Schedule
Friday, 7.05pm: Chiefs (4th) v Reds (5th) at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
Saturday, 4.35pm: Hurricanes (1st) v Melbourne Rebels (8th) at Sky Stadium, Wellington
Saturday, 7.05pm: Blues (2nd) v Fijian Drua (7th) at Eden Park, Auckland
Saturday, 9.35pm: Brumbies (3rd) v Highlanders (6th) at GIO Stadium, Canberra
It’s crunch time in Super Rugby Pacific with the knockout stages getting underway on Friday night.
The field has been whittled down to eight and after this weekend just four teams will remain in contention for the Super Rugby title in 2024.
Six of the eight finalists from last season are back for another shot at the trophy, with the Waratahs and Crusaders replaced by the Highlanders and Rebels.
Chiefs vs Reds
First up, it’s the Chiefs against the Reds and four key All Blacks are returning for the home side in Hamilton.
The Chiefs welcome back a quartet of All Blacks for Friday night’s quarterfinal against the Reds in Hamilton.
After being late scratchings from last Saturday’s loss to the Blues in Auckland, fullback Shaun Stevenson (hamstring) and winger Emoni Narawa (back) have both been named to start, while centre Anton Lienert-Brown and lock Tupou Vaa’i are also back after being rested last weekend.
Stevenson’s inclusion sees Etene Nanai-Seturo shift back to his usual spot on the left wing (in place of Peniasi Malimali) and Narawa replaces Liam Coombes-Fabling, while the returns of Lienert-Brown and Vaa’i see Daniel Rona and Naitoa Ah Kuoi go to the bench.
The other change to last week’s starting side has another All Black back in, with hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho swapping roles with Bradley Slater.
On the bench, there are two new props, with Jared Proffit and Reuben O’Neill replacing Ollie Norris and Sione Ahio, while loose forward Kaylum Boshier and playmaker Josh Ioane also make way.
Tom Lynagh has been reinstated in the No.10 jersey as the Reds look to continue their strong recent record against the Chiefs in Hamilton.
Lynagh came off the bench last weekend to kick the winning penalty from nearly 50m against the Waratahs in Sydney.
He replaces Lawson Creighton in the starting side.
The Reds have won three of their last five games against the Chiefs.
Line-ups
Chiefs
Shaun Stevenson, Emoni Narawa, Anton Lienert-Brown, Rameka Poihipi, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Damian McKenzie, Cortez Ratima, Wallace Sititi, Luke Jacobson (capt), Samipeni Finau, Tupou Vaa’i, Jimmy Tupou, George Dyer, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Aidan Ross.
Reserves. Bradley Slater, Jared Proffit, Reuben O’Neill, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Simon Parker, Xavier Roe, Quinn Tupaea, Daniel Rona.
Reds
Alex Hodgman, Matt Faessler, Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen, Seru Uru, Ryan Smith, Liam Wright (co-c), Fraser McReight, John Bryant, Tate McDermott (co-c), Tom Lynagh, Mac Grealy, Hunter Paisami, Josh Flook, Tim Ryan, Jock Campbell
Reserves. Josh Nasser, Sef Fa’agase, Zane Nonggorr, Connor Vest, Joe Brial, Kalani Thomas, Lawson Creighton, Taj Annan
Referee. Ben O’Keeffe, Assistant Referees. Stu Curran, Jackson Henshaw
Prediction
I will go with the Chiefs.
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