S18 PREVIEW: ROUND 12, PART ONE
There is no denying it is one of the most important rounds of the season.
With just three weeks to go to the June break and a log-jam of teams queuing up behind the pace-setting Crusaders, victories are becoming more vital with each passing round.
None more so than when the defending champion Highlanders, just five points behind the table-topping Crusaders, host the tournament's leading team.
This South Island derby, between the Highlanders and Crusaders, always have some additional spice.
Their respective positions on the standings mean Friday's encounter will have the hype and intensity of a Test match.
And the other Friday match, across the Tasman Sea in Australia, has the same storyline – the Rebels, two points behind, hosting the Aussie conference leaders, the Brumbies.
Strap yourself in, it is going to be a wild ride.
We look at the Friday, May 13, matches below!
The Highlanders showed last week – in beating the Chiefs in Hamilton – that they are not a spent force.
They may have gone through a bit of a slump, but they still have all the qualities that made them champions in 2015.
Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder admitted that this could be one of the toughest games of the season.
"There is nothing like a classic Southern Derby to bring out the best in both the Crusaders and the Highlanders," Blackadder said in an interview on stuff.co.nz.
"It is always a great game with an amazing atmosphere and with both teams playing well and hungry for the win there is sure to be plenty of passion on the field on Friday."
The Crusaders have won eight in a row and sit top of the table, but the Highlanders are in a confident frame of mind after last week's win.
Highlanders assistant coach Scott McLeod in an interview in the Otago Daily Times spoke of the "polished" look the Crusaders have, adding that defence will be key.
"They have got a roll-on," McLeod said, adding: "Their set piece is really humming and they are able to play the game at speed, stretch the opposition, and run teams around.
"They play an offloading game that gives everyone an opportunity.
"We just have to play our game, just getting to the level we want to.
"We are just after a good performance each week.
"I know it is cliche but that is what we are after. We just want to put on a good performance.''
Crusaders assistant coach Tabai Matson felt the key will be who produces the best "team effort", although individuals could produce the magical moments that can spark either side.
"It is going to be a tough match against the Highlanders, because in their win over the Chiefs in Hamilton [last week] they looked to be back to their abrasive best,"Matson told superrugby.co.nz.
"I think so many [elements] of what the Highlanders bring to the game absolutely pushes us.
"So for us it is going to be a massive challenge to contain parts of the game that are really hard to contain. And part of that will be the match-ups, the one on ones created on the edge," he said.
Recent results:
2015: Highlanders won 25-20, Christchurch
2015: Crusaders won 26-20, Dunedin
2014: Crusaders won 34-8, Christchurch
2014: Crusaders won 32-30, Dunedin
2013: Crusaders won 40-12, Dunedin
2013: Crusaders won 24-8, Christchurch
Prediction: The Crusaders have won six of the last seven meetings between the sides. However, the Highlanders won the most recent meeting between the two in Round Nine last season. The Crusaders have won seven of their last nine away to the Highlanders, including each of the last three. Only the Kings have had less possession than the Highlanders this season (13 minutes, 40 seconds) with the Dunedin side putting boot to ball more often than anyone else (27.8 times per game). The Crusaders have a first half points differential of +96 so far this season, the best of any side and more than twice as good as the Highlanders (+45). Jone Macilai-Tori was the leading metre maker in Round 11, notching up 121 metres over the gainline for the Crusaders. Tough to call, especially given the importance of the match. It is not a bad bet to go with the home team – the Highlanders by five points or less.
Teams:
Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith (captain), 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Matt Faddes, 12 Malakai Fekitoa, 11 Patrick Osborne, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Luke Whitelock, 7 Dan Pryor, 6 Elliot Dixon, 5 Joe Wheeler, 4 Alex Ainley, 3 Josh Hohneck, 2 Ash Dixon, 1 Daniel Lienert-Brown
Replacements: 16 Greg Pleasants-Tate, 17 Craig Millar, 18 Siosiua Halanukonuka, 19 Tom Franklin, 20 Liam Squire, 21 Fumiaki Tanaka, 22 Marty Banks, 23 Teihorangi Walden.
Crusaders: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Johnny McNicholl, 13 Kieron Fonotia, 12 David Havili, 11 Jone Macilai, 10 Richie Mo'unga, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Kieran Read (captain), 7 Matt Todd, 6 Jordan Taufua, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: 16 Ged Robinson, 17 Joe Moody, 18 Mike Alaalatoa, 19 Scott Barrett, 20 Tim Boys, 21 Mitchell Drummond, 22 Ryan Crotty, 23 Marty McKenzie.
Referee: Chris Pollock
Assistant referees: Jamie Nutbrown, Kane McBride
TMO: Aaron Paterson
The Rebels may have dropped off the top of the standings, but they are still well and truly in the play-off race.
It is a position that will give them additional motivation when they play host in a domestic derby that has produced a few upsets.
The Brumbies regained the lead in the Aussie conference with their win over the Bulls last week, but just two points separating the top three Australian sides.
"We'll be calling on all our experience on Friday against the Brumbies," Rebels coach Tony McGahan said.
"It's exciting for the franchise to still be in the conversation [play-off race] at this point of the season, but we're under no illusion about the importance of this game so we need to back ourselves and our abilities for this opportunity."
Coming off the bye, the Rebels will look to draw on their recent success against their fellow countrymen, having won each of their last three matches against Australian teams.
Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham felt, despite last week's win, his team still made far too many costly errors.
Speaking to the Canberra Times, Larkham said they must "push the boundaries in attack" to ensure they stay ahead of the chasing pack in the Aussie conference.
Tevita Kuridrani may well be the player to spark that "expansive" game Larkham is searching for.
"I think Tevita has started the season really well, but for a number of reasons the play just hasn't gone his way," Larkham said.
"He's made a couple of mistakes, but he's been very consistent this year and over the last couple of rounds we've seen him start to play his best football.
"He's starting to get his hands on the ball a little bit more and in the new attacking shape we've been playing we've had an adjustment in trying to find touches for Tevita.
"We're finding better ways to get him into the game. Defensively he's doing a superb job and connecting really well with the other backs around him."
Recent results:
2015: Rebels won 13-8, Canberra
2015: Brumbies won 20-15, Melbourne
2014: Brumbies won 37-10, Canberra
2014: Rebels won 32-24, Melbourne
2013: Brumbies won 39-17, Canberra
2013: Brumbies won 30-13, Melbourne
Prediction: The Rebels won the last meeting between these two sides and are aiming for back-to-back wins against the Brumbies for the first time in Super Rugby. However, the Brumbies have won seven of the 10 meetings between the two in Super Rugby, including three of the five clashes between the sides in Melbourne. The Brumbies have won their last three away to Australian sides, their best run away to opposition in their conference since winning four in a row across the 2012 and 2013 seasons. Joseph Tomane has made five more clean breaks than any other player this season (23), averaging 2.9 per game so far. The Rebels' goal kicking success rate sits at just 64% so far, the lowest of any side in the competition this season. The Brumbies will edge a real Aussie arm-wrestle – by eight points.
Teams:
Melbourne Rebels: 15 Mike Harris, 14 Sefa Naivalu, 13 Tamati Ellison, 12 Reece Hodge, 11 Cam Crawford, 10 Jack Debreczeni, 9 Nic Stirzaker (captain), 8 Adam Thomson, 7 Sean McMahon, 6 Colby Fainga'a, 5 Lopeti Timani, 4 Luke Jones, 3 Jamie Hagan, 2 James Hanson, 1 Toby Smith.
Replacements: 16 Pat Leafa, 17 Cruze Ah Nau, 18 Tim Metcher, 19 Sam Jeffries, 20 Jordy Reid, 21 Ben Meehan, 22 Tom English, 23 Kotaro Matsushima.
Brumbies: 15 Aidan Toua, 14 Nigel Ah Wong, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Robbie Coleman, 11 James Dargaville, 10 Christian Lealiifano (co-captain), 9 Tomás Cubelli, 8 Jarrad Butler, 7 David Pocock, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore (co-captain), 1 Scott Sio.
Replacements: 16 Josh Mann-Rea, 17 Allan Alaalatoa, 18 Ruan Smith, 19 Tom Staniforth, 20 Blake Enever, 21 Jordan Smiler, 22 Joe Powell, 23 Lausii Taliauli.
Referee: Rohan Hoffmann
Assistant referees: Will Houston, Michale Hogan
TMO: Ian Smith
Compiled by Jan de Koning
@King365ed
@rugby365com
* Statistical information provided by Opta Sports
