Super Rugby Pacific, Round Eight - Teams and Predictions
PREVIEW: Incoming Wallabies coach Les Kiss has promised Zac Lomax a baptism of fire when the NRL convert makes his rugby debut for the Western Force in Brisbane.
Lomax has been named on the bench to face the Kiss-coached Queensland Reds and is likely to be thrust into the role of a winger when he steps out on to Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.
The Super Rugby Pacific debut will mark a significant first step in Lomax’s rugby journey, with the former NRL star having not played the game since his primary school days.
The 26-year-old had established himself as an elite try-scorer and goal-kicker at State of Origin and Test level before his attempted move to R360 backfired when the breakaway league was postponed.
He’s now targeting next year’s home Rugby World Cup after a controversial bid to join the Melbourne Storm this season was ended in an out-of-court settlement ahead of a potential NSW Supreme Court hearing.
“A lot of attention around it … he’s a quality player in league and I’m sure he’s going to have his good moments, but it takes a long time to learn the nuances,” said Kiss, who will take over as Wallabies coach in August.
“It doesn’t come easy.”
Kiss, himself a former representative Rugby League winger, said his men would likely target Lomax with high balls when he enters the fray.
“He’s got to expect that, but I’m sure they’re going to use the high ball and get him to chase as well, because that’s one of his key strengths,” the coach said.
Former Wallabies star Kurtley Beale has played a key role in fast-tracking Lomax’s progression while flanker Carlo Tizzano has worked with him around the ruck.
Force coach Simon Cron, who has overseen a frustrating 1-5 campaign, said Lomax had learned plenty from his two weeks of training.
“He’s a natural athlete – big, strong, fast, powerful,” Cron said on Wednesday.
“We’ve done a bit of work with him since he got here, he’s very confident he’s ready … he’s a great player, and he’s ready to go.”
Wallabies winger Dylan Pietsch has been thrust straight back into the Force’s starting side after recovering from a foot injury that has grounded him since the pre-season.
But Tizzano (knee) has been ruled out for at least two weeks and concussed captain Jeremy Williams will miss the clash.
Contrasting the Force’s start to the season, the fourth-placed Reds boast a 4-2 record.
Reds flyhalf Tom Lynagh wasn’t considered for selection due to illness but Carter Gordon returns in the No.10 to partner Kalani Thomas, while fellow Wallabies Josh Flook and Matt Faessler are also back from injury.
Waratahs No.9 Teddy Wilson will start against the Chiefs on Saturday while flanker Charlie Gamble and outside centre Triston Reilly will also return to the starting side.
*A sentimental fixture awaits the Crusaders on Friday, with the final match at Apollo Projects Stadium doubling as Codie Taylor’s 150th game in red and black.
With One New Zealand Stadium, Te Kaha, open slightly ahead of schedule and ready to host Super Round at the end of the month, the Crusaders will bid farewell to the temporary venue that has seen them through eight championships and 14 years.
Taylor has played all 149 with Apollo Projects as his home arena, and says it will always hold a special place for him and his club.
See below for Round Eight’s teams and Predictions!
Friday, April 3:
Crusaders v Fijian Drua
(Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch – Kick-off: 19.05; 18.05 FJT; 06.05 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Crusaders by 15 points.
Teams:
Crusaders: 15 Will Jordan (captain), 14 Chay Fihaki, 13 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 12 Dallas McLeod, 11 Sevu Reece, 10 Taha Kemara, 9 Noah Hotham, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Johnny Lee, 6 Corey Kellow, 5 Jamie Hannah, 4 Antonio Shalfoon, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 George Bower.
Replacements: 16 George Bell, 17 Jack Sexton, 18 Seb Calder, 19 Tahlor Cahill, 20 Dom Gardiner, 21 Louie Chapman, 22 Rivez Reihana, 23 Braydon Ennor.
Fijian Drua: 15 Iliasia Droasese, 14 Joji Nasova, 13 Virimi Vakatawa, 12 Iosefo Namoce, 11 Manasa Mataele, 10 Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 9 Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 8 Elia Canakaivata, 7 Kitione Salawa, 6 Etonia Waqa, 5 Isoa Nasilasila (captain), 4 Joseva Tamani, 3 Mesake Doge, 2 Zuriel Togiatama, 1 Haereiti Hetet.
Replacements: 16 Sairusi Ravudi, 17 Emosi Tuqiri, 18 Peni Ravai, 19 Mesake Vocevoce, 20 Isoa Tuwai, 21 Phillip Baselala, 22 Kemu Valetini, 23 Isikeli Rabitu.
Referee: Paul Williams
Assistant referees: Angus Mabey, Mike Winter
TMO: Aaron Paterson
Saturday, April 4:
Chiefs v NSW Waratahs
(FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton – Kick-off: 19.05; 17.05 AEDT; 06.05 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Chiefs by 11 points.
Teams:
Chiefs: 15 Liam Coombes-Fabling, 14 Emoni Narawa, 13 Leroy Carter, 12 Quinn Tupaea, 11 Kyren Taumoefolau, 10 Josh Jacomb, 9 Xavier Roe, 8 Kaylum Boshier, 7 Luke Jacobson (captain), 6 Samipeni Finau, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Josh Lord, 3 Reuben O’Neill, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 Ollie Norris.
Replacements: 16 Brodie McAlister, 17 Jared Profitt, 18 George Dyer, 19 Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20 Simon Parker, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Kyle Brown, 23 Daniel Sinkinson.
Waratahs: 15 Sid Harvey, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Triston Reilly, 12 Joey Walton, 11 Max Jorgensen, 10 Jack Debreczeni, 9 Teddy Wilson, 8 Pete Samu, 7 Charlie Gamble, 6 Clem Halaholo, 5 Miles Amatosero, 4 Matt Philip (captain), 3 Dan Botha, 2 Ethan Dobbins, 1 Tom Lambert.
Replacements: 16 Folau Fainga’a, 17 Jack Barrett, 18 Siosifa Amone, 19 Angus Blyth, 20 Jamie Adamson, 21 Jake Gordon, 22 Jack Bowen, 23 George Poolman.
Referee: James Doleman
Assistant referees: Marcus Playle, Fraser Hannon
TMO: Glenn Newman
Queensland Reds v Western Force
(Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane – Kick-off: 18.35; 16.35 AWST; 08.35 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Reds by six points.
Teams:
Reds: 15 Jock Campbell, 14 Filipo Daugunu, 13 Josh Flook, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Treyvon Pritchard, 10 Carter Gordon, 9 Kalani Thomas, 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Fraser McReight (captain), 6 Joe Brial, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Seru Uru, 3 Nick Bloomfield, 2 Josh Nasser, 1 Aidan Ross.
Replacements: 16 Matt Faessler, 17 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Hamish Muller, 20 Vaiuta Latu, 21 Louis Werchon, 22 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 23 Tim Ryan.
Force: 15 Mac Grealy, 13 George Bridge, 12 Bayley Kuenzle, 11 Darby Lancaster, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Henry Robertson, 8 Vaiolini Ekuasi, 7 Jack Daly, 6 Nick Champion de Crespigny (captain), 5 Darcy Swain, 4 Franco Molina, 3 Misinale Epenisa, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Tom Robertson.
Replacements: 16 Nic Dolly, 17 Sef Fa’agase, 18 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 19 Lopeti Faifua, 20 Will Harris, 21 Nathan Hastie, 22 Kurtley Beale, 23 Zac Lomax.
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
Assistant referees: Todd Petrie, Warwick Lahmert
TMO: Richard Kelly
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