ROUND 14 MAY 24th, 2024
WAIKATO CHIEFS v HURRICANES WAIKATO STADIUM HAMILTON NZ
Chiefs
15 Shaun Stevenson, 14 Emoni Narawa, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Quinn Tupaea, 11 Etene Nanai-Seturo, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Luke Jacobson (captain), 7 Kaylum Boshier, 6 Simon Parker, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Manaaki Selby-Rickit, 3 George Dyer, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 Aidan Ross.
Reserves. 16 Tyrone Thompson, 17 Jared Proffit, 18 Sione Ahio, 19 Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20 Wallace Sititi, 21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22 Josh Ioane, 23 Rameka Poihipi.
Loose forward Luke Jacobson will captain the Chiefs, who have won their last four games since losing to the Hurricanes in Wellington last month.
Hurricanes
15 Ruben Love, 14 Josh Moorby, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett (captain), 11 Kini Naholo, 10 Brett Cameron, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Brayden Iose, 7 Peter Lakai, 6 Devan Flanders, 5 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 4 Justin Sangster, 3 Pasilio Tosi, 2 Raymond Tuputupu, 1 Xavier Numia.
Reserves. 16 James O’Reilly, 17 Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18 Tevita Mafileo, 19 Caleb Delany, 20 Te Kamaka Howden, 21 Richard Judd, 22 Peter Umaga-Jensen, 23 Salesi Rayasi.
The Hurricanes will be without captain Brad Shields and fellow livewire loose forward Du’Plessis Kirifi for the crunch Super Rugby clash against the Chiefs on Friday.
All Blacks centre Jordie Barrett will captain second-placed Hurricanes against the fourth-placed Chiefs in Hamilton as they battle for seedings and home advantage in the play-offs with two regular season games remaining.
Midfield partner Billy Proctor returns from a calf injury, while loose forward Caleb Delany was named on the Hurricanes bench following an injury lay-off.
Jordie Barrett captains the side with no Brad Shields.
Shields’ absence provides the opportunity for Devan Flanders to start in his 50th.
TJ Perenara and Brett Cameron return to the starting side as the Canes once again shuffle their backline
The Hurricanes will be aiming for back-to-back wins against the Chiefs for the first time since August 2020.
The Chiefs have won their last four Super Rugby Pacific matches by an average margin of 26 points per game
The Chiefs have won 15 of their last 16 Super Rugby Pacific matches at FMG Stadium Waikato
Referee: Paul Williams
Assistant Referees: Dan Waenga, Mike Winter
TMO: Richard Kelly
Prediction
I will go with the home side, the Chiefs in a tight finish.
BRUMBIES v REBELS GIO STADIUM CANBERRA
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 Jahrome Brown, 6 Nick Frost, 5 Tom Hooper, 4 Darcy Swain, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Billy Pollard, 1 James Slipper.
RESERVES. 16 Liam Bowron, 17 Rhys van Nek, 18 Sosefo Kautai, 19 Cadeyrn Neville, 20 Luke Reimer, 21 Harrison Goddard, 22 Jack Debreczeni, 23 Ollie Sapsford.
REBELS
15 Andrew Kellaway, 14 Glen Vaihu, 13 Filipo Daugunu, 12 Nick Jooset, 11 Darby Lancaster, 10 Jake Strachan, 9 Ryan Louwrens, 8 Vaiolini Ekuasio, 7 Brad Wilkin, 6 Rob Leota, 5 Josh Canham, 4 Angelo Smith, 3 Sam Talakai, 2 Jordan Uelese, 1 Isaac Kailea.
RESERVES. 16 Ethan Dobbins, 17 Matt Gibbon, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Luke Callan, 20 Maciu Nabolakasi, 21 Tuaiana Taii Tualima, 22 James Tuttle, 23 Mason Gordon.
Isaac Kailea and Darby Lancaster return after they were late withdrawals from the Chiefs defeat.
Rob Leota skippers the side as he replaces Josh Kemeny (concussion).
Andrew Kellaway and Taniela Tupou have overcome their respective head knocks to be fit.
The ACT Brumbies have won eight of their last nine matches in Super Rugby competitions against the Melbourne Rebels.
The Melbourne Rebels have lost their last four Super Rugby Pacific matches by an average margin of 18.3 points per game.
The ACT Brumbies have gone on to score a try from 45% of their line breaks in Super Rugby Pacific this year, the best rate of any team.
Referee: Angus Gardner
Assistant Referees: Matt Kellahan, Jordan Kaminski
TMO: Oli Kellett
Prediction
I will go with the home side the Brumbies.
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