Super Rugby Pacific, Round Six - teams and predictions

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PREVIEW: There are several exciting match-ups in Round Six of the Super Rugby Pacific, with two grudge matches adding extra spice to the action.

Round Six starts with a rare trip to Pukekohe as Moana Pasifika face the Chiefs on Friday

In a triple-header on Saturday, the Reds take on the Highlanders in Dunedin before two grudge matches between the Blues and Crusaders and NSW Waratahs taking on the Brumbies.

On Sunday, the Western Force welcome the Fijian Drua to Perth.

Five rounds into the 2025 campaign, the standings are as tight as ever with not a single team left undefeated or winless.

The team at the bottom of the table, Moana Pasifika, are scoring more points per game than the team at the top, the Chiefs, and the reigning champions have just one win to their name.

For Scott 'Razor' Robertson, watching the contests as an eagle-eyed observer in his capacity as national selector as well as feeling the pulse of the game throughout the country, this season has been a very positive step forward in the competition.

"How good? I think everyone's talking about it, anywhere you go," the coach told the Rugby Direct podcast this week.

"Just the quality of football, the skillsets, the young players that are coming through. There's a bit of jeopardy for teams, anyone can win.

"And, I just think the shape of the game, the ball in play [time] all around the world is really high, but Super Rugby's been great to watch and I've enjoyed it from a coaching point of view, a selection point of view, but also just in viewership, you're really entertained."

It took no time at all for the All Blacks selection debate to heat up once the Super Rugby season kicked off, with names like Du'Plessis Kirifi, Timoci Tavatavanawai and Quinn Tupaea featuring heavily in fan discourse.

Razor stopped short of mentioning any names in particular but alluded to the young players as a cohort that have caught his eye.

"Look, if I start giving names, I've learnt you get in trouble!

"But I think there's some guys who have had their first Supers, their second Supers, who have really stood up. They've had opportunities, and there's been a couple of injuries. They've taken that, and they've got regular game time and are playing some fearless footy.

"And because every game is tight, you see them under pressure as well. I'm just really enjoying the skillsets and bravery."

See below for Round Six's teams and predictions!

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Friday, Match 21

Moana Pasifika v Chiefs
(Navigation Homes Stadium, Pukekohe - Kick-off: 19.05, 06.05 GMT)

Prediction

Teams: 

Moana Pasifika: 15 William Havili, 14 Losi Filipo, 13 Pepesana Patafilo, 12 Lalomilo Lalomilo, 11 Kyren Taumoefolau, 10 Patrick Pellegrini, 9 Jonathan Taumateine; 8 Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa, 7 Miracle Faiilagi, 6 Ola Tauelangi, 5 Allan Craig, 4 Tom Savage (captain), 3 Sione Mafile'o, 2 Millennium Sanerivi, 1 Abraham Pole.
Replacements: 16 Sama Malolo, 17 Tito Tuipulotu, 18 Chris Apoua, 19 Michael Curry, 20 Semisi Paea, 21 Melani Matavao, 22 Tevita Ofa, 23 Tuna Tuitama.

Chiefs: 15 Shaun Stevenson, 14 Emoni Narawa, 13 Daniel Rona, 12 Gideon Wrampling, 11 Leroy Carter, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Xavier Roe; 8 Luke Jacobson (captain), 7 Kaylum Boshier, 6 Samipeni Finau, 5 Tupou Vaa'i, 4 Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 3 Reuben O'Neill, 2 Bradley Slater, 1 Jared Proffit.
Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei'aho, 17 Aidan Ross, 18 Sione Ahio, 19 James Thompson, 20 Jahrome Brown, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Josh Jacomb, 23 Quinn Tupaea.

Referee: Marcus Playle
Assistant referees: Angus Mabey & Fraser Hannon
TMO: Shane McDermott

Saturday, March 22

Highlanders v Queensland Reds
(Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin - Kick-off: 16.35; 03.35 GMT; 13.35 AEST)

Prediction

Teams: 

Highlanders: 15 Finn Hurley, 14 Caleb Tangitau, 13 Tanielu Tele'a, 12 Thomas Umaga-Jensen, 11 Timoci Tavatavanawai (captain), 10 Taine Robinson, 9 Nathan Hastie; 8 Nikora Broughton, 7 Veveni Lasaqa, 6 Sean Withy, 5 Mitch Dunshea, 4 Te Kamaka TK Howden, 3 Saula Ma'u, 2 Soane Vikena, 1 Ethan de Groot.
Replacements: 16 Jack Taylor, 17 Josh Bartlett, 18 Sefo Kautai, 19 Fabian Holland, 20 Will Stodart, 21 James Arscott, 22 Ajay Faleafaga, 23 Sam Gilbert.

Reds: 15 Heremaia Murray, 14 Lachie Anderson, 13 Filipo Daugunu, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Tim Ryan, 10 Tom Lynagh, 9 Kalani Thomas, 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Josh Bryant, 6 Seru Uru, 5 Angus Blyth, 4 Josh Canham, 3 Zane Nonggorr, 2 Richie Asiata, 1 Sef Fa'agase.
Replacements: 16 Goerge Blake, 17 Alex Hodgman, 18 Massimo De Luitiis, 19 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 20 Joe Brial, 21 Louis Werchon, 22 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 23 Dre Pakeho.

Referee: Damon Murphy
Assistant Referees: Matt Kellahan, Jeremy Markey
TMO: Brett Cronan

Blues v Crusaders
(Eden Park, Auckland - Kick-off: 19.05; 06.05 GMT)

Prediction

Teams: 

Blues: 15 Corey Evans, 14 Mark Tele'a, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Xavi Taele, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Stephen Perofeta, 9 Sam Nock; 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Dalton Papali'i, 6 Cameron Christie, 5 Josh Beehre, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (captain), 3 Angus Ta'avao, 2 Kurt Eklund, 1 Joshua Fusitu'a.
Replacements: 16 James Mullan, 17 Jordan Lay, 18 Marcel Renata, 19 Laghlan McWhannell, 20 Tristyn Cook, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Harry Plummer, 23 Cole Forbes.

Crusaders: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Chay Fihaki, 13 Dallas McLeod, 12 David Havili (captain), 11 Sevu Reece, 10 Taha Kemara, 9 Kyle Preston; 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Tom Christie, 6 Cullen Grace, 5 Antonio Shalfoon, 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Tamaiti Williams.
Replacements: 16 Ioane Moananu, 17 George Bower, 18 Seb Calder, 19 Quinten Strange, 20 Corey Kellow, 21 Noah Hotham, 22 James O'Connor, 23 Macca Springer.

Referee: James Doleman
Assistant Referee: Mike Winter, Fraser Hannon
TMO: Richard Kelly

Waratahs v Brumbies
(Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney - Kick-off: 19.35; 09.35 GMT)

Prediction

Teams: 

Waratahs: 15 Andrew Kellaway, 14 Triston Reilly, 13 Henry O'Donnell, 12 Joey Walton, 11 Max Jorgensen, 10 Lawson Creighton, 9 Teddy Wilson, 8 Langi Gleeson, 7 Charlie Gamble, 6 Rob Leota, 5 Ben Grant, 4 Hugh Sinclair (captain), 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Dave Porecki, 1 Angus Bell.
Replacements: 16 Mahe Vailanu, 17 Isaac Kailea, 18 Daniel Botha, 19 Felix Kalapu, 20 Jamie Adamson, 21 Leafi Talataina, 22 Jack Grant, 23 Tane Edmed.

Brumbies: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Andy Muirhead, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Ollie Sapsford, 11 Corey Toole, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Ryan Lonergan, 8 Rob Valetini, 7 Luke Reimer, 6 Tom Hooper, 5 Caudeyrn Neville, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Allan Alaalatoa (captain), 2 Billy Pollard, 1 James Slipper.
Replacements: 16 Lachlan Lonergan, 17 Blake Schoupp, 18 Feao Fotuaika, 19 Lachie Shaw, 20 Rory Scott, 21 Harrison Goddard, 22 Jack Devreczeni, 23 Austin Anderson.

Referee: Ben O'Keeffe
Assistant Referees: Stu Curran, Jackson Henshaw
TMO: Glenn Newman

Sunday, March 23 

Western Force v Fijian Drua
(Perth Rectangular Stadium, Perth - Kick-off: 14.05; 06.05 GMT; 18.05 FJT)

Prediction

Teams:

Western Force: 15 Mac Grealy, 14 Harry Potter, 13 Sio Tomkinson, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 Dylan Pietch, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Nic White, 8 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Will Harris, 5 Darcy Swain, 4 Jeremy Williams (captain), 3 Tom Robertson, 2 Nic Dolly, 1 Ryan Coxon.
Replacements: 16 Tom Horton, 17 Marley Pearce, 18 Atu Moli, 19 Vaiolini Ekuasi, 20 Reed Prinsep, 21 Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 22 Max Burey, 23 Reesjan Pasitoa

Fijian Drua: 15 Ilaisa Droasese, 14 Ponipate Loganimasi, 13 Iosefo Masi, 12 Tuidraki Samusamuvodre, 11 Taniela Rakuro, 10 Caleb Muntz, 9 Simione Kuruvoli, 8 Meli Derenalagi, 7 Elia Canakaivata, 6 Etonia Waqa, 5 Isoa Nasilasila, 4 Mesake Vocevoce, 3 Meli Tuni, 2 Tevita Ikanivere (captain), 1 Livai Natave.
Replacements: 16 Mesulame Dolokoto, 17 Haereiti Hetet, 18 Mesake Doge, 19 Vilive Miramira, 20 Kitione Salawa, 21 Peni Matawalu, 22 Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 23 Vuate Karawalevu

Referee: Nic Berry
Assistant Referees: Jordan Way, Jordan Kaminski
TMO: James Leckie

*Additional Source: Rugbypass