Super Rugby Pacific, Round 15 - teams and predictions
PREVIEW: Super Rugby Pacific heads into the final fortnight of the regular season, with the eight teams playing this weekend having confirmed their line-ups.
Both the Crusaders and Chiefs will be focused on claiming top spot, as they face the Highlanders and Moana Pasifika, respectively.
On Friday, the Reds will look to cement their top four position against the red-hot Hurricanes in Brisbane.
Meanwhile, finals have come early for the Western Force and Waratahs in Perth, with the winning side keeping their play-off hopes alive.
The Brumbies, Blues and Moana Pasifika have a bye this weekend.
Wallaby skipper and Reds star Harry Wilson has vowed to charge hard in his return from injury in a crucial Round 15 clash with the Hurricanes.
The Reds (fourth, 32 points) have missed their rampaging back row forward, recorded two wins and three defeats in five tight games without him to slowly slide from top spot.
Wilson’s 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season was ended prematurely by an arm fracture that required surgery, the No.8 then surging back into the Test frame and assuming the captaincy.
The incumbent Test skipper will return on Friday from a smaller fracture in the same arm, suffered in a collision with a tackler’s head in early April.
Victory at Brisbane Stadium against the Hurricanes (fifth, 30 points) would all but secure fourth place for the Reds, who finish their regular season at home against Fijian Drua.
The top three sides will begin the finals campaigns at home under the new six-team finals format that allows the highest-placed, first-week loser passage to the semifinals.
Wilson is keen to hit the ground running and promised not to shirk a trademark hit-up if the opportunity presents.
“I’ve got to use my shoulder a bit more, but definitely, it’s part of my job, I’ve got to do that,” he said.
“I’ve got so much confidence from the rehab I’ve done and the amount of work behind the scenes to make sure it [a fracture] won’t happen again.
“The boys in my positions have been playing really good footy, so I can’t expect to come in and take a week or two to warm up.
“We want to go deep in the finals.
“We’ve showed we can beat them [the top teams], but we need to ice those big moments, and it’s an opportunity to do that this week.”
The British and Irish Lions are weeks away from arriving in Australia, but Wilson has kept his mind from wandering too far.
“It’s tough, I’ve been out injured and all I’ve been worried about is coming back and playing and performing for the Reds,” he said.
“Seeing the Lions squad announced, you know it’s just there and you want to be a part of that.
“But I want to play another five games for the Reds this season, I want to be part of something special.”
Tom Lynagh [concussion] will return in the No.10, while emerging prop Trevor King could debut off the bench.
* This week’s teams and predictions follow below …
Friday, May 23
Crusaders v Highlanders
(Rugby League Park, Christchurch – Kick-off: 19.05; 07.05 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Crusaders by 18 points
Teams
CRUSADERS: 15 Johnny McNicholl, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Braydon Ennor, 12 David Havili (captain), 11 Macca Springer, 10 Rivez Reihana, 9 Mitch Drummond, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Tom Christie, 6 Cullen Grace, 5 Jamie Hannah, 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Kershawl Skyes-Martih, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 George Bower.
Replacements: 16 George Bell, 17 Lewis Ponini, 18 Seb Calder, 19 Quinten Strange, 20 Corey Kellow, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 James O’Connor, 23 Dallas McLeod.
HIGHLANDERS: 15 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, 14 Jonah Lowe, 13 Tanielu Tele’a, 12 Timoci Tavatavanawai (co-captain), 11 Taniela Filimone, 10 Taine Robinson, 9 Folau Fakatava, 8 Sean Withy, 7 Veveni Lasaqa, 6 Te Kamaka Howden, 5 Fabian Holland, 4 Mitch Dunshea, 3 Saula Ma’u, 2 Jack Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot (co-captain).
Replacements: 16 Soane Vikena, 17 Josh Bartlett, 18 Sosefo Kautai, 19 Tai Cribb, 20 Will Stodart, 21 Adam Lennox, 22 Cameron Millar, 23 Thomas Umaga-Jensen.
Referee: Todd Petrie
Assistant referees: Ben O’Keeffe, Jackson Henshaw
TMO: Richard Kelly
Reds v Hurricanes
(Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane – Kick-off: 19.35;09.35 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Reds by five points
Teams
REDS: 15 Jock Campbell, 14 Lachie Anderson, 13 Dre Paheko, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Filipo Daugunu, 10 Tom Lynagh, 9 Tate McDermott (captain), 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Joe Brial, 5 Ryan Smith, 4 Josh Canham, 3 Zane Nonggorr, 2 Richie Asiata, 1 Sef Fa’agase.
Replacements: 16 Josh Nasser, 17 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 18 Trevor King, 19 Angus Blyth, 20 John Bryant, 21 Kalani Thomas, 22 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 23 Tim Ryan.
HURRICANES: 15 Callum Harkin, 14 Daniel Sinkinson, 13 Billy Proctor (co-captain), 12 Peter Umaga-Jensen, 11 Fatafehi Fineanganofo, 10 Ruben Love, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Peter Lakai, 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi (co-captain), 6 Brad Shields (co-captain), 5 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 4 Zach Gallagher, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Asafo Aumua (co-captain),1 Xavier Numia.
Replacements: 16 Raymond Tuputupu, 17 Tevita Mafileo, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Hugo Plummer, 20 Devan Flanders, 21 Ereatara Enari, 22 Brett Cameron, 23 Bailyn Sullivan.
Referee: Paul Williams
Assistant referees: Angus Mabey, Mike Winter
TMO: Brett Cronan
Saturday, May 24
Chiefs v Moana Pasifika
(Waikato Stadium, Hamilton – Kick-off: 19.05; 07.05 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Chiefs by 15 points
Teams
CHIEFS: 15 Shaun Stevenson, 14 Emoni Narawa, 13 Daniel Rona, 12 Quinn Tupaea, 11 Leroy Carter, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Luke Jacobson (captain), 6 Simon Parker, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 3 George Dyer, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 Ollie Norris.
Replacements: 16 Brodie McAlister, 17 Aidan Ross, 18 Reuben O’Neill, 19 Josh Lord, 20 Samipeni Finau, 21 Xavier Roe, 22 Josh Jacomb, 23 Gideon Wrampling.
MOANA PASIFIKA: 15 Tevita Ofa, 14 Kyren Taumoefolau, 13 Lalomilo Lalamilo, 12 Danny Toala, 11 Solomon Alaimalo, 10 Patrick Pellegrini, 9 Jonathan Taumateine, 8 Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa, 7 Ardie Savea (captain), 6 Miracle Faiilagi, 5 Samuel Slade, 4 Tom Savage, 3 Feleti Sae-Ta’ufo’ou, 2 Millennium Sanerivi, 1 Tito Tuipulotu.
Replacements: 16 Samiuela Moli, 17 Abraham Pole, 18 Chris Apoua, 19 Allan Craig, 20 Sione Havili Talitui, 21 Melani Matavao, 22 Julian Savea, 23 Jackson Garden-Bachop.
Referee: James Doleman
Assistant referees: Marcus Playle, Fraser Hannon
TMO: Richard Kelly
Western Force v Waratahs
(Perth Rectangular Stadium – Kick-off: 17.35; 09.35 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Force by eight points
Teams
WESTERN FORCE: 15 Mac Grealy, 14 Harry Potter, 13 Bayley Kuenzle, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 Dylan Pietsch, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Nic White, 8 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Will Harris, 5 Darcy Swain, 4 Jeremy Williams (captain), 3 Tom Robertson, 2 Nic Dolly, 1 Fatongia Paea.
Replacements: 16 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17 Ryan Coxon, 18 Tiaan Tauakipulu, 19 Reed Prinsep, 20 Titi Nofoagatotoa, 21 Henry Robertson, 22 Alex Harford, 23 Kurtley Beale.
WARATAHS: 15 Lawson Creighton, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Lalakai Foketi, 12 Joey Walton, 11 Triston Reilly, 10 Tane Edmed, 9 Jake Gordon (captain), 8 Langi Gleeson, 7 Charlie Gamble, 6 Hugh Sinclair, 5 Miles Amatosero, 4 Fergus Lee-Warner, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 David Porecki, 1 Angus Bell.
Replacements: 16 Mahe Vailanu, 17 Tom Lambert, 18 Daniel Botha, 19 Ben Grant, 20 Jamie Adamson, 21 Teddy Wilson, 22 Jack Bowen, 23 Darby Lancaster.
Referee: Angus Gardner
Assistant referees: Matt Kellahan, Graham Cooper
TMO: Brett Cronan
