CRAIG LEWIS looks ahead to the first four Super Rugby matches in round six of the competition.
HIGHLANDERS vs REBELS (Friday, 08:35)
The Highlanders battled their way to an important win over the Brumbies last weekend, and should build on that with a comfortable victory against the winless Rebels in the opening game of the weekend.
Aaron Smith has slowly been building his way back to form, and will have the motivation of featuring in his 100th Super Rugby match, where he will partner Marty Banks in a new-look halfback combination.
The Rebels have won just the solitary game from their last 14 visits to New Zealand, and while they have been competitive in their last couple of clashes, a fifth defeat of the season appears to be the almost inevitable outcome in Dunedin.
Highlanders – 15 Ben Smith (c), 14 Tevita Li, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Richard Buckman, 11 Patrick Osborne, 10 Marty Banks, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Luke Whitelock, 7 Dillon Hunt 6 Gareth Evans, 5 Tom Franklin, 4 Joe Wheeler, 3 Siate Tokolahi, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Aki Seiuli.
Subs: 16 Greg Pleasants-Tate, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Siosuia Halanukonuka, 19 Elliot Dixon, 20 Tupou Sopoaga, 21 Kayne Hammington, 22 Fletcher Smith, 23 Matt Faddes.
Rebels – 15 Jack Debreczeni, 14 Tom English, 13 Mitch Inman, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Jackson Garden-Bachop, 9 Nic Stirzaker (c), 8 Amanaki Mafi, 7 Colby Fainga’a, 6 Jordy Reid, 5 Steve Cummins, 4 Culum Retallick, 3 Laurie Weeks, 2 James Hanson, 1 Fereti Sa’aga.
Subs (two to be omitted): 16 Siliva Siliva, 17 Tom Moloney, 18 Tyrel Lomax, 19 Dominic Day, 20 Lopeti Timani, 21 Jake Schatz, 22 Esei Haangana, 23 Mick Snowden, 24 Sione Tuipulotu, 25 Ben Volavola.
BLUES vs FORCE (Saturday, 06:15)
The Blues secured their best win of the season to date when they overpowered the Bulls last weekend, scoring 31 unanswered points at one point in the second half.
It was a result that served as another reminder of the Blues’ lethal ability when they can get their attacking game going. By contrast, the struggling Force suffered a heavy loss to the Crusaders, and are likely to endure another forgettable fixture in New Zealand.
As it is, the Blues are undefeated in their last seven games against the Force, winning each of their last three home matches, while scoring a total of 111 points across that period.
Blues – 15 Michael Collins, 14 Matt Duffie, 13 George Moala, 12 TJ Faiane, 11 Melani Nanai, 10 Piers Francis, 9 Augustine Pulu, 8 Jerome Kaino, 7 Murphy Taramai, 6 Jimmy Tupou, 5 Patrick Tuipulotu, 4 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 James Parsons, 1 Pauliasi Manu.
Subs: 16 Matt Moulds, 17 Ofa Tu’ungafasi/Sam Prattley, 18 Sione Mafileo, 19 Scott Scrafton, 20 Akira Ioane, 21 Billy Guyton, 22 Ihaia West, 23 Rieko Ioane.
Force – 15 Dane Haylett-Petty 14 Chance Peni, 13 Marcel Brache, 12 Billy Meakes, 11 Alex Newsome, 10 Jono Lance, 9 Ryan Louwrens, 8 Isi Naisarani, 7 Matt Hodgson, 6 Ross Haylett-Petty, 5 Richie Arnold, 4 Matt Philip, 3 Tetera Faulkner, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Ben Daley.
Subs: 16 Anaru Rangi, 17 Pek Cowan, 18 Shambeckler Vui, 19 Richard Hardwick, 20 Kane Koteka, 21 Michael Ruru, 22 Ian Prior, 23 Robbie Coleman.
CHIEFS vs BULLS (Saturday, 08:35)
This is probably a match Bulls fans will want to avoid if last weekend’s encounter in Auckland is anything to go by.
It already feels as if it’s been a long season for the Bulls, who have managed just one win from four games, but there was a particular sense of helplessness as they were punished by the Blues during an inept second-half performance last Saturday.
To make matters worse, they are now set to come up against an undefeated Chiefs side that will be well rested and raring to go after last weekend’s bye.
The Bulls’ defence was at sixes and sevens against the Blues, and this will be a considerable concern against a Chiefs side that remains lethal with ball in hand, and that has lost just one of their 10 home games against the Pretoria-based side.
Understandably, the Bulls have made some changes to their lineup, with Jesse Kriel shifting to fullback and Burger Odendaal returning to the starting XV, while Arno Botha comes into the pack. However, it’s unlikely to change the result.
Chiefs – 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Shaun Stevenson, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Johnny Faauli, 11 James Lowe, 10 Aaron Cruden (co-c), 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Michael Leitch, 7 Sam Cane (co-c), 6 Liam Messam, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Dominic Bird, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Siegfried Fisi’ihoi.
Subs: 16 Brayden Mitchell, 17 Kane Hames, 18 Atu Moli, 19 Taleni Seu, 20 Mitchell Karpik, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Stephen Donald, 23 Solomon Alaimalo.
Bulls – 15 Jesse Kriel, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 Jan Serfontein, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Rudy Paige, 8 Arno Botha, 7 Nick de Jager, 6 Ruan Steenkam, 5 Lood de Jager , 4 RG Snyman, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Adriaan Strauss (c), 1 Pierre Schoeman.
Subs: 16 Edgar Marutlulle, 17 Lizo Gqoboka, 18 Jacobie Adriaanse, 19 Jason Jenkins, 20 Jannes Kirsten, 21 Piet van Zyl, 22 Tian Schoeman, 23 Warrick Gelant.
COLUMN: Dire Bulls need intervention
REDS vs HURRICANES (Saturday, 10:45)
In four games this season, the Canes have racked up a whopping 213 points and 33 tries, but it is their defence (44 points and seven tries conceded) that has been just as effective.
Indeed, it’s this all-round game that will surely prove too hot to handle for a Reds side that made an encouraging start to the season before subsequently slipping to defeats against the Force, Crusaders, Lions and Jaguares.
History will also be against the Reds, who have only two wins from their last 14 matches against the Hurricanes, with the reigning champs unlikely to have any real trouble in adding to that record on Saturday.
Reds – 15 Karmichael Hunt, 14 Chris Kuridrani, 13 Samu Kerevi, 12 Duncan Paia’aua, 11 Eto Nabuli, 10 Jake McIntyre, 9 James Tuttle, 8 Scott Higginbotham, 7 George Smith, 6 Adam Korczyk, 5 Kane Douglas, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Sam Talakai, 2 Stephen Moore (c), 1 Markus Vanzati.
Subs: 16 Andrew Ready, 17 Kirwan Sanday, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Lukhan Tui, 20 Hendrik Tui, 21 Nick Frisby, 22 Hamish Stewart, 23 Izaia Perese.
Hurricanes – 15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Vince Aso, 13 Matt Proctor, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara (c), 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Callum Gibbins, 6 Brad Shields, 5 Michael Fatialofa 4 Mark Abbott, 3 Jeffery To’omaga-Allen, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Chris Eves.
Subs: 16 Leni Apisai, 17 Ben May, 18 Mike Kainga, 19 Sam Lousi, 20 Reed Prinsep, 21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22 Otere Black, 23 Pita Ahki.
Photo: Joel Ford/Getty Images
