News

Steelers and Manurewa hooker Ioane Moananu will start at hooker for the Crusaders when they face the Hurricanes in the Super Rugby Pacific opener on Friday night.

He will come up against his Steelers teammates Cam Roigard and Riley Hohepa, who are named in the Hurricanes side.

Roigard, the incumbent All Black halfback, will start in the number nine jumper while Hohepa is listed to come off the bench.

Dalton Papali'i will start at open side flanker for the defending champion Blues when they meet the Chiefs on Saturday night.

Hoskins Sotutu is unavailable with a knee injury.

Etene Nanai-Seturo starts for the Chiefs on the left wing.

Halfback Jonathan Taumateine is the only Steelers player listed to start for Moana Pasifika for their opening game of the season against the Force.