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We’re coming into the final stretch of the Super Rugby Pacific regular season. For some, this round is their final outing, while other teams have one more week to finish a full season of games.
Round 15 welcomes back some big names just in time to help their teams in the final stretch of the season and to take one more opportunity to put themselves in the shop window for their national teams.
CRUSADERS (1-15): George Bower, Codie Taylor, Tamaiti Williams, Scott Barrett, Jamie Hannah, Cullen Grace, Tom Christie, Christian Lio-Willie, Mitch Drummond, Rivez Reihana, Macca Springer, David Havili (c), Braydon Ennor, Sevu Reece, Johnny McNicholl
Bench: George Bell, Lewis Ponini, Seb Calder, Quinten Strange, Corey Kellow, Kyle Preston, James O’Connor, Dallas McLeod
HIGHLANDERS (1-15): Ethan de Groot (co-c), Jack Taylor, Saula Ma’u, Mitch Dunshea, Fabian Holland, Te Kamaka Howden, Veveni Lasaqa, Sean Withy, Folau Fakatava, Taine Robinson, Taniela Filimone, Timoci Tavatavanawai (co-c), Tanielu Tele’a, Jonah Lowe, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
Replacements: Soane Vikena, Josh Bartlett, Sosefo Kautai, Tai Cribb, Will Stodart, Adam Lennox, Cameron Millar, Thomas Umaga-Jensen
Mitch Drummond will start his first game of the season in what will be his 150th SRP appearance. Tamaiti Williams shifts from the number one jersey last week to tighthead prop.
Fresh off the back of signing a three-year deal, Macca Springer gets another chance to impress.
This season has petered out for Jamie Joseph and his Highlanders team. The temperature has cooled on Tavatavanawai and former stars Fakatava and Ratumataivuki-Kneepkens haven’t returned to full speed.
It’s going to be a tough task for the Highlanders who have lost the last 25 out of 27 games versus New Zealand teams, although one of the two wins did come against the Crusaders just last year.
REDS (1-15): Sef Fa’agase, Richie Asiata, Zane Nonggorr, Josh Canham, Ryan Smith, Joe Brial, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson, Tate McDermott (c), Tom Lynagh, Filipo Daugunu, Hunter Paisami, Dre Paheko, Lachie Anderson, Jock Campbell
Bench: Josh Nasser, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Trevor King, Angus Blyth, John Bryant, Kalani Thomas, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, Tim Ryan
HURRICANES (1-15): Xavier Numia, Asafo Aumua (co-c), Tyrel Lomax, Zach Gallgher, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Brad Shields (co-c), Du’Plessis Kirifi (co-c), Peter Lakai, Cam Roigard, Ruben Love, Fatafehi Fineanganofo, Peter Umaga-Jensen, Billy Proctor (co-c), Daniel Sinkinson, Callum Harkin
Bench: Raymond Tuputupu, Tevita Mafileo, Pasilio Tosi, Hugo Plummer, Devan Flanders, Ereatara Enari, Brett Cameron, Bailyn Sullivan
The main headline for this game, is the return of the Wallabies captain, Harry Wilson. It’s a welcome return for Les Kiss who has seen his injury list grow and grow in recent weeks. He lines out alongside Fraser McReight and Joe Brial.
Trevor King, the former Australian Under 20s international is primed to earn his SRP debut from the bench. Just 20 years old, King measures in at 6’4 and 122kg. Not a bad profile to spring from the bench.
In a major blow for the Hurricanes, Brayden Iose has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a lower leg injury. The backrow is an area of depth in this Wellington side but Iose is still a major blow for their title hopes.
CHIEFS (1-15): Ollie Norris, Samisoni Taukei’aho, George Dyer, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Tupou Vaa’i, Simon Parker, Luke Jacobson (c), Wallace Sititi, Cortez Ratima, Damian McKenzie, Leroy Carter, Quinn Tupaea, Daniel Rona, Emoni Narawa, Shaun Stevenson
Bench: Brodie McAlister, Aidan Ross, Reuben O’Neill, Josh Lord, Samipeni Finau, Xavier Roe, Josh Jacomb, Gideon Wrampling
PASIFIKA (1-15): Tito Tuipulotu, Millennium Sanerivi, Feleti Sae-Ta’ufo’ou, Tom Savage, Samuel Slade, Miracle Faiilagi, Ardie Savea (c), Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa, Jonathan Taumateine, Patrick Pellegrini, Solomon Alaimalo, Danny Toala, Lalomilo Lalamilo, Kyren Taumoefolau, Tevita Ofa
Bench: Samiuela Moli, Abraham Pole, Chris Apoua, Allan Craig, Sione Havili Talitui, Melani Matavao, Julian Savea, Jackson Garden-Bachop
The hottest ticket in town; Moana Pasifika. Sounds funny when your saying that in the same sentence as the Chiefs who have been in the top two of the league all year.
Clayton McMillan isn’t taking any chances against the in form team in the competition and has named an unchanged 23. Brodie McAlister and Samisoni Taukei’aho swap roles however with McAlister moving to the bench.
Moana Pasifika are on a three match winning streak. Last week out, Ardie Savea delivered what many are calling the single greatest performance of all time. The All Black has changed the course of this franchise and you can see his teammates raising their game around him.
Kyren Taumoefolau has scored nine tries in his last ten games although he’s never scored against the Chiefs. Will this be the week he breaks that streak and continues his current one?
FORCE (1-15): Fatongia Paea, Nic Dolly, Tom Robertson, Jeremy Williams (c), Darcy Swain, Will Harris, Carlo Tizzano, Nick Champion de Crespigny; Nic White, Ben Donaldson, Dylan Pietsch, Hamish Stewart, Bayley Kuenzle, Harry Potter, Mac Grealy
Bench: Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Ryan Coxon, Tiaan Tauakipulu, Reed Prinsep, Titi Nofoagatotoa, Henry Robertson, Alex Harford, Kurtley Beale
WARATAHS (1-15): Angus Bell, David Porecki, Taniela Tupou, Fergus Lee-Warner, Miles Amatosero, Hugh Sinclair, Charlie Gamble, Langi Gleeson, Jake Gordon (c), Tane Edmed, Triston Reilly, Joey Walton, Lalakai Foketi, Andrew Kellaway, Lawson Creighton
Bench: Mahe Vailanu, Tom Lambert, Daniel Botha, Ben Grant, Jamie Adamson, Teddy Wilson, Jack Bowen, Darby Lancaster
It all started off so well, The Force came out of the block roaring hot but have fallen off in recent weeks. This is a great opportunity for the mto finish their season off in style versus a wayward Waratahs team.
Ben Donaldson and Nic White return to the team and for the first time in weeks, Simon Cron can call on his first choice back three; Dylan Pietsch, Harry Potter and Mac Grealy. When they all lined out together earlier in the season, they looked like one of the most potent back threes in the competition.
Nick Champion de Crespigny gets one more chance to impress Joe Schmidt and Carlo Tizzano, Perth’s favourite son, makes is long awaited return from injury. Despite missing the last several rounds, Tizzano still tops the try scoring charts. Fresh off the back of signing a long term deal that will keep him in WA, Tizzano’s return is a huge boost for the Western Force.
The end of the season can’t come soon enough for Dan McKellar and his Waratahs side. This season has continued a worrying slide in D Mck’s career in recent years. Taniela Tupou returns to the starting team and all eyes will be fixed on him throughout the game to see how he performs. Joseph Suaalii’s injury last week means Lawson Creighton comes in at fullback, which adds a new look to this NSW back three.
Jake Gordon and Tane Edmed combine at nine and ten and will hope to end their SRP season in style to reassure Joe Schmidt they’re deserving of more playing time in gold.
