Super Rugby Pacific, Round Four - Teams and Predictions
PREVIEW: Playmaker Beauden Barrett has bolstered the Blues’ matchday squad for the clash against the Crusaders at Eden Park.
Barrett plays his first game of the 2026 Super Rugby season off the bench, while there are three changes to the starting XV after the team’s narrow loss to the Brumbies in Canberra.
In the forwards, Josh Beehre gets the start at lock with Laghlan McWhannell sidelined due to a concussion, while Torian Barnes leads out at blindside flanker.
After some impressive minutes over the last few weeks, Codemeru Vai starts on the right wing while Cole Forbes misses the game with an ankle injury.
Head coach Vern Cotter said his side had taken valuable lessons from their two-week road trip in Australia.
“We were disappointed not to get the result last week, but there were plenty of positives in our performance,” he said.
“We’ve had a good review and trained with real purpose this week. We are clear on the areas we need to be better in.
“The Crusaders are always a quality side, and these contests carry a bit of extra edge. It’s special to be back at home in front of our supporters. We know the lift that Eden Park gives u,s and the boys are looking forward to putting in a big performance.”
Meanwhile, Crusaders head coach Rob Penney will be without two key All Blacks for their trip.
Both Tamaiti Williams and Will Jordan will miss the all-important Kiwi derby this weekend, with Jordan being absent from the matchday 23, while Williams is suspended for three weeks for his dangerous cleanout on All Black teammate Tupou Vaa’i.
Penney will welcome back experienced hooker Codie Taylor for the Blues encounter, with George Bell out with a foot injury for the next two-to-four weeks.
*Treyvon Pritchard will go head-to-head with older brother Kadin after being named on the Queensland Reds’ bench to face the unbeaten Brumbies in Canberra.
The brothers are set to meet in the centres on Saturday after the Brumbies rookie passed concussion tests and was named at No.13.
Wallabies star Rob Valetini will be rested, though, while the Reds have also put in-form winger Tim Ryan on ice and will be without injured Test duo Hunter Paisami (ankle) and Matt Faessler (knee).
Paisami’s absence allows Isaac Henry a chance in the No.12 spot, with 18-year-old Pritchard to provide bench cover on debut after an eye-catching pre-season and dominating at junior level.
Reds playmaker Tom Lynagh, who has been rebuilding strength in his injured upper leg, will miss another week after coach Les Kiss had teased at a possible return for the Wallabies’ flyhalf.
Carter Gordon will wear the No.10 after an encouraging display in his Reds debut last week, while Harry McLaughlin-Phillips is on the bench.
Former Reds back rower Tuaina Taii Tualima will replace Valetini, while the Brumbies’ Test lock Nick Frost will make his return in a curtain-raiser earlier on Saturday.
Andrew Kellaway will play his first game of the season on Friday for the Waratahs, selected at fullback to face the Hurricanes in Sydney.
Test hooker Folau Faingaa has also recovered from a concussion to earn his first start for the Waratahs, while Triston Reilly will take Harry Potter’s (toe) place on the wing.
Kellaway had been unseated by club rugby bolter James Hendren in back-to-back wins to start the season before last weekend’s bye.
“Kells [Andrew Kellaway] has worked really hard in training and has earned his place. He brings experience, he is fresh, and he is ready,” coach Dan McKellar said.
The Western Force, fresh off a drought-breaking defeat of Moana Pasifika in New Zealand last Friday, will be bolstered by the return of Wallabies Nick Champion de Crespigny and Brandon Paenga-Amosa for Saturday’s clash with the Highlanders in Dunedin.
See below for Round Four’s teams and predictions!
Friday, March 6:
Chiefs v Moana Pasifika
(FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton – Kick-off: 19.05; 06.05 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Chiefs by 10 points.
Teams:
Chiefs: 15 Liam Coombes-Fabling, 14 Emoni Narawa, 13 Lalakai Foketi, 12 Quinn Tupaea, 11 Leroy Carter, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Jahrome Brown, 6 Samipeni Finau, 5 Tupou Vaa’i (captain), 4 Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 3 Reuben O’Neill, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 Benet Kumeroa.
Replacements: 16 Tyrone Thompson, 17 Ollie Norris, 18 George Dyer, 19 Josh Lord, 20 Simon Parker, 21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22 Josh Jacomb, 23 Kyle Brown.
Moana Pasifika: 15 Glen Vaihu, 14 Tevita Ofa, 13 Tevita Latu, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Solomon Alaimalo, 10 Jackson Garden-Bachop, 9 Augustine Pulu, 8 Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa, 7 Semisi Paea, 6 Miracle Faiilagi (captain), 5 Allan Craig, 4 Tom Savage, 3 Chris Apoua, 2 Millennium Sanerivi, 1 Abraham Pole.
Replacements: 16 Samiuela Moli, 17 Malakai Hala-Ngatai, 18 Lolani Faleiva, 19 Ofa Tauatevalu, 20 Ola Tauelangi, 21 Joel Lam, 22 Patrick Pellegrino, 23 Tyler Pulini.
Referee: Todd Petrie
Assistant referees: Maggie Cogger-Orr, Warwick Lahmert
TMO: Richard Kelly
Waratahs v Hurricanes
(Allianz Stadium, Sydney – Kick-off: 19.35; 21.35 NZDT; 08.35 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Waratahs by six points.
Teams:
Waratahs: 15 Andrew Kellaway, 14 Triston Reilly, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Joey Walton, 11 Max Jorgensen, 10 Lawson Creighton, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Pete Samu, 7 Charlie Gamble, 6 Leafi Talataina, 5 Miles Amatosero, 4 Matt Philip (captain), 3 Daniel Botha, 2 Folau Faingaa, 1 Tom Lambert.
Replacements: 16 Ioane Moananu, 17 Isaac Kailea, 18 Siosifa Amone, 19 Angus Blyth, 20 Clem Halaholo, 21 Teddy Wilson, 22 Jack Debreczeni, 23 Sid Harvey.
Hurricanes: 15 Josh Moorby, 14 Bailyn Sullivan, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett (co-captain), 11 Fehi Fineanganofo, 10 Callum Harkin, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Peter Lakai, 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi (co-captain), 6 Devan Flanders, 5 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 4 Warner Dearns, 3 Pasilio Tosi, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Xavier Numia.
Replacements: 16 Jacob Devery, 17 Siale Lauaki, 18 Tevita Mafileo, 19 Brad Shields, 20 Brayden Iose, 21 Ereatara Enari, 22 Lucas Cashmore, 23 Jone Rova.
Referee: James Doleman
Assistant referees: Fraser Hannon, Dan Moore
TMO: James Leckie
Saturday, March 7:
Highlanders v Western Force
(Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin – Kick-off: 16.35; 11.35 AWST; 03.35 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Highlanders by 11 points.
Teams:
Highlanders: 15 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, 14 Caleb Tangitau, 13 Jonah Lowe, 12 Timoci Tavatavanawai (co-captain), 11 Jona Nareki, 10 Cameron Millar, 9 Folau Fakatava, 8 Nikora Broughton, 7 Veveni Lasaqa, 6 Te Kamaka Howden, 5 Mitch Dunshea, 4 Oliver Haig, 3 Angus Ta’avao, 2 Jack Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot (co-captain).
Replacements: 16 Soane Vikena, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Sosefo Kautai, 19 Will Stodart, 20 Sean Withy, 21 Adam Lennox Stratford, 22 Reesjan Pasitoa, 23 Tanielu Tele’a.
Western Force: 15 Mac Grealy, 14 Darby Lancaster, 13 Divad Palu, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 George Bridge, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Nathan Hastie, 8 Vaiolini Ekausi, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Nick Champion de Crepsigny, 5 Darcy Swain, 4 Jeremy Williams (captain), 3 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Tom Robertson.
Replacements: 16 Nic Dolly, 17 Sef Fa’agase, 18 Misinale Epenisa, 19 Franco Molina, 20 Will Harris, 21 Henry Robertson, 22 Max Burey, 23 Kurtley Beale.
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
Assistant referees: Maggie Cogger-Orr, Warwick Lahmert
TMO: Richard Kelly
Blues v Crusaders
(Eden Park, Auckland – 19.05; 06.05 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Crusaders by seven points.
Teams:
Blues: 15 Zarn Sullivan, 14 Codemeru Vai, 13 AJ Lam, 12 Pita Ahki, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Stephen Perofeta, 9 Finlay Christie, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Dalton Papali’i (captain), 6 Torian Barnes, 5 Sam Darry, 4 Josh Beehre, 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Kurt Eklund, 1 Ofa Tu’ungafasi.
Replacements: 16 James Mullan, 17 Mason Tupaea, 18 Sam Matenga, 19 Che Clark, 20 Anton Segner, 21 Taufa Funaki, 22 Beauden Barrett, 23 Xavi Taele.
Crusaders: 15 Taha Kemara, 14 Chay Fihaki, 13 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 12 David Havili (captain), 11 Sevu Reece, 10 Rivez Reihana, 9 Noah Hotham, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Ethan Blackadder, 6 Dom Gardiner, 5 Jamie Hannah, 4 Antonio Shalfoon, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 George Bower.
Replacements: 16 Manumau Letiu, 17 Finay Brewis, 18 Seb Calder, 19 Will Tucker, 20 Corey Kellow, 21 Xavier Saifaloi, 22 Kyle Preston, 23 Dallas McLeod.
Referee: Nic Berry
Assistant referees: Marcus Playle, Louis Trisley
TMO: Aaron Paterson
Brumbies v Queensland Reds
(GIO Stadium, Canberra – Kick-off: 19.35; 18.35 AEST; 08.35 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Brumbies by 17 points.
Teams:
Brumbies: 15 Andy Muirhead, 14 Ollie Sapsford, 13 Kadin Pritchard, 12 David Feliuai, 11 Corey Toole, 10 Declan Meredith, 9 Ryan Lonergan (captain), 8 Charlie Cale, 7 Rory Scott, 6 Tuiana Taii Tualima, 5 Cadeyrn Neville, 4 Lachie Shaw, 3 Rhys van Nek, 2 Billy Pollard, 1 James Slipper.
Replacements: 16 Liam Bowron, 17 Blake Schoupp, 18 Tevita Alatini, 19 Toby Macpherson, 20 Luke Reimer, 21 Klayton Thorn, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Hudson Creighton.
Reds: 15 Jock Campbell, 14 Lachie Anderson, 13 Josh Flook, 12 Isaac Henry, 11 Filipo Daugunu, 10 Carter Gordon, 9 Louis Werchon, 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Fraser McReight (captain), 6 Joe Brial, 5 5Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Josh Canham, 4 Zane Nonggor, 2 Josh Nasser, 1 Aidan Ross.
Replacements: 16 Richie Asiata, 17 George Blake, 18 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 19 Seru Uru, 20 Vaiuta Latu, 21 Kalani Thomas, 22 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 23 Treyvon Pritchard.
Referee: Damon Murphy
Assistant referees: Jordan Way, Jeremy Markey
TMO: James Leckie
Additional sources: AAP & @RugbyPass
