{"id":518848,"date":"2026-03-04T20:55:07","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T20:55:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/518848\/"},"modified":"2026-03-04T20:55:07","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T20:55:07","slug":"chiefs-and-blues-bolstered-as-mckenzie-and-barrett-return-to-action","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/518848\/","title":{"rendered":"Chiefs and Blues bolstered as McKenzie and Barrett return to action"},"content":{"rendered":"

Check out the teams ahead of the fourth round of Super Rugby Pacific, where All Blacks stars Beauden Barrett and Damian McKenzie are set to make their first appearances of the season.<\/p>\n

The action will get underway in Hamilton on Friday when the Chiefs host Moana Pasifika, and the home side will be boosted by the return of McKenzie, who will start at fly-half.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, McKenzie<\/a>\u2018s fellow playmaker Barrett<\/a> is set to make his Super Rugby Pacific<\/a> bow for 2026 via the replacements bench when the Blues host their arch-rivals the Crusaders in an eagerly anticipated New Zealand derby at Eden Park on Saturday.<\/p>\n

The Blues will be determined to return to winning ways after suffering a heartbreaking defeat against the Brumbies in Canberra last week, while the Crusaders will be brimming with confidence after beating the Chiefs in Hamilton in Round Three.<\/p>\n

Friday<\/p>\n

Chiefs v Moana Pasifika
FMG Stadium, Hamilton<\/p>\n

Chiefs<\/a>: 15 Liam Coombes-Fabling, 14 Emoni Narawa, 13 Lalakai Foketi, 12 Quinn Tupaea, 11 Leroy Carter, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Jahrome Brown, 6 Samipeni Finau, 5 Tupou Vaa\u2019i (c), 4 Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 3 Reuben O\u2019Neill, 2 Samisoni Taukei\u2019aho, 1 Benet Kumeroa
Replacements: 16 Tyrone Thompson, 17 Ollie Norris, 18 George Dyer, 19 Josh Lord, 20 Simon Parker, 21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22 Josh Jacomb, 23 Kyle Brown<\/p>\n

Moana: 15 Glen Vaihu, 14 Tevita Ofa, 13 Tevita Latu, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Solomon Alaimalo, 10 Jackson Garden-Bachop, 9 Augustine Pulu, 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 Abraham Pole
Replacements: 16 Samiuela Moli, 17 Malakai Hala-Ngatai, 18 Lolani Faleiva, 19 Ofa Tauatevalu, 20 Ola Tauelangi, 21 Joel Lam, 22 Patrick Pellegrino, 23 Tyler Pulini<\/p>\n

Waratahs v Hurricanes
Allianz Stadium, Sydney<\/p>\n

Waratahs: 15 Andrew Kellaway, 14 Triston Reilly, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Joey Walton, 11 Max Jorgensen, 10 Lawson Creighton, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Pete Samu, 7 Charlie Gamble, 6 Leafi Talataina, 5 Miles Amatosero, 4 Matt Philip (c), 3 Daniel Botha, 2 Folau Faingaa, 1 Tom Lambert
Replacements: 16 Ioane Moananu, 17 Isaac Kailea, 18 Siosifa Amone, 19 Angus Blyth, 20 Clem Halaholo, 21 Teddy Wilson, 22 Jack Debreczeni, 23 Sid Harvey<\/p>\n

Hurricanes: 15 Josh Moorby, 14 Bailyn Sullivan, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett (cc), 11 Fehi Fineanganofo, 10 Callum Harkin, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Peter Lakai, 7 Du\u2019Plessis Kirifi (cc), 6 Devan Flanders, 5 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 4 Warner Dearns, 3 Pasilio Tosi, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Xavier Numia
Replacements: 16 Jacob Devery, 17 Siale Lauaki, 18 Tevita Mafileo, 19 Brad Shields, 20 Brayden Iose, 21 Ereatara Enari, 22 Lucas Cashmore, 23 Jone Rova<\/p>\n

Their \u2018job is hard enough\u2019 as ex-Irish ref boss warns Super Rugby that there is \u2018little point\u2019 in playing a different game after World Rugby outcome<\/a><\/p>\n

Saturday<\/p>\n

Highlanders v Western Force
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin<\/p>\n

Highlanders: 15 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, 14 Caleb Tangitau, 13 Jonah Lowe, 12 Timoci Tavatavanawai (cc), 11 Jona Nareki, 10 Cameron Millar, 9 Folau Fakatava, 8 Nikora Broughton, 7 Veveni Lasaqa, 6 Te Kamaka Howden, 5 Mitch Dunshea, 4 Oliver Haig, 3 Angus Ta\u2019avao, 2 Jack Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot (cc)
Replacements: 16 Soane Vikena, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Sosefo Kautai, 19 Will Stodart, 20 Sean Withy, 21 Adam Lennox Stratford, 22 Reesjan Pasitoa, 23 Tanielu Tele\u2019a<\/p>\n

Force: 15 Mac Grealy, 14 Darby Lancaster, 13 Divad Palu, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 George Bridge, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Nathan Hastie, 8 Vaiolini Ekausi, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Nick Champion de Crepsigny, 5 Darcy Swain, 4 Jeremy Williams (c), 3 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Tom Robertson
Replacements: 16 Nic Dolly, 17 Sef Fa\u2019agase, 18 Misinale Epenisa, 19 Franco Molina, 20 Will Harris, 21 Henry Robertson, 22 Max Burey, 23 Kurtley Beale<\/p>\n

Blues v Crusaders
Eden Park, Auckland<\/p>\n

Blues<\/a>: 15 Zarn Sullivan, 14 Codemeru Vai, 13 AJ Lam, 12 Pita Ahki, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Stephen Perofeta, 9 Finlay Christie, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Dalton Papali\u2019i (c), 6 Torian Barnes, 5 Sam Darry, 4 Josh Beehre, 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Kurt Eklund, 1 Ofa Tu\u2019ungafasi
Replacements: 16 James Mullan, 17 Mason Tupaea, 18 Sam Matenga, 19 Che Clark, 20 Anton Segner, 21 Taufa Funaki, 22 Beauden Barrett, 23 Xavi Taele<\/p>\n

Crusaders: 15 Taha Kemara, 14 Chay Fihaki, 13 Leicester Fainga\u2019anuku, 12 David Havili (c), 11 Sevu Reece, 10 Rivez Reihana, 9 Noah Hotham, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Ethan Blackadder, 6 Dom Gardiner, 5 Jamie Hannah, 4 Antonio Shalfoon, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 George Bower
Replacements: 16 Manumaua Letiu, 17 Finay Brewis, 18 Seb Calder, 19 Will Tucker, 20 Corey Kellow, 21 Xavier Saifaloi, 22 Kyle Preston, 23 Dallas McLeod<\/p>\n

Brumbies v Reds
GIO Stadium, Canberra<\/p>\n

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 Tuiana Taii Tualima, 5 Cadeyrn Neville, 4 Lachie Shaw, 3 Rhys van Nek, 2 Billy Pollard, 1 James Slipper
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

Reds: 15 Jock Campbell, 14 Lachie Anderson, 13 Josh Flook, 12 Isaac Henry, 11 Filipo Daugunu, 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 Josh Nasser, 1 Aidan Ross
Replacements: 16 Richie Asiata, 17 George Blake, 18 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 19 Seru Uru, 20 Vaiuta Latu, 21 Kalani Thomas, 22 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 23 Treyvon Pritchard<\/p>\n

Want more from Planet Rugby? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for world-class coverage you can trust.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: Dave Rennie reveals the \u2018advantage\u2019 he has as All Blacks coach and Jamie Joseph\u2019s classy touch after his appointment<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Check out the teams ahead of the fourth round of Super Rugby Pacific, where All Blacks stars Beauden…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":518849,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[567],"tags":[64,63,3925,66248,5386,29897,215801,818,10569,216832,44,12061,760,85,29898,33009,11229],"class_list":{"0":"post-518848","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-highlanders","15":"tag-home-page","16":"tag-hurricanes","17":"tag-moana-pasifika","18":"tag-news","19":"tag-queensland-reds","20":"tag-rugby","21":"tag-sports","22":"tag-super-rugby","23":"tag-waratahs","24":"tag-western-force"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/518848","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=518848"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/518848\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/518849"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=518848"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=518848"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=518848"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}