Super Rugby Pacific, Round Seven - Teams and Predictions
PREVIEW: The Reds are looking to break a 28-year drought against the Hurricanes in Wellington in Round Seven of Super Rugby Pacific.
Tom Lynagh is set for his first Super Rugby Pacific minutes of the season, but Carter Gordon has been added to the injury list ahead of the Reds’ clash with the table-topping Hurricanes.
Captain Fraser McReight will also return after he was rested against the Drua as the fourth-placed Reds hunt a fifth-straight win and first over the Hurricanes in New Zealand since 1998.
Lynagh and Gordon, who both wore the Wallabies No.10 last year, are yet to feature on the same team sheet since Gordon’s arrival at Ballymore this season.
Gordon flourished with match-winning plays against the Brumbies and Waratahs before he was rested on the weekend, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips deputising in their historic win in Fiji.
A lower leg injury, which the Reds deem minor, will keep him out of this Saturday’s Wellington clash, with McLaughlin-Phillips to again wear the No.10 and Lynagh on the bench.
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Lynagh, who started in all three British and Irish Lions Tests last season, has been sidelined as he attempts to strengthen a troublesome leg injury.
“We just wanted to get through some full weeks of training, and this week’s been the right week for him,” Reds coach Les Kiss said.
“If everything’s going right, we should probably see more of him going forward.”
The Hurricanes have won their last 10 games against the Reds and last 11 on home soil.
“There’s history there, and it’s not missed, but it’s not front and centre,” Kiss said.
“They’re the most lethal team in the competition, and we feel we’re 70, 75 percent of who we can be, [but] you don’t win the competition this time of year, you just have to keep improving.”
Lawson Creighton has been retained at inside centre for the Waratahs after his late call-up last week, with Jack Debreczeni the starting flyhalf for a third-straight game.
Harry Potter (quad) won’t face the Brumbies on Friday, though, with Andrew Kellaway restored on the wing in his place.
The Waratahs coughed up a 12-point lead to lose to the Blues on Saturday.
“In terms of the opportunities that we created on the weekend, it’s probably as good as we’ve looked, we’ve just got to be better at finishing them,” Waratahs coach Dan McKellar said of Creighton’s role at No.12.
Winger Ollie Sapsford will return for the Brumbies from a hamstring injury, while Lachie Shaw comes in for Nick Frost at lock.
No.8 Vaiolini Ekuasi will start for the Western Force in Saturday’s return to HBF Park to face the Chiefs.
High-profile signing Zac Lomax commenced training with his new teammates this week and is eyeing a potential debut against the Reds in Brisbane next Saturday.
*See all teams and predictions below!
Friday, March 27
Moana Pasifika v Highlanders
(North Harbour Stadium, Auckland – Kick-off: 19.05 NZDT; 06.05 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Highlanders by three points
Teams
Moana Pasifika: 15 William Havili, 14 Solomon Alaimalo, 13 Tevita Latu, 12 Lalomilo Lalomilo, 11 Glen Vaihu, 10 Jackson Garden-Bachop, 9 Joel Lam, 8 Dominic Ropeti, 7 Niko Jones, 6 Miracle Faiilagi (captain), 5 Allan Craig, 4 Veikoso Poloniati, 3 Feleti Sae Ta’ufo’ou, 2 Millennium Sanerivi, 1 Abraham Pole
Replacements: 16 Samiuela Moli, 17 Malakai Hala-Ngatai, 18 Paula Latu, 19 Alefosio Aho, 20 Ola Tauelangi, 21 Siaosi Nginingini, 22 Patrick Pellegrini, 23 Tevita Ofa
Highlanders: 15. Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, 14 Caleb Tangitau, 13 Jonah Lowe, 12 Tanielu Tele’a, 11 Jona Nareki, 10 Reesjan Pasitoa, 9 Nic Shearer, 8 Hugh Renton (co-captain), 7 Veveni Lasaqa, 6 Te Kamaka Howden, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Oliver Haig, 3 Angus Ta’avao, 2 Jack Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot
Replacements: 16 Henry Bell, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Rohan Wingham, 19 Will Stodart, 20 Sean Withy, 21 Adam Lennox, 22 Andrew Knewstubb, 23 Timoci Tavatavanawai (co-captain)
Referee: Damon Murphy
Assistant referees: Jordan Way, Jeremy Markey
TMO: Brett Cronan
Brumbies v Waratahs
(GIO Stadium, Canberra – Kick-off: 19.35 AEDT; 08.35 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Brumbies by seven 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 Rob Valetini, 5 Cadeyrn Neville, 4 Lachie Shaw, 3 Darcy Breen, 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
Waratahs: 15 Sid Harvey, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Joey Walton, 12 Lawson Creighton, 11 Max Jorgensen, 10 Jack Debreczeni, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Pete Samu, 7 Jamie Adamson, 6 Clem Halaholo, 5 Miles Amatosero, 4 Matt Philip (captain), 3 Daniel Botha, 2 Ethan Dobbins, 1 Tom Lambert
Replacements: 16 Folau Fainga’a, 17 Jack Barrett, 18 Siosifa Amone, 19 Angus Blyth, 20 Charlie Gamble, 21 Angus Scott-Young, 22 Teddy Wilson, 23 Triston Reilly
Referee: Angus Gardner
Assistant referees: George Myers, Matt Kellahan
TMO: Graham Cooper
Saturday, March 28
Hurricanes v Reds
(Hnry Stadium, Wellington – Kick-off: 16.35 NZDT; 13.35 AEST; 03.35 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Hurricanes by 14 points
Teams
Hurricanes: 15 Josh Moorby, 14 Bailyn Sullivan, 13 Billy Proctor, 12.Jordie Barrett (co-captain), 11 Fehi Fineanganofo, 10 Ruben Love, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Peter Lakai, 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi (co-captain), 6 Devan Flanders, 5 Warner Dearns, 4 Caleb Delany, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Xavier Numia
Replacements: 16 Vernon Bason, 17 Siale Lauaki, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 20 Brayden Iose, 21 Ereatara Enari, 22 Lucas Cashmore, 23 Jone Rova
Reds: 15 Jock Campbell, 14 Filipo Daugunu, 13 Isaac Henry, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Tim Ryan, 10 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 9 Louis Werchon, 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 Richie Asiata, 17 George Blake, 18 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 19 Hamish Muller, 20 Vaiuta Latu, 21 Kalani Thomas, 22 Tom Lynagh, 23 Treyvon Pritchard
Referee: Angus Mabey
Assistant referees: Paul Williams, Mike Winter
TMO: Aaron Paterson
Blues v Fijian Drua
(Eden Park, Auckland Kick-off: 19.05 NZDT; 18.35 FJT; 06.35 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Blues by 18 points
Teams
Blues: 15 Payton Spencer, 14 Cole Forbes, 13 AJ Lam, 12 Pita Akhi, 11 Caleb Clarke,10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Taufa Funaki, 8 Malachi Wrampling, 7 Anton Segner, 6 Torian Barnes, 5 Sam Darry (captain), 4 Josh Beehre, 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Bradley Slater, 1 Ofa Tu’ungafasi
Replacements: 16 James Mullan, 17 Mason Tupaea, 18 Sam Matenga, 19 Che Clark, 20 Jed Melvin, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Xaci Taele, 23 Codemeru Vai
Fijian Drua: 15 Iliasia Droasese, 14 Epeli Momo, 13 Tuidraki Samusamuvodre, 12 Iosefo Namoce, 11 Ponipate Loganimasi, 10 Kemu Valetini, 9 Frank Lomani (captain), 8 Elia Canakaivata, 7 Kitione Salawa, 6 Etonia Waqa, 5 Mesake Vocevoce, 4 Isoa Nasilasila, 3 Mesake Doge, 2 Zuriel Togiatama, 1 Haereiti Hetet
Replacements: 16 Mesulame Dolokolo, 17 Emosi Tuqiri, 18 Peni Ravai, 19 Joseva Tamani, 20 Isoa Tuwai, 21 Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 22 Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 23 Virimi Vakatawa
Referee: Reuben Keane
Assistant referees: Nic Berry, Jordan Way
TMO: Brett Cronin
Western Force v Chiefs
(HBF Park, Perth – Kick-off: 16.35 AWST; 21.35 NZDT; 08.35 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Chiefs by 20 points
Teams
Western Force: 15 Max Burey, 14 Darby Lancaster, 13 George Bridge, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Bayley Kuenzle, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Henry Robertson, 8 Vaiolini Ekuasi, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 5 Darcy Swain, 4 Jeremy Williams (captain), 3 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Tom Robertson
Replacements: 16 Leonel Oviedo, 17 Sef Fa’agase, 18 Misinale Epenisa, 19 Lopeti Faifua, 20 Will Harris, 21 Nathan Hastie, 22 Hamish Stewart, 23 Divad Palu
Chiefs: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Emoni Narawa, 13 Leroy Carter, 12 Etene Nanai-Seturo, 11 Josh Jacomb, 10 Xavier Roe, 9 Simon Parker, 8 Quinn Tuapea, 7 Luke Jacobson (captain), 6 Samipeni Finau, 5 Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 4 Josh Lord, 3 George Dyer, 2 Brodie McAlister, 1 Jared Proffit
Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Ollie Norris, 18 Sione Ahio, 19 Fiti Sa, 20 Kaylum Boshier, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Kyle Brown, 23 Kyren Taumoefolau
Referee: Marcus Playle
Assistant Referees: James Doleman, Ben O’Keeffe
TMO: Glenn Newman
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