SUPER RUGBY PACIFIC, ROUND 11, MAY 5th, 2023
FORSYTH BARR STADIUM,DUNEDIN,NZ.
Two-thirds of the way through their regular seasons, the Super Rugby Pacific sides are eyeing their runs home.
With five rounds remaining before the playoffs, it’s edging closer to make or break time for some of them, in a competition where it looks like five teams are in the running for home quarterfinals, and six others are scrapping for sixth through eighth.
The Highlanders are most certainly in that latter bracket, but, desperate to bounce back from an 0-2 trip across the Tasman, they face the might of the table-topping, unbeaten Chiefs in Dunedin on Friday night.
That is the Kiwi derby for the weekend, though Saturday afternoon footy in Suva should make for interesting viewing, too, when the desperate Fijian Drua (11th) do battle with the Hurricanes (third).
HIGHLANDERS (1-15):
Ethan de Groot, Andrew Makalio, Jermaine Ainsley, Fabian Holland, Will Tucker, Shannon Frizell, Billy Harmon (c), Hugh Renton, Aaron Smith, Freddie Burns, Scott Gregory, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Fetuli Paea, Connor Garden-Bachop, Sam Gilbert
RESERVES: Rhys Marshall, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Saula Ma’u, Josh Dickson, Sean Withy, Folau Fakatava, Mitch Hunt, Jona Nareki
The Highlanders have dropped Mitch Hunt from the No 10 jersey after two losses in Australia, handing the keys to the attack to Freddie Burns.
Burns will lead a backline with Thomas Umaga-Jensen restored at No 12, while Scott Gregory gets another start on the left wing. Jona Nareki is on the bench.
Up front, Marino Mikaele-Tu’u misses out on the 23 entirely, as does lock Pari Pari Parkinson. Hugh Renton retains the No 8 jersey, while Josh Dickson makes his return via the bench.
CHIEFS (1-15):
Aidan Ross, Samisoni Taukei’aho, George Dyer, Tupou Vaa’i, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Pita Gus Sowakula, Sam Cane (co-c), Luke Jacobson, Brad Weber (co-c), Damian McKenzie, Peniasi Malimali, Anton Lienert-Brown, Daniel Rona, Emoni Narawa, Shaun Stevenson
RESERVES: Bradley Slater, Ollie Norris, John Ryan, Josh Lord, Kaylum Boshier, Cortez Ratima, Bryn Gatland, Alex Nankivell
Just as one All Black returns from the casualty ward, the Chiefs have lost another to injury.
Anton Lienert-Brown is finally back from the high ankle sprain suffered in the season-opener against the Crusaders in Christchurch and slots back in at second-five against the Highlanders in Dunedin, in what will be his 100th match for the club, though Brodie Retallick will miss the clash due to a groin strain.
Coach Clayton McMillan said Retallick sustained the injury in the final five minutes of the win over the Crusaders in Hamilton last Saturday, though played through it as the team had exhausted all of their reserves. He said his 100-test second-rower could possibly also miss next Friday’s match against the Reds in New Plymouth.
Naitoa Ah Kuoi is promoted from the bench in Retallick’s place, in one of two changes to the starting pack from last week. The other is at blindside flanker, where Samipeni Finau has been spelled, and Pita Gus Sowakula promoted.
There are also two tweaks to the backline, with Lienert-Brown taking the spot of Rameka Poihipi, and Etene Nanai-Seturo rested, which sees Peniasi Malimali handed his first start of the season, on the left wing.
In the reserves, hooker Bradley Slater comes in for Tyrone Thompson, Josh Lord and Kaylum Boshier return, while Alex Nankivell has recovered from the concussion sustained against the Waratahs in round five.
Referee. Ben O’Keeffe
Assistant Referees. Stu Curran, Jackson Henshaw
PREDICTION.
Watching the way the Chiefs played against the Crusaders last week they will not want to loose top spot this week in Dunedin. They have class all over the paddock and will be too strong for the Highlanders. I will go, Chiefs 15 plus points.
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