Super Rugby Pacific, Round 12 - teams and predictions

PREVIEW: The action begins on Friday as the Blues host the Western Force in Auckland, both sides needing victory to keep in touch with the top six.

On Saturday, the Fijian Drua welcome the Queensland Reds to Suva while the Hurricanes and Chiefs battle it out in Wellington.

The Brumbies hunt for revenge against the NSW Waratahs in Canberra, with the Highlanders and Moana Pasifika facing off on Sunday.

The Crusaders have the bye.

Kurtley Beale will start at fullback for the Western Force in the 36-year-old’s injury comeback as the Perth squad plots an Auckland upset.

The 95-Test Wallabies talent was on the cusp of an international recall when he hurt his achilles playing club rugby in Sydney last June.

Ahead of the British and Irish Lions tour, he’ll put himself back on the radar for what would be a remarkable Test return when the Force look to hold on to a top-six spot against the battling Blues at Eden Park on Friday.

The Blues (17 points), last year’s runaway Super Rugby Pacific champions, are ninth with a 3-7 record.

But they would draw level on points with the Force (4-1-5) with a bonus-point win in round 12 at their traditional fortress.

Force skipper Jeremy Williams is also back at lock, while cagey scrumhalf Nic White will come off the bench after missing last week’s loss to the Chiefs with concussion.

The Waratahs, sitting in seventh place, have also reloaded for their clutch contest against the Brumbies.

Captain and scrumhalf Jake Gordon will start in his comeback from a knee injury suffered in round two.

Props Angus Bell and Taniela Tupou, as well as flanker Rob Leota are back from an enforced rest, while Langi Gleeson will wear the No.8.

The Waratahs can do their own finals hopes wonders, and strike a blow to the Brumbies’ chances of a top-four finish, with a victory in Canberra on Saturday.

“It’s a big boost for the group to get our captain and leader back, especially in a big game like this,” Waratahs coach Dan McKellar said.

“They [Tupou, Bell and Leota] have freshened up and they’ve been bouncing around the building this week. “They’re keen and excited to get back on the field and contribute.”

Rory Scott swaps in for Luke Reimer at flanker in the Brumbies’ only change to the starting side that was upset by the Hurricanes.

The Reds will attempt to strike the right balance in Suva, with key trio Tom Lynagh, Josh Canham and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto all named on the bench to face the Fijian Drua.

Harry McLaughlin-Phillips will start in the No.10 instead of Lynagh, while Ryan Smith and Angus Blyth will be the starting locks.

George Blake, injured when coming on at hooker last weekend, joined Josh Nasser and Matt Faessler on the sidelines to offer Max Craig a potential Super Rugby debut off the bench.

The Reds are fourth and have away games against the Drua, Waratahs and Brumbies in coming weeks.

See below for Round 11’s teams and predictions!

Friday, May 2

Blues v Western Force
(Eden Park, Auckland – Kick-off: 19.05; 17.05 AEST; 07.05 GMT)

Prediction
@rugby365com: Blues by five points.

Teams: 

Blues: 15 Stephen Perofeta, 14 Cole Forbes, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Xavi Taele, 11 AJ Lam, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Taufa Funaki, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Dalton Papali’i, 6 Anton Segner, 5 Lachlan McWhannell, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (captain), 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Joshua Fusitu’a.
Replacements: 16 Kurt Eklund, 17 Mason Tupaea, 18 Angus Ta’avao, 19 Josh Beehre, 20 Cam Christie, 21 Adrian Choat, 22 Sam Nock, 23 Corey Evans

Western Force: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Harry Potter, 13 Bayley Kuenzle, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 Mac Grealy, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Henry Robertson, 8 Reed Prinsep, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 5 Darcy Swain, 4 Jeremy Williams (captain), 3 Tom Robertson, 2 Nic Dolly, 1 Ryan Coxon
Replacements: 16 Albert Alcock, 17 Atu Moli, 18 Josh Smith, 19 Josh Thompson, 20 Will Harris, 21 Nic White, 22 Max Burey, 23 George Poolman

Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
Assistant Referees: Stu Curran, Jackson Henshaw
TMO: Richard Kelly

Saturday, May 3

Fijian Drua v Queensland Reds
(Suva Stadium, Suva – Kick-off: 14.05; 12.05 AEST; 02.05 GMT)

Prediction
@rugby365com: Reds by 10 points.

Teams:

Fiji Drua: 15 Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 14 Selestino Ravutaumada, 13 Vuate Karawalevu, 12 Inia Tabuavou, 11 Taniela Rakuro,, 10 Kemu Valetini, 9 Simione Kuruvoli, 8 Kitione Salawa, 7 Isoa Tuwai, 6 Etonia Waqa, 5 Isoa Nasilasila, 4 Mesake Vocevoce, 3 Mesake Doge (captain), 2 Zuriel Togiatama, 1 Peni Ravai.
Replacements: 16 Tevita Ikanivere, 17 Haereiti Hetet, 18 Samuela Tawake, 19 Leone Rotuisolia, 20 Joseva Tamani, 21 Elia Canakiavata, 22 Philip Baselala, 23 Isikeli Rabitu

Queensland Reds: 15 Jock Campbell, 14 Lachie Anderson, 13 Dre Pakeho, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Tim Ryan, 10 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 9 Tate McDermott (captain), 8 Joe Brial, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Seru Uru, 5 Angus Blyth, 4 Ryan Smith, 3 Zane Nonggorr, 2 Richie Asiata, 1 Sef Fa’agase.
Replacements: 16 Max Craig, 17 Alex Hodgman, 18 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 19 Josh Canham, 20 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 21 Kalani Thomas, 22 Tom Lynagh,23 Heremaia Murray

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

Hurricanes v Chiefs
(Wellington Stadium, Wellington – Kick-off: 19.05; 07.35 GMT)

Prediction
@rugby365com: Chiefs by five points.

Teams

Hurricanes: 15 Callum Harkin, 14 Ngane Punivai, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Riley Higgins, 11 Kini Nanolo, 10 Ruben Love, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Peter Lakai, 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi (co-captain), 6 Brayden Iose,, 5 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 4 Caleb Delany, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Tevita Mafileo
Replacements: 16 Raymond Tuputupu, 17 Xavier Numia, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Zach Gallagher, 20 Brad Shields, 21 Ereatara Enari, 22 Riley Hohepa, 23 Bailyn Sullivan

Chiefs: 15 Shaun Stevenson, 14 Emoni Narawa, 13 Daniel Rona, 12 Quinn Tupaea, 11 Leroy Carter, 10 Josh Jacomb, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Luke Jacobson (captain), 7 Kalyum Boshier,, 6 Samipeni Finau, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Josh Lord, 3 George Dyer, 2 Bradley Slater, 1 Ollie Norris.
Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Aidan Ross, 18 Reuben O’Neill, 19 Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20 Simon Parker, 21 Wallace Sititi, 22 Xavier Roe, 23 Gideon Wrampling

Referee: Nic Berry
Assistant Referees: Damon Murphy, Jordan Way
TMO: Brett Cronan

Brumbies v NSW Waratahs
(Canberra Stadium, Canberra – Kick-off: 19.35; 09.35 GMT)

Prediction
@rugby365com: Brumbies by 15 points.

Teams:

Brumbies: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Andy Muirhead, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 David Feliuai, 11 Corey Toole, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Ryan Lonergan, 8 Tuanina Taii Tualima, 7 Luke Reimer, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Tom Hooper, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Allan Alaalatoa (captain), 2 Billy Pollard, 1 James Slipper.
Replacements: 16 Lachlan Lonergan, 17 Rhys van Nek, 18 Feao Fotuaika, 19 Lachlan Shaw, 20 Rory Scott, 21 Harrison Goddard, 22 Declan Meredith, 23 Ollie Sapsford.

Waratahs: 15 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Lalakai Foketi, 12 Joey Walton, 11 Triston Reilly, 10 Lawson Creighton, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Langi Gleeson, 7 Jamie Adamson, 6 Rob Leota, 5 Ben Grant, 4 Hugh Sinclair, 3 Daniel Botha, 2 Ethan Dobbins, 1 Angus Bell.
Replacements: 16 Mahe Vailanu, 17 Tom Lambert, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Miles Amatosero, 20 Leafi Talataina, 21 Teddy Wilson, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Henry O’Donnell

Referee: Angus Gardner
Assistant Referees: Matt Kellahan, Graham Cooper
TMO: James Leckie

Sunday, May 4

Highlanders v Moana Pasifika
(Dunedin Stadium, Dunedin – Kick-off: 15.35; 03.35 GMT)

Prediction
@rugby365com: Moana Pasifika by three points.

Teams:

Highlanders: 15 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, 14 Sam Gilbert, 13 Thomas Umaga-Jensen, 12 Timoci Tavatavanawai, 11 Jonah Lowe, 10 Cameron Millar, 9 Nathan Hastie, 8 Hugh Renton, 7 Sean Withy, 6 Te Kamaka Howden, 5 Oliver Haig, 4 Fabian Holland, 3 Saula Ma’u, 2 Soane Vikena, 1 Ethan de Groot.
Replacements: 16 Jack Taylor, 17 Josh Bartlett, 18 Rohan Winghan, 19 Mitch Dunshea, 20 Veveni Lasaqa, 21 Folau Fakatava, 22 Taine Robinson, 23 Josh Whaanga

Moana Pasifika: 15 William Havili, 14 Tevita Ofa, 13 Lalomilo Lalamilo, , 12 Danny Toala, 11 Kyren Taumoefolau, 10 Jackson Garden-Bachop, 9 Jonathan Taumateine, 8 Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa, 7 Ardie Savea (captain), 6 Miracle Faiilagi, 5 Samuel Slade, 4 Tom Savage, 3 Chris Apoua, 2 Millennium Sanerivi, 1 Tito Tuipulotu.
Replacements: 16 Tomasi Maka, 17 Monu Moli, 18 Pone Fa’amausili, 19 Ofa Tauatevalu, 20 Sione Havili Talitui, 21 Melani Matavao, 22 Julian Savea, 23 Patrick Pellegrini.

Referee: Paul Williams
Assistant Referees: Angus Mabey, Mike Winter
TMO: Richard Kelly

Source: AAP