Super Rugby 2015, round 14 teams: Karmichael Hunt named at outside centre for Queensland Reds

THE Reds’ Karmichael Hunt experiment has taken a new turn, with the star code-hopper named at outside centre for this weekend’s clash with the Rebels.

Karmichael Hunt during Queensland Reds training. Pic Darren England.

THE Reds’ Karmichael Hunt experiment has taken a new turn, with the star code-hopper named at outside centre for this weekend’s clash with the Rebels.

Meanwhile, the table topping Hurricanes have also ushered back All Blacks Julian Savea and TJ Perenara for their heavyweight clash with the Chiefs on Saturday night.

The teams for round 14 are rolling in and we’ll have them all here as they come to hand.

BLUES v BULLS at Eden Park

Friday, 5:35pm AEST, LIVE on FOX SPORTS 2HD

THE under-siege Blues have been in the news again this week, as speculation swirls around the future of coach John Kirwan.

Kirwan has reportedly hatched a plan which will see him carry on as Blues coach next season, before handing the reins to current Crusaders assistant Tabai Matson in 2017.

There are also more immediate issues to solve for ‘JK,’ with injury forcing him to name an inexperienced backline against the Bulls.

He has made four changes from the side thrashed by the Rebels, with hooker James Parsons giving All Black Keven Mealamu a breather and Charlie Faumuina returning at tighthead

prop.

Halfback Jamison Gibson-Park will service a green backline, including the recalled Ben Lam on the right wing, with Melani Nanai switching to the left flank.

The Bulls have recalled regular skipper Pierre Spies for Friday night’s match after he was left on the bench for his side’s last Super Rugby fixture against the Lions.

Spies’ return at number eight has signalled a back row reshuffle, with Arno Botha moving to openside flanker and Jacques du Plessis relegated to the bench. Scrumhalf Rudy Paige replaced the injured Piet van Zyl.

BLUES (1-15): Tony Woodcock, James Parsons, Charlie Faumuina, Culum Retallick, Josh Bekhuis, Akira Ioane, Brendon O’Connor, Steven Luatua, Jamison Gibson-Park, Ihaia West, Melani Nanai, George Moala, Francis Saili, Ben Lam, Lolagi Visinia

Reserves: Keven Mealamu, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Sam Prattley, William Lloyd, Blake Gibson, Jimmy Cowan, Simon Hickey, Matt Vaega

BULLS (1-15): Trevor Nyakane, Adriaan Strauss, Marcel van der Merwe, Flip van der Merwe, Victor Matfield, Lappies Labuschagne, Arno Botha, Pierre Spies, Rudy Paige, Handre Pollard, Bjorn Basson, Jan Serfontein, JJ Engelbrecht, Francois Hougaard, Jesse Kriel

Reserves: Callie Visagie, Dean Greyling, Werner Kruger, Jacques du Plessis, Deon Stegmann, Burger Odendaal, Jacques-Louis Potgieter, Travis Ismaiel

Keven Mealamu of the Blues had been handed a breather this weekend.

REDS v REBELS at Suncorp Stadium

Friday, 7:40pm AEST, LIVE on FOX SPORTS 2HD

UNDER-pressure Reds coach Richard Graham has handed the reins to rookie fly-half Jake McIntyre, who will make his Super Rugby debut against the in-form Rebels.

McIntyre had a strong season for Brisbane City in the National Rugby Competition, but has been unavailable for the majority of 2015 due to off-season knee surgery.

The other selection headline grabber is the return of Karmichael Hunt to the starting lineup. Hunt will play at outside centre for the first time this season after overcoming an adductor strain.

Graham has also shuffled the outside backs, with James O’Connor shifting to fullback and Lachie Turner moving to the wing.

The Melbourne Rebels will welcome back three players with international experience for the match at Suncorp Stadium

Sean McMahon, Tamati Ellison and Laurie Weeks were all deemed to have recovreed sufficiently from injury to train this week, with McMahon and Ellison named in the starting XV and Weeks on the bench.

Their inclusion has forced Rebels coach Tony McGahan in to come tough calls this week, with co-captain Scott Fuglistaller dropped and last week’s match-winner Colby Fainga’a benched to make way for McMahon’s return.

REDS (1-15): James Slipper, James Hanson, Greg Holmes, Rob Simmons, James Horwill, Adam Thomson, Liam Gill, Jake Schatz, Will Genia, Jake McIntyre, Lachie Turner, Samu Kerevi, Karmichael Hunt, Chris Feauai-Sautia, James O’Connor

Reserves: Andrew Ready, Pettowa Paraka, Sam Talakai, Ed O’Donoghue, Lolo Fakaosilea, Nick Frisby/Scott Gale, Sam Greene, Ben Tapuai

REBELS (1-15): Toby Smith, Pat Leafa, Paul Alo-Emile, Luke Jones, Lopeti Timani, Sean McMahon, Jordy Reid, Scott Higginbotham, Nic Stirzaker, Jack Debreczeni, Sefanaia Naivalu, Mitch Inman, Tamati Ellison, Dom Shipperley, Mike Harris.

Reserves: Tom Sexton, Cruze Ah-Nau, Laurie Weeks, Cadeyrn Neville, Colby Fainga’a, Luke Burgess, Bryce Hegarty, Tom English.

Both James O’Connor and Karmichael Hunt will line up in new positions against the Rebels.

HURRICANES v CHIEFS at Westpac Stadium

Saturday, 5:35pm AEST, LIVE on FOX SPORTS 2HD

KEY Hurricanes pair Julian Savea and TJ Perenara will line up for the Hurricanes in their heavyweight showdown with the Chiefs on Saturday after being rested last weekend.

The Hurricanes scored an unconvincing win over the Sharks last weekend without the pair and will be boosted by their return, but the side will still be without injured flyhalf Beauden Barrett.

Jeffery Toomaga-Alen will make his 50th Super Rugby appearance when he comes off the bench, while Conrad Smith and Ma’a Nonu will play their 50th match together as the Canes’ midfield pairing.

The Chiefs have made three changes to their starting side that fell to the Rebels in round 12, hoping their bye last weekend will have them fully charged to tackle the Hurricanes at Westpac Stadium.

Michael Allardice is handed his first start of the season at lock, while Damian McKenzie and Hosea Gear come in at flyhalf and on the right wing respectively.

HURRICANES (1-15): Reggie Goodes, Motu Matu’u, Ben Franks, Jeremy Thrush, James Broadhurst, Brad Shields, Ardie Savea, Victor Vito, TJ Perenara, James Marshall, Julian Savea, Ma’a Nonu, Conrad Smith, Cory Jane, Nehe Milner-Skudder

Reserves: Dane Coles, Chris Eves, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Mark Abbott/Callum Gibbins, Blade Thomson, Chris Smylie, Otere Black, Rey Lee-Lo

CHIEFS (1-15): Pauliasi Manu, Hika Elliot, Ben Tameifuna, Michael Allardice, Michael Fitzgerald, Liam Messam, Sam Cane, Michael Leitch, Brad Weber, Damian McKenzie, James Lowe, Sonny Bill Williams, Charlie Ngatai, Hosea Gear, Tom Marshall

Reserves: Quentin MacDonald, Siate Tokolahi, Mitchell Graham, Liam Squire, Maama Vaipulu, Augustine Pulu, Andrew Horrell, Bryce Heem

Julian Savea returns for the Hurricanes this weekend.

WARATAHS v SHARKS at Allianz Stadium

Saturday, 7:40pm AEST, LIVE on FOX SPORTS 2HD

INJURY to Waratahs forward Jacques Potgieter means he won’t get the chance to face the side he will be joining next year, the Sharks, at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night.

Potgieter is replaced at blindside flanker by Stephen Hoiles in the only change to the starting XV named by Michael Cheika on Friday.

Cheika has also submitted an extended bench for the fixture, with three players to be ommitted bfore the match.

Sharks coach Gary Gold has had the luxury this week of naming an unchanged starting side for Saturday’s match.

The Sharks were impressive last weekend despite losing 32-24 to the Hurricanes, pushing the competition’s pace-setters to the end with an energetic, physical display.

WARATAHS (1-15): Benn Robinson, Tolu Latu, Sekope Kepu, Will Skelton, David Dennis, Stephen Hoiles, Michael Hooper, Wycliff Palu, Nick Phipps, Bernard Foley, Rob Horne, Kurtley Beale, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Taqele Naiyaravoro, Israel Folau (VC)

Reserves: Hugh Roach, Jeremy Tilse, Paddy Ryan, Mitchell Chapman, Jed Holloway, Jack Dempsey, Tala Gray, Pat McCutcheon, Brendan McKibbin, Matt Carraro, Peter Betham (three to be comitted)

SHARKS (1-15): Tendai Mtawarira, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Stephan Lewies, Marco Wentzel, Marcell Coetzee, Etienne Oosthuizen, Renaldo Bothma, Stefan Ungerer, Lionel Cronje, S’bura Sithole, Frans Steyn, JP Pietersen, Odwa Ndungane, Lwazi Mvovo

Reserves: Franco Marais, Dale Chadwick, Lourens Adriaanse, Mouritz Botha, Kyle Cooper, Conrad Hoffmann, Andre Esterhuizen, Waylon Murray

Injured Waratah Jacques Potgieter watches training at Moore Park.

LIONS v BRUMBIES at Ellis Park

Sunday, 1:05am AEST, LIVE on FOX SPORTS 2HD

STEPHEN Larkham has rushed Matt Toomua back into his starting side as he tries to arrest a slide that has seen his Brumbies lose four of their last five Super Rugby matches.

Toomua has been sidelined for a month with an ankle injury, but with the Brumbies in desperate need of a win against the Lions at Ellis Park, the experienced playmaker has been included at the expense of Robbie Coleman.

Allan Alaalatoa has also been named to start in the front row, handing him a debut in the run-on side. His inclusions pushes JP Smith to the bench.

Lions coach Johan Ackermann has made a number of changes to his side, opting to continue rotating his troops despite their proximity to the top six at a crucial point of the season.

Scrumhalf Faf de Klerkreturns, as does Lionel Mapoe on the wing, while Martin Muller is included at locl and Robert kruger at flanker.

LIONS (1-15): Schalk van der Merwe, Robbie Coetzee, Julian Redelinghuys, Martin Muller, Franco Mostert, Jaco Kriel, Robert Kruger, Warren Whiteley, Faf de Klerk, Elton Jantjies, Ruan Combrinck, Alwyn Hollenbach, Harold Vorster, Lionel Mapoe, Andries Coetzee

Reserves: Armand van der Merwe, Jacques van Rooyen, Ruan Dreyer, MB Lusaseni Warwick Tecklenburg, Ross Cronje, Jaco van der Walt, Howard Mnisi.

BRUMBIES (1-15): Allan Alaalatoa, Stephen Moore, Ben Alexander, Rory Arnold, Sam Carter, Scott Fardy, David Pocock, Ita Vaea, Nic White, Christian Lealiifano, Joe Tomane, Matt Toomua, Tevita Kuridrani, Henry Speight, Jesse Mogg

Reserves: Josh Mann-Rea, JP Smith, Ruan Smith, Jordan Smiler, Jarrad Butler, Michael Dowsett, James Dargaville, Robbie Coleman, Nigel Ah Wong

Matt Toomua returns this week to try and arrest the Brumbies’ slide.

CHEETAHS v HIGHLANDERS at Vodacom Park

Sunday, 3:10am AEST, LIVE on FOX SPORTS 2HD

THE Highlanders will field two debutants in their starting XV when they take on the Cheetahs at Wodacom Park on sunday morning.

Coach Jamie Joseph has handed a first Super Rugby appearance to lock Alex Ainley and winger Ryan Tongia, in place of Tom Franklin and injured powerhouse Waisake Naholo respectively.

The Highlanders have also made a change in the back row, with John Hardie replacing Dan Pryor at openside flanker.

The Cheetahs have been forced to name a new halves combination after injuries to the pair that orhcestrated their victory over the Stormers a fortnight ago.

With both Sarel Pretorius and Joe Pietersen sidelined with shoulder ailments, Tian Meyer and Francois Brummer will fill the number nine and ten jumpers respectively.

Danie Mienie also comes in to the side at prop, while BG Uys, Shaun Venter, Raymond Rhule and Coenie van Wyk are named on the bench.

CHEETAHS (1-15): Danie Mienie, Torsten van Jaarsveld, Maks van Dyk, Carl Wenger, Francois Uys, Tienie Burger, Boom Prinsloo, Willie Britz, Tian Meyer, Francois Brummer, Sergeal Petersen, Michael van der Spuy, Francois Venter, Ryno Benjamin, Clayton Blommetjies.

Reserves: Stephan Coetzee, BG Uys, Ewald van der Westhuizen, Steven Sykes, Carel Greeff, Shaun Venter, Coenie van Wyk, Raymond Rhule

HIGHLANDERS (1-15): Brendon Edmonds, Liam Coltman, Josh Hohneck, Alex Ainley, Mark Reddish, Gareth Evans, John Hardie, Nasi Manu, Aaron Smith, Lima Sopoaga, Patrick Osborne, Richard Buckman, Malakai Fekitoa, Ryan Tongia, Ben Smith.

Reserves: Ash Dixon, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Ross Geldenhuys, Tom Franklin, Elliot Dixon, Dan Pryor, Fumiaki Tanaka, Marty Banks

Originally published as Super Rugby 2015, round 14 teams: Karmichael Hunt named at outside centre for Queensland Reds