Round 3 kicks off in Wellington and continues with the undefeated Rebels and Crusaders hosting the next two games, against the Brumbies and the Chiefs respectively, before the big traditional Australian derby featuring the Waratahs and the Reds. But the best might just be coming last with the Bulls hosting the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld to round out the weekend.
(Note: All times are Australian Eastern Daylight Time)
Friday, March 8
Hurricanes vs. Highlanders, Westpac Stadium, Wellington, 5.35 p.m.
Hurricanes: Chase Tiatia, Jordie Barrett, Matt Proctor, Ngani Laumape, Ben Lam, Beauden Barrett, T.J. Perenara; Ardie Savea, Du'Plessis Kirifi, Vaea Fifita, Liam Mitchell, James Blackwell, Jeff To'omaga-Allen, Dane Coles (captain), Chris Eves. Replacements: Asafo Aumua, Fraser Armstrong, Ben May, Isaia Walker-Leawere / Andries Ferreira, Reed Prinsep, Richard Judd, Jackson Garden-Bachop, Vince Aso.
Highlanders: Ben Smith (co-captain), Richard Buckman, Sio Tomkinson, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Tevita Li, Josh Ioane, Aaron Smith, Luke Whitelock (co-captain), James Lentjes, Jackson Hemopo, Pari Pari Parkinson, Josh Dickson, Tyrel Lomax, Liam Coltman, Ayden Johnstone. Replacements: Ash Dixon, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Josh Iosefa-Scott, Tom Franklin, Elliot Dixon, Kayne Hammington, Marty Banks, Waisake Naholo.
Rebels vs. Brumbies, AAMI Park, Melbourne, 7.45 p.m.
Rebels: Dane Haylett-Petty, Jack Maddocks, Tom English, Billy Meakes, Marika Koroibete, Quade Cooper, Will Genia, Isi Naisarani, Brad Wilkin, Rob Leota, Matt Philip, Adam Coleman, Sam Talakai, Robbie Abel, Matt Gibbon. Replacements: Anaru Rangi, Tetera Faulkner, Jermaine Ainsley, Luke Jones, Ross Haylett-Petty, Richard Hardwick, Michael Ruru, Reece Hodge..
Brumbies: Tom Banks, Henry Speight, Tevita Kuridrani, Tom Wright, Andy Muirhead, Christian Leali'ifano (captain), Joe Powell, Tom Cusack, David Pocock, Rob Valetini, Sam Carter, Rory Arnold, Allan Alaalatoa, Folau Faingaa, Scott Sio. Replacements: Josh Mann-Rea, James Slipper, Les Leuluaialii-Makin, Murray Douglas, Pete Samu, Ryan Lonergan, Wharenui Hawera, Chance Peni.
Saturday, March 9
Crusaders vs. Chiefs, Christchurch Stadium, Christchurch, 3.15 p.m.
Crusaders: Will Jordan, Sevu Reece, Jack Goodhue, Ryan Crotty (captain), Braydon Ennor, Richie Mo'unga, Ereatara Enari, Whetukamokamo Douglas, Billy Harmon, Jordan Taufua, Scott Barrett, Mitchell Dunshea, Michael Alaalatoa, Andrew Makalio, Joe Moody Replacements: Codie Taylor, Harry Allan, George Bower, Luke Romano, Ethan Blackadder, Bryn Hall, Brett Cameron, David Havili
Chiefs: Solomon Alaimalo, Sean Wainui, Tumua Manu, Anton Lienert-Brown, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Damian McKenzie, Brad Weber, Taleni Seu, Lachlan Boshier, Mitchell Brown, Tyler Ardron, Brodie Retallick, Nepo Laulala, Nathan Harris, Aidan Ross Replacements: Samisoni Taukei'aho, Tevita Mafileo, Angus Ta'avao, Jesse Parete, Mitchell Karpik, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Jack Debreczeni, Alex Nankivell.
Blues vs. Sunwolves, North Harbour Stadium, Albany 5.35 p.m.
Blues: Melani Nanai, Tanielu Tele'a, T.J. Faiane, Sonny Bill Williams (captain), Rieko Ioane, Harry Plummer, Augustine Pulu; Akira Ioane, Blake Gibson, Tom Robinson, Josh Goodhue, Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, Sione Mafileo, James Parsons, Karl Tu'inukuafe. Replacements: Matt Moulds, Marcel Renata, Lua Li, Scott Scrafton, Dalton Papalii, Sam Nock, Otere Black, Levi Aumua.
Sunwolves: Semisi Masirewa, Gerhard van den Heever, Jason Emery, Michael Little (captain), Jamie Henry, Rikiya Matsuda, 9 Jamie Booth, 8 Rahboni Warren Vosayaco, Shuhei Matsuhashi, Hendrik Tui, James Moore, Tom Rowe, Hiroshi Yamashita, Atsushi Sakate, Pauliasi Manu. Replacements: Nathan Vella, Alex Woonton, Asaeli Ai Valu, Uwe Helu, Dan Pryor, Keisuke Uchida, Hayden Parker, Phil Burleigh.
Waratahs vs. Red, Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney, 7:45 p.m.
Waratahs: Kurtley Beale, Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Karmichael Hunt, Curtis Rona, Bernard Foley, Jake Gordon, Jack Dempsey, Micahel Hooper, Ned hanigan, Rob Simmons, Jed Holloway, Sekope Kepu, Damian Fitzpatrick, Harry Johnson-Holmes. Replacements: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Rory O'Connor, Chris Talakai, Lachlan Swinton, Will Miller, Mitch Short, Mack Mason, Alex Newsome.
Reds: Isaac Lucas, Chris Feauai-Sautia, Samu Kerevi, Duncan Paia'aua, Sefa Naivalu, Bruce Hegarty, Moses Sorovi, Scott Higginbotham, Liam Wright, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Harry Hockings, Izack Rodda, Taniela Tupou, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, JP Smith. Replacements: Alex Mafi, Harry Hoopert, Ruan Smith, Caleb Timu, Angus Scott-Young, Tate McDermott, Hamish Stewart, Jack Hardy.
Sunday, March 10
Lions vs. Jaguares, Emirates Airline Stadium, Johannesburg, 12.05 a.m.
Lions: Andries Coetzee; Sylvian Mahuza, Wandisile Simelane, Franco Naude, Courtnall Skosan; Elton Jantjies, Ross Cronje; Kwagga Smith, Vincent Tshituka, Marnus Schoeman, Rhyno Herbst, Ruan Vermaak, Carlu Sadie, Malcom Marx, Dylan Smith. Replacements: Pieter Jansen, Nathan McBeth, Frans van Wyk, Stephan Lewies, James Venter, Dillon Smit, Harold Vorster, Gianni Lombard/Tyrone Green
Jaguares: Joaquin Tuculet (captain), Sebastian Cancelliere, Matias Moroni, Bautista Ezcurra, Emiliano Boffelli, Joaquin Diaz Bonilla, Martin Landajo, Rodrigo Bruni, Marcos Kremer, Juan Manuel Leguizamon, Matias Alemanno, Guido Petti, Enrique Pieretto, Julian Montoya, Juan Pabloa Zeiss Replacements: Gaspar Baldunciel, Santiago Garcia Botta, Santiago Medrano, Tomas Lavanini, Tomas Cubelli, Juan Cruz Mallia, Matias, Orlando
Bulls vs. Sharks Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria, 2:05 a.m.
Bulls: Warrick Gelant, Cornal Hendricks, Jesse Kriel, Dylan Sage, Rosko Specman, Handré Pollard (captain), Ivan van Zyl, Duane Vermeulen, Tim Agaba, Jannes Kirsten, Jason Jenkins, Hanro Liebenberg, Trevor Nyakane, Schalk Brits, Lizo Gqoboka. Replacements: Corniel Els, Simphiwe Matanzima, Dayan van der Westhuizen, Tembelani Bholi, Paul Schoeman, Embrose Papier, Manie Libbok, Divan Rossouw.
Sharks: Rhyno Smith, Sb'u Nkosi, Lukhanyo Am, Jeremy Ward, Makazole Mapimpi, Rob du Preez, Louis Schreuder (captain), Dan du Preez, Jacques Vermeulen, Wian Vosloo, Hyron Andrews, Gideon Koegelenberg, Coenie Oosthuizen, Akker van Merwe, Tendai Mtawarira. Replacements: Fezokhule Mbatha, Juan Schoeman, Thomas du Toit, Ruben van Heerden, Phendulani Buthelezi, Grant Williams, André Esterhuizen, Curwin Bosch.
Bye: Stormers