Super Rugby, Round 11 - Teams and Predictions
PREVIEW: Super Round descends on Christchurch as the ten teams in action prepare to officially open the new One NZ Stadium.
The action starts on Friday with the hosts Crusaders taking on the Waratahs, with the defending champions making the bold call to start Leciester Fainga’anuku at flanker.
ANZAC Day begins with the Hurricanes and Brumbies facing off, both teams eager to rebound, followed by the Blues and the Reds in their traditional match-up for this weekend.
The weekend concludes with the Highlanders hosting Moana Pasifika, followed by the Chiefs taking on the Fijian Drua.
The Western Force remain in Perth, enjoying the bye for the week.
Continues below…
An overhauled Waratahs front row will take on a “different beast” when the out-of-sorts Crusaders christen their new home stadium to start the weekend’s action.
The defending champions have lost all three games against Australian opponents so far this season, running down in a shock upset loss to the Western Force in Perth on Saturday.
Their 4-5 record, good enough for sixth, has set up a mouth-watering Friday night clash at Christchurch’s sold-out One NZ Stadium against the seventh-placed Waratahs.
“The Crusaders will be a different beast on Friday night over there in front of 30,000 of their fans,” Waratahs coach Dan McKellar said.
Isaac Kailea, Folau Faingaa and Siosifa Amone will form a new combination in the Waratahs front row, boasting a combined one previous start between them this season.
Max Jorgensen will switch with Sid Harvey, moving from left wing to fullback, while hooker Ioane Moananu comes onto the bench and could appear against his former side.
“It’ll be as close to a Test match as we’ll get to play in at Super Rugby level,” McKellar said.
“It’s going to be a great week for Super Rugby Pacific, and a challenge that we need. It’s a real shot in the arm before we start to get close towards finals.”
The Crusaders will unleash All Blacks star Leicester Fainga’anuku, traditionally a backline or midfield wrecking ball, at No.7, while David Havili will wear the No.12 jumper and Codie Taylor returns in the front row.
Fainga’anuku’s switch comes after time spent at flanker during his stint with Toulon in France.
“Leicester’s been keen to explore that opportunity,” Crusaders coach Rob Penney said.
“This stadium felt like the right place to do it. He loves big environments, loves pressure moments, and we feel he’ll add real value against this opposition.”
Theirs is the first of five games across three days, with the Reds and Brumbies to face the Blues and Hurricanes in equally crucial Anzac Day fixtures on Saturday.
The Blues sit third, while the Reds are fifth and the Brumbies (fourth) are aiming for a clean sweep of New Zealand teams against the ladder-leading Canes.
Injuries to Carter Gordon (knee) and Tom Lynagh (calf), both short-term according to coach Les Kiss, mean Harry McLaughlin-Phillips will wear the Reds’ No.10.
Zane Nonggorr returns to the starting side while fellow Reds prop Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, a former Hurricanes title-winner, will play his 150th Super Rugby game.
Massimo De Lutiis is fit to play after completing 40 minutes at club level last weekend, but was left out in favour of fellow up-and-coming forward Nick Bloomfield.
Ben Volavola will serve as the Reds’ reserve playmaker, with Kiss wary of putting a return date on either Gordon or Lynagh, given their interrupted seasons.
Winger Andy Muirhead and flanker Rory Scott return to the starting side for a Brumbies outfit who were upset by the Fijian Drua in Canberra on Saturday.
*See all the teams and predictions below!
Friday, April 24
Crusaders v Waratahs
(One NZ Stadium, Christchurch – Kick-off: 19.35 NZST; 17.35 AEST; 07.35 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Crusaders by six points
Teams
Crusaders: 15 Johnny McNicholl, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Braydon Ennor, 12 David Havili (captain), 11 Macca Springer, 10 Taha Kemara, 9 Noah Hotham, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 6 Dom Gardiner, 5 Tahlor Cahill, 4 Antonio Shalfoon, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Finlay Brewis
Replacements: 16 George Bell, 17 George Bower, 18 Seb Calder, 19 Jamie Hannah, 20 Johnny Lee, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Rivez Reihana, 23 Dallas McLeod
Waratahs: 15 Max Jorgensen, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Joey Walton, 12 Lawson Creighton, 11 Sid Harvey. 10 Jack Debreczeni, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Pete Samu, 7 Charlie Gamble, 6 Angus Scott-Young, 5 Miles Amatosero, 4 Matt Philip (captain), 3 Siosifa Amone, 2 Folau Fainga’a, 1 Isaac Kailea
Replacements: 16 Ioane Moananu, 17 Tom Lambert, 18 Dan Botha, 19 Angus Blyth, 20 Clem Halaholo, 21 Jamie Adamson, 22 Teddy Wilson, 23 Triston Reilly
Referee: Nic Berry
Assistant referees: Ben O’Keeffe, Damon Murphy
TMO: Brett Cronan
Saturday, April 25
Hurricanes v Brumbies
(One NZ Stadium, Christchurch – Kick-off: 17.05 NZST; 15.05 AEST; 05.05 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Hurricanes by five points
Teams
Hurricanes: 15 Callum Harkin, 14 Josh Moorby, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett (co-captain), 11 Fehi Fineanganofo, 10 Ruben Love, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Brayden Iose, 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi (co-captain), 6 Devan Flanders, 5 Warner Dearns, 4 Caleb Delany, 3 Tevita Mafileo, 2 Raymond Tuputupu, 1 Siale Lauaki
Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Xavier Numia, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Brad Shields, 20 Peter Lakai, 21 Ereatara Enari, 22 Jove Rova, 23 Josh Gray
Brumbies: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Andy Muirhead, 13 Kadin Pritchard, 12 David Feliuai, 11 Corey Toole, 10 Declan Meredith, 9 Ryan Lonergan (captain), 8 Tuaina Taii Tualima, 7 Rory Scott, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Nick Frost, 4 Lachlan Shaw, 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 Ollie Sapsford
Referee: Paul Williams
Assistant referees: Angus Gardner, Angus Mabey
TMO: Brett Cronan
Blues v Reds
(One NZ Stadium, Christchurch – Kick-off: 19.35 NZST; 17.35 AEST; 07.35 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Blues by eight points
Teams
Blues: 15 Zarn Sullivan, 14 Kade Banks, 13 AJ Lam, 12 Pita Ahki, 11 Cole Forbes, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Finlay Christie, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Dalton Papali’i, 6 Anton Segner, 5 Sam Darry, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (captain), 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Bradley Slater, 1 Ben Ake
Replacements: 16 James Mullan, 17 Mason Tupaea, 18 Sam Matenga, 19 Josh Beehre, 20 Torian Barnes, 21 Taufa Funaki, 22 Stephen Perofeta, 23 Xavi Taele
Reds: 15 Jock Campbell, 14 Filipo Daugunu, 13 Josh Flook, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Tim Ryan, 10 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 9 Kalani Thomas, 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Fraser McReight (captain), 6 Joe Brial, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Seru Uru, 3 Zane Nonggorr, 2 Matt Faessler, 1 Aidan Ross
Replacements: 16 Josh Nasser, 17 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 18 Nick Bloomfield, 19 Hamish Muller, 20 Vaiuta Latu, 21 Louis Werchon, 22 Ben Volavola, 23 Treyvon Pritchard
Referee: James Doleman
Assistant referees: Marcus Playle, Damon Murphy
TMO: Richard Kelly
Sunday, April 26
Highlanders v Moana Pasifika
(One NZ Stadium, Christchurch – Kick-off: 14.00 NZST; 02.00 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Highlanders by 12 points
Teams
Highlanders: 15 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, 14 Jonah Lowe, 13 Tanielu Tele’a, 12 Timoci Tavatavanawai (co-captain), 11 Xavier Tito-Harris, 10 Cameron Millar, 9 Adam Lennox, 8 Nikora Broughton, 7 Veveni Lasaqa, 6 Oliver Haig, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Mitch Dunshea, 3 Saula Ma’u, 2 Soane Vikena, 1 Ethan de Groot (co-captain)
Replacements: 16 Jack Taylor, 17 Josh Bartlett, 18 Angus Ta’avao, 19 Te Kamaka Howden, 20 Hugh Renton, 21 Lucas Casey, 22 Folau Fakatava, 23 Taine Robinson
Moana Pasifika: 15 William Havili, 14 Tuna Tuitama, 13 Solomon Alaimalo, 12 Tevita Latu, 11 Glen Vaihu, 10 Patrick Pellegrini, 9 Jonathan Tamateine, 8 Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa, 7 Semisi Paea, 6 Miracle Faiilagi (captain), 5 Jimmy Tupou, 4 Allan Craig, 3 Chris Apoua, 2 Millennium Sanerivi, 1 Abraham Pole
Replacements: 16 Mamoru Harada, 17 Malakai Hala-Ngatai, 18 Paula Latu, 19 Tom Savage, 20 Ola Tauelangi, 21 Augustine Palu, 22 Lalomilo Lalomilo, 23 Israel Leota
Referee: Todd Petrie
Assistant referees: Angus Mabey, Marcus Playle
TMO: Richard Kelly
Chiefs v Fijian Drua
(One NZ Stadium, Christchurch – Kick-off: 16.30 NZST; 16.30 FJT; 04.30 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Chiefs by 20 points
Teams
Chiefs: 15 Isaac Hutchison, 14 Leroy Carter, 13 Kyle Brown, 12 Quinn Tupaea, 11 Daniel Sinkinson, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Jahrome Brown, 6 Simon Parker, 5 Tupou Vaa’i (captain), 4 Josh Lord, 3 George Dyer, 2 Brodie McAlister, 1 Jared Proffit
Replacements: 16 Tyrone Thompson, 17 Ollie Norris, 18 Benét Kumeroa, 19 Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20 Michael Loft, 21 Xavier Roe, 22 Tepaea Cook-Savage, 23 Lalakai Foketi
Fijian Drua: 15 Ilaisa Droasese, 14 Taniela Rakuro, 13 Maika Tuitubou, 12 Virimi Vakatawa, 11 Manasa Mataele, 10 Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 9 Frank Lomani (co-captain), 8 Isoa Tuwai, 7 Kitione Salawa, 6 Etonia Waqa, 5 Temo Mayanavanua (co-captain), 4 Mesake Vocevoce, 3 Mesake Doge, 2 Zuriel Togiatama, 1 Haereiti Hetet
Replacements: 16 Kavaia Tagivetaua, 17 Emosi Tuqiri, 18 Peni Ravai, 19 Isoa Nasilasila, 20 Elia Canakaivata, 21 Simione Kuruvoli, 22 Kemu Valetini, 23 Inia Tabuavou
Referee: Jordan Way
Assistant referees: Angus Gardner, Ben O’Keeffe
TMO: Brett Cronan
Additional source: Super Rugby Pacific
