Super Rugby Pacific Round 10 - Teams and Predictions
PREVIEW: This weekend's action sees Melbourne become the epicentre for Super Rugby Pacific with the historic Super Round 10 being played at AAMI Park.
It will be the first time that all Super Rugby teams have played in one location on one weekend and heralds the return of Trans-Tasman competition after teams played in their own countries due to Covid-border restrictions across the opening nine rounds.
The Super Round kicks off with a cracker when the Chiefs and Waratahs clash at AAMI Park in the first Trans-Tasman clash of 2022.
The match was to be followed by a historic first meeting between Moana Pasifika and Western Force to top off an exciting opening day for the Super Round in Melbourne. However, that game has now been postponed due to Covid impacts on the Force squad.
The action heats up even more on Saturday when the table-topping Blues face the exciting Fijian Drua for the first-ever time. The Drua have played an exciting brand of rugby in 2022 and will be looking to test themselves against New Zealand’s leading side.
Saturday is rounded off with an intriguing clash between the Reds and Hurricanes. The Reds have only dropped one game so far in 2022 and will be looking for a big Kiwi scalp to show they are the real deal.
Sunday sees the Brumbies and Highlander meet in an encounter that could have massive ramifications on the Highlanders playoff hopes.
The Super Round is completed on Sunday when the hometown Rebels lay out the welcome mat to New Zealand powerhouse the Crusaders.
All the Round 10 teams and predictions are below …
Friday, April 22
Chiefs v Waratahs
(AAMI Park, Melbourne Kick-off: 18.00; 20.00 NZL Time; 08.00 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Chiefs by five points
Teams:
Chiefs: 15 Chase Tiatia, 14 Jonah Lowe, 13 Alex Nankivell, 12 Rameka Poihipi, 11 Quinn Tupaea, 10 Bryn Gatland, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Pita Gus Sowakula, 7 Sam Cane (captain), 6 Luke Jacobson, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Josh Lord, 3 Angus Ta’avao, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 Aidan Ross
Replacements: 16 Bradley Slater, 17 Ollie Norris, 18 George Dyer, 19 Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20 Samipeni Finau, 21 Xavier Roe, 22 Rivez Reihana, 23 Inga Finau
Waratahs: 15 Will Harrison, 14 Mark Nawaqanitawase, 13 Izaia Perese, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Alex Newsome, 10 Tane Edmed, 9 Jake Gordon (captain), 8 Will Harris, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Charlie Gamble, 5 Hugh Sinclair, 4 Jed Holloway, 3 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 2 Dave Porecki, 1 Angus Bell
Replacements: 16 Tom Horton, 17 Tetera Faulkner, 18 Archer Holz, 19 Geoff Cridge, 20 Rahboni Warren-Yosayaco, 21 Jack Grant, 22 Ben Donaldson, 23 Dylan Pietsch
Referee: Nic Berry
Assistant referees: Jordan Way & Graham Cooper
TMO: Oli Kellett
Moana Pasifika v Western Force
(Postponed)
Saturday, April 23
Blues v Fijian Drua
(AAMI Park, Melbourne - Kick-off: 17.05; 19.05 NZL Time; 07.05 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Blues by five points
Teams
Blues: 15 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, 14 Mark Telea, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 11 AJ Lam, 10 Beauden Barrett (captain), 9 Taufa Funaki, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Adrian Choat, 6 Tom Robinson, 5 Sam Darry, 4 James Tucker, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Jordan Lay
Replacements: 16 Soane Vikena, 17 Karl Tu’inukuafe, 18 Marcel Renata, 19 Luke Romano, 20 Anton Segner, 21 Lisati Milo Harris, 22 Tanielu Tele’a, 23 Jock McKenzie
Fijian Drua: 15 Kitione Taliga, 14 Tuidraki Samusamuvodre, 13 Kalaveti Ravouvou, 12 Caleb Muntz, 11 Onisi Ratave, 10 Simione Kuruvoli, 9 Peni Matawalu, 8 Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, 7 Rusiate Nasove, 6 Meli Derenalagi (captain), 5 Viliame Rarasea, 4 Chris Minimbi, 3 Manasa Saulo, 2 Mesulame Dolokoto, 1 Meli Tuni
Replacements: 16 Zuriel Togiatama, 17 Timoci Sauvoli, 18 Jone Koroiduadua, 19 Isoa Nasilasila, 20 Joseva Tamani, 21 Leone Nawai, 22 Jona Mataiciwa, 23 Frank Lomani
Referee: Paul Williams
Assistant referees: Nic Berry & Angus Mabey
TMO: Chris Hart
Hurricanes v Queensland Reds
(AAMI Park, Melbourne - Kick-off: 19.45; 21.45 NZL Time; 09.45 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Hurricanes by three points
Teams:
Hurricanes: 15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Julian Savea, 13 Bailyn Sullivan, 12 Peter Umaga-Jensen, 11 Wes Goosen, 10 Aidan Morgan, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Ardie Savea (captain), 7 Blake Gibson, 6 Reed Prinsep, 5 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 4 James Blackwell, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Kianu Kereru-Symes, 1 Pouri Rakete-Stones
Replacements: 16 Leni Apisai, 17 Xavier Numia, 18 Tevita Mafileo, 19 Justin Sangster, 20 TK Howden, 21 Jamie Booth, 22 Jackson Garden-Bachop, 23 Billy Proctor
Reds: 15 Jock Campbell, 14 Suliasi Vunivalu, 13 Hunter Paisami, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 Filipo Daugunu, 10 Lawson Creighton, 9 Tate McDermott (captain), 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Connor Vest, 5 Angus Blyth, 4 Ryan Smith, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Richie Asiata, 1 Harry Hoopert
Replacements: 16 Matt Faessler, 17 Dane Zander, 18 Feao Fotuaika, 19 Lopeti Faifua, 20 Angus Scott-Young, 21 Kalani Thomas, 22 Josh Flook, 23 Mac Grealy
Referee: Angus Gardner
Assistant referees: James Doleman & Graham Cooper
TMO: James Leckie
Sunday, April 24
Highlanders v Brumbies
(AAMI Park, Melbourne - Kick-off: 14.00; 16.00 NZL Time; 04.00 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Brumbies by seven points
Teams:
Highlanders: 15 Mitch Hunt, 14 Freedom Vahakolo, 13 Thomas Umaga-Jensen, 12 Scott Gregory, 11 Mosese Dawai, 10 Marty Banks, 9 Folau Fakatava, 8 Gareth Evans, 7 James Lentjes, 6 Hugh Renton, 5 Sam Caird, 4 Bryn Evans, 3 Jermaine Ainsley, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Ethan de Groot
Replacements: 16 Andrew Makailo, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Josh Johneck, 19 Max Hicks, 20 Billy Harmon, 21 Kayne Hemmington, 22 Sam Gilbert, 23 Christian Lio Willie
Brumbies: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Cam Clark, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Irae Simone, 11 Andy Muirhead, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Nic White (captain), 8 Pete Samu, 7 Jahrome Brown, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Caderyn Neville, 4 Darcy Swain, 3 Sefo Kautai, 2 Lachlan Lonergan, 1 Scott Sio
Replacements: 16 Folau Fainga’a, 17 James Slipper, 18 Tom Ross, 19 Tom Hooper, 20 Luke Reimer, 21 Ryan Lonergan, 22 Rod Iona, 23 Hudson Creighton
Referee: Ben O'Keeffe
Assistant referees: Graham Cooper& Reuben Keane
TMO: James Leckie
Crusaders v Melbourne Rebels
(AAMI Park, Melbourne - Kick-off: 16.30; 18.30 NZL time; 06.30 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Crusaders by five points
Teams:
Crusaders: 15 George Bridge, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Braydon Ennor, 12 Jack Goodhue, 11 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Mitch Drummond, 8 Cullen Grace, 7 Ethan Blackadder, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Zach Gallagher, 3 Olie Jager, 2 Codie Taylor (captain), 1 George Bower
Replacements: 16 Ricky Jackson, 17 Tamaiti Williams, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Dominic Gardiner, 20 Corey Kellow, 21 Bryn Hall, 22 Fergus Burke, 23 Chay Fihaki
Rebels: 15 Reece Hodge, 14 George Worth, 13 Andrew Kellaway, 12 Stacey Ili, 11 Glen Vaihu, 10 Matt To’omua, 9 James Tuttle, 8 Michael Wells (captain), 7 Brad Wilkin, 6 Rob Leota, 5 Josh Hill, 4 Matt Philip, 3 Cabous Eloff, 2 James Hanson, 1 Cameron Orr
Replacements: 16 Efi Ma’afu, 17 Matt Gibbon, 18 Rhys Van Nek, 19 Josh Canham, 20 Tamati Ioane, 21 Sam Wallis, 22 Joe Powell, 23 Carter Gordon
Referee: Brendon Pickerill
Assistant referees: James Doleman & Jordan Way
TMO: Glenn Newman