Photo: AAP / www.photosport.nz
It's not unusual for the Crusaders to head into a game against the Rebels with eight spaces between them on the ladder - but not in this order. Under-fire coach Rob Penney's side sits dead last, while the Melbourne side that were rumoured to be getting cut are flying high in fourth. Does that make their match-up the game of the round?
Crusaders v Rebels
Kick-off: 7.05pm Friday 26 April
Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch
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Rob Penney Coach of the Crusaders, 2024. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Lose this one and the Crusaders are in the unbelievable position of having to potentially win out to make the play-offs. Given their current form that's unlikely, so all of a sudden, a win over the Rebels is a big deal. But it's certainly no given - while the Rebels have had a favourable draw so far, they aren't in fourth place by accident.
Crusaders remain bottom of the Super Rugby table
Crusaders: 15 Johnny McNicholl, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Levi Aumua, 12 Dallas McLeod, 11 Heremaia Murray, 10 Rivez Reihana, 9 Mitchell Drummond, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Ethan Blackadder, 6 Cullen Grace, 5 Quinten Strange, 4 Scott Barrett (c), 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Brodie McAlister, 1 George Bower
Bench: 16 George Bell, 17 Joe Moody, 18 Owen Franks, 19 Jamie Hannah, Corey Kellow, Noah Hotham, David Havili, Chay Fihaki
Rebels: 15 Andrew Kellaway, 14 Lachie Anderson, 13 Filipo Daugunu, 12 David Feliuai, 11 Darby Lancaster, 10 Carter Gordon, 9 Ryan Louwrens, 8 Vaiolini Ekuasi, 7 Maciu Nabolakasi, 6 Josh Kemeny, 5 Josh Canham, 4 Tuaina Taii Tualima, 3 Sam Talakai (c), 2 Alex Mafi, 1 Matt Gibbon
Bench: 16 Jordan Uelese, 17 Isaac Kailea, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Angelo Smith, 20 Rob Leota, 21 Jack Maunder, 22 Matt Proctor, 23 Nick Jooste
Waratahs v Chiefs
Kick-off: 9.35pm Friday 26 April
Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Emoni Narawa (C) from the Chiefs avoids a tackle from Jed Holloway (R) from the Waratahs. Photo: David Gray/Photosport
Both sides are coming off their bye week, and the Tahs will still be full of confidence after their golden-point win over the Crusaders a fortnight ago. This Chiefs side should be too strong for them, though, especially with the added incentive of All Black selection drawing closer for some of their standout players.
Waratahs: 15 Max Jorgensen, 14 Mark Nawaqanitawase, 13 Joey Walton, 12 Lalakai Foketi, 11 Triston Reilly, 10 Tane Edmed, 9 Jake Gordon (c), 8 Ned Hanigan, 7 Charlie Gamble, 6 Lachlan Swinton, 5 Miles Amatosero, 4 Hugh Sinclair, 3 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 2 Julian Heaven, 1 Hayden Thompson-Stringer
Bench: Jay Fonokalafi, Lewis Ponini, Tom Ross, Jed Holloway, Langi Gleeson, Jack Grant, Will Harrison, Izaia Perese
Chiefs: 15 Shaun Stevenson, 14 Emoni Narawa, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Rameka Poihipi, 11 Etene Nanai-Seturo, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Kaylum Boshier (c), 6 Samipeni Finau, 5 Tupou Vaa'i,4 Jimmy Tupou, 3 George Dyer, 2 Samisoni Taukei'aho, 1 Aidan Ross
Bench: 16 Tyrone Thompson, 17 Jared Proffit, 18 Reuben O'Neill, 19 Manaaki Selby-Rickit, 20 Simon Parker, 21 Xavier Roe, 22 Josh Ioane, 23 Quinn Tupaea
Fijian Drua v Moana Pasifika
Kick-off: 2.05pm Saturday 27 April
Churchill Park, Lautoka
Moana Pasifika celebrate a try. Photo: photosport
Moana are another side back after a week off and a good win over the Reds, which they really needed after a string of horror shows on defence. The Drua lost this season's first game at home last weekend, but it was against the table-topping Hurricanes so no shame there.
Drua: 15 Ilaisa Droasese, 14 Selestino Ravutaumada, 13 Iosefo Masi, 12 Apisalome Vota, 11 Taniela Rakuro, 10 Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 9 Peni Matawalu, 8 Meli Derenalagi (c), 7 Kitione Salawa, 6 Etonia Waga, 5 Leone Rotuisolia, 4 Isoa Nasilasila, 3 Mesake Doge, 2 Zuriel Togiatama, 1 Haereiti Hetet
Bench: 16 Mesu Dolokoto, 17 Livai Natave, 18 Samu Tawake, 19 Mesake Vocevoce, 20 Vilive Miramira, 21 Elia Canakaivata, 22 Simione Kuruvoli, 23 Michael Naitokani
Moana Pasifika: 15 Danny Toala, 14 Viliami Fine, 13 Henry Taefu, 12 Julian Savea, 11 Fine Inisi, 10 William Havili, 9 Ere Enari, 8 Sione Havili Talitui (c), 7 Jacob Norris, 6 Irie Papuni, 5 Allan Craig, 4 Tom Savage, 3 Sione Mafileo, 2 Samiuela Moli, 1 Abraham Pole
Bench: 16 Sama Malolo, 17 Sateki Latu, 18 Sekope Kepu, 19 Ola Tauelangi, 20 Lotu Inisi, 21 Jonathan Taumateine, 22 Christian Lealiifano, 23 Neria Fomai
Brumbies v Hurricanes
Kick-off: 4.35pm Saturday 27 April
GIO Stadium, Canberra
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Photo: Photosport / AAP / Lukas Coch
All jokes aside about the Crusaders - this one really is the feature game of the round. The good news for the Brumbies is they are too good a team to play as poorly as they did last weekend twice in a row. However, it did give the Canes plenty of areas to target - not that they really need the help given how well they're playing.
The one big setback for Clark Laidlaw is an injury to form hooker Asafo Aumua, which will sideline him for six weeks. However, Bailyn Sullivan makes his long-awaited return to action after a long injury lay-off.
Brumbies: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Ollie Sapsford, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Tamati Tua, 11 Corey Toole, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Ryan Lonergan (c), 8 Charlie Cale, 7 Rory Scott, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Cadeyrn Neville, 4 Darcy Swain, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Billy Pollard, 1 James Slipper
Bench: 16 Connal McInerney, 17 Blake Schoupp, 18 Sosefo Kautai, 19 Tom Hooper, 20 Jahrome Brown, 21 Harrison Goddard, 22 Jack Debreczeni, 23 Andy Muirhead
Hurricanes: 15 Ruben Love, 14 Kini Naholo, 13 Peter Umaga-Jensen, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Salesi Rayasi, 10 Brett Cameron, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Brayden Iose, 7 Du'Plessis Kirifi, 6 Brad Shields (c), 5 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 4 Caleb Delany, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 James O'Reilly, 1 Xavier Numia
Bench: 16 Raymond Tuputupu, 17 Tevita Mafileo, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Ben Grant, 20 Peter Lakai, 21 Richard Judd, 22 Riley Higgins, 23 Bailyn Sullivan
Highlanders v Force
Kick-off: 7.05pm Saturday 27 April
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Highlanders coach Clarke Dermody. Photo: Photosport
The Force once again will complete their long trek over to New Zealand, but they'll be confident of getting a result against the Highlanders. That's because Clarke Dermody's team were so bad against the Reds last weekend it's beyond a joke, and they will continue to search for answers in this one. They have the talent but putting it all together has been an elusive task.
Highlanders: 15 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, 14 Timoci Tavatavanawai, 13 Tanielu Tele'a, 12 Jake Te Hiwi, 11 Connor Garden-Bachop, 10 Rhys Patchell, 9 Folau Fakatava, 8 Billy Harmon (c), 7 Sean Withy, 6 Oliver Haig, 5 Fabian Holland, 4 Mitch Dunshea, 3 Saula Ma'ui, 2 Henry Bell, 1 Ethan de Groot
Bench: 16 Jack Taylor, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Jermaine Ainsley, 19 Will Tucker, 20 Hugh Renton, 21 James Arscott, 22 Cameron Millar, 23 Martin Bogado
Force: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Bayley Kuenzle, 13 Sam Spink, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 Chase Tiatia, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Nic White (c), 8 Reed Prinsep, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Will Harris, 5 Izack Rodda, 4 Sam Carter, 3 Santiago Medrano, 2 Tom Horton, 1 Marley Pearce
Bench: 16 Feleti Kaitu'u, 17 Josh Bartlett, 18 Tiaan Tauakipulu, 19 Jeremy Williams, 20 Michael Wells, 21 Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 22 Max Burey, 23 Henry O'Donnell
Reds v Blues
Kick-off: 9.35pm Saturday 27 April
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Bryce Heem of the Blues is tackled by Josh Flook of the Reds. Photo: Darren England/Photosport
An intriguing one here, as the Blues come in as a seemingly unstoppable force having scored 143 points and conceded only 18 in their last three games. However, the Reds have been hot enough when they've needed to be to make this one feel a little less like a one-way traffic situation.
Reds: 15 Jock Campbell, 14 Suli Vunivalu, 13 Josh Flook, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Tim Ryan, 10 Tom Lynagh, 9 Kalani Thomas, 8 Harry Wilson, 7 John Bryant, 6 Liam Wright (c), 5 Angus Blyth, 4 Ryan Smith, 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 2 Matt Faessler, 1 Alex Hodgman
Bench: 16 Josh Nasser, 17 Peni Ravai, 18 Sef Fa'agase, 19 Connor Vest, 20 Joe Brial, 21 Louis Werchon, 22 Lawson Creighton, 23 Floyd Aubrey
Blues: 15 Cole Forbes, 14 AJ Lam, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Bryce Heem, 11 Mark Tele'a, 10 Harry Plummer, 9 Taufa Funaki, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Dalton Papali'i, 6 Anton Segner, 5 Sam Darry, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 3 Angus Ta'avao, 2 Soane Vikena, 1 Ofa Tu'ungafasi
Bench: 16 Kurt Eklund, 17 Joshua Fusitu'a, 18 Marcel Renata, 19 Lachlan McWhannell, 20 James Thompson, 21 Sam Nock, 22 Corey Evans, 23 Caleb Clarke