Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Pablo Matera to make Crusaders debut in pre-season clash against Highlanders

Pablo Matera Crusaders

Los Pumas star Pablo Matera will make his first appearance for the Crusaders in the franchise’s pre-season Farmlands Cup clash against the Highlanders in Oamaru on Friday.

ADVERTISEMENT

Matera has been named at No 8 by head coach Scott Robertson for the first half of his side’s clash against their South Island rivals, which will be played behind closed doors due to New Zealand’s current red light Covid setting.

The Argentine loose forward will be joined by six other players – Kini Naholo, Freedom Vahaakolo, Finlay Brewis, Shilo Klein, Antonio Shalfoon and either Josh Kaifa or Jacob Norris – in making their first outings for the Crusaders in the first half.

Video Spacer

Facing Goliath Trailer | Behind the scenes of the All Blacks vs Italy

Video Spacer

Facing Goliath Trailer | Behind the scenes of the All Blacks vs Italy

At least another eight players will also make their Crusaders debuts in the second half as part of an overhauled lineup that is headlined by ex-All Blacks pair Waisake Naholo and Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi.

Other newbies included in the second half team include Dominic Gardiner, Corey Kellow, Daniel Rona, Macca Springer, either Abraham Pole or Seb Calder, Simon Hickey or Lucas Cashmore and possibly both Taine Robinson and Kianu Kereru-Symes.

Plenty of attention will be fixated not only on Matera, the 80-test international, but also the Naholo brothers, both of whom have been brought into the Crusaders over the Super Rugby Pacific off-season.

Ex-Chiefs prospect Kini was signed on a full-time deal after exciting with Taranaki during their NPC Championship-winning campaign, while Waisake is currently training with the Crusaders as injury cover.

ADVERTISEMENT

Friday’s match against the Highlanders will be a particularly notable one for Waisake, who is the Dunedin-based franchise’s all-time leading try-scorer and was a crucial member of the team’s 2015 title-winning squad.

Naholo is joined by Vahaakolo, who made his Super Rugby debut with the Highlanders last year, in squaring off against their former team.

No current All Blacks have been named in the team, with midfielder Jack Goodhue also absent after having missed the entire test season due to a ruptured ACL, although one-test loose forward Cullen Grace will start the second half at No 8.

Veteran halfback Bryn Hall will captain the team in the first half before lock Quinten Strange takes over the leadership duties in the second half.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Highlanders are expected to reveal their team for the Farmlands Cup encounter on Thursday. Kick-off at Weston Rugby Football Club is scheduled for 4pm.

Crusaders team to face the Highlanders

First Half

1. Finlay Brewis
2. Shilo Klein
3. Fletcher Newell / Tamaiti Williams
4. Antonio Shalfoon
5. Mitchell Dunshea
6. Josh Kaifa / Jacob Norris
7. Tom Christie
8. Pablo Matera
9. Bryn Hall (C)
10. Fergus Burke
11. Kini Naholo
12. Dallas McLeod
13. Isaiah Punivai
14. Freedom Vahaakolo
15. Chay Fihaki

Second Half

1. Abraham Pole / Seb Calder
2. Brodie McAlister / Kianu Kereru-Symes
3. Oli Jager
4. Quinten Strange (C)
5. Antonio Shalfoon
6. Dominic Gardiner
7. Corey Kellow
8. Cullen Grace
9. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi
10. Simon Hickey / Lucas Cashmore
11. Daniel Rona
12. Isaiah Punivai / Taine Robinson
13. Inga Finau
14. Waisake Naholo
15. Macca Springer

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

n
nastashajohnson 29 minutes ago
Japan's proposed anti-diverse 'blood' eligibility law after foreign player influx

I was scammed out of $230,000 after investing in a scheme introduced to me by a friend on Facebook. Initially, it seemed legitimate, and I was excited about the potential returns. But I soon realized I'd been duped, and the investment was a scam. I felt devastated, helpless, and anxious about my financial future.

Desperate for help, I searched online and discovered Cyber Constable Intelligence. I was skeptical at first, but their website and reviews instilled confidence. I reached out to them, and they quickly responded. Their team worked tirelessly to track down the scammers, utilizing their expertise in cryptocurrency forensics and scam recovery. Throughout the process, Cyber Constable Intelligence kept me informed, providing regular updates and insights into their investigation. Thanks to their dedication and relentless efforts, I successfully recovered my lost funds. The experience was stressful, but their professionalism and transparency made it manageable. I'm grateful for their exceptional service and highly recommend Cyber Constable Intelligence to anyone affected by scams or investment fraud. Their results-driven approach and commitment to client satisfaction are truly impressive. They've given me a second chance, and I'm thankful for that."

Here's their Info below

Website info; www cyberconstableintelligence com

Telegram Info: + 1 213 752 7487

31 Go to comments
G
GabrielArthur 4 hours ago
Watch Jesse Kriel get sat down as NRL convert scores 'worldie'

Last month, I faced a nightmare scenario when the entire balance of SOL I held in my MetaMask wallet was abruptly transferred to an unknown address. One moment, my funds were secure; the next, they’d vanished without a trace. I frantically reviewed my transaction history, double-checked permissions, and scanned my devices for malware, but found no obvious breach. Panic turned to despair as I realized my savings accumulated through years of cautious investing were gone. Desperate for answers, I contacted MetaMask support, only to be told that their team couldn’t reverse or trace decentralized transactions. They speculated that my wallet had been compromised, possibly via a phishing scam, a malicious dApp, or a leaked recovery phrase, but I couldn’t pinpoint where I’d gone wrong. Feeling helpless, I combed through Reddit threads and crypto forums, where I stumbled upon TRUST GEEKS HACK EXPERT Website https://trustgeekshackexpert.com/ , a service hailed for its success in reclaiming stolen assets. Though skeptical after all, everything I’d read suggested crypto theft was irreversible I decided to take a leap of faith and submitted my case details, including transaction IDs and wallet addresses. Their team responded within hours, outlining a meticulous plan to trace the stolen SOL across the blockchain and collaborate with exchanges to intercept the funds. Over the next week, TRUST GEEKS HACK EXPERT provided daily updates, revealing how the thief had funneled my SOL through a labyrinth of wallets to obscure its trail. Using advanced blockchain forensics, they identified patterns linking the movement of funds to a known exchange. By working with legal teams and platform security, they flagged the stolen crypto before it could be liquidated. Their expertise and determination were evident as they navigated the complexities of the blockchain, piecing together the puzzle of my stolen assets. Against all odds, their relentless efforts paid off: within 9 days, they recovered 100% of my stolen SOL and safely redirected it to a new, fortified wallet. This experience taught me the importance of vigilance in the crypto space and the value of seeking help from experts when faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges. I learned that while the decentralized nature of cryptocurrency offers many advantages, it also comes with risks that require constant awareness and proactive measures. Contact service E m a i l: Trustgeekshackexpert[At]fastservice[Dot]com & w h a t's A p p. +1 7 1 9 4 9 2 2 6 9 3

15 Go to comments
G
GabrielArthur 4 hours ago
England rout Scotland to set up Women’s Six Nations Grand Slam decider

Last month, I faced a nightmare scenario when the entire balance of SOL I held in my MetaMask wallet was abruptly transferred to an unknown address. One moment, my funds were secure; the next, they’d vanished without a trace. I frantically reviewed my transaction history, double-checked permissions, and scanned my devices for malware, but found no obvious breach. Panic turned to despair as I realized my savings accumulated through years of cautious investing were gone. Desperate for answers, I contacted MetaMask support, only to be told that their team couldn’t reverse or trace decentralized transactions. They speculated that my wallet had been compromised, possibly via a phishing scam, a malicious dApp, or a leaked recovery phrase, but I couldn’t pinpoint where I’d gone wrong. Feeling helpless, I combed through Reddit threads and crypto forums, where I stumbled upon TRUST GEEKS HACK EXPERT Website https://trustgeekshackexpert.com/ , a service hailed for its success in reclaiming stolen assets. Though skeptical after all, everything I’d read suggested crypto theft was irreversible I decided to take a leap of faith and submitted my case details, including transaction IDs and wallet addresses. Their team responded within hours, outlining a meticulous plan to trace the stolen SOL across the blockchain and collaborate with exchanges to intercept the funds. Over the next week, TRUST GEEKS HACK EXPERT provided daily updates, revealing how the thief had funneled my SOL through a labyrinth of wallets to obscure its trail. Using advanced blockchain forensics, they identified patterns linking the movement of funds to a known exchange. By working with legal teams and platform security, they flagged the stolen crypto before it could be liquidated. Their expertise and determination were evident as they navigated the complexities of the blockchain, piecing together the puzzle of my stolen assets. Against all odds, their relentless efforts paid off: within 9 days, they recovered 100% of my stolen SOL and safely redirected it to a new, fortified wallet. This experience taught me the importance of vigilance in the crypto space and the value of seeking help from experts when faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges. I learned that while the decentralized nature of cryptocurrency offers many advantages, it also comes with risks that require constant awareness and proactive measures. Contact service E m a i l: Trustgeekshackexpert[At]fastservice[Dot]com & w h a t's A p p. +1 7 1 9 4 9 2 2 6 9 3

4 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ James O'Connor, the Lions and the great club v country conundrum James O'Connor, the Lions and the great club v country conundrum
Search