Super Rugby Pacific, Round Nine - Teams and Predictions
PREVIEW: League convert Zac Lomax is set for a Super Rugby baptism of fire after being included on the Western Force bench to tackle Fijian Drua.
The ex-NRL star was set to make his professional rugby debut last round against the Reds in Brisbane but was scratched an hour before kick-off due to hamstring tightness.
The Force got the job done without him, upsetting the Reds on home turf, with the former Parramatta flyer in line for another opportunity on Saturday afternoon in Lautoka, where opposition teams traditionally struggle.
The Perth-based side also have skipper Jeremy Williams back on deck with the Wallabies lock cleared to return after missing the bonus-point win due to concussion.
Test prop Tom Robertson has been ruled out after his own head knock, while speedster Darby Lancaster has succumbed to an ankle injury, among the other line-up changes.
Coach Simon Cron resisted the temptation to start former Waratahs winger Lomax, instead shifting George Bridge to the wing with Hamish Stewart the new centre.
Veteran Kurtley Beale has also been included in the reserves, and if the utility back plays, he will notch his 181st Super Rugby game, equalling Kiwi great Sam Whitelock in joint fifth.
The Brumbies received a major boost ahead of Friday night’s showdown with the Highlanders in Dunedin, with Allan Alaalatoa and Lachlan Lonergan returning from long injury lay-offs.
Test prop Alaalatoa makes his first appearance of the season due to a back issue, as does hooker Lonergan, who ruptured his ACL against the touring British and Irish Lions last year.
“It’s a good moment for the team to get Allan back into the fray and Lachie Lonergan back into the game as well,” said coach Stephen Larkham.
“Allan’s been training exceptionally well, and Lachie’s played a couple of games for Vikings and Runners, and he’s more than ready to go right now, so it’s a big boost for the team coming out of the bye.”
Tom Lynagh was still ill early in the week and didn’t train until Wednesday, leaving Reds coach Les Kiss with little choice but to omit the playmaker as they host the Crusaders on Saturday night.
Lynagh has appeared just once all season, off the bench against the Hurricanes, but could still play a key role after next week’s bye.
Winger Filipo Daugunu will play his 100th Super Rugby game while Matt Faessler and Tim Ryan replace Josh Nasser and Treyvon Pritchard at hooker and wing, respectively, after both suffered head knocks against the Force.
Experienced hooker Richie Asiata and centre Isaac Henry have been added to the bench for the crunch clash.
Crusaders coach Rob Penney said his team was approaching a “massively important” stretch of the Super Rugby season, but must do so without All Blacks pair Will Jordan and Codie Taylor.
Jordan was ruled out of Saturday’s clash with the Queensland Reds with a calf injury, and Taylor has a hamstring strain.
No timeline for their return has been set.
Penney said it was not worth risking Jordan, despite what he said was a significant period in their season.
“He tried to get going, but it just wasn’t worth pushing him,” Penney said.
“He’s had a big workload, and this is just an unfortunate set of circumstances.”
Taylor was coming off a four-try performance in the Crusaders’ 69-26 win over the Fijian Drua on Friday, in the last match played at Apollo Projects Stadium.
Penney said his side would need to respond, given the “next couple of weeks are massively important”.
“We’ve got a really good plan. We’ve just got to get some results and keep building.”
Johnny McNicholl will start in place of Jordan, and David Havili also returns to the team.
The Crusaders and Reds are tied with 18 points on the Super Rugby ladder, sitting fifth and sixth respectively on point differential.
*See all teams and predictions below!
FRIDAY, APRIL 10
Highlanders v Brumbies
(Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin – Kick-off: 19.05 NZST; 17.05 AEST; 07.05 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Brumbies by 10 points
Teams
Highlanders: 15 Taine Robinson, 14 Caleb Tangitau, 13 Jonah Lowe, 12 Timoci Tavatavanawai (co-captain), 11 Jona Nareki, 10 Cameron Millar, 9 Nic Shearer, 8 Nikora Broughton, 7 Veveni Lasaqa, 6 Te Kemaka Howden, 5 Mitch Dunshea, 4 Oliver Haig, 3 Angus Ta’avao, 2 Jack Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot (co-captain)
Replacements: 16 Henry Bell, 17 Josh Bartlett, 18 Saula Ma’u, 19 Hugh Renton, 20 Sean Withy, 21 Adam Lennox, 22 Reesjan Pasitoa, 23 Taniela Tele’a
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 Rob Valetini, 5 Lachlan Shaw, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Billy Pollard, 1 James Slipper
Replacements: 16 Lachlan Lonergan, 17 Blake Schoupp, 18 Darcy Breen, 19 Toby MacPherson, 20 Luke Reimer, 21 Klayton Thorn, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Hudson Creighton
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
Assistant referees: Todd Petrie, Warwick Lahmert
TMO: Richard Kelly
SATURDAY, APRIL 11
Moana Pasifika v Chiefs
(Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua – Kick-off: 14.05 NZST; 02.05 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Chiefs by 18 points
Teams
Moana Pasifika: 15 William Havili, 14 Solomon Alaimalo, 13 Tevita Latu, 12 Lalomilo Lalomilo, 11 Glen Vaihu, 10 Jackson Garden-Bachop, 9 Augustine Pulu, 8 Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa, 7 Niko Jones, 6 Miracle Faiilagi (captain), 5 Veikoso Poloniati, 4 Tom Savage, 3 Paula Latu, 2 Millenium Sanerivi, 1 Malaki Hala-Ngatai
Replacements: 16 Samiuela Moli, 17 Abraham Pole, 18 Atu Moli, 19 Jimmy Tupou, 20 Semisi Paea, 21 Melani Matavao, 22 Patrick Pellegrini, 23 Tyler Pulini
Chiefs: 15 Liam Coombes-Fabling, 14 Leroy Carter, 13 Kyle Brown, 12 Quinn Tupaea, 11 Kyren Taumoefolau, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Simon Parker, 7 Jahrome Brown, 6 Samipeni Finau, 5 Tupou Vaa’i (captain), 4 Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 3 Reuben O’Neill, 2 Tyrone Thompson, 1 Ollie Norris
Replacements: 16 Brodie McAlister, 17 Jared Proffit, 18 Sione Ahio, 19 Fiti Sa, 20 Luke Jacobson, 21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22 Josh Jacomb, 23 Reon Paul
Referee: Marcus Playle
Assistant referees: James Doleman, Fraser Hannon
TMO: Glenn Newman
Fijian Drua v Western Force
(Churchill Park, Lautoka – 16.35 FJT; 12.35 AWST; 04.35 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Fijian Drua by one point
Teams
Fijian Drua: 15 Isikeli Rabitu, 14 Isikeli Basiyalo, 13 Tuidraki Samusamuvodre (co-captain), 12 Iosefo Namoce, 11 Ilaisa Droasese, 10 Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 9 Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 8 Elia Canakaivata, 7 Motikiai Murray, 6 Etonia Waqa, 5 Joseva Tamani, 4 Isoa Nasilasila (co-captain), 3 Mesake Doge, 2 Zuriel Togiatama, 1 Haereiti Hetet
Replacements: 16 Mesulame Dolokoto, 17 Emosi Tuqiri, 18 Samuela Tawake, 19 Mesake Vocevoce, 20 Kitione Salawa, 21 Vilive Miramira, 22 Simione Kuruvoli, 23 Manasa Mataele
Western Force: 15 Mac Grealy, 14 George Bridge, 13 Hamish Stewart, 12 Bayley Kuenzle, 11 Dylan Pietsch, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Henry Robertson, 8 Vaiolini Ekuasi, 7 Jack Daly, 6 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 5 Jeremy Williams (captain), 4 Franco Molina, 3 Misinale Epenisa, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Sef Fa’agase
Replacements: 16 Nic Dolly, 17 Marley Pearce, 18 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 19 Lopeti Faifua, 20 Will Harris, 21 Agustin Moyano, 22 Kurtley Beale, 23 Zac Lomax
Referee: Damon Murphy
Assistant referees: Jordan Way, Jeremy Markey
TMO: James Leckie
Hurricanes v Blues
(Hnry Stadium, Wellington – Kick-off: 19.05 NZST; 7.05 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Hurricanes by five points
Teams
Hurricanes: 15 Callum Harkin, 14 Josh Moorby, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett (co-captain), 11 Ruben Love, 10 Cam Roigard, 9 Peter Lakai, 8 Du’Plessis Kirifi (co-captain), 7 Devan Flanders, 6 Warner Dearns, 5 Caleb Delany, 4 Pasilio Tosi, 3 Asafo Aumua, 2 Xavier Numia, 1 Fehi Fineanganofo
Replacements: 16 Raymond Tuputupu, 17 Siale Laukai, 18 Tevita Mafileo, 19 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 20 Brad Shields, 21 Brayden Iose, 22 Ereatara Enari, 23 Jone Rova
Blues: 15 Zarn Sullivan, 14 Codemeru Vai, 13 AJ Lam, 12 Caleb Clarke, 11 Beauden Barrett, 10 Finlay Christie, 9 Malachi Wrampling, 8 Anton Segner, 7 Che Clark, 6 Sam Darry (captain), 5 Josh Beehre, 4 Marcel Renata, 3 Bradley Slater, 2 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 1 Xavi Taele
Replacements: 16 James Mullan, 17 Mason Tupaea, 18 Sam Matenga, 19 Tristyn Cook, 20 Torian Barnes, 21 Taufa Funaki, 22 Pita Ahki, 23 Payton Spencer
Referee: Nic Berry
Assistant referees: Reuben Keane, Louis Trisley
TMO: Brett Cronan
Reds v Crusaders
(Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane – Kick-off: 19.35 AEST; NZST; 09.35 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Reds by three points
Teams
Reds: 15 Jock Campbell, 14 Filipo Daugunu, 13 Josh Flook, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Tim Ryan, 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 Matt Faessler, 1 Aidan Ross
Replacements: 16 Richie Asiata, 17 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Hamish Muller, 20 Vaiuta Latu, 21 Louis Werchon, 22 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 23 Isaac Henry
Crusaders: 15 Johnny McNicholl, 14 Chay Fihaki, 13 Leciester Fainga’anuku, 12 David Havili (captain), 11 Sevu Reece, 10 Taha Kemara, 9 Noah Hotham, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Corey Kellow, 6 Dom Gardiner, 5 Jamie Hannah, 4 Antonio Shalfoon, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 George Bell, 1 George Bower
Replacements: 16 Manumaua Leitu, 17 Finlay Brewis, 18 Seb Calder, 19 Tahlor Cahill, 20 Johnny Lee, 21 Louie Chapman, 22 Rivez Reihana, 23 Dallas McLeod
Referee: Angus Gardner
Assistant referees: George Myers, Matt Kellahan
TMO: Aaron Paterson
Sources: AAP & AFP
