Kings name team to play Sharks, Bulls name new prop in touring squad, Crusaders and Canes name teams for big Kiwi derby …
Waratahs lose Wallaby back-rower Wycliff Palu to an injured ankle for Saturday’s clash against the Brumbies in Canberra.
Brumbies back row strengthened by the return of Wallabies great George Smith.
Kings name their team to play the Sharks on Saturday, and put Luke Watson on the bench.
Kings: 15 SP Marais, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Ronnie Cooke, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Marcello Sampson, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Jacques Engelbrecht, 7 Wimpie van der Walt, 6 Cornell du Preez, 5 Steven Sykes 4 Darron Nell (captain), 3 Kevin Buys , 2 Bandise Maku, 1 Schalk Ferreira
Bench: 16 Edgar Marutlulle, 17 Jaco Engels, 18 David Bulbring, 19 Luke Watson, 20 Nicolas Vergallo, 21 George Whitehead, 22 Hadleigh Parkes
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The Bulls touring squad for matches against the Blues, Crusaders, Reds and Brumbies, all four being previous winners of the Super Rugby title. The 26-man squad includes Bjorn Basson, although the wing will only joining the squad in a week’s time. There is one new cap in prop Hencus van Wyk who has been playing for Tuks in the Varsity Cup:
Squad: Zane Kirchner, Jürgen Visser, Akona Ndungane, Bjorn Basson, Lionel Mapoe, JJ Engelbrecht, Wynand Olivier, Jan Serfontein, Louis Fouchè, Mornè Steyn, Francois Hougaard, Jano Vermaak, Pierre Spies (captain), Arno Botha, Jacques Potgieter, Dewald Potgieter, Deon Stegmann, Grant Hattingh, Juandrè Kruger, Flip van der Merwe, Werner Kruger, Frik Kirsten, Mornè Mellett, Hencus van Wyk, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Willie Wepener
Israel Dagg has been shifted back to fullback for the Crusaders’ clash with the Hurricanes at Westpac Stadium on Friday night. The game will also see former team mates and brothers Owen and Ben Franks come head to head for the first time:
Crusaders: 1. Wyatt Crockett , 2. Corey Flynn, 3. Owen Franks, 4. Samuel Whitelock, 5. Dominic Bird, 6. George Whitelock, 7. Matt Todd, 8. Kieran Read (c), 9. Andy Ellis, 10. Dan Carter, 11. Johnny McNicholl, 12. Ryan Crotty, 13. Robbie Fruean,14. Tom Marshall, 15. Israel Dagg
Bench: 16. Ben Funnell, 17. Joe Moody, 18. Tom Donnelly,19. Luke Whitelock, 20. Willi Heinz, 21. Tom Taylor, 22. Adam Whitelock
Victor Vito and Dane Coles will make their 50th appearances for the Hurricanes:
Hurricanes: 1. Ben Franks, 2. Dane Coles, 3. Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 4. Jeremy Thrush, 5. Jason Eaton, 6. Brad Shields, 7. Karl Lowe, 8. Victor Vito, 9. TJ Perenara, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Julian Savea, 12. Tim Bateman, 13. Conrad Smith (c), 14. Alapati Leiua, 15. Andre Taylor
Bench: 16. Motu Matu’u / Ash Dixon, 17. Ben May, 18. James Broadhurst, 19. Faifili Levave, 20. Chris Smylie, 21. James Marshall, 22. Reynold Lee-Lo
Johann Goosen kicks at goal: 3 out of 6 against the Sharks, and 1 out of 4 against the Chiefs.
Fears are increasing that Zac Guildford’s contract could be torn up by the NZRU when the player faces a judicial hearing today.
Kurtley Beale will use his time sidelined with a broken hand to rehabilitate the damaged shoulder that threatens his Wallaby plans. Beale is hopeful of only missing one Super Rugby game as he undergoes surgery on his left hand.
Nigel Genia, the younger brother of Will, is in line to make his Super Rugby debut for the Reds against the Rebels on Friday due to a shoulder injury to incumbent Ben Lucas.
Super Rugby fixtures:
Friday 08 Mar 2013
08:35 Hurricanes vs Crusaders
10:40 Rebels vs Reds
Saturday 09 Mar 2013
08:35 Highlanders vs Cheetahs
10:40 Brumbies vs Waratahs
17:05 Stormers vs Chiefs
19:10 Southern Kings vs Sharks
Sunday 10 Mar 2013
05:05 Blues vs Bulls
Six Nations fixtures:
Saturday 09 Mar 2013
16:30 Scotland vs Wales
19:00 Ireland vs France
Sunday 10 Mar 2013
17:00 England vs Italy
