Brumbies 2nd-five Irae Simone celebrates his try. Photo: Brett Phibbs/Photosport
It's the last of the bye round for Super Rugby Pacific, so only the four games over Friday and Saturday. Two stick out as interesting: the Hurricanes travel up to Fiji where their unbeaten streak meets the massive home ground advantage of the Drua on Friday night. Then, on Saturday, the best of the Australian sides have a chance to make a real statement in Auckland.
Fijian Drua v Hurricanes
Kick-off: 7:05pm Friday 19 April
HFC Bank Stadium, Suva
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The Canes come in off probably their best performance of the season when they beat the Chiefs last weekend, but the heat stays on (literally) up in Suva. This one is in the evening, so won't have quite the same sort of temperature that saw the Crusaders get heat stroke, but it's still going to be a big ask. The Drua are missing the suspended Frank Lomani, who is a big loss, while the Canes have switched things up at first five and fullback by bringing in Aidan Morgan and shifting Josh Moorby back from the wing. Aussie lock Ben Grant gets his first start as well.
Drua: 15 Ilaisa Droasese, 14 Selestino Ravutaumada, 13 Iosefo Masi, 12 Kemu Valetini, 11 Epeli Momo, 10 Isikeli Rabitu, 9 Simione Kuruvoli, 8 Elia Canakaivata, 7 Kitione Salawa, 6 Vilive Miramira, 5 Leone Rotuisolia, 4 Isoa Nasilasila, 3 Mesake Doge, 2 Tevita Ikanivere (c), 1 Haereiti Hetet
Bench: 16 Zuriel Togiatama, 17 Livai Natave, 18 Samu Tawake, 19 Mesake Vocevoce, 20 Meli Derenalagi, 21 Peni Matawalu, 22 Michael Naitokani, 23 Junior Ratuva
Hurricanes: 15 Josh Moorby, 14 Kini Naholo, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Salesi Rayasi, 10 Aidan Morgan, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Devan Flanders, 7 Du'Plessis Kirifi, 6 Brad Shield (c), 5 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 4 Ben Grant, 3 Pasilio Tosi, 2 James O'Reilly, 1 Tevita Mafileo
Bench: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Xavier Numia, 18 Siale Lauaki, 19 Caleb Delany, 20 Peter Lakai, 21 Richard Judd, 22 Ruben Love, 23 Bailyn Sullivan
Reds v Highlanders
Kick-off: 9:35pm Friday 19 April
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Ethan de Groot Photo: AAP / www.photosport.nz
If it wasn't crunch time for the Highlanders already, it certainly is now. Clarke Dermody has made one big change to his side, dropping Folau Fakatava for James Arscott and brining Cam Millar in at first five. Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens is presumably having a rest on the bench though, just how long the Highlanders' most impressive back stays there against this Reds team will be interesting. The Reds are definitely there for the taking, they were horrible last weekend in their loss to Moana and have Tate McDermott and Fraser McReight suspended.
Reds: 15 Jock Campbell, 14Suli Vunivalu, 13 Jordan Petaia, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Mac Grealy, 10 Tom Lynagh, 9 Kalani Thomas, 8 Harry Wilson, 7 John Bryant, 6 Liam Wright (c), 5 Ryan Smith, 4 Cormac Daly, 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 2 Matt Faessler, 1 Alex Hodgman
Bench: 16 Josh Nasser, 17 Peni Ravai, 18 Sef Fa'agase, 19 Angus Blyth,20 Joe Brial, 21 Louis Werchon, 22 Lawson Creighton, 23 Tim Ryan
Highlanders: 15 Connor Garden-Bachop, 14 Timoci Tavatavanawai, 13 Tanielu Tele'a, 12 Sam GIlbert, 11 Jona Nareki, 10 Cameron Millar, 9 James Arscott, 8 Billy Harmon (c), 7 Sean Withy, 6 Oliver Haig, 5 Pari Pari Parkinson, 4 Hugo Plummer, 3 Saula Ma''u, 2 Ricky Jackson, 1 Ethan de Groot
Bench: 16 Henry Bell, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Rohan Wingham, 19 Will Stodart, 20 Nikora Broughton, 21 Folau Fakatava, 22 Ajay Faleafaga, 23 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
Blues v Brumbies
Kick-off: 7:05pm Saturday 20 April
Eden Park, Auckland
Live blog updates on RNZ Sport
This one stands as the feature match of the round, due to the Brumbies coming in on a good run of form and with enough firepower to cause the Blues some real headaches. Blues coach Vern Cotter has named a strong side coming off their bye, although Stephen Perofeta's injury means Harry Plummer gets the 10 jersey and the impressive Cole Forbes starts at fullback.
Ryan Lonergan and Noah Lolesio are the key men for the visitors in this one, Lolesio's goal kicking has been excellent so far this year. Out wide there should be some fireworks with Corey Toole going up against Mark Tele'a in a match up of the competition's two most exciting wingers.
Blues: 15 Cole Forbes, 14 Mark Tele'a, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Bryce Heem, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Harry Plummer, 9 Taufa Funaki, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Dalton Papali'i, 6 Akira Ioane, 5 Laghlan McWhannell, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Ofa Tu'ungafasi
Bench: 16 Kurt Eklund, 17 Joshua Fusitu'a, 18 Angus Ta'avao, 19 Sam Darry, 20 Adrian Choat, 21 Sam Nock, 22 Lucas Cashmore, 23 AJ Lam
Brumbies: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Ollie Sapsford, 13 Hudson Creighton, 12 Tamati Tua, 11 Corey Toole, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Ryan Lonergan (c), 8 Charlie Cale, 7 Jahrome Brown, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Cadeyrn Neville, 4 Darcy Swain, 3 Sefo Kautai, 2 Billy Pollard, 1 James Slipper
Bench: 16 Connal McInerney, 17 Blake Schoupp, 18 Rhys Van Nek, 19 Nick Frost, 20 Tom Hooper, 21 Luke Reimer, 22 Harrison Goddard, 23 Jack Debreczeni
Force v Crusaders
Kick-off: 9:35pm Saturday 20 April
HBF Park, Perth
Crusaders loose forward Cullen Grace. Crusaders v Force, Round 11 of the Super Rugby Pacific competition at Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch, New Zealand on Saturday 6 May 2023. Mandatory credit: www.photosport.nz Photo: www.photosport.nz
Who would have ever thought the Crusaders would head to Perth desperate for a win and with serious question marks over whether they can achieve one? Last weekend's blowout against the Tahs messed up the presumption that they had finally righted their ship, but they're stuck with a mostly unchanged side. Meanwhile the Force have rushed new signing Kurtley Beale straight into action at fullback. Whoever loses this one goes bottom of the Super Rugby Pacific table, somewhere the Crusaders haven't been at this stage of the season since 1996.
Force: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Bayley Kuenzle, 13 Sam Spink, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 Chase Tiatia, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Nic White (c), 8 Reed Prinsep, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Will Harris, 5 Thomas Franklin, 4 Sam Carter, 3 Santiago Medrano, 2 Tom Horton, 1 Ryan Coxon
Bench: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Marley Pearce, 18 Tiaan Tauakipulu, 19 Izack Rodda, 20 Michael Wells, 21 Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 22 Max Burey, 23 Henry O'Donnell
Crusaders: 15 Chay Fihaki, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Levi Aumua, 12 Dallas McLeod, 11 Macca Springer, 10 Riley Hohepa, 9 Mitchell Drummond, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Tom Christie (c), 6 Ethan Blackadder, 5 Jamie Hannah, 4 Quinten Strange, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Brodie McAlister, 1 Joe Moody
Bench: 16 George Bell, 17 George Bower, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Dom Gardiner, 20 Cullen Grace, 21 Noah Hotham, 22 Rivez Reihana, 23 Ryan Crotty
