Super Rugby Pacific, Round One - Teams and Predictions
Today at 02:47 AM
PREVIEW: Super Rugby champions the Blues, strengthened by the return of Beauden Barrett, have high hopes of back-to-back titles as the competition returns this week but are wary of Australian sides bolstered by the collapse of the Melbourne Rebels.
All Black playmaker Barrett is back at the Vern Cotter-coached Blues after a stint playing for the Verblitz, with the champions opening the Southern Hemisphere season on Saturday against last year's runners-up, the Chiefs.
Barrett said he had been impressed with the Blues' transformation.
"Vern's edge, his difference, his style of the way that you saw the Blues played last year, is different to what New Zealand's experienced in recent times," he said.
Barrett highlighted growth in the leadership of experienced players such as Patrick Tuipulotu, Dalton Papali'i and Rieko Ioane while noting that everyone was ready to contribute where required.
"It's been a fairly blunt strategy that's worked, and we'll look to adapt a little bit," he said.
A ruthless Blues crushed the Chiefs 41-10 in last year's Final as the reign of the Crusaders, who won the previous seven Super Rugby championships, was ended.
"We know they'll [the Chiefs] be out for revenge, but we're here to defend our home turf and start our season on the right foot," said Cotter of the rematch at Eden Park.
"We've seen our boys come back with real intent around their pre-season training,g and you can feel the desire to go the whole way once again in 2025."
The Crusaders endured a torrid 2024, their fall from grace completed when they failed to reach the knock-out phase.
The Crusaders host the Hurricanes in Christchurch on Friday, with new captain David Havili admitting it would be a challenge to pick them up from the disappointment of last season.
The story continues below...
Brumbies threat
"From those seven titles, you learn a lot about winning. There have been some downs and some lows on the way through those titles as well. I've seen both sides," he said.
"All I want to do is make my players, and my team, trust that I'll be there in the big moments for them."
With the debt-ridden Rebels no longer in existence, the competition has been reduced to 11 teams - five from New Zealand, four from Australia plus Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika, who include players from the Pacific islands.
Barrett said he expected a bigger challenge from the Australian sides this year.
"The likes of the Waratahs, or all the Australian teams, have benefited from Rebels players going to other teams," he said.
"Naturally, you'll see those teams get stronger."
The Brumbies again shape as the main threat to New Zealand's dominance, aiming to better the semifinals they made in the past two seasons.
"We've got to understand that we're making the semifinals so we're not doing too much wrong," said Wallabies prop Allan Alaalatoa, who will skipper the Brumbies for a sixth season.
"For us, it has been important to highlight the good stuff we're doing over the last few years but also understand the shifts we need to make."
They face Drua away to start, while the Waratahs meet the Highlanders and Western Force host Moana.
The season comprises 16 rounds with the top six qualifying for the finals.
See below for Round One's teams and predictions!
Friday, February 14:
Crusaders v Hurricanes
(Rugby League Park, Christchurch - 19.05; 06.05 GMT)
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Prediction
@rugby365com: Crusaders by four points.
Teams:
Crusaders: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Chay Fihaki, 13 Levi Aumua, 12 David Havili, 11 Sevu Reece, 10 Taha Kemara, 9 Noah Hotham, 8 Christin Lio-Willie, 7 Ethan Blackadder, 6 Cullen Grace, 5 Antonio Shalfoon, 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Ioane Moananu, 1 Tamaiti Williams.
Replacements: 16 Manumaua Letiu, 17 George Bower, 18 Sam Matenga, 19 Tahlor Cahil, 20 Corey Kellow, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 James O'Connor, 23 Dallas McLeod.
Hurricanes: 15 Callum Harkin, 14 Fatafehi Fineanganofo, 13 Bailyn Sullivan, 12 Peter Umaga-Jensen, 11 Kini Naholo, 10 Harry Godfrey, 9 Cameron Roigard, 8 Brayden Iose, 7 Du'Plessis Kirifi, 6 Brad Shields (co-captain), 5 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 4 Caleb Delany, 3 Tevita Mafileo, 2 Jacob Devery, 1 Xavier Numia.
Replacements: 16 Raymond Tuputou, 17 Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Hugo Plummer, 20 Peter Lakai, 21 Ereatara Enari, 22 Riley Hohepa, 23 Ngatungane Punivai.
Referee: Nic Berry
Assistant referees: Reuben Keane, Jackson Henshaw
TMO: Brett Cronan
Waratahs v Highlanders
(Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney - Kick-off: 19.35; 21.35 NZDT; 08.35 GMT)
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Prediction
@rugby365com: Waratahs by 11 points.
Waratahs: 15 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Lalakai Foketi, 12 Joey Walton, 11 Max Jorgensen, 10 Tane Edmed, 9 Jake Gordon (captain), 8 Langi Gleeson, 7 Charlie Gamble, 6 Rob Leota, 5 Miles Amatosero, 4 Hugh Sinclair, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Dave Porecki, 1 Angus Bell.
Replacements: 16 Mahe Vailanu, 17 Tom Lambert, 18 Siosifa Amone, 19 Ben Grant, 20 Jamie Adamson, 21 Jack Grant, 22 Jack Bowen, 23 Darby Lancaster.
Highlanders: 15 Sam Gilbert, 14 Michael Manson, 13 Tanielu Tele'a, 12 Timoci Tavatavanawai (co-captain), 11 Caleb Tangitau, 10 Taine Robinson, 9 Nathan Hastie, 8 Hugh Renton (co-captain), 7 Sean Withy, 6 Lui Naeata, 5 Mitch Dunshea, 4 Fabian Holland, 3 Saula Ma'u, 2 Soane Mikaele Vikena, 1 Ethan de Groot.
Replacements: 16 Henry Bell, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Sefo Kautai, 19 Nikora Broughton, 20 Veveni Lasaqa, 21 Folau Fakatava, 22 Cameron Millar, 23 Finn Hurley.
Referee: Angus Gardner
Assistant referees: Graham Cooper, Matt Kellahan
TMO: Ollie Kellett
Saturday, February 15:
Fijian Drua v Brumbies
(Buckhurst Park, Suva - Kick-off: 15.35; 14.35 AEDT; 03.35 GMT)
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Prediction
@rugby365com: Brumbies by five points.
Teams:
Fijian Drua: 15 Isikeli Rabitu, 14 Ponipate Loganimasi, 13 Iosefo Masi, 12 Kemu Valetini, 11 Vuate Karawalevu, 10 Caleb Muntz, 9 Simione Kuruvoli, 8 Elia Canakaivata, 7 Kitione Salawa, 6 Joseva Tamani, 5 Leone Rotuisolia, 4 Mesake Vocevoce, 3 Samuela Tawake, 2 Tevita Ikanivere (co-captain), 1 Haereiti Hetet.
Replacements: 16 Mesulame Dolokoto, 17 Livai Natave, 18 Meli Tuni, 19 Vilive Miramira, 20 Isoa Tuwai, 21 Frank Lomani (co-captain), 22 Peni Matawalu, 23 Tuidraki Samusamuvodre.
Brumbies: 15 Andy Muirhead, 14 Ollie Sapsford, 13 Hudson Creighton, 12 Austin Anderson, 11 Corey Toole, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Ryan Lonergan (captain), 8 Rory Scott, 7 Luke Reimer, 6 Tuaina Taii Tualima, 5 Tom Hooper, 4 Lachlan Shaw, 3 Feao Fotuaika, 2 Billy Pollard, 1 Blake Schoupp.
Replacements: 16 Lachlan Lonergan, 17 Lington Ieli, 18 Rhys van Nek, 19 Cadeyrn Neville, 20 Judah Saumaisue, 21 Harrison Goddard, 22 Declan Meredith, 23 Kadin Pritchard.
Referee: Angus Mabey
Assistant referees: Michael Winter, Stu Curran
TMO: Marcus Playle
Blues v Chiefs
(Eden Park, Auckland - Kick-off: 19.05; 06.05 GMT)
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Prediction
@rugby365com: Blues by nine points.
Teams:
Blues: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Mark Tele'a, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 AJ Lam, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Harry Plummer, 9 Taufa Funaki, 8 Cameron Suafoa, 7 Dalton Papali'i, 6 Anton Segner, 5 Patrick Tuipulotu (captain), 4 Laghlan McWhannell, 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Ofa Tu'ungafasi.
Replacements: 16 Nathaniel Pole, 17 Josh Fusitua, 18 Angus Ta'avao, 19 Che Clark, 20 Adrian Choat, 21 Fin Christie, 22 Corey Evans, 23 Cole Forbes.
Chiefs: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Leroy Carter, 13 Daniel Rona, 12 Quinn Tupaea, 11 Etene Nanai-Seturo, 10 Josh Jacomb, 9 Xavier Roe, 8 Luke Jacobson (captain), 7 Kaylum Boshier, 6 Simon Parker, 5 Josh Lord, 4 Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 3 George Dyer, 2 Brodie McAllister, 1 Ollie Norris.
Replacements: 16 Bradley Slater, 17 Aidan Ross, 18 Reuben O'Neill, 19 Tupou Vaa'i, 20 Samipeni Finau, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Anton Lienert Brown, 23 Emoni Narawa.
Referee: Damon Murphy
Assistant referees: Reuben Keane, Ben O'Keeffe
TMO: Brett Cronan
Western Force v Moana Pasifika
(Perth Rectangular Stadium, Perth - Kick-off: 16.35; 21.35 NZDT; 08.35 GMT)
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Prediction
@rugby365com: Western Force by 14 points.
Western Force: 15 Mac Grealy, 14 Divad Palu, 13 Sio Tomkinson, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 Harry Potter, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Nic White, 8 Vaiolini Ekuasi, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 5 Darcy Swain, 4 Jeremy Williams, 3 Tom Robertson, 2 Nic Dolly, 1 Marley Pearce.
Replacements: 16 Tom Horton, 17 Atu Moli, 18 Tiaan Tauakipulu, 19 Reed Prinsep, 20 Will Harris, 21 Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 22 Max Burey, 23 Dylan Pietsch.
Moana Pasifika: 15 William Havili, 14 Solomon Alaimalo, 13 Pepesana Patafilo, 12 Lalomilo Lalomilo, 11 Kyren Taumoefolau, 10 Jackson Garden-Bachop, 9 Jonathan Taumateine, 8 Ardie Savea (captain), 7 Sione Havili Talitui, 6 Miracle Faillagi, 5 Allan Craig, 4 Samuel Slade, 3 Feteleti Sae-Ta'ufo'ou, 2 Millennium Sanerivi, 1 James Lay.
Replacements: 16 Sama Malolo, 17 Tito Tuipulotu, 18 Chris Apoua, 19 Tom Savage, 20 Ola Tauelangi, 21 Semisi Tupou Tailoa, 22 Melani Matavo, 23 Danny Toala.
Referee: Jordan Way
Assistant referees: George Myers, Jordan Kaminski
TMO: James Leckie
