Super Rugby Pacific, Qualifying Finals - teams and predictions

SPOTLIGHT: The Super Rugby Pacific Finals Series is here, with just six teams remaining to battle it out for the 2026 title.

It starts in Wellington as the top-ranked Hurricanes take on the Brumbies at Hnry Stadium.

This is followed by the Crusaders hosting their rivals, the Blues, in Christchurch, out to keep their unbeaten run at One NZ Stadium going.

The first round of finals ends in Hamilton with the Chiefs battling the Queensland Reds in a rematch of the 2024 Qualifying Finals.

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In Wellington, the Brumbies, who finished sixth after 16 rounds of regular-season action, face the unenviable task of tackling the table-topping Hurricanes for their qualifying final.

The men from the Australian capital have had the upper hand over their sister city from across the ditch in recent playoffs, building a storied rivalry this decade. But while the Brumbies have won against four of the five Kiwi Super Rugby sides this season, the Canes are the one that got away, thanks to a 45-12 dismantling during Super Round.

Identifying the need for some adjustments, Larkham has moved Luke Reimer into the starting No.7 jersey ahead of usual starter Rory Scott, while Lachlan Lonergan takes fellow Wallaby Billy Pollard’s place as starting hooker.

Overall, there are 10 Wallabies in the starting XV for the Brumbies, due to do battle against eight All Blacks in the Hurricanes’ run-on team. The Brumbies also have the international edge on the bench.

The Hurricanes will welcome back their co-captains, Jordie Barrett and Du’Plessis Kirifi, for the showdown.

“It’s an exciting week. The boys are really looking forward to welcoming the Brumbies to Wellington for a Qualifying Final,” Hurricanes head coach Clark Laidlaw said.

“It’s great to have such a strong squad available at this time of the year, with most of the squad fit and available to select from.

“We’re welcoming back our captains, Dupes and Jordie, which gives us leadership in playoff rugby. With so much of our squad having shared experiences over the last few years of the knockout stages, it gives us real confidence around our preparation and how we play.

“We’ve got a huge amount of respect for the Brumbies. They’re a high-quality team that can always get to the playoffs, and we’ve got recent history in knockout games with them, so we understand the challenge that’s coming from them.

“We’ve played them under the roof in Christchurch during Super Round. I’m sure it’s going to be different conditions and a different game, but one we really can’t wait for on Friday night.”

The Blues head to Christchurch to take on the Crusaders without their most experienced player, Beauden Barrett, who remains sidelined with a quad injury.

The 25,000-seat arena selling out in just 20 minutes proved the appetite for the Blues-Crusaders rivalry is as strong as ever, and the visitors will have plenty of unwanted history to overcome against the reigning champions.

Head coach Vern Cotter said his side was excited by the opportunity of finals rugby.

“Finals rugby is where you find out a lot about yourselves as a group. We’ve worked hard to get here, and now it’s about embracing the challenge that comes with a high-stakes game,” he said.

“The Crusaders have consistently been one of the benchmark teams in this competition, and we know exactly what awaits us in Christchurch. The key is staying focused on our roles, bringing energy to the contest and backing the work we’ve put in throughout the season.”

Meanwhile, Saturday’s Super Rugby Pacific quarterfinal in Hamilton against the Chiefs will be captainFraser McReight’s 100th for the Reds.

Only two other flankers – former Wallabies captain David Wilson and tough-as-nails Test toiler David Croft – have achieved the feat for the Reds.

The milestone game shapes as one of the most defining for McReight, still just 27, and his men as they aim to end a run of four-straight quarter-final exits before coach Les Kiss departs for the Wallabies’ top job.

“Just to get one game, seven or eight years ago, was special … and what better week to have it than a quarter-final,” McReight said.

“All I care about is getting that win.”

History is against them, with New Zealand teams leading Australian teams 21-0 in finals games played across the Tasman.

And the Reds were blown off the park in their last two finals games – they trailed 27-0 against the Crusaders last year and 28-0 after just 24 minutes against the Chiefs in 2024.

“The past two years, we’ve sort of been dominated,” McReight said.

“Physically, they stepped it up. When we’ve played them in-season, it’s a close game. Maybe we were expecting that to happen again, and it definitely didn’t.

“Set piece, breakdown is huge.”

That’s where McReight, undeniably one of the world’s best disruptors at the breakdown, comes into it.

The flanker was left frustrated in a 31-21 loss to the Chiefs in Brisbane a month ago when the visitors outsmarted the Reds in that domain.

Captain and coach bit their tongues at the time, but Queensland Rugby Union lodged a “please explain” after a 12-5 penalty count went against them and multiple decisions raised eyebrows.

“They’re very good at that. The dark arts, so they say,” McReight said of the challenge to at least break even in the breakdown battle with the Chiefs.

“It’s a good question, I’ve been thinking about it a lot this week, and as a No.7, I dare say they’ll be targeting me in that area.

“We’ll have some words about how we can influence that, and not just our pilferers but about our clean outs, ball carry, depth of ball placement, to really take the referee out of it.”

The Reds won’t have the services of rampaging centre Hunter Paisami (knee), but are well served in the midfield with Josh Flook, Isaac Henry and Filipo Daugunu all impressive this season.

McReight said there was a desire to win a finals game before Kiss departs, but that there were bigger motivations at play.

“I don’t know who’s thinking of it in that light,” he said.

“We want to do it for the team, players, coaches, admin, fans, and family. People who love Queensland rugby know how important it is.

“There is a hoodoo, but it’s about stacking each day and … thinking too far ahead, you can get in tricky waters. You’ll start thinking about things that might not even happen and wear yourself out.”

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Friday, June 5 

Hurricanes v Brumbies
(Hnry Stadium, Wellington – Kick-off: 19.05; 17.05 AEST; 07.05 GMT)

Prediction:
Rugby365: Hurricanes by 10 points

Teams:

Hurricanes: 15 Callum Harkin, 14 Josh Moorby, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Kini Naholo, 10 Ruben Love, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Peter Lakai, 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 6 Brad Shields, 5 Warner Dearns, 4 Caleb Delany, 3 Pasilio Tosi, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Xavier Numia.
Replacements: 16 Raymond Tuputupu, 17 Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18 Tyrel Lomax, 19 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 20 Brayden Iose, 21 Ereatara Enari, 22 Jone Rova, 23 Ngane Punivai

Brumbies: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Andy Muirhead, 13 Hudson Creighton, 12 David Feliuai, 11 Corey Toole, 10 Declan Meredith, 9 Ryan Lonergan (captain), 8 Charlie Cale, 7 Luke Reimer, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Cadeyrn Neville, 4 Lachlan Shaw, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Lachlan Lonergan, 1 James Slipper.
Replacements: 16 Billy Pollard, 17 Blake Schoupp, 18 Rhys van Nek, 19 Nick Frost, 20 Rory Scott, 21 Klayton Thorn, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Ollie Sapsford

Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
Assistant Referees: Todd Petries, Warwick Lahmert
TMO: Richard Kelly

Saturday, June 6

Crusaders v Blues
(One NZ Stadium, Christchurch – Kick-off: 16.35; 04.35 GMT)

Prediction:
Rugby365: Crusaders by 7 points

Teams:

Crusaders: 15 Johnny McNicholl, 14 Chay Fihaki, 13 Dallas McLeod, 12 David Havili (captain), 11 Sevu Reece, 10 Taha Kemara, 9 Noah Hotham, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 6 Ethan Blackadder, 5 Jamie Hannah, 4 Antonio Shalfoon, 3 George Bower, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Finlay Brewis.
Replacements: 16 Manumaua Leitu, 17 Jack Sexton, 18 Gus Brown, 19 Tahlor Cahill, 20 Dom Gardiner, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Rivez Reihana, 23 Braydon Ennor

Blues: 15 Zarn Sullivan, 14 AJ Lam, 13 Xavi Taele, 12 Pita Ahki, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Stephen Perofeta, 9 Sam Nock, 8 Malachi Wrampling, 7 Anton Segner, 6 Torian Barnes, 5 Sam Darry, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu, 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Bradley Slater, 1 Ofa Tu’ungafasi,.
Replacements: 16 Eli Oudenryn, 17 Mason Tupaea, 18 Flyn Yates, 19 Josh Beehre, 20 Hoskins Sotutu, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Corey Evans, 23 Payton Spencer

Referee: Nic Berry
Assistant Referees: Reuben Keane, Louis Trisley
TMO: Brett Cronan

Chiefs v Reds
(FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton – Kick-off: 19.05; 17.05 AEST; 09.35 GMT)

Prediction:
Rugby365: Chiefs by 10 points

Teams:

Chiefs: 15 Isaac Hutchinson, 14 Liam Coombes-Fabling, 13 Kyle Brown, 12 Quinn Tupaea, 11 Kyren Taumoefolau, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Luke Jacobson, 6 Simon Parker, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Josh Lord, 3 Sione Ahio, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 Ollie Norris.
Replacement: 16 Brodie McAlister, 17 Jared Proffit, 18 George Dyer, 19 Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20 Samipeni Finau, 21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22 Josh Jacomb, 23 Leroy Carter

Reds: 15 Jock Campbell, 14 Lachie Anderson, 13 Josh Flook, 12 Filipo Daugunu, 11 Tim Ryan, 10 Carter Gordon, 9 Tate McDermott, 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Fraser McReight (captain), 6 Joe Brial, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Josh Canham, 3 Zane Nonggorr, 2 Josh Nasser, 1 Aidan Ross.
Replacements: 16 Matt Faessler, 17 George Blake, 18 Massimo De Lutiis, 19 Hamish Muller, 20 Vaiuta Latu, 21 Kalani Thomas, 22 Ben Volavola, 23 Treyvon Pritchard

Referee: James Doleman
Assistant Referees: Marcus Playle, Fraser Hannon
TMO: Glenn Newman