Super Rugby, Round 14 - Teams and Predictions
PREVIEW: The race to the finals continues with the eight teams in action gunning for play-off spots in Round 14 of Super Rugby Pacific.
It starts in Hamilton with the Chiefs hosting the Highlanders on Friday, with the visitors needing a win to stay in touch with the top six.
On Saturday, finals time comes early for the Fijian Drua and the Waratahs, with the victor in Suva staying alive for another week.
Top-of-the-table Hurricanes host the Blues in a North Island derby, while the Reds head to the west to face the Force.
The Brumbies, Crusaders and Moana Pasifika all enjoy the bye this week.
Continues below…
Les Kiss is banking on the Reds’ depth to steer them into a finals berth after opting to rest four Wallabies for the side’s Super Rugby Pacific trip west.
Captain and flanker Fraser McReight, backs Josh Flook and Filipo Daugunu and lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto will miss Saturday’s clash with the Western Force for what Kiss terms a “regeneration week”.
Hulking prop Massimo De Lutiis will return from a long-term injury to power the pack, while lock Hamish Muller, flanker John Bryant and centre Isaac Henry slot in for the high-profile absentees.
Carter Gordon will wear the No.10 jumper again, starting alongside scrumhalf Louis Werchon, while fullback Jock Campbell will play his 100th Super Rugby game.
Significantly, 50-Test Wallaby scrumhalf Tate McDermott will also return from a long-term hamstring injury and play club rugby this weekend.
The Reds’ loss to the Chiefs last Friday all but dashed hopes of a top-three finish and left them just three points clear of the Highlanders in sixth, five points back from the fourth-placed Crusaders.
The top six earn finals berths, and the Reds will complete the regular season with a tricky trip to Auckland to face Moana Pasifika, before hosting the Fijian Drua.
It leaves them with a hill to climb, given they’ll likely have to create history and win a finals game in New Zealand to even survive into the second week of the post-season.
*Also read: The scuppered Richie Mo’unga plan for Stormers
“Bring on the hill, the boys are saying, that’s just the reality,” Kiss said.
“The Kiwi teams are the ones with the best form, but we’re slowly building.
“We’ve got a deep enough squad to go over and do the job. This game plus two more, how do you get that right so you’re in the right place to be as fresh as possible?
“You’ve got to make the finals [but] we’re trying to be as smart and practical as possible at the same time.”
Ben Donaldson pulled the strings in an emphatic defeat of the Reds in Brisbane earlier this season, but is among a list of key omissions for the Perth rematch.
The flyhalf (quad) and prop Tom Robertson (calf) are carrying short-term issues, while in-form scrumhalf Henry Robertson will have surgery to repair his anterior cruciate ligament in a blow to his Test prospects.
Waratahs coach Dan McKellar has made eight changes to his starting side for the trip to Fiji to face the Drua, with Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii retained at outside centre for his third game back from injury.
Jack Bowen has been handed a lifeline as three playmakers fight for their Super Rugby Pacific futures at the Waratahs.
Coach Dan McKellar promoted Bowen for his first start of the season against the Fijian Drua on Saturday before revealing the 22-year-old and fellow flyhalves Jack Debreczeni and Lawson Creighton were all off contract at the end of the Waratahs’ 2026 campaign.
“It’ll come down to performance, and it’s a great opportunity for a number of boys,” McKellar said.
“It always comes down to performance. There’s no doubt. So for some of them, they had to be patient to wait for the opportunity to play.”
Bowen is among eight new starters as McKellar felt compelled to “freshen the side up” after last week’s dispiriting 26-31 loss to the Highlanders in Dunedin.
Debreczeni and exciting young goalkicking winger Sid Harvey were the two biggest casualties, while halfback Jake Gordon was rested and winger Andrew Kellaway (concussion), back-rower Pete Samu (knee) and hookers Ethan Dobbins (foot) and Folau Faingaa (knee) were ruled out with injury.
Asked if Bowen had a future at the Waratahs, McKellar said: “There are all things to be discussed in the future.
“He’s got an opportunity now over the next couple of weeks to push his claim, and there are discussions that are ongoing in the background.
“He’s a really good young rugby player who needs more rugby. Jack just needs to play 80 minutes at the highest level that he possibly can and learn his craft skill-set-wise, kicking game, catching, passing, vision, and seeing the picture.
“His game management is something that we’ve worked hard on with him since we’ve been in the building.”
Three defeats in a row have left the Tahs needing to post a rare win in Fiji and also likely needing to beat the Brumbies at home and the Western Force in Perth in their last three regular-season games to make the finals.
McKellar never expected his Wallabies-laden line-up to miss the finals last year, in his first season in charge, let alone again in 2026.
“It’s not about making up the numbers, that’s for sure,” he said.
“I knew it was going to take time, and we needed to be patient but, I’m not going to lie, it’s been frustrating.
“We’re just chasing a consistent 80-minute performance. Not 10 minutes here, 10 minutes there.
“On the weekend, it was our [poor] start. You can’t be down 7-28 in New Zealand against the Highlanders.”
*See all teams and predictions below!
Friday, May 15
Chiefs v Highlanders
(FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton – Kick-off: 19.05 NZST; 07.05 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Chiefs by 14 points
Teams
Chiefs: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Liam Coombes-Fabling, 13 Kyle Brown, 12 Lalakai Foketi, 11 Kyren Taumoefolau, 10 Josh Jacomb, 9 Xavier Roe, 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Luke Jacobson (captain), 6 Simon Parker, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 3 Siona Ahio, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 Ollie Norris
Replacements: 16 Brodie McAlister, 17 Benét Kumeroa, 18 George Dyer, 19 Fiti Sa, 20 Samipeni Finau, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Daniel Rona, 23 Isaac Hutchinson
Highlanders: 15 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, 14 Caleb Tangitau, 13 Taniela Tele’u, 12 Timoci Tavatavanawai (co-captain), 11 Jonah Lowe, 10 Cameron Millar, 9 Adam Lennox, 8 Nikora Broughton, 7 Lucas Casey, 6 Te Kamaka Howden, 5 Mitch Dunshea, 4 Tomas Lavanini, 3 Angus Ta’avao, 2 Jack Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot (co-captain)
Replacements: 16 Henry Bell, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Saula Ma’u, 19 Oliver Haig, 20 Sean Withy, 21 Veveni Lasaqa, 22 Folau Fakatava, 23 Taine Robinson
Referee: Nic Berry
Assistant referees: Reuben Keane, Louis Trisley
TMO: Brett Cronan
Saturday, May 16
Fijian Drua v Waratahs
(HFC Bank Stadium, Suva – Kick-off: 16.35 FJT 14.35 AEST; 04.35 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Fijian Drua by eight points
Teams
Fijian Drua: 15 Isikeli Rabitu, 14 Frank Lomani (co-captain), 13 Tuidraki Samusamuvodre, 12 Virimi Vakatawa, 11 Manasa Mataele, 10 Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 9 Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 8 Elia Canakaivata, 7 Kitione Salawa, 6 Etonia Waqa, 5 Temo Mayanavanua (co-captain), 4 Isoa Nasilasila, 3 Mesake Doge, 2 Zuriel Togiatama, 1 Peni Ravai
Replacements: 16 Kavaia Tagivetaua, 17 Emosi Tuqiri, 18 Samuela Tawake, 19 Mesake Vocevoce, 20 Vilive Miramira, 21 Isoa Tuwai, 22 Philip Baselala, 23 Kemu Valetini
Waratahs: 15 Max Jorgensen, 14 Harry Potter, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Lawson Creighton, 11 Triston Reilly, 10 Jack Bowen, 9 Teddy Wilson, 8 Angus Scott-Young, 7 Charlie Gamble, 6 Clem Halaholo, 5 Miles Amatosero, 4 Matt Philip (captain), 3 Dan Botha, 2 Ioane Moananu, 1 Jack Barrett
Replacements: 16 Oniti Finau, 17 Isaac Kailea, 18 Apolosi Ranawai, 19 Ben Grant, 20Jamie Adamson, 21 Michael McDonald, 22 Jack Debreczeni, 23 Sid Harvey
Referee: James Doleman
Assistant referees: Marcus Playle, Fraser Hannon
TMO: Aaron Paterson
Blues v Hurricanes
(Eden Park, Auckland – Kick-off: 19.05 NZST; 07.05 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Hurricanes by two points
Teams
Blues: 15 Zarn Sullivan, 14 AJ Lam, 13 Xavi Taele, 12 Pita Ahki, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Sam Nock, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Anton Segner, 6 Malachi Wrampling, 5 Sam Darry, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (captain), 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Bradley Slater, 1 Ofa Tu’ungafasi
Replacements: 16 Kurt Eklund, 17 Mason Tupaea, 18 Flyn Yates, 19 Laghlan McWhannell, 20 Torian Barnes, 21 Che Clark, 22 Finlay Christie, 23 Stephen Perofeta
Hurricanes: 15 Callum Harkin, 14 Fehi Fineanganofo, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett (captain), 11 Kini Naholo, 10 Ruben Love, 9 Ereatara Enari, 8 Devan Flanders, 7 Peter Lakai, 6 Brad Shields, 5 Warner Dearns, 4 Caleb Delany, 3 Pasilio Tosi, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Xavier Numia
Replacements: 16 Raymond Tuputupu, 17 Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18 Siale Lauaki, 19 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 20 Brayden Iose, 21 Jordi Viljoen, 22 Jone Rova, 23 Bailyn Sullivan
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
Assistant referees: Todd Petrie, Warwick Lahmert
TMO: Richard Kelly
Western Force v Reds
(HBF Park, Perth – Kick-off: 17.35 AWST; 19.35 AEST; 09.35 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Reds by 10 points
Teams
Western Force: 15 Mac Grealy, 14 Zac Lomax, 13 George Bridge, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 Dylan Pietsch, 10 Max Burey, 9 Nathan Hastie, 8 Vailoni Ekuasi, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 5 Darcy Swain, 4 Jeremy Williams (captain), 3 Misinale Epenisa, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Harry Johnson-Holmes
Replacements: 16 Nic Dolly, 17 Marley Pearce, 18 Sef Fa’agase, 19 Franco Molina, 20 Will Harris, 21 Agustin Moyano, 22 Bayley Kuenzle, 23 Kurtley Beale
Reds: 15 Jock Campbell, 14 Tim Ryan, 13 Isaac Henry, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Lachie Anderson, 10 Carter Gordon, 9 Louis Werchon, 8 Harry Wilson (captain), 7 Joe Bryant, 6 Joe Brial, 5 Seru Uru,4 Hamish Muller, 3 Massimo De Luttis, 2 Josh Nasser, 1 George Blake
Replacements: 16 Matt Faessler, 17 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Charlie Brosnan, 20 Vaiuta Latu, 21 Kalani Thomas, 22 Ben Volavola, 23 Treyvon Pritchard
Referee: Jordan Way
Assistant referees: Damon Murphy, Jeremy Markey
TMO: James Leckie
Sources: Super Rugby Pacific & AAP
