Ebersohn misses out

A look at the Australian and New Zealand Super Rugby teams selected for this weekend’s pre-season warm up games

Alby Mathewson will captain the Force against the Tongan XV, made up of non-Super Rugby-contracted, Tongan eligible players from Australia, New Zealand and Tonga. Ex Cheetah Sias Ebersohn has been selected in the “A” side to play in the curtain raiser …

Western Force v Tonga Select XV

Chris Alcock, Richard Brown, Luke Burton, Nathan Charles, Sam Christie, Adam Coleman, Angus Cottrell, Patrick Dellit, Tetera Faulkner, Kyle Godwin, Richard Hardwick, James Hilterbrand, Ollie Hoskins, Brad Lacey , Kieran Longbottom, Ryan Louwrens, Toby Lynn, Alfie Mafi, Salesi Manu, Alby Mathewson (c), Ben Matwijow, Locky McCaffrey, Ben McCalman, Hugh McMeniman, Junior Rasolea, Winston Stanley, Chris Tuatara-Morrison, Will Tupou, Sam Wykes.

Force ‘A’ v Perth Kiwi

Phoenix Battye, Corey Brown, Luke Burton, Adam Coleman, Sias Ebersohn, Nick Haining, Richard Hardwick, Jayden Hayward, James Hilterbrand, Ryan Hodson, Ollie Hoskins, Ben Jacobs, Kane Koteka, Brad Lacey, Ryan Louwrens, Salesi Ma’afu, Salesi Manu, Ben Matwijow, Locky McCaffrey (c), Junior Rasolea, Mick Snowden, Heath Tessmann, Rory Walton.

Crusaders vs Highlanders Whitestone Contracting Stadium, Oamaru:

Crusaders: Wyatt Crockett, Ben Funnell, Pa’ea Fa’anunu, Luke Romano, Dominic Bird, Luke Whitelock, Shane Christie, Jordan Taufua, Andy Ellis, Tom Taylor, Johnny McNicholl, Ryan Crotty (c), Israel Dagg, Adam Whitelock, Tom Marshall.
Bench: Codie Taylor, Adrian Barone, Joe Moody, Jimmy Tupou, Jeremy Su’a, Willi Heinz, Robbie Fruean, Telusa Veainu, Joel Everson, Mitch Graham, Matt Todd, Tyler Bleyendaal, Kieran Fonotia, George Whitelock, James Schrader.

Highlanders:  1. Tony Woodcock; 2. Brayden Mitchell; 3. Ma’afu Fia; 4. Brad Thorn;  5. Jarrad Hoeata; 6. Joe Wheeler; 7. John Hardie; 8. Elliot Dixon; 9. Aaron Smith; 10. Lima Sopoaga;  11. Hosea Gear (c); 12. Ma’a Nonu; 13. Phil Burleigh; 14. Kade Poki;  15. Buxton Popoalii
Bench: Backs: Jason Emery, Hayden Parker, Fumiaki Tanaka, Shaun Treeby & Frae Wilson. Forwards: Hugh Blake, Liam Coltman, Tom Franklin, Paul Grant, Jamie Mackintosh & Bronson Murray.

Ali Williams will captain the Blues for the first time when he leads out the side to face the Waratahs in Whangarei on Saturday for their second pre-season hitout of the year:

Blues: Albert Nikoro, George Moala, Rene Ranger, Francis Saili, Lolagi Visinia, Chris Noakes, Bryn Hall, Peter Saili, Luke Braid, Steven Luatua, Ali Williams (c), Liaki Moli, Angus Ta’avao, Quentin MacDonald, Tom McCartney.
Bench: James Parsons, Tim Perry, Culum Retallick, Brendon O’Connor, Charlie Faumuina, Ronald Raaymakers, Kane Barrett, Jamison Gibson-Park, Malakai Fekitoa, Marty McKenzie, Baden Kerr, Waisake Naholo, Frank Halai.

Reds vs Cheifs:

Reds: 1. Greg Holmes 2. Saia Faingaa 3. James Slipper (c) 4. Ed O’Donoghue 5. Rob Simmons 6. Eddie Quirk 7. Liam Gill 8. Jake Schatz 9. Ben Lucas 10. Jono Lance 11. Digby Ioane 12. Mike Harris 13. Ben Tapuai (vc) 14. Rod Davies 15. Luke Morahan
Bench: Albert Anae, James Hanson, Jono Owen, Adam Wallace-Harrison, Nigel Ah Wong, Curtis Browning, Jarrad Butler, Nick Frisby, Dion Taumata, Chris F’Sautia, Aidan Toua, Dom Shipperley

Chiefs: Toby Smith, Mahonri Schwalger, Ben Tameifuna, Brodie Retallick, Ross Filipo, Liam Messam, Sam Kane, Fritz Lee, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Aaron Cruden, Andrew Horrell, Charlie Ngatai, Asaeli Tikoirotuma, Patrick Osborne, Tim Nanai-Williams
Bench: Hika Elliot, Michael Kainga, Michael Fitzgerald, Tanerau Latimer, August Pulu, Gareth Anscombe, Bundee Aki, Maritino Nemani, Matthew Vant Leven, Nick Crosswell, Pauliasi Manu

Rebels v Hurricanes, Simonds Stadium, Geelong.

Rebels: 1. Nic Henderson, 2. Ged Robisnon, 3. Laurie Weeks, 4. Hugh Pyle, 5. Cadeyrn Neville, 6. Luke Jones, 7. Scott Fuglistaller, 8. Gareth Delve, 9. Nick Phipps, 10. Kurtley Beale, 11. Lachlan Mitchell, 12. Rory Sidey, 13. Mitch Inman, 14. Alex Rokobaro, 15. James O’Connor
Bench: 16. Shota Horie/Pat Leafa, 17. Eddie Aholelei/Paul Alo-Emile, 18. James King/Chris Thomson, 19. Trent Dyer/Jordy Reid/Jarrod Saffy, 20. Richard Kingi/Nic Stirzaker, 21. Angus Roberts/Tom English, 22. Kemu Valetini