Quarter-finals set to thrill
EIGHT teams remain in the race for the inaugural Super Rugby Pacific title. All five of the NZ teams are still in the hunt as well as three Australian teams - the Brumbies, Reds and Waratahs.
The Crusaders and the Reds played last night. The Blues finished on top of the regular season standings so they earned the benefit of playing against the lowest ranked qualifying team the Highlanders. The Chiefs finished third and will play the Waratahs, while the Brumbies, who finished fourth, play the fifth placed Hurricanes.
This afternoon at FMG Stadium in Hamilton, the Chiefs battle the Waratahs.
The Chiefs have had a solid season, with a late surge taking them above the Brumbies into third place, earning them their home quarter-final against the Waratahs, who were resurgent, and showed immense growth and backbone. However, they can’t allow the Chiefs’ forwards to get physical dominance.
They must disrupt the half-back combination of the Chiefs. Aidan Ross, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Angus Ta’avao, Brodie Retallick, Tupou Va’ai, Samipeni Finau, Luke Jacobson, Pita Gus Sowakula, Brad Weber, Bryn Gatland, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Quinn Tupaea, Alex Nankivell, Jonah Lowe, Emoni Narawa, Bradley Slater, Ollie Norris, Atu Moli, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Josh Ioane, Mitch Brown, Xaiver Roe and Rameka Poihipi will battle Angus Bell, Dave Porecki, Harry JohnsonHolmes, Jed Holloway, Ned Hanigan, Charlie Gamble, Michael Hooper, Will Harris, Jake Gordon, Tane Edmed, Dylan Pietsch, Lalakai Foketi, Alex Newsome, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Ben Donaldson, Tom Horton, Paddy Ryan, Archer Holz, Hugh Sinclair, Jeremy Williams, Langi Gleeson, Jack Grant and Jamie Roberts. I’m picking on the Chiefs to beat the Waratahs despite the tight battle.
One has to rate the spirit in the whole Blues camp after their secondstring outfit beat the Waratahs on the bell with a field goal last weekend. The front-liners are back with all their firepower. The Blues are fresh, on the high of 13 straight wins and are a class above. The eighth-placed Highlanders have lost their last nine games against Kiwi opponents and they do not have the players to hurt the favourites. Alex Hodgman, Kurt Eklund, Ofa Tuungafasi, James Tucker, Tom Robinson, Akira Ioane, Dalton Papalii, Hoskins Sotutu, Finlay Christie, Beauden Barrett, Mark Telea, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Rieko Ioane, Bryce Heem, Stephen Perofeta, Soane Vikena, Karl Tu’inukuafe, Nepo Laulala, Luke Romano, Adrian Choat, Sam Nock, AJ Lam and Zarn Sullivan will come head to head against Ethan de Groot, Andrew Makalio, Jermaine Ainsley, Bryn Evans, Josh Dickson, Hugh Renton, Billy Harmon, Marino Mikaele Tu’u, Aaron Smith, Marty Banks,
Mosese Dawai, Scott Gregory, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Fetuli Paea, Connor Garden Bachop, Leni Apisai, Daniel LienertBrown, Saula Mau, Max Hicks, Shannon Frizell, Folau Fakatava, Liam CoombesFabling and Denny Solomona. The Blues should maintain their winning run and host the semi.
At GIO Stadium in front of their fans, the Brumbies will be tough nuts to crack and will run in favourites against the Hurricanes. They produced a superb display to beat the Hurricanes 4225 on the same turf. However, the big difference is that game-breaker Rob Valetini is now missing. He was emblematic of the direct, heavy-hitting authority that earned the Brumbies three wins over Kiwi sides this season. They have won nine of their past 11 finals games staged in Canberra so home advantage in the cool capital is real. The Brumbies scrum and lineout can dominate and that would be a huge path to victory.
They have been the pick of the bunch the entire season, sitting near the summit of the table for the majority of the season until dropping to fourth place in the final round. They have the best chance to define Australia’s Super Rugby Pacific season. James Slipper, Folau Fainga’a, Allan Alaalatoa, Darcy Swain, Cadeyrn Neville, Tom Hooper, Luke Reimer, Pete Samu, Nic White, Noah Lolesio, Andy Muirhead, Irae Simone, Len Ikitau, Tom Wright, Tom Banks, Lachlan Lonergan, Scott Sio, Sefo Kautai, Nick Frost, Rory Scott, Ryan Lonergan, Jahrome Brown and Ollie Sapsford will fly their aspirations against Tevita Mafileo, Dan Coles, Owen Franks, James Blackwell, Isaia Walker, Blake Gibson, Du’ Plessis Kirifi, Ardie Savea, TJ Perenara, Aidan Morgan, Salesi Rayasi, Jordie Barrett, Billy Proctor, Julian Savea, Josh Moorby, Asago Aumua, Pouri RaketeStones, Tyrel Lomax, Caleb Delany, Brayden Iose, Jamie Booth, Ruben Love and Wes Goosen.
RAJNESH LINGAM is a contributor to this newspaper. The views expressed are his and not necessarily of this newspaper or his employer.