Super Rugby round one teams: Karmichael Hunt starts at flyhalf for Reds, Taqele Naiyaravoro on wing for Waratahs

THE Super Rugby season is finally upon us! Check out all the teams for round one, which kicks off when the Crusaders host the Rebels on Friday night.

CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 31: Karmichael Hunt of the Reds during the Super Rugby trial match between the Queensland Reds and the Melbourne Rebels at Barlow Park on January 31, 2015 in Cairns, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

THE Super Rugby season is finally upon us! Check out all the teams for round one, which kicks off when the Crusaders host the Rebels on Friday night.

CRUSADERS v REBELS at Christchurch Stadium

Friday, 5.3.5pm AEDT, LIVE ON FOX SPORTS 2 HD

The Rebels will unveil Wallabies recruits Mike Harris and Dom Shipperley as they chase a first Super Rugby victory overseas.

Lured from Queensland, Harris and Shipperley have been named in Tony McGahan’s starting XV, while Ben Whittaker and Sefanaia Naivalu are set for the first games off the bench.

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw will start for the Crusaders for the first time in 2015 - but in the unfamiliar No.6 jersey, with Matt Tood captaining the side from openside flanker.

In two other changes coach Todd Blackadder has made to the team that lost a warm-up game 35-12 against the Reds in Brisbane last week, Joe Moody will start at loosehead prop and Ben Funnell at hooker.

CRUSADERS (1-15): Joe Moody, Ben Funnell, Owen Franks, Luke Romano, Dominic Bird, Richie McCaw, Matt Todd (captain), Luke Whitelock, Mitchell Drummond, Daniel Carter, Johnny McNicholl, Tom Taylor, Kieron Fonotia, Robbie Fruean, Colin Slade.

Reserves: Codie Taylor, Alex Hodgman, Wyatt Crockett, Scott Barrett, Jordan Taufua, Billy Guyton, Ryan Crotty, Nathaniel Apa.

REBELS (1-15): Toby Smith, Pat Leafa, Laurie Weeks, Luke Jones, Lopeti Timani, Sean McMahon, Colby Fainga’a, Scott Higginbotham, Nic Stirzaker, Jack Debreczeni, Tom English, Mitch Inman, Tamati Ellison, Dom Shipperley, Mike Harris.

Reserves: Ben Whittaker, Cruze Ah-Nau, Paul Alo-Emile, Sam Jeffries, Scott Fuglistaller, Luke Burgess, Bryce Hegarty, Sefanaia Naivalu.

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BRUMBIES v REDS at GIO Stadium

Friday, 7.40pm AEDT, LIVE ON FOX SPORTS 2HD

Karmichael Hunt will make his Super Rugby debut in the playmaking hot seat after being named at flyhalf for the Reds.

Hunt steps into the No. 10 jersey vacated by the injured Quade Cooper, edging out youngster Duncan Paia’aua after impressing in a trial against the Crusaders last week.

The code-hopper will square off against Test star Matt Toomua, who leads a Wallaby-laden Brumbies backline featuring Tevita Kuridrani, Henry Speight, Joe Tomane and Christian Lealiifano.

The Reds will be without Wallaby James O’Connor and former All Blacks back-rower Adam Thomson who are not at full fitness.

Gun flanker David Pocock will captain the Brumbies as hooker Stephen Moore makes his return from a serious knee injury via the bench.

The Brumbies and Reds faced off in round one last year, with the Queenslanders claiming a Cooper-inspired rare Canberra victory.

BRUMBIES (1-15): Scott Sio, Josh Mann-Rea, Ben Alexander, Rory Arnold, Sam Carter, Scott Fardy, David Pocock (c), Jarrad Butler, Nic White (vc), Matt Toomua, Joe Tomane, Christian Lealiifano, Tevita Kuridrani, Henry Speight, Robbie Coleman.

Reserves: Stephen Moore, JP Smith, Ruan Smith, Jordan Smiler, Ita Vaea, Michael Dowsett, James Dargaville, Lausii Taliauli.

REDS (1-15): James Slipper (c), Saia Fainga’a, Sam Talakai, James Horwill, Marco Kotze, Curtis Browning, Liam Gill, Jake Schatz, Will Genia, Karmichael Hunt, Lachie Turner, Samu Kerevi, Chris Feauai-Sautia, Chris Kuridrani, Jamie-Jerry Taulagi.

Reserves: James Hanson, Ben Daley, Sef Faagase, Ed O’Donoghue, Adam Korczyk, Nick Frisby, Duncan Paia’aua, Campbell Magnay.

LIONS v HURRICANES at Ellis Park

Saturday, 4.10am AEDT, LIVE ON FOX SPORTS 2HD

All Blacks lock Lock Jeremy Thrush will miss the Hurricanes’ opening match - and up to six weeks of action - with a calf injury.

Rey Lee-Lo steps in at inside centre for All Blacks star Ma’a Nonu, who is awaiting the birth of his third child, while former Melbourne Rebel Jason Woodward makes his Hurricanes debut at fullback.

The Lions’ find of last season, Marnitz Boshoff starts at flyhalf ahead of Elton Jantjies.

LIONS (1-15): Schalk van der Merwe, Malcolm Marx, Ruan Dreyer, Martin Muller, Franco Mostert, Jaco Kriel, Derick Minnie, Warren Whiteley (c), Ross Cronje, Marnitz Boshoff, Courtnall Skosan, Howard Mnisi, Lionel Mapoe, Ruan Combrinck, Andries Coetzee.

Reserves: Armand van der Merwe, Corne Fourie, Jacques van Rooyen, Robert Kruger, Warwick Tecklenburg, Faf de Klerk, Elton Jantjies, Stokkies Hanekom.

HURRICANES (1-15): Ben Franks, Dane Coles, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Mark Abbott, James Broadhurst, Brad Shields, Ardie Savea, Blade Thomson, TJ Perenara, Beauden Barrett, Julian Savea, Rey Lee-Lo, Conrad Smith (c), Cory Jane, Jason Woodward.

Reserves: Brayden Mitchell, Reggie Goodes, Chris Eves, Callum Gibbins, Victor Vito, Chris Smylie, James Marshall, Matt Proctor.

BLUES v CHIEFS at Eden Park

Saturday, 5.35pm AEDT, LIVE ON FOX SPORTS 2HD

The Chiefs kick-off the season minus a trio of All Blacks stars, with flyhalf Aaron Cruden, flanker Liam Messam and Brodie Retallick all sitting out.

But star recruit Sonny Bill Williams has been named at inside centre in his first start for the two-time champions since the 2012 Super Rugby final.

Ihaia West gets first shot at playmaking duties for the Blues, winning the No.10 jersey ahead of Simon Hickey.

Centre George Moala, who is recovering from a knock to the knee in last week’s warm-up match against the Hurricanes, has been bracketed with Hamish Northcott

BLUES (1-15): Tony Woodcock, James Parsons, Angus Ta’avao, Josh Bekhuis, Hayden Triggs, Steven Luatua, Brendon O’Connor, Jerome Kaino (capt), Jimmy Cowan, Ihaia West, Tevita Li, Francis Saili, George Moala/Hamish Northcott, Charles Piutau, Lolagi Visinia.

Reserves: Matt Moulds, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Charlie Faumuina, Akira Ioane, Luke Braid, Jamison Gibson-Park, Simon Hickey, Northcott/Ben Lam.

CHIEFS (1-15): Pauliasi Manu, Hika Elliot, Ben Tameifuna, Matt Symons (c), Michael Fitzgerald, Johan Bardoul, Sam Cane, Maama Vaipulu, Brad Weber, Damian McKenzie, James Lowe, Sonny Bill Williams, Charlie Ngatai, Tim Nanai-Williams, Tom Marshall.

Reserves: Rhys Marshall, Jamie Mackintosh, Siate Tokolahi, Michael Allardice, Tevita Koloamatangi, Augustine Pulu, Marty McKenzie, Bryce Heem.

SHARKS v CHEETAHS at Kings Park

Sunday, 2.05am AEDT, LIVE ON FOX SPORTS 2HD

Former Stormer Joe Petersen gets first crack at the Cheetahs No.10 jersey vacated by the departed Johan Goosen.

The Sharks, aiming to go improve on last year’s semi-final finish, have won six of the last eight matches between the two sides.

SHARKS (1-15): Tendai Mtawarira, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Mouritz Botha, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Marcell Coetzee, Renaldo Bothma, Tera Mtembu, Cobus Reinach, Patrick Lambie, Lwazi Mvovo, Heimar Williams, Waylon Murray, S’bura Sithole, SP Marais.

Substitutes: Kyle Cooper, Dale Chadwick, Matt Stevens, Marco Wentzel, Jean Deysel, Conrad Hoffmann, Fred Zeilinga, Odwa Ndungane.

CHEETAHS (1-15): Danie Minnie, Torsten van Jaarsveld, Coenie Oosthuizen, Lodewyk de Jager, Francois Uys (c), Jean Cook, Oupa Mohoje, Willie Britz, Sarel Pretorius, Joe Petersen, Raymond Rhule, Michael van der Spuy, Francois Venter, Clayton Blommetjies, Willie le Roux.

Reserves: Stephan Coetzee, BG Uys, Maks van Dyk, Carl Wegner, Boom Prinsloo, Tian Meyer, Willie du Plessis, Cornal Hendricks.

BULLS v STORMERS at Loftus Versfeld

Sunday, 4.10am AEDT, LIVE ON FOX SPORTS 2HD

Springboks veteran Victor Matfield will captain the Bulls as skipper Pierre Spies is eased back to action.

No.8 Spies missed most of 2014 after a serious biceps injury and will begin the season on the bench.

Boks hooker Adriaan Strauss starts for his new side after joining the Bulls from the Cheetahs in the off-season.

Powerhouse No.8 Duane Vermeulen will lead an inexperienced Stormers outfit that includes six debutants.

Centre Damian de Allende moves in one spot to take replace injured skipper Jean De Villiers in the No.12 jersey.

BULLS (1-15): Trevor Nyakane, Adriaan Strauss, Werner Kruger, Jacques du Plessis, Victor Matfield (c), Deon Stegmann, Lappies Labuschagne, Arno Botha, Piet van Zyl, Handre Pollard, Francois Hougaard, Jan Serfontein, JJ Engelbrecht, Bjorn Basson, Jurgen Visser.

Reserves: Callie Visagie, Morne Mellet, Dayan vd Westhuizen / Neethling Fouche, Grant Hattingh, Pierre Spies, Rudy Paige, Jacques-Louis Potgieter, Jesse Kriel.

STORMERS (1-15): Steven Kitshoff, Scarra Ntubeni, Vincent Koch, Jean Kleyn, Ruan Botha, Rynhardt Elstadt, Michael Rhodes, Duane Vermeulen (c), Nic Groom, Demetri Catrakilis, Dillyn Leyds, Damian de Allende, Juan de Jongh, Johnny Kotze, Cheslin Kolbe.

Reserves: Bongi Mbonambi, Oli Kebble, Wilco Louw, Jurie van Vuuren, Nizaam Carr, Louis Schreuder, Kurt Coleman, Huw Jones.

WARATAHS V FORCE at Allianz Stadium

Sunday, 4pm AEDT, LIVE ON FOX SPORTS 2HD

A pair of giant league recruits will be new faces for the Waratahs when they kick off their Super Rugby premiership defence on Sunday against the Force at Allianz Stadium.

After dominant form in the trials, 123kg winger Taqele Naiyaravoro has been named for his first start for the Waratahs and rookie lock Sam Lousi was selected for a Super Rugby debut off the bench.

Returning from a knee injury, skipper Dave Dennis will switch with Jacques Potgieter and start in the second row, allowing the South African cult hero to shift to blindside flanker.

Chris Alcock returns from an injury-plagued 2014 season to take sidelined skipper Matt Hodgson’s place at openside flanker for Western Force.

Lock Sam Wykes will captain the Force in Hodgson’s absence, while key off-season recruit Steve Mafi starts on the bench.

WARATAHS (1-15): Benn Robinson, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Sekope Kepu, Dave Dennis (c), Will Skelton, Jacques Potgieter, Michael Hooper, Wycliff Palu, Nick Phipps, Bernard Foley, Rob Horne, Kurtley Beale, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Taqele Naiyaravoro, Israel Folau.

Reserves: Tolu Latu, Jeremy Tilse, Paddy Ryan, Sam Lousi, Mitchell Chapman, Stephen Hoiles, Brendan McKibbin, Matt Carraro

FORCE (1-15): Pekahou Cowan, Nathan Charles, Tetera Faulkner, Sam Wykes (c), Adam Coleman, Angus Cottrell, Chris Alcock, Ben McCalman, Alby Mathewson, Sias Ebersohn, Marcel Brache, Solomoni Jnr Rasolea, Kyle Godwin, Luke Morahan, Dane Haylett-Petty.

Reserves: Heath Tessmann, Francois van Wyk, Oliver Hoskins, Steve Mafi, Brynard Stander, Ian Prior, Zack Holmes, Luke Burton.

Originally published as Super Rugby round one teams: Karmichael Hunt starts at flyhalf for Reds, Taqele Naiyaravoro on wing for Waratahs