Ruben Love of the Hurricanes is tackled by Laghlan McWhannell of the Blues. Photo: Hagen Hopkins
Two big regional battles dominate this weekend's Super Rugby Pacific action, albeit at either end of the ladder. The Blues welcome the Hurricanes to Eden Park in a mouth-watering match-up on Saturday afternoon, before the Highlanders host the Crusaders in the Southern Classic later that night. Across the ditch, a couple of Aussie derbies will go a long way to shaping the playoff picture as well.
Moana Pasifika v Chiefs
Kick-off: 7:05pm Friday 10 May
Go Media Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland
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Melani Matavao of Moana Pasifika during the Super Rugby Pacific round 7 match between the Chiefs and Moana Pasifika. Photo: Aaron Gillions / www.photosport.nz
The Chiefs have racked up just under 100 points in their last two games and will be looking to keep that sort of attacking heat going against Moana, who have dropped their last two. However, Tana Umaga's side is still very much in the hunt for a playoff spot as they hope to leapfrog the Drua and Highlanders if they can pull off an unlikely upset.
Moana Pasifika: 15 Danny Toala, 14 Nigel Ah Wong, 13 Pepesana Patafilo, 12 Lalomilo Lalomilo, 11 Neria Fomai, 10 D'Angelo Leuila, 9 Aisea Halo, 8 Lotu Inisi, 7 Alamanda Motuga, 6 Miracle Faiʻilagi, 5 Allan Craig, 4 Semisi Paea, 3 Suetena Asomua, 2 Sama Malolo (c), 1 Saketi Latu
Bench: 16 Tomasi Maka, 17 Abraham Pole, 18 Sione Mafileo, 19 Tom Savage, 20 Irie Papuni, 21 Siaosi Nginingini, 22 Otumaka Mausia, 23 Kyren Taumoefolau
Chiefs: 15 Etene Nanai-Seturo, 14 Liam Coombes-Fabling, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Quinn Tupaea, 11 Daniel Rona, 10 Josh Jacomb, 9 Xavier Roe, 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Luke Jacobson (c), 6 Simon Parker, 5 Tupou Vaa'i, 4 Manaaki Selby-Rickit, 3 Reuben O'Neill, 2 Samisoni Taukei'aho, 1 Ollie Norris
Bench: 16 Tyrone Thompson, 17 Jared Proffit, 18 Sione Ahio, 19 Hamilton Burr, 20 Kaylum Boshier, 21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22 Rameka Poihipi, 23 Gideon Wrampling
Reds v Rebels
Kick-off: 9:35pm Friday 10 May
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Tate McDermott (right) of the Reds celebrates scoring a try. Photo: DARREN ENGLAND
Are the Reds the best team to watch in SRP right now? They've certainly put forward a couple of compelling performances in their last two games, including a landmark win over the Crusaders last weekend. Unfortunately for the Rebels, it looks like the very favourable draw they enjoyed has run its course, they now face an uphill battle to remain in the top eight.
Reds: 15 Jock Campbell, 14 Tim Ryan, 13 Josh Flook, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Mac Grealy, 10 Lawson Creighton, 9 Kalani Thomas, 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Liam Wright (cc), 5 Angus Blyth, 4 Ryan Smith, 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 2 Matt Faessler, 1 Sef Fa'agase
Bench: 16 Josh Nasser, 17 Peni Ravai, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Connor Vest, 20 John Bryant, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 James O'Connor, 23 Suliasi Vunivalu
Rebels: 15 Andrew Kellaway, 14 Lachie Anderson, 13 Filipo Daugunu, 12 Nick Jooste, 11 Darby Lancaster, 10 Carter Gordon, 9 Ryan Louwrens, 8 Rob Leota (c), 7 Vaiolini Ekuasi, 6 Josh Kemeny, 5 Josh Canham, 4 Angelo Smith, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Jordan Uelese, 1 Isaac Kailea
Bench: 16 Alex Mafi, 17 Cabous Eloff, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Tuaina Taii Tualima, 20 Maciu Nabolakasi, 21 Jack Maunder, 22 Jake Strachan, 23 Glen Vaihu
Blues v Hurricanes
Kick-off: 4:35pm Saturday 11 May
Eden Park, Auckland
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They don't get much bigger than this, both the Canes and Blues are in great form and are potentially playing for home field advantage through the playoffs. So there's plenty on the line in this All Black-laden match-up at the family friendly afternoon kick-off time.
It's also a battle of two coaches at opposite ends of the experience spectrum, with first year revelation Clark Laidlaw up against Vern Cotter - currently into his third decade of professional coaching.
Blues: 15 Zarn Sullivan, 14 Mark Tele'a, 13 AJ Lam, 12 Bryce Heem, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Harry Plummer, 9 Taufa Funaki, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Dalton Papali'i, 6 Akira Ioane, 5 Sam Darry, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Ofa Tu'ungafasi
Bench: 16 Kurt Eklund, 17 Joshua Fusitu'a, 18 Angus Ta'avao, 19 Josh Beehre, 20 Adrian Choat, 21 Sam Nock, 22 Corey Evans, 23 Cole Forbes
Hurricanes: 15 Ruben Love, 14 Josh Moorby, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Kini Naholo, 10 Brett Cameron, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Brayden Iose, 7 Peter Lakai, 6 Brad Shields (c), 5 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 4 Caleb Delany, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Kianu Kereru-Symes, 1 Xavier Numia
Bench: 16 Raymond Tuputupu, 17 Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Justin Sangster, 20 Devan Flanders, 21 Du'Plessis Kirifi, 22 Richard Judd, 23 Bailyn Sullivan
Highlanders v Crusaders
Kick-off: 7:05pm Saturday 11 May
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
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Rob Penney and Clarke Dermody. Photo: John Davidson, Darren England/Photosport
Down south the Highlanders will be out to break their duck against the Crusaders at home, a fixture they haven't won since 2018. This is a real dance of the desperate, with the Crusaders crashing to a defeat at home last weekend, while the Highlanders have fared slightly better with two tough wins. The two under fire coaches, Clarke Dermody and Rob Penney, will be desperate to get a bit of heat off before a big last three weekends.
Highlanders: 15 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, 14 Timoci Tavatavanawai, 13 Tanielu Telea, 12 Jake Te Hiwi, 11 Martin Bogado, 10 Cameron Millar, 9 Folau Fakatava, 8 Nikora Broughton, 7 Sean Withy, 6 Oliver Haig, 5 Fabian Holland, 4 Mitch Dunshea, 3 Jermaine Ainsley, 2 Henry Bell, 1 Ethan de Groot (c)
Bench: 16 Jack Taylor, 17 Ayden Johnstone, 18 Saula Ma'u, 19 Will Tucker, 20 Will Stodart, 21 James Arscott, 22 Sam Gilbert, 23 Finn Hurley
Crusaders: 15 Johnny McNicholl, 14 Chay Fihaki, 13 Levi Aumua, 12 Dallas McLeod, 11 Sevu Reece, 10 David Havili, 9 Noah Hotham, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Corey Kellow, 6 Cullen Grace, 5 Quinten Strange, 4 Scott Barrett (c), 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Tamaiti Williams
Bench: 16 George Bell, 17 George Bower, 18 Owen Franks, 19 Jamie Hannah, 20 Tom Christie, 21 Mitchell Drummond, 22 Rivez Reihana, 23 Macca Springer
Waratahs v Brumbies
Kick-off: 9:35pm Saturday 11 May
Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Charlie Gamble of the Waratahs (left) joins Hugh Sinclair of the Waratahs (right) as he celebrates scoring a try during the Super Rugby Pacific Round 2 match between the Crusaders and the New South Wales Waratahs at AAMI Park in Melbourne, Saturday, March 2, 2024. Photo: AAP / Photosport
The Brumbies are coming off a tough win against the Drua last weekend and will be keen to shut down their old rivals, while the Waratahs are simply trying to salvage something from another disappointing season.
Waratahs: 15 Mark Nawaqanitawase, 14 Triston Reilly, 13 Joey Walton, 12 Lalakai Foketi, 11 Dylan Pietsch, 10 Will Harrison, 9 Jake Gordon (c), 8 Jed Holloway, 7 Charlie Gamble, 6 Lachlan Swinton, 5 Miles Amatosero, 4 Fergus Lee-Warner, 3 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 2 Jay Fonokalafi, 1 Hayden Thompson-Stringer
Bench: 16 Ben Sugars, 17 Lewis Ponini, 18 Pone Fa'amausili, 19 Sinclair, 20 Hunter Ward, 21 Jack Grant, Tane Edmed, Izaia Perese
Brumbies: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Andy Muirhead, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Tamati Tua, 11 Ollie Sapsford, 10 Jack Debreczeni, 9 Ryan Lonergan, 8 Charlie Cale, 7 Rory Scott, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Nick Frost, 4 Darcy Swain, 3 Allan Alaalatoa (c), 2 Connal McInerney, 1 Harry Vella
Bench: 16 Billy Pollard, 17 James Slipper, 18 Sosefo Kautai, 19 Cadeyrn Neville, 20 Luke Reimer, 21 Harrison Goddard, 22 Declan Meredith, 23 Ben O'Donnell
Force v Fijian Drua
Kick-off: 11:55pm Saturday 11 May
HBF Park, Perth
Iosefo Masi attacks for the Fijian Drua against Moana Pasifika with support from Peni Matawalu in Lautoka on Saturday, April 27, 2024. Photo: Fijian Drua Photo: Fijian Drua
This is a big one for the Drua, if they can pull off their only away win of the season then it'll give them a decent foot in the door of the top eight before they have two crucial home fixtures in their last three games. The Force are still alive too but will need to win this one to have any chance heading into the last three weeks.
Force: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 George Poolman, 13 Bayley Kuenzle, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 Chase Tiatia, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Nic White, 8 Reed Prinsep, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Will Harris, 5 Izack Rodda, 4 Jeremy Williams (c), 3 Santiago Medrano, 2 Tom Horton, 1 Marley Pearce
Bench: 16 Feleti Kaitu'u, 17 Harry Hoopert, 18 Tiaan Tauakipulu, 19 Lopeti Faifua, 20 Michael Wells, 21 Henry Robertson, 22 Sam Spink, 23 Henry O'Donnell
Drua: 15 Ilaisa Droasese, 14 Selestino Ravutaumada, 13 Iosefo Masi, 12 Michael Naitokani, 11 Taniela Rakuro, 10 Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 9 Peni Matawalu, 8 Meli Derenalagi (c), 7 Kitione Salawa, 6 Vilive Miramira, 5 Isoa Nasilasila, 4 Mesake Vocevoce, 3 Mesake Doge, 2 Tevita Ikanivere, 1 Haereiti Hetet
Bench: 16 Zuriel Togiatama, 17 Emosi Tuqiri, 18 Samu Tawake, 19 Leone Rotuisolia, 20 Motikiai Murray, 21 Simione Kuruvoli, 22 Kemu Valetini, 23 Epeli Momo