AUCKLAND BLUES v WAIKATO CHIEFS
SATURDAY JUNE 1st 2024 EDEN PARK AUCKLAND NZ. 19.05pm
Blues
15 Stephen Perofeta, 14 Mark Tele’a, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 AJ Lam, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Harry Plummer, 9 Taufa Funaki, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Dalton Papali’i, 6 Akira Ioane, 5 Sam Darry, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (captain), 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Ofa Tu’ungafasi.
Reserves. 16 Kurt Eklund, 17 Joshua Fusitu’a, 18 Angus Ta’avao, 19 Cameron Suafoa, 20 Adrian Choat, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Corey Evans, 23 Cole Forbes.
Chiefs
15 Shaun Stevenson, 14 Emoni Narawa, 13 Daniel Rona, 12 Rameka Poihipi, 11 Etene Nanai-Seturo, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Luke Jacobson (captain), 6 Samipeni Finau, 5 Jimmy Tupou, 4 Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 3 George Dyer, 2 Bradley Slater, 1 Aidan Ross.
Reserves. 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Ollie Norris, 18 Sione Ahio, 19 Simon Parker, 20 Kaylum Boshier, 21 Xavier Roe, 22 Quinn Tupaea, 23 Peniasi Malimali.
Key Stats
Bradley Slater comes straight into the starting side.
Jimmy Tupou returns from injury in the second row.
Daniel Rona starts in the centres alongside Rameka Poihipi.
Dalton Papali’u and Caleb Clarke start after missing the defeat to the Crusaders.
Finlay Christie returns after a groin injury that has side lined him since round six.
Prop Marcel Renata will mark his 50th appearance for the Blues as he starts in their upcoming game.
The Chiefs will be striving for consecutive victories over the Blues in Super Rugby, a feat they haven’t achieved since April 2019.
In the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season, both the Chiefs (25) and the Blues (24) have scored the most tries after forcing a turnover compared to any other teams.
The Blues have maintained a streak of not losing back-to-back matches since April 2021.
Referee. Ben O’Keeffe, Assistant Referees. Stu Curran, Jackson Henshaw, TMO. Glenn Newman.
Prediction
Blues for me at home.
WESTERN FORCE v BRUMBIES
SATURDAY JUNE 1st 2024 PERTH RECTANGULAR STADIUM, 17.35pm
Western Force
15 Kurtley Beale, 14 George Poolman, 13 Bayley Kuenzle, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 Ronan Leahy, 10 Max Burey, 9 Nic White, 8 Reed Prinsep, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Jeremy Williams (captain), 5 Izack Rodda, 4 Sam Carter, 3 Santiago Medrano, 2 Tom Horton, 1 Ryan Coxon.
Reserves. 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Marley Pearce, 18 Tiaan Tauakipulu, 19 Lopeti Faifua, 20 Will Harris, 21 Michael Wells, 22 Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 23 Sam Spink.
Brumbies
15 Tom Wright, 14 Andy Muirhead, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Tamati Tua, 11 Corey Toole, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Ryan Lonergan, 8 Rob Valetini, 7 Rory Scott, 6 Tom Hooper, 5 Nick Frost, 4 Darcy Swain, 3 Allan Alaalatoa (captain), 2 Billy Pollard, 1 Blake Schoupp.
Reserves. 16 Connal McInerney, 17 Harry Vella, 18 Sosefo Kautai, 19 Cadeyrn Neville, 20 Luke Reimer, 21 Harrison Goddard, 22 Jack Debreczeni, 23 Ollie Sapsford.
Key Stats
Argentinian international Medrano will be quick to put pressure on in the scrums.
Sam Carter starts in the second-row, pushing Jeremy Williams into blindside flanker.
Max Burey starts with Ben Donaldson (groin) ruled out.
Ryan Coxon comes into the side after a calf injury to Harry Hoopert.
Blake Schoupp returns to the starting team after recovering from a shoulder injury sustained in Round 10.
Rory Scott and Connal McInerney are back in the match day 23, with Scott starting at blindside flanker.
Nick Frost returns to the second row, moving Tom Hooper into the back row.
The ACT Brumbies have won 15 of their last 16 matches in Super Rugby competitions against the Western Force.
The Western Force have won four of their last five matches when hosting Australian opposition in Super Rugby Pacific.
The ACT Brumbies have won the fewest (4.6) and conceded the second fewest (13.1) turnovers per game of any team in the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season.
Referee. Jordan Way, Assistant Referees. Damon Murphy, Jordan Kaminski, TMO. James Leckie.
Prediction
Brumbies for me.
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