Team news: Veteran flank George Smith will become Queensland representative number 1307 after being named to make his Reds debut in the seven shirt. Friday’s match will also signal a return to Suncorp Stadium in Reds colours for Stephen Moore, Scott Higginbotham and Quade Cooper, who have all been named in the starting XV. While Smith is the only ‘debutant’ in the Reds’ line-up, Markus Vanzati, Izack Rodda and Izaia Perese are in line to make their Reds and Super Rugby bows after being named on the replacements bench for the Brisbane clash.
Lwazi Mvovo is set to play his 100th match for the Sharks after being named on the left wing. Patrick Lambie will lead with Tera Mtembu deputising a team boasting a strong mix of youth and experience. Young players who have shone have been given the opportunity to impress.
Form: The Reds were impressive in their pre-season clash with the Rebels as they ran out 32-13 winners despite leaking an early try. Rob Simmons, Eto Nabuli, Chris Kuridrani and Scott Higginbotham scored their tries while Quade Cooper showed several touches of class at 10.
The Sharks hammered a Bulls XV 53-7 in their final pre-season hit-out as Kobus van Wyk (3), Cobus Reinach, Lwazi Mvovo, Jeremy Ward, Wian Vosloo, Chiliboy Ralepelle and Sibusiso Nkosi scored their tries. Patrick Lambie knocked over four conversions in a comfortable home win.
Prediction: Expect it to go right down to the wire and despite recent history seeing the Sharks come out on top, we say the Reds by five.
Previous results:
2015: Sharks won 21-14 in Brisbane
2014: Sharks won 35-20 in Durban
2013: Reds won 32-17 in Brisbane
2012: Sharks won 30-17 in Brisbane
2012: Sharks won 27-22 in Durban
Teams news: Highlanders head coach Tony Brown has named a squad that contains five debutants. Tevita Li and Siate Tokolahi make the side while Adrian Smith, Guy Millar and Kayne Hammington could earn debuts from the bench. Brown will start all of his All Blacks apart from back-row Elliot Dixon, who will make his impact off the bench, with Matt Faddes also an excellent option at centre or in the back three.
Chiefs head coach Dave Rennie has named a vastly experienced line-up as the XV features 10 players with All Black experience. Flank Mitch Karpik is one of four exciting young players in line to make their Super Rugby bow for the Chiefs this week. He is joined in the starting line-up by 21-year-old Taranaki centre Johnny Faauli, who will start his first game, while 19-year-old Waikato hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho and Counties Manukau scrum-half Jonathan Taumateine, 20, could earn their first caps off the bench. All Black tighthead prop Nepo Laulala will also don the jersey for the first time after returning from a knee injury sustained in January 2016, with Kane Hames the other prop.
Form: The Highlanders enter the season on the back of a high-scoring 50-47 victory over the Waratahs. They led 33-18 at half-time before making wholesale changes to the first-team, who looked in impressive form with Ben Smith grabbing a couple of tries in those 40 minutes.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs lost their final pre-season fixture 26-14 to the Blues. However, they were impressive winners of the Brisbane 10s.
Prediction: The Dunedin rot unfortunately won't stop for the Chiefs as we fancy the hosts to get the win on Friday. Highlanders by seven.
2016 Dunedin Highlanders 25–15 Chiefs (Tries 3-2 )
2016 Hamilton Chiefs 13-26 Highlanders (Tries 2-3)
2015 Dunedin Highlanders 24–14 Chiefs (Tries 2-1 ) (playoff)
2015 Dunedin Highlanders 36–9 Chiefs (Tries 4-0 )
2015 Hamilton Chiefs 17–20 Highlanders (Tries 2-1 )
2014 Dunedin Highlanders 29–25 Chiefs (Tries 2-3 )
2014 Hamilton Chiefs 21–19 Highlanders (Tries 3-1 )
Teams news: Tiatia has made numerous changes from the team who rounded off the 2016 season against the Sharks, with a brand new tight five, new half-backs, and three new faces in the backline as well. Riaan Viljoen, Derek Carpenter, Edward Quirk and Liaki Moli are the survivors from that game, with Moli this time starting in the second row rather than at blindside flanker.
As for the Hurricanes, Coles' absence from the starting spot means scrum-half TJ Perenara will captain the side with Ricky Riccitelli wearing the number two jersey between props Jeffery To'omaga-Allen and Chris Eves. One player who will be a rookie in Tokyo is Jordie Barrett who is set to make his Super Rugby debut at full-back. The 20-year-old has impressed during the Hurricanes preseason and gets an early chance to impress in the competition proper after a hamstring injury ruled Nehe Milner-Skudder out of the first match.
Form: The Sunwolves have won one and drawn one of their last four games on home soil, and have kept their opposition to single figures in the opening half of two of their last three games at home. Pre-season outings have included a win for the Sunwolves over a Top League XV last weekend, while the Hurricanes got the better of the Crusaders in their run-out.
Prediction: Such a tough start for the Sunwolves with the Hurricanes expected to carry on from where they left off. Having never faced a New Zealand outfit before, the Sunwolves will learn a lot, but the lesson might be painful. Hurricanes by 30.
The teams:
Sunwolves: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Takaaki Nakazuru, 13 Timothy Lafaele, 12 Derek Carpenter, 11 Kenki Fukuoka, 10 Hikaru Tamura, 9 Keisuke Uchida, 8 Willem Britz, 7 Edward Quirk, 6 Malgene Ilaua, 5 Sam Wykes, 4 Liaki Moli, 3 Heiichiro Ito, 2 Shota Horie, 1 Masataka Mikami
Replacements: 16 Takeshi Hino, 17 Koki Yamamoto, 18 Takuma Asahara, 19 Kotaro Yatabe, 20 Shokei Kin, 21 Kaito Shigeno, 22 Ryohei Yamanaka, 23 Shota Emi
Hurricanes: 15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Matt Proctor, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Otere Black, 9 TJ Perenara (c), 8 Blade Thomson, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Brad Shields, 5 Michael Fatialofa, 4 James Blackwell, 3 Jeffery To’omaga-Allen, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Chris Eves
Replacements: 16 Dane Coles, 17 Ben May, 18 Mike Kainga, 19 Reed Prinsep, 20 Callum Gibbins, 21 Chris Smylie, 22 Beauden Barrett, 23 Vince Aso
Prediction: It’s now eight years since the Brumbies last chalked up a win over the Crusaders, and heading into Christchurch this weekend it seems as though that wait is set to continue. Expect the Crusaders’ young back to shine while the pack get the job done upfront. Crusaders by 18!
Previous results:
2016: Crusaders won 40-14 in Canberra
2015: Crusaders won 37-24 in Canberra
2014: Crusaders won 40-20 in Christchurch
2013: Crusaders won 30-23 in Canberra
2011: Crusaders won 52-10 in Nelson
2010: Crusaders won 40-22 in Christchurch
2009: Brumbies won 18-16 in Canberra
2008: Crusaders won 34-3 in Christchurch
The teams:
Crusaders: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Seta Tamanivalu, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 George Bridge, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Bryn Hall, 8 Whetu Douglas, 7 Matt Todd, 6 Jordan Taufua, 5 Sam Whitelock (c), 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Ben Funnell, 1 Joe Moody
Replacements: 16 Codie Taylor, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Michael Alaalatoa, 19 Luke Romano, 20 Pete Samu, 21 Ereatari Enari, 22 Mitchell Hunt, 23 David Havili
Brumbies: 15 Aidan Toua, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Kyle Godwin, 11 James Dargaville, 10 Wharenui Hawera, 9 Joe Powell, 8 Jordan Smiler, 7 Chris Alcock, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Josh Mann-Rea, 1 Nic Mayhew
Replacements: 16 Robbie Abel, 17 Ben Alexander, 18 Leslie Leulua’Iali’I-Makin, 19 Tom Staniforth, 20 Lolo Fakaosilea, 21 Dewet Roos, 22 Andrew Smith, 23 Isaac Thompson
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