Super Rugby Pacific Round Nine - teams and predictions

PREVIEW: With Super Round just a week away, teams will be looking to impress in the final round of local derbies as we head into round nine.

The round starts with arguably the game of the season with the Crusaders taking on the Blues in Christchurch, with the winner establishing themselves as the favourite to win the competition.

This will be followed in Melbourne by the Rebels hosting the Reds.

The hosts are starting to build momentum after two straight wins whilst Brad Thorn’s men will welcome flyer Suliasi Vunivalu back for his first game of the season.

Saturday’s triple-header begins in Waikato as the Chiefs welcome Moana Pasifika to Hamilton.

Moana will be looking to bounce back after their thumping defeat to the Hurricanes whilst a win cements the hosts’ spot in the top eight

This is followed in Dunedin with the Highlanders taking on the Hurricanes, with Tony Brown’s men eager to build momentum after their first win of the season.

The round will end in Perth with the Western Force facing the Waratahs.

Both teams need a win if they wish to be playing finals football as the Waratahs welcome back captain Jake Gordon.

All the Round Nine teams and predictions are below …

Friday, April 15

Crusaders v Blues
(Addington Showgrounds, Christchurch – Kick-off: 19.05; 07.05 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Crusaders by five points

Teams

Crusaders: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Braydon Ennor, 12 David Havili, 11 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Bryn Hall, 8 Cullen Grace, 7 Tom Christie, 6 Ethan Blackadder, 5 Zach Gallagher, 4 Scott Barrett (captain), 3 Oli Jager, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Joe Moody.
Replacements: 16 Ricky Jackson, 17 George Bower, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Dominic Gardiner, 20 Pablo Matera, 21 Mitchell Drummond, 22 Fergus Burke, 23 George Bridge.

Blues: 15 Stephen Perofeta, 14 AJ Lam, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Bryce Heem, 11 Mark Telea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Finlay Christie, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Dalton Papalii (captain), 6 Tom Robinson, 5 Josh Goodhue, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Ofa Tuungafasi, 2 Kurt Eklund, 1 Alex Hodgman.
Replacements: 16 Ricky Riccitelli, 17 Jordan Lay, 18 Nepo Laulala, 19 James Tucker, 20 Adrian Choat, 21 Taufa Funaki, 22 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 23 Zarn Sullivan/Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepens.

Referee: Mike Fraser
Assistant referees: James Doleman, Mike Winter
TMO: Aaron Paterson

Rebels v Reds Reds
(AAMI Park, Melbourne – Kick-off: 19.45; 09.45 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Reds by 15 points

Teams

Rebels: 15 Reece Hodge, 14 George Worth, 13 Andrew Kellaway, 12 Stacey Ili, 11 Glen Vaihu, 10 Matt To’omua, 9 James Tuttle, 8 Tamati Ioane, 7 Richard Hardwick, 6 Michael Wells (captain), 5 Josh Hill, 4 Matt Philip, 3 Cabous Eloff, 2 James Hanson, 1 Matt Gibbon.
Replacements: 16 Efi Ma’afu, 17 Cameron Orr, 18 Rhys Van Nek, 19 Josh Canham, 20 Brad Wilkin, 21 Sam Wallis, 22 Joe Powell, 23 Carter Gordon.

Reds: 15 Jordan Petaia, 14 Suliasi Vunivalu, 13 Hunter Paisami, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 Filipo Daugunu, 10 James O’Connor, 9 Tate McDermott (captain), 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Connor Vest, 5 Angus Blyth, 4 Ryan Smith, 3 Zane Nonggorr, 2 Richie Asiata, 1 Feao Fotuaika.
Replacements: 16 Matt Faessler, 17 Harry Hoopert, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Lopeti Faifua, 20 Angus Scott-Young, 21 Kalani Thomas, 22 Josh Flook, 23 Lawson Creighton.

Referee: Damon Murphy
Assistant referees: Nic Berry, Amber McLachlan
TMO: Oli Kellett

Saturday, April 16

Chiefs v Moana Pasifika
(Waikato Stadium, Hamilton – Kick-off: 16.35; 04.35 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Chiefs by eight points

Teams

Chiefs: 15 Chase Tiatia, 14 Shaun Stevenson, 13 Alex Nankivell, 12 Rameka Poihipi, 11 Etene Nanai-Seturo, 10 Bryn Gatland, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Luke Jacobson (captain), 7 Kaylum Boshier, 6 Mitch Brown, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Josh Lord, 3 Angus Ta’avao, 2 Bradley Slater, 1 Ollie Norris.
Replacements: 16 Tyrone Thompson, 17 Aidan Ross, 18 George Dyer, 19 Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20 Samipeni Finau, 21 Brad Weber, 22 Rivez Reihana, 23 Jonah Lowe.

Moana Pasifika: 15 William Havili, 14 Timoci Tavatavanawai, 13 Solomone Kata, 12 Henry Taefu, 11 Anzelo Tuitavuki, 10 Lincoln McClutchie, 9 Ereatara Enari, 8 Sione Tu’ipulotu, 7 Niko Jones, 6 Michael Curry, 5 Mahonri Ngakuru, 4 Veikoso Poloniati, 3 Chris Apoua, 2 Ray Niuia, 1 Ezekiel Lindermuth.
Replacements: 16 Samiuela Moli, 17 Taukiha’amea Koloamatangi, 18 Suetena Asomua, 19 Alex McRobbie, 20 Josh Kaifa, 21 Jonathan Taumateine, 22 Fine Inisi, 23 Tomasi Alosio.

Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
Assistant referees: Dan Waenga, Stu Curran
TMO: Shane McDermott

Highlanders v Hurricanes
(Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin – Kick-off: 19.05; 07.05 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Hurricanes by five points

Teams

Highlanders: 15 Connor Garden Bachop, 14 Sam Gilbert, 13 Denny Solomona, 12 Thomas Umaga-Jensen, 11 Scott Gregory, 10 Marty Banks, 9 Aaron Smith (captain), 8 Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, 7 James Lentjes, 6 Gareth Evans, 5 Josh Dickson, 4 Bryn Evans, 3 Jermaine Ainsley, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Ethan De Groot.
Replacements: 16 Andrew Makalio, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Saula Mau, 19 Max Hicks, 20 Billy Harmon, 21 Folau Fakatava, 22 Mitch Hunt, 23 Fetuli Paea.

Hurricanes: 15 Josh Moorby, 14 Julian Savea, 13 Bailyn Sullivan, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Salesi Rayasi, 10 Jackson Garden-Bachop, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Ardie Savea (captain), 7 Blake Gibson, 6 Reed Prinsep, 5 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 4 James Blackwell, 3 Tevita Mafileo, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Pouri Rakete-Stones.
Replacements: 16 Kianu Kereru-Symes, 17 Xavier Numia, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Justin Sangster, 20 Caleb Delany, 21 Jamie Booth, 22 Aidan Morgan, 23 Peter Umaga-Jensen.

Referee: Angus Mabey
Assistant referees: Paul Williams, Mike Winter
TMO: Glenn Newman

Western Force v Waratahs
(HBF Park, Perth – Kick-off: 17.45)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Force by three points

Teams

Force: 15 Jake Strachan, 14 Toni Pulu, 13 Kyle Godwin, 12 Bayley Kuenzle, 11 Manasa Mataele, 10 Reesjan Pasitoa, 9 Ian Prior, 8 Brynard Stander, 7 Kane Koteka, 6 Fergus Lee-Warner, 5 Ryan McCauley, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Santiago Medrano, 2 Feleti Kaitu’u (captain), 1 Harrison Lloyd.
Replacements: 16 Andrew Ready, 17 Bo Abra, 18 Greg Holmes, 19 Jackson Pugh, 20 Ollie Callan, 21 Michael McDonald, 22 Jake McIntrye, 23 Richard Kahui.

Waratahs: 15 Alex Newsome, 14 Mark Nawaqanitawase, 13 Izaia Perese, 12 Lalakai Foketi, 11 Dylan Pietsch, 10 Tane Edmed, 9 Jake Gordon (captain), 8 Will Harris, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Charlie Gamble, 5 Hugh Sinclair, 4 Jed Holloway, 3 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 2 Dave Porecki, 1 Angus Bell.
Replacements: 16 Mahe Vailanu, 17 Tetera Faulkner, 18 Archer Holz, 19 Geoff Cridge, 20 Rahboni Warren-Yosayaco, 21 Jack Grant, 22 Will Harrison, 23 Jamie Roberts.

Referee: Angus Gardner
Assistant referees: Graham Cooper, Matt Kellahan
TMO: Kyle Burnett

Source: @SuperRugby