S18 PREVIEW: ROUND 15, PART ONE
You could not have asked for a better game to restart Super Rugby after the June break.
It is the tournament's leading and most consistent team against a side rated as one of the most likely to topple them – the Crusaders against the Chiefs.
The game has been 'exported' to Fiji's national stadium in Suva – some say for financial reasons.
However, they can play this game on the moon and it will have the same allure – it is a top-of-the-table clash between two world class outfits.
The other Friday game will see Brumbies host the Reds in Canberra, the home team desperate to hold onto top spot in the Australian conference.
Friday, July 1:
There is no doubting the importance of the game. Just look at the selection of the two teams.
Six days after featuring for the All Blacks in the third and final Test against Wales, Kieran Read and five other internationals have to run out for a Super Rugby match.
Not only is there a short week, but in included a mid-week flight to Fiji.
Read will lead an All Black contingent that also includes Israel Dagg, Sam Whitelock, Owen Franks, Codie Taylor and Wyatt Crockett.
Luke Romano and Ryan Crotty are sidelined through injuries, otherwise they would have played as well.
The Chiefs have just two current All Blacks in their starting XV – flank Sam Cane (who will captain them in Suva) and lock Brodie Retallick. New Zealand's replacement scrumhalf Tawera Kerr-Barlow is also on the Chiefs bench, while flyhalf Aaron Cruden, who only recently returned from injury, will also play off the replacement bench.
Kieran Read, who is captain of both the All Blacks and Crusaders, said that while the six-day turnaround will be a challenge, the real issue is re-adjusting to the Crusaders gameplan.
"It is a tough thing to do, but it won't take too long," Read told the New Zealand media.
"Your mind starts to remember what it was like a month or so ago.
"We've played under this system the last few years."
The Crusaders also hope their two Fijian-born players – wings Nemani Nadolo and Jone Macilai – will win them some additional support in the crowd.
"We know it's a Chiefs 'home' game, but we are hoping that we will get to see a lot of red and black out there on the field come Friday," Read told the Fiji Broadcast Corporation.
"Because of Nemani and Jone, we may have a good base here in Fiji.
"We love the support that we do receive. But we will wait till Friday and hope for a lot of support."
Recent results:
2016: Chiefs won 27-21, Christchurch
2015: Chiefs won 26-9, Christchurch
2015: Chiefs won 40-16, Hamilton
2014: Crusaders won 18-17, Hamilton
2014: Chiefs won 18-10, Christchurch
2013: Chiefs won 20-19, Hamilton (semifinal)
2013: Crusaders won 43-15, Christchurch
2013: Chiefs won 28-19, Hamilton
Prediction: The Chiefs have won seven of their last nine games against the Crusaders, including each of their last three meetings. The Chiefs' current run of three victories against the Crusaders represents their longest ever winning streak against the Christchurch side in Super Rugby. Two of the last four clashes between these clubs have been won by the team trailing at half-time, including a Chiefs comeback when these teams last met in the opening round of the 2016 season. The Crusaders have won only two of their last five games away from home against New Zealand opposition with both of those victories coming against the Blues. The Crusaders have won 10 games so far this season, an 11th win would equal their most ever wins in a regular season of Super Rugby (seven times previously). This is tough to call. However, the Crusaders may edge in the end – by less than one score.
Teams:
Chiefs: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Toni Pulu, 13 Seta Tamanivalu, 12 Anton Lienert-Brown, 11 James Lowe, 10 Stephen Donald, 9 Brad Weber, 8 Tom Sanders, 7 Sam Cane (captain), 6 Taleni Seu, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Dominic Bird, 3 Hiroshi Yamashita, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Kane Hames.
Replacements: 16 Nathan Harris, 17 Siegfried Fisi'ihoi, 18 Atu Moli, 19 Mitchell Brown, 20 Lachlan Boshier, 21 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 22 Aaron Cruden, 23 Sam McNicol.
Crusaders: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Jone Macilai, 13 Kieron Fonotia, 12 David Havili, 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Richie Mo'unga, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Kieran Read (captain), 7 Matt Todd, 6 Jordan Taufua, 5 Samuel Whitelock, 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Joe Moody, 18 Mike Alaalatoa, 19 Jimmy Tupou, 20 Jed Brown, 21 Mitchell Drummond, 22 Mitchell Hunt, 23 Sean Wainui.
Referee: Andrew Lees (Australia)
Assistant referees: Rohan Hoffmann (Australia), Will Houston (Australia)
TMO: George Ayoub (Australia)
Like all matches this weekend, both teams have to restart their season after the month-long international break.
The Brumbies have welcomed back a few more international stars than the Reds.
The Brumbies will hope there recent form at home will help then stay ahead of the Waratahs in the Australian conference – a position that gifts them a top-four spot and homeground advantage in the quarterfinals.
They've outscored their opposition in those matches by a combined score line of 89-11 and conceded only three first half points.
Across the 2016 campaign the Brumbies have won four of their six games on home soil and one more such win would equal the amount they earned for the entire 2015 season.
The Brumbies know they will have to be clinical in their attempt to dismiss the Reds.
Wallaby loose forward Scott Fardy said it has been a "long four weeks" with the Wallabies – a bitterly disappointing 0-3 series whitewash at the hands of England.
"We are looking forward to getting a really good result against the Reds," Fardy said.
He felt that the players are "fresh and ready to go", as most of the Brumbies did not get a lot of game time against the WEnglish,.
"To see [lock] Rory Arnold get an opportunity at Test level will only make him grow. You could see that at training this week."
The Reds face a fellow Australia team for the first time since a Round Five loss to the Waratahs and went into the international break on the back of a 35-25 win over the Sunwolves.
The Queensland side will welcome back four players from the Wallabies – James Slipper, Rob Simmons, Greg Holmes and Nick Frisby.
They will be hoping to carry their form from the Sunwolves game into this match, as they aim to snap a five-game losing streak against Australian opposition.
Though their last two all-Australian losses have come by only two points each, they've managed to score more than 13 points only once in that run since a 32-10 win over the Western Force in Round 16 last year.
"The guys are excited to be back in Super Rugby mode," Reds co-interim coach Nick Stiles said.
"We're coming off a win against the Sunwolves in our last home game and need to keep building for the remainder of the season.
"While we've had three wins and a draw at home, we are yet to win away.
"The motivation to go down to Canberra and beat the Brumbies away from home is first and foremost in our minds.
"This Friday's match also provides a strong opportunity for a few promising young players, who've trained with us all season and now get the chance to gain some valuable experience ahead of next year.
"Game time at Super Rugby level will be invaluable for their growth and development."
Recent results:
2015: Brumbies won 29-0, Brisbane
2015: Brumbies won 47-3, Canberra
2014: Brumbies won 23-20, Brisbane
2014: Reds won 27-17, Canberra
2013: Brumbies and Reds drew 19-all, Brisbane
2013: Brumbies won 24-6, Canberra
Prediction: The Brumbies have won their last three games against the Reds and have conceded only three points in their last two games combined against the Queensland side (scoring 76 themselves). The Brumbies have won their last three games in Super Rugby, the last time they won four on the trot was in Round 6, 2014. A win against the Sunwolves in Round 13 leaves the Queensland Reds on the cusp of consecutive wins for the first time since Round 17, 2014. The Brumbies have crossed for four tries after stealing a line-out this season, the most of any team and three more than the Reds. Hendrik Tui has stolen five line-outs, more than any other Australia-based player and the equal fifth most of any player in the competition. There is much more at stake for the Brumbies and they are likely to be more desperate. You could see them win by as much as 15 points.
Teams:
Brumbies: 15 Aidan Toua, 14 Nigel Ah Wong, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Matt Toomua, 11 James Dargaville, 10 Christian Lealiifano (co-captain), 9 Joe Powell, 8 Ben Hyne, 7 Jarrad Butler, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore (co-captain), 1 Scott Sio.
Replacements: 16 Josh Mann-Rea, 17 Allan Alaalatoa, 18 Ruan Smith, 19 Blake Enever, 20 Michael Wells, 21 Tomás Cubelli, 22 Andrew Smith, 23 Lausii Taliauli.
Reds: 15 Jack Tuttle, 14 Chris Kuridrani, 13 Samu Kerevi, 12 Henry Taefu, 11 Eto Nabuli, 10 Jake McIntyre, 9 Nick Frisby, 8 Curtis Browning, 7 Liam Gill, 6 Hendrik Tui, 5 Lukhan Tui, 4 Cadeyrn Neville, 3 Greg Holmes, 2 Andrew Ready, 1 James Slipper (captain).
Replacements: 16 Saia Fainga'a, 17 Sef Fa'agase, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Kane Douglas, 20 Leroy Houston, 21 James Tuttle, 22 Duncan Paia'aua, 23 Campbell Magnay.
Referee: Nick Briant (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Paul Williams (New Zealand), Jamie Nutbrown (New Zealand)
TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)
Compiled by Jan de Koning
@King365ed
@rugby365com
* Statistical information provided by Opta Sports
