Nicholas Conway (injury), Trevor King (injury), Kingsley Uys (injury).

Unavailable — Brumbies: Allan Alaalatoa (concussion), Charlie Cale (shoulder), Dan Nelson (leg), Kye Oates (leg).

BYE: Chiefs

Super Rugby Pacific debuts

• Flyn Yates (Blues — prop, bench debut)
• Terrell Peita (Blues — loose forward, bench debut)
• Apolosi Ranawai (Waratahs — prop, bench debut)

Milestones

• David Havili (Crusaders) — 150th Super Rugby cap for the Crusaders
• Ruben Love (Hurricanes) — 50th Super Rugby cap

Where to watch

Australia: Stan Sport (all matches, ad-free, live and on demand); Nine Network (Saturday 7:35pm AEST match, live)
New Zealand: Sky Sport
Fiji: Sky Pacific (pay TV); Fijian Broadcasting Corporation (free-to-air)
United Kingdom & Ireland: Sky UK
United States & Canada: ESPN; FloSports (USA territories); TSN (Canada)
Pacific Islands: Digicel
Japan: Wowow
South Africa & Africa: SuperSport
France: Canal+
Rest of World: NZR+ (streaming)

Standings ahead of Round 12

The Hurricanes have reshuffled their pack and back three for Friday night’s Round 12 Super Rugby Pacific meeting with the Crusaders at Hnry Stadium, with co-captains Du’Plessis Kirifi and Jordie Barrett retained at the heart of a side that returns to Wellington looking to regain its grip on the upper half of the table after a sobering ANZAC Day defeat to the Brumbies in Christchurch a week ago. Peter Lakai is promoted to start at No. 8, Brayden Iose moves across the back row, and Callum Harkin gets the nod at fullback in a side picked to absorb Crusaders pressure and play with width.

Key team news

• Du’Plessis Kirifi and Jordie Barrett continue as co-captains
• Peter Lakai promoted to start at No. 8 with Brayden Iose moving to blindside flanker
• Xavier Numia comes in at loosehead prop, Asafo Aumua at hooker
• Callum Harkin starts at fullback with Ruben Love retained at fly-half
• Brad Shields named on the bench among the loose-forward cover
• Devan Flanders drops to the replacements after starting in Christchurch

The reshuffle sets the tone before a single ball has been kicked. Three changes in the front row, a like-for-like swap at fullback, and a notable reshuffle in the loose forwards mean that this Hurricanes side looks materially different from the one that took the Brumbies on at One NZ Stadium. The Crusaders are themselves coming off a strong Super Round display against a hard-running Waratahs outfit, and Hurricanes head coach Clark Laidlaw has freshened the matchday 23 with the kind of choices that suggest he wants more set-piece bite up front and a different aerial profile in the back three.

In the backline, Cam Roigard and Ruben Love continue to direct play from half-back. Roigard has been one of the form scrum-halves in the competition all season — his ability to bend the gainline around the ruck remains the Hurricanes’ most reliable weapon — and Love retains the fly-half jersey ahead of a Crusaders side that will look to apply rush-defence pressure on him through the channels. The midfield pairing of Jordie Barrett at 12 and Billy Proctor at 13 stays intact. Barrett’s experience and goal-kicking, plus his organisational role outside Love, gives the Hurricanes a senior voice in the backline. Proctor’s defensive reads will be tested against Braydon Ennor and Dallas McLeod, two centres who will hunt outside breaks all night.

The biggest backline shift comes at fullback, where Callum Harkin starts in place of Josh Moorby, who shifts to wing. Fehi Fineanganofo retains the No. 11 jersey, giving the Hurricanes pace and finishing on the left. Moorby on the right wing offers an additional aerial option, and Harkin’s high-ball work will be examined repeatedly by the Crusaders’ kicking battery of Taha Kemara and Noah Hotham. With both teams likely to play long-range tennis at points in the contest, the Hurricanes’ new-look back three will need to win the early exchanges.

Up front, Xavier Numia returns at loosehead with Asafo Aumua promoted to hook, Pasilio Tosi continuing at tighthead, and Raymond Tuputupu — who had started in Christchurch — dropping to the bench. That is a heavier, more experienced front row designed to put weight onto the Crusaders scrum on Codie Taylor’s ball, and to give the Hurricanes a proper platform from set-piece. Caleb Delany and Warner Dearns continue in the second row. Dearns has been one of the most consistent locks in the competition this season, and the workload he and Delany shoulder around the lineout and ruck remains the bedrock of how Laidlaw wants this side to play.

The most intriguing call sits in the loose forwards. Peter Lakai, who has shown patches of explosive ball-carrying off the bench all season, is promoted to start at No. 8. Brayden Iose moves from No. 8 to the blindside flank, with Du’Plessis Kirifi continuing at openside. Devan Flanders, who started in Christchurch, drops to the bench. That is a back row that adds dynamic carrying without sacrificing breakdown speed, and on a Wellington pitch that should suit running rugby, Lakai’s elevation reads as an attacking choice. Brad Shields is named on the bench to provide loose-forward experience late in the contest.

Wellington has been a difficult fortress for the Hurricanes to defend at times in 2026, but a home crowd at Hnry Stadium and the long flight back from Christchurch over the past fortnight have given Laidlaw’s group a chance to refresh and reset. The Crusaders represent a defining mid-season test. Both sides are still firmly in playoff contention, and the points are at a premium with only five rounds remaining before the finals.

The opposition arrives looking to back up its Super Round form. Rob Penney’s Crusaders are missing Sevu Reece from the run-on side, with Dallas McLeod promoted to outside centre and George Bower returning at loosehead in place of Finlay Brewis. Ethan Blackadder is back in the starting back row at blindside flank, and the back-three trio of Macca Springer, Johnny McNicholl and McLeod is balanced by the experience of Braydon Ennor at 13 and David Havili leading from inside centre. The Crusaders pack is a familiar one — Codie Taylor and Fletcher Newell on either side of Bower, Antonio Shalfoon and Tahlor Cahill in the second row, with Leicester Fainga’anuku continuing at openside and Christian Lio-Willie at No. 8.

This is a fixture where breakdown control and territorial discipline will dictate the result. The Hurricanes have the firepower to score from anywhere when their forwards are setting fast ruck ball, but the Crusaders are equally capable of strangling games through their kicking and lineout. A noisy Wellington crowd, a freshened Hurricanes pack, and a Crusaders side travelling north all add up to a Round 12 opener that should be one of the picks of the season so far.

Hurricanes (v Crusaders):

1. Callum Harkin
   14. Josh Moorby
   13. Billy Proctor
   12. Jordie Barrett (co-c)
   11. Fehi Fineanganofo
   10. Ruben Love
   9. Cam Roigard
   8. Peter Lakai
   7. Du’Plessis Kirifi (co-c)
   6. Brayden Iose
   5. Warner Dearns
   4. Caleb Delany
   3. Pasilio Tosi
   2. Asafo Aumua
   1. Xavier Numia

Replacements:
16. Raymond Tuputupu
17. Siale Lauaki
18. Tevita Mafileo
19. Isaia Walker-Leawere
20. Brad Shields
21. Devan Flanders
22. Ereatara Enari
23. Jone Rova

Match details: Hurricanes v Crusaders, Hnry Stadium, Wellington. Friday 1 May 2026, 7:05pm NZT / 5:05pm AEST. Live on Sky Sport (NZ), Stan Sport (Australia), Sky Pacific (Fiji) and Sky UK (UK & Ireland).