{"id":503839,"date":"2026-02-25T20:33:08","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T20:33:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/503839\/"},"modified":"2026-02-25T20:33:08","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T20:33:08","slug":"williams-back-to-boost-the-crusaders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/503839\/","title":{"rendered":"Williams back to boost the Crusaders"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Check out the teams ahead of the third round of Super Rugby Pacific, where All Blacks star Tamaiti Williams makes his first appearance of the year for the Crusaders against the Chiefs in Hamilton on Saturday.<\/p>\n<p>After two rounds of action, the Crusaders are still winless after suffering shock defeats against the Brumbies and Highlanders in Christchurch and Dunedin respectively.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.planetrugby.com\/tag\/Tamaiti-Williams\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Williams<\/a>\u2018 return to action will boost the defending champions against the Chiefs in a repeat of last year\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.planetrugby.com\/tournament\/super-rugby\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Super Rugby Pacific<\/a> final.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, the Reds have also received a shot in the arm after it was announced that Wallabies duo Harry Wilson (number eight) and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.planetrugby.com\/tag\/Carter-Gordon\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Carter Gordon<\/a> (fly-half) will make their first appearances of the season in Friday\u2019s clash against the Highlanders in Brisbane.<\/p>\n<p>The match will be significant for Gordon as he will make his competitive debut for the Reds after <a href=\"https:\/\/www.planetrugby.com\/news\/wallabies-rugby-australia-confirm-return-of-quality-player-after-brief-rugby-league-spell\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">returning to rugby union following a brief stint with NRL outfit the Gold Coast Titans<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Friday<\/p>\n<p>Moana Pasifika v Western Force<br \/>Navigation Homes Stadium, Pukekohe<\/p>\n<p>Moana: 15 Glen Vaihu, 14 Tevita Ofa, 13 Lalomilo Lalomilo, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Solomon Alaimalo, 10 Patrick Pellegrini, 9 Jonathan Taumateine, 8 Semisi Tupou Ta\u2019eiloa, 7 Semisi Paea, 6 Miracle Faiilagi (c), 5 Allan Craig, 4 Tom Savage, 3 Chris Apoua, 2 Millennium Sanerivi, 1 Tito Tuipulotu<br \/>Replacements: 16 Samiuela Moli, 17 Abraham Pole, 18 Lolani Faleiva, 19 Ola Tauelangi, 20 Tupou Afungia, 21 Melani Matavao, 22 Jackson Garden-Bachop, 23 Tevita Latu<\/p>\n<p>Force: 15 Mac Grealy, 14 Darby Lancaster, 13 George Bridge, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 Bayley Kuenzle, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Nathan Hastie, 8 Vaiolini Ekuasi, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Jeremy Williams (c), 5 Darcy Swain, 4 Franco Molina, 3 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 2 Nic Dolly, 1 Tom Robertson<br \/>Replacements: 16 Leonel Oviedo, 17 Sef Fa\u2019agase, 18 Misinale Epenisa, 19 Lopeti Faifua, 20 Kane Koteka, 21 Agustin Moyano, 22 Max Burey, 23 Kurtley Beale<\/p>\n<p>Reds v Highlanders<br \/>Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane<\/p>\n<p>Reds: 15 Jock Campbell, 14 Lachie Anderson, 13 Josh Flook, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Tim Ryan, 10 Carter Gordon, 9 Louis Werchon, 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Fraser McReight (c), 6 Joe Brial, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Josh Canham, 3 Zane Nonggorr, 2 Matt Faessler, 1 Aidan Ross<br \/>Replacements: 16 Josh Nasser, 17 George Blake, 18 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 19 Hamish Muller, 20 Vaiuta Latu, 21 Kalani Thomas, 22 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 23 Filipo Daugunu<\/p>\n<p>Highlanders: 15 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, 14 Caleb Tangitau, 13 Jonah Lowe, 12 Timoci Tavatavanawai (cc), 11 Jona Nareki, 10 Cameron Millar, 9 Adam Lennox, 8 Lucas Casey, 7 Sean Withy (cc), 6 Te Kamaka Howden, 5 Mitch Dunshea, 4 Will Stodart, 3 Rohan Wingham, 2 Jack Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot<br \/>Replacements: 16 Soane Vikena, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Sosefo Kautai, 19 Oliver Haig, 20 Veveni Lasaqa, 21 Folau Fakatava, 22 Reesjan Pasitoa, 23 Tanielu Tele\u2019a<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.planetrugby.com\/news\/stephen-donald-draws-comparison-with-exciting-all-blacks-hopeful-and-will-jordan\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Stephen Donald draws comparison with \u2018exciting\u2019 All Blacks hopeful and Will Jordan<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Saturday<\/p>\n<p>Fijian Drua v Hurricanes<br \/>Churchill Park, Lautoka<\/p>\n<p>Drua: 15 Ilaisa Droasese, 14 Joji Nasova, 13 Tuidraki Samusamuvodre, 12 Isikeli Rabitu, 11 Epeli Momo, 10 Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 9 Frank Lomani (c), 8 Elia Canakaivata, 7 Motikiai Murray, 6 Etonia Waqa, 5 Isoa Nasilasila, 4 Mesake Vocevoce, 3 Mesake Doge, 2 Zuriel Togiatama, 1 Haereiti Hetet<br \/>Replacements: 16 Kavaia Tagivetaua, 17 Emosi Tuqiri, 18 Peni Ravai, 19 Vilive Miramira, 20 Kitione Salawa, 21 Isoa Tuwai, 22 Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 23 Inia Tabuavou<\/p>\n<p>Hurricanes: 15 Josh Moorby, 14 Bailyn Sullivan, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett (c), 11 Fehi Fineanganofo, 10 Callum Harkin, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Brayden Iose, 7 Peter Lakai, 6 Devan Flanders, 5 Warner Dearns, 4 Hugo Plummer, 3 Tevita Mafileo, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Pouri Rakete-Stone<br \/>Replacements: 16 Jacob Devery, 17 Xavier Numia, 18 Siale Lauaki, 19 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 20 Brad Shields, 21 Ereatara Enari, 22 Lucas Cashmore, 23 Ngane Punivai<\/p>\n<p>Chiefs v Crusaders<br \/>FMG Stadium, Hamilton<\/p>\n<p>Chiefs: 15 Etene Nanai-Seturo, 14 Emoni Narawa, 13 Daniel Rona, 12 Quinn Tupaea, 11 Leroy Carter, 10 Josh Jacomb, 9 Xavier Roe, 8 Luke Jacobson (c), 7 Kaylum Boshier, 6 Simon Parker, 5 Tupou Vaa\u2019i, 4 Josh Lord, 3 George Dyer, 2 Samisoni Taukei\u2019aho, 1 Jared Proffit<br \/>Replacements: 16 Tyrone Thompson, 17 Benet Kumeroa, 18 Reuben O\u2019Neill, 19 Samipeni Finau, 20 Wallace Sititi, 21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22 Tepaea Cook-Savage, 23 Lalakai Foketi<\/p>\n<p>Crusaders: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Chay Fihaki, 13 Leicester Fainga\u2019anuku, 12 David Havili (c), 11 Sevu Reece, 10 Tahu Kemara, 9 Noah Hotham, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Ethan Blackadder, 6 Dom Gardner, 5 Jamie Hannah, 4 Antonio Shalfoon, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 George Bell, 1 Tamaiti Williams<br \/>Replacements: 16 Manumaua Letiu, 17 George Bower, 18 Seb Calder, 19 Tahlor Cahill, 20 Corey Kellow, 21 Louie Chapman, 22 James White, 23 Dallas McLeod<\/p>\n<p>Brumbies v Blues<br \/>GIO Stadium, Canberra<\/p>\n<p>Brumbies: 15 Andy Muirhead, 14 Ollie Sapsford, 13 Kadin Pritchard, 12 David Feliuai, 11 Corey Toole, 10 Declan Meredith, 9 Ryan Lonergan (c), 8 Charlie Cale, 7 Rory Scott, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Cadeyrn Neville, 4 Lachie Shaw, 3 Rhys van Nek, 2 Billy Pollard, 1 James Slipper<br \/>Replacements: 16 Liam Bowron, 17 Blake Schoupp, 18 Tevita Alatini, 19 Toby MacPherson, 20 Luke Reimer, 21 Klayton Thorn, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Hudson Creighton<\/p>\n<p>Blues: 15 Zarn Sullivan, 14 Cole Forbes, 13 AJ Lam, 12 Pita Ahki, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Stephen Perofeta, 9 Finlay Christie, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Dalton Papali\u2019i (c), 6 Anton Segner, 5 Sam Darry, 4 Laghlan McWhannell, 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Kurt Eklund, 1 Ofa Tu\u2019ungafasi<br \/>Replacements: 16 Bradley Slater, 17 Mason Tupaea, 18 Sam Matenga, 19 Josh Beehre, 20 Torian Barnes, 21 Taufa Funaki, 22 Xavi Taele, 23 Codemeru Vai<\/p>\n<p>Want more from Planet Rugby? Add us as <a rel=\"noopener nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=planetrugby.com\" target=\"_blank\">a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for world-class coverage you can trust.<\/p>\n<p>READ MORE: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.planetrugby.com\/news\/world-class-all-blacks-star-set-to-focus-on-original-role-as-crusaders-issue-update-on-hybrid-experiment\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">\u2018World class\u2019 All Blacks star set to focus on original role as Crusaders issue update on hybrid experiment<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Check out the teams ahead of the third round of Super Rugby Pacific, where All Blacks star Tamaiti&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":503840,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[567],"tags":[64,63,3925,66248,5386,29897,217781,215801,818,10569,216832,44,12061,760,85,29898,11229],"class_list":{"0":"post-503839","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-rugby","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-blues","11":"tag-brumbies","12":"tag-chiefs","13":"tag-crusaders","14":"tag-fijian-drua","15":"tag-highlanders","16":"tag-home-page","17":"tag-hurricanes","18":"tag-moana-pasifika","19":"tag-news","20":"tag-queensland-reds","21":"tag-rugby","22":"tag-sports","23":"tag-super-rugby","24":"tag-western-force"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/503839","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=503839"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/503839\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/503840"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=503839"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=503839"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=503839"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}