Super Rugby AU, Round Three - teams and predictions

Western Force coach Tim Sampson says his players are still filthy over their first-round flop and want to make amends when they take on the struggling NSW Waratahs in Sydney on Friday.

The Force were thumped 27-11 by the Brumbies in Perth in Round One, adding further pain to a side that failed to win a single game in last year’s Super Rugby AU competition.

Force players stewed over the Brumbies loss during last week’s bye and they’re desperate to make amends when they front up against the Waratahs in Sydney.

“The guys are hungry, I can see it,” Sampson said.

“It’s been a nice build over each session. We were filthy with that result last game out and I think there is still a bit of fire in the belly from that performance.

“The players are desperate for a win. It’s been a long time since we won a game. I think you’re going to see two teams going hard at it tomorrow [Friday]  and show a lot of desperation to get the W.”

The Waratahs are arguably even more desperate for the win given their horror start to the season.

NSW was thumped 41-7 by the Reds in Round One, before being pummelled 61-10 by the Brumbies last week.

Sampson says his team need to be on guard for a fierce backlash.

“The Waratahs will be firing on all cylinders. They’ll start with a lot of energy,” Sampson said.

“When you suffer losses like that you work harder on your craft.

“They’ll be on point this week. They would have worked on their set-piece this week, no doubt.

“We’ve got to assert some dominance there up front and we’re going to go at them through the forwards.”

Force skipper Ian Prior has been relegated to the bench in order to give Argentinean international Tomas Cubelli a starting role.

Prior was pragmatic about the demotion.

“We were disappointed with how we played against the Brumbies and a few of us didn’t have our best game out there,” Prior said.

“There’s plenty of competition for spots and that’s represented in the selections made.”

No.8 Brynard Stander will captain the side on Friday.

(Continue below …)

Round Three teams and predictions!

Friday, March 5

NSW Waratahs v Western Force
(Western Sydney Stadium, Parramatta – Kick-off: 19.45; 08,45 GMT)

The NSW Waratahs have won four of their last five Super Rugby games against the Western Force, despite leading at half-time on the day only twice in that span.

The Western Force have lost their last nine Super Rugby games in succession; a 10th consecutive defeat in this match would equal their longest losing run in the competition (Lost 10, February to May in 2015).

Nine of the NSW Waratahs’ last 11 Super Rugby home games have been won by the team to score the first try on the day; the Waratahs have won four times in that stretch.

The Western Force have missed the fewest tackles (25) of any team in Super Rugby AU this season.

The NSW Waratahs have missed more tackles than any other side (45).

Feleti Kaitu’u (Western Force) has made 16/16 line-out throws in Super Rugby AU this season. Only the Brumbies’ Connal McInerney (17/17) has made more without missing a single throw.

Head to head

Prediction

@rugby365com: Waratahs by eight points

Teams

Waratahs: 15 Mark Nawaqanitawase, 14 Jack Maddocks, 13 Alex Newsome (captain), 12 Tepai Moeroa, 11 James Ramm, 10 Will Harrison, 9 Jack Grant, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Lachlan Swinton, 5 Hugh Sinclair, 4 Sam Caird, 3 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 2 David Porecki, 1 Te Tera Faulkner.
Replacements: 16 Tom Horton, 17 Sio Tatola, 18 Chris Talakai, 19 Jack Whetton, 20 Jeremy Williams, 21 Henry Robertson, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Triston Reilly.

Western Force: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Byron Ralston, 13 Tevita Kuridrani. 12 Richard Kahui, 11 Toni Pulu, 10 Jake McIntyre, 9 Tomas Cubelli, 8 Brynard Stander (captain), 7 Kane Koteka, 6 Tom Anstee, 5 Fergus Lee-Warner, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Santiago Medrano, 2 Feleti Kaitu’u, 1 Tom Robertson.
Replacements: 16 Andrew Ready, 17 Angus Wagner, 18 Greg Holmes, 19 Ryan McCauley, 20 Tomas Lezana, 21 Ian Prior, 22 Domingo Miotti, 23 Marcel Brache.

Referee: Nic Berry
Assistant referees: Amy Perrett & Jordan Way
TMO: Brett Cronan

Saturday, March 6

Brumbies v Melbourne Rebels
(Bruce Stadium, Canberra – Kick-off: 19.45; 08.45 GMT)

The Rebels have won five of their last seven Super Rugby games against the Brumbies; although, they did lose on their most recent visit to Canberra (31-23, July 2020).

The Brumbies have won 17 of their last 18 Super Rugby home games, including their last seven on the bounce.

The Rebels have gone on to win nine of their last 10 Super Rugby games when they have scored the first try of the match on the day, including their last six in succession.

The Brumbies have won 16 turnovers in Super Rugby AU this season, the most by any team and double the amount of the Rebels (eight).

Brumbies’ duo Mackenzie Hansen (166) and Tom Banks (161) have gained the most and second most metres respectively by any player in Super Rugby AU this season.

Head to head

Prediction

@rugby365com: Brumbies by 18

Teams

Brumbies: 15 Tom Banks, 14 Andy Muirhead, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Irae Simone, 11 Mack Hansen, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Nic White, 8 Pete Samu, 7 Jahrome Brown, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Cadeyrn Neville, 4 Darcy Swain, 3 Allan Alaalatoa (captain), 2 Connal McInerney, 1 Scott Sio.
Replacements: 16 Lachlan Lonergan, 17 Harry Lloyd, 18 Tom Ross, 19 James Tucker, 20 Tom Cusack, 21 Ryan Lonergan, 22 Reesjan Pasitoa, 23 Solomone Kata.

Melbourne Rebels: 15 Tom Pincus, 14 Lachlan Anderson, 13 Stacey Ili, 12 Reece Hodge, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Matt To’omua (captain), 9 Joe Powell, 8 Michael Wells, 7 Richard Hardwick, 6 Joshua Kemeny, 5 Trevor Hosea, 4 Ross Haylett-Petty, 3 Pone Faamausili, 2 James Hanson, 1 Cabous Eloff.
Replacements: 16 Ed Craig, 17 Isaac Aedo Kailea, 18 Lucio Sordoni, 19 Steve Cummins, 20 Robert Leota, 21 James Tuttle/Brad Wilkin/Tom Nowlan, 22 Frank Lomani, 23 Glen Vaihu.

Referee: Damon Murphy
Assistant referees: Jordan Way & Nic Berry
TMO: Brett Cronan

Bye: Queensland Reds

* Statistical information provided by Stats Perform