Preview: S15 Round 11, Part One
This week's Round 11 Super Rugby matches will see the Australian Rugby Union and New Zealand Rugby Union join forces.
It is all part of their ANZAC celebrations, as they remember 100 years of service and sacrifice of those who have served Australia and New Zealand during periods of war and peace.
The Australian and New Zealand teams will unite as one, with an ANZAC remembrance that includes The Ode, Last Post, The Silence and The Reveille, and the national anthems of Australia and New Zealand at all matches - a first in the expanded competition's history.
It all starts on Friday when a vastly improved Chiefs team will host the hapless Western Force In Hamilton - a team with title aspirations against a team stuck at the foot of the standings.
Then we hop across the Tasman Sea to Canberra, where the Brumbies host the Highlanders - a game in which both teams have title aspirations.
We look at Friday's matches!
Friday, April 24
Chiefs v Western Force
(Waikato Stadium, Hamilton - Kick-off: 19.35; 15.35 AWST; 07.35 GMT)
This week the headlines in Hamilton were al about Aaron Cruden's unfortunate knee injury - which may well have ended his World Cup dream.
Whether he can make a dramatic comeback for the All Blacks is something that will be debated in the weeks and months to come.
McKenzie, who was named at No.10 for Friday's game, told the media that Cruden has been amazing.
"I caught up with him a couple of times this week, just picking his brain about what things to be doing on the field and what times," McKenzie told Newstalk ZB.
"He's an awesome guy and the team's absolutely gutted for him, but as a team we've got to move on and keep going forward."
With their other captain, Liam Messam, being rested - due to the agreement that key All Blacks get a proper break - lock Matt Symons takes over the captaincy.
The Western Force will be looking to give veteran prop Pek Cowan something smile about, as he is set to play in his 100th Super Rugby game for the Western Force.
They must break an eight-match losing to make it a special day for the prop forward.
The Force sit last on the table with a dismal one win from eight starts and they'll equal their longest-ever losing run if they fail to come up trumps against the high-flying Chiefs.
Cowan insists spirits remain high in the Force camp, despite the poor on-field results, saying the strong team unity has played a key role in helping avoid any fractures.
"The most important thing is being honest with each other. Just making sure we put our hands up when we feel like we've done something wrong," Cowan told the West Australian.
"It's not necessarily about executing guys for making mistakes. It's about trying to find solutions.
"The moment you start pointing guys out individually in a team sport is when things start to really go wrong.
"We win or lose together. It's pretty simple."
The Force will have two centurions taking to the field on Saturday as Matt Hodgson returns from injury to run out behind Cowan in his milestone match.
Recent results:
2014: Force won 18-15, Perth
2013: Chiefs won 22-21, Pukekohe
2012: Chiefs won 20-12, Perth
2010: Chiefs won 37-19, Perth
2009: Chiefs won 31-13, Hamilton
2008: Force won 22-21, Perth
Prediction: The Chiefs accounted for the highest ever points tally conceded by the Force when they demolished the West Australian-based side 64-36 in April 2007. The last three games between the sides have been settled by single figure margins, though four of the first five meetings saw the Chiefs prevail by 17 or more points. The Chiefs are gunning for four straight victories in a single campaign for the first time since May and June 2013. The Force are one loss away from equalling their worst ever record of nine straight defeats; something which occurred at the beginning of their inaugural campaign in 2006. The Chiefs have the lowest ruck success rate (93 percent heading into Round 11, while the Force rank second in this respect (96 percent). The Chiefs have the best tackling success rate (90 percent) this season, while opponents of the Force have made a higher proportion of their tackles (90 percent) than versus any other team. Even without team leaders Aaron Cruden and Liam Messam, the Chiefs seem to have too much class for the Western Force. However, stranger things have happened and the Perth-based do have shot at an upset. However, our money is on a comfortable Chiefs win - by 15 points or more.
Teams:
Chiefs: 15 Tom Marshall, 14 Bryce Heem, 13 Charlie Ngatai, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Tim Nanai-Williams, 10 Marty McKenzie, 9 Brad Weber, 8 Michael Leitch, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Johan Bardoul, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Matt Symons (captain), 3 Siate Tokolahi, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Mitchell Graham.
Replacements: 16 Quentin MacDonald, 17 Pauliasi Manu, 18 Ben Tameifuna, 19 Michael Fitzgerald, 20 Liam Squire, 21 Augustine Pulu, 22 Damian McKenzie, 23 Andrew Horrell.
Western Force: 15 Dane Haylett-Petty, 14 Luke Morahan, 13 Kyle Godwin, 12 Luke Burton, 11 Nick Cummins, 10 Sias Ebersohn, 9 Ian Prior, 8 Ben McCalman, 7 Matt Hodgson (captain), 6 Angus Cottrell, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Steve Mafi, 3 Tetera Faulkner, 2 Nathan Charles, 1 Pekahou Cowan.
Replacements: 16 Heath Tessmann, 17 Chris Heiberg, 18 Oliver Hoskins, 19 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 20 Kane Koteka, 21 Ryan Louwrens, 22 Junior Rasolea, 23 Marcel Brache.
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant referees: Kane McBride (New Zealand), Mike Lash (New Zealand)
TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)
Brumbies v Highlanders
(GIO Stadium, Canberra - Kick-off: 19.55; 21.55 NZ time; 09.55 GMT)
The Highlanders will test their depth, but the Brumbies are more concerned about their own discipline.
The ill-discipline that cost them so dearly in their last two matches - losses to the lowly Blues and Rebels - were among they aspects they focused on in the build-up this week.
Brumbies flank Scott Fardy admitted most of the blame could be laid in front of their own door.
"Over the past two games we've started very slowly," Fardy said in an interview on the Brumbies' website.
"We've been slow into our rhythm and we've just got to address that and be better."
Ahead of their clash with the Highlanders on Friday, Brumbies playmaker Christian Lealiifano said that his side needed to clean up its discipline and adapt to the differences in the style and interpretation of the match officials if the team was going to get back into its winning habits.
"I think we're a side that goes pretty hard at the breakdown," Lealiifano said in the same interview.
"Refs are going to be different all the time and interpret differently. We've just got to adjust and adapt quickly to that.
"We always talk about discipline and not giving away easy points. Lima Sopoaga is kicking really well so we've just got to be disciplined to not give away as many penalties."
With the Brumbies missing a number of its first choice players, particularly in the backline, Lealiifano said that the side remained confident in the players around them expected to fill the void.
"I've got plenty of confidence in the other guys who have come in and around the group to step up and do their jobs as well," he said.
The Highlanders left their All Blacks at home this week.
Under an agreement between All Black selectors and Super rugby coaches, leading All Blacks are expected to miss two games of the Super Rugby season so they can be reasonably fresh when the World Cup rolls around in September.
The Highlanders' three All Blacks - fullback Ben Smith, scrumhalf Aaron Smith and centre Malakai Fekitoa - have started every game of the season so far.
Recent results:
2013: Brumbies won 30-19, Dunedin
2012: Brumbies won 33-26, Canberra
2011: Highlanders won 26-20, Invercargill
2010: Brumbies won 31-3, Canberra
2009: Brumbies won 33-31, Dunedin
2008: Brumbies won 22-20, Canberra
Prediction: The Brumbies' 70-26 defeat of the Highlanders in May 1996 still stands as the New Zealand side's record defeat. The ACT-based side has won six of the last seven meetings between these sides. The Brumbies have lost two in a row, with those matches producing just 51 points combined. They have not lost three in a row since May 2011. The Landers are aiming for a fourth consecutive victory for the first time since March 2012. The Brumbies rank first (91 percent) and the Highlanders third (89 percent) for line-out success rate. The Brumbies' opponents gain fewer metres per game (341) than against any other side, while the Highlanders have conceded the most per game (499). This is really a tough match to call. Both teams have enormous potential - yes even without their All Blacks the Highlanders remain a force. The Brumbies looked lost at sea in recent weeks, but our due a good game. Perhaps this is that match. We will go with homeground advantage and say the Brumbies will sneak a late winner - by five points.
Teams:
Brumbies: 15 Jesse Mogg, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Robbie Coleman, 11 Joe Tomane, 10 Christian Lealiifano, 9 Michael Dowsett, 8 Ita Vaea, 7 David Pocock, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 Blake Enever, 4 Jordan Smiler, 3 Ruan Smith, 2 Stephen Moore (captain), 1 JP Smith.
Replacements: 16 Josh Mann-Rea, 17 Allan Alaalatoa, 18 Ben Alexander, 19 Rory Arnold, 20 Jarrad Butler, 21 Joe Powell, 22 Rod Iona, 23 Nigel Ah Wong.
Highlanders: 15 Trent Renata, 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Richard Buckman, 12 Shaun Treeby, 11 Patrick Osborne, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Fumiaki Tanaka, 8 Nasi Manu (captain), 7 James Lentjes, 6 Elliot Dixon, 5 Joe Wheeler, 4 Tom Franklin, 3 Pingi Tala'apitaga, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Kane Hames.
Replacements: 16 Ash Dixon, 17 Brendon Edmonds, 18 Josh Hohneck, 19 Joe Latta, 20 Gareth Evans, 21 Dan Pryor, 22 Josh Renton, 23 Jason Emery.
Referee: Matt O'Brien (Australia)
Assistant referees: Andrew Lees (Australia), Damien Mitchelmore (Australia)
TMO: Peter Marshall (Australia)
Compiled by Jan de Koning
@King365ed
@rugby365com
Statistical information provided by Opta Sports]