Super Rugby Pacific Round Two Preview
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REDS (1-15): Sef Fa'agase, Richie Asiata, Massimo De Lutiis, Josh Canham, Ryan Smith, Seru Uru, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson, Tate McDermott (c), Tom Lynagh, Filipo Daugunu, Hunter Paisami, Josh Flook, Tim Ryan, Jock Campbell
Replacements: Matt Faessler, George Blake, Zane Nonggorr, Angus Blyth, Joe Brial, Kalani Thomas, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, Lachie Anderson
- Massimo De Lutiis starts in his Super Rugby debut in the front-row
- Josh Canham and Ryan Smith partner in the second row, with Lukhan Salakaia-Loto out with injury for at least a month
- There are ten Wallabies in the starting side and three further in the reserves
PASIFIKA (1-15): James Lay, Millennium Sanerivi, Feteleti Sae-Ta'ufo'ou, Samuel Slade, Allan Craig, Miracle Faillagi, Sione Havili Talitui, Ardie Savea (c), Jonathan Taumateine, Jackson Garden-Bachop, Kyren Taumoefolau, Lalomilo Lalomilo, Pepesana Patafilo, Solomon Alaimalo, William Havili
Replacements: Sama Malolo, Tito Tuipulotu, Chris Apoua, Tom Savage, Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa, Melani Matavao, Danny Toala, Losi Filipo
- Moana Pasifika have kept an unchanged starting side from the team that narrowly went down to the Western Force
- Losi Filipo is the lone change to the reserves, in line for his Super Rugby debut
- The Reds have won three of their last four games at Suncorp Stadium
- The Reds have started their season with victories in four of their last six games
- Moana Pasifika have conceded 40+ points in their last two games
Tom Lynagh v Jackson Garden-Bachop
Lynagh will begin his quest to regain his Wallabies spot as he takes charge of the Reds’ backline.
The young gun was handed his Test debut last year but needs a strong year to fend off Ben Donaldson and Tane Edmed for the Lions tour.
Meanwhile, Garden-Bachop is at the other stage of his career, providing valuable experience for a Moana Pasifika side that desperately needs it in the backs.
Reds by 18
HURRICANES (1-15): Xavier Numia, Jacob Devery, Tevita Mafileo, Caleb Delany, Hugo Plummer, Brad Shields (co-c), Du'Plessis Kirifi (co-c), Brayden Iose, Cameron Roigard, Harry Godfrey, Kini Naholo, Peter Umaga-Jensen, Bailyn Sullivan, Fatafehi Fineanganofo, Callum Harkin
Replacements: Raymond Tuputupu, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Pasilio Tosi, Will Tucker, Peter Lakai, Ereatara Enari, Riley Hohepa, Ngatungane Punivai
- Hugo Plummer comes in for the injured Isaia Walker-Leawere in the second-row
- Hawke’s Bay players Jacob Devery, Ere Enari, Pouri Rakete-Stones, and Harry Godfrey have all been named for the trip to Napier
DRUA (1-15): Emosi Tuqiri, Zuriel Togiatama, Mesake Doge, Mesake Vocevoce, Isoa Nasilasila, Meli Derenalagi, Motikiai Murray, Elia Canakaivata, Frank Lomani (co-c), Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, Taniela Rakuro, Inia Tabuavou, Tuidraki Samusamuvodre, Junior Ratuva, Ilaisa Droasese
Replacements: Mesulame Dolokoto, Peni Ravai, Meli Tuni, Leona Rotuisolia, Kitione Salawa, Peni Matawalu, Caleb Muntz, Iosefo Masi
- Former Racing 92 and Fiji Test centre Inia Tabuavou starts in the midfield
- Emosi Tuqiri, Meli Derenalagi and Motikiai Murray have been added to the starting pack
- Peni Ravai is set for his first appearance in the Drua colours
- The Hurricanes’ average win margin over the Fijian Drua is 42.5 points
- The Hurricanes have won their last six games at McLean Park in Napier
- The Fijian Drua have lost seven of their last ten games in Super Rugby, including scoring five points or fewer in each of their two away games.
Meli Derenalagi v Brad Shields
Two key leaders for their respective sides, Derenlagi and Shields loom as key game-breakers on Saturday.
Thanks to his freakish offloading skills and athleticism, the former Drua captain can quickly change the game in an instant.
Meanwhile, Shields gets through the dirty work that the ‘Canes need to prioritise if they are to break the Drua open.
Hurricanes by 22
HIGHLANDERS (1-15): Ethan de Groot, Soane Mikaele Vikena, Saula Ma’u, Fabian Holland, Mitch Dunshea, Sean Withy, Veveni Lasaqa, Hugh Renton (co-c), Folau Fakatava, Taine Robinson, Caleb Tangitau, Timoci Tavatavanawai (co-c), Tanielu Tele’a, Sam Gilbert, Finn Hurley
Replacements: Jack Taylor, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Sefo Kautai, Will Stodart, Nikora Broughton, Nathan Hastie, Cameron Millar, Lui Naeata
- Veveni Lasaqa starts in the back-row after making his debut off the bench
- Folau Fakatava returns to the starting halves
- Jack Taylor and Will Stodart come onto the bench
BLUES (1-15): Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Ricky Riccitelli, Marcel Renata, Patrick Tuipulotu (c), Laghlan McWhannell, Cameron Suafoa, Dalton Papali’i, Hoskins Sotutu, Finlay Christie, Harry Plummer, Caleb Clarke, AJ Lam, Rieko Ioane, Mark Tele’a, Beauden Barrett.
Replacements: James Mullan, Joshua Fusitua, Angus Ta’avao, Josh Beehre, Adrian Choat, Tafua Funaki, Corey Evans, Cole Forbes.
- Hoskins Sotutu is the big inclusion, slotting into number eight
- It means Cameron Suafoa shifts into blindside flanker
- Hooker James Mullan comes onto the bench for a potential debut
- The Blues have won 11 of their last 12 games against the Highlanders
- During that time, the Auckland-based side have won three of their last four in Dunedin, scoring an average of 38.3 points during those wins.
- The Blues have not lost back-to-back games to start the season since 2018
Timoci Tavatavanawai v AJ Lam
The Highlanders co-captain was immense in the defeat against the Waratahs and will be looking for a similar impact against the Blues.
Tavatavanawai’s shift to the midfield adds a new dimension to the Highlanders’ attack and unlocks his defensive pilfering ability.
Meanwhile, Lam was one of the Blues’ best in defeat last week and is an unsung hero of that backline
Blues by 8
BRUMBIES (1-15): James Slipper, Billy Pollard, Allan Alaalatoa, Nick Frost, Tom Hooper, Rory Scott, Luke Reimer, Charlie Cale, Ryan Lonergan (c), Declan Meredith, Corey Toole, Ollie Sapsford, Len Ikitau, Andy Muirhead, Tom Wright
Replacements: Lachlan Lonergan, Blake Schoupp, Rhys van Nek, Lachlan Shaw, Tuaina Taii Tualima, Harrison Goddard, Jack Debreczeni, Hudson Creighton
- The Brumbies have recalled James Slipper, Allan Alaalatoa, Nick Frost, Tom Wright and Len Ikitau after being rested from the win over the Fijian Drua
- Charlie Cale has been cleared of a shoulder injury and starts in the back-row
- Declan Meredith starts at flyhalf, with Noah Lolesio (concussion) ruled out
FORCE (1-15): Marley Pearce, Nic Dolly, Tom Robertson, Jeremy Williams (c), Darcy Swain, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Carlo Tizzano, Reed Prinsep; Nic White, Ben Donaldson, Harry Potter, Hamish Stewart, Sio Tomkinson, Dylan Pietsch, Mac Grealy
Replacements: Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Ryan Coxon, Atu Moli, Sam Carter, Will Harris, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Max Burey, George Poolman
- Dylan Pietsch and Reed Prinsep are elevated into the starting side after impressing from the bench
- Brandon Paenga-Amosa will make his debut from the bench for the club
- Ryan Coxon also comes into the side for the first time in 2025, with Atu Moli moving to tight-head replacement
- The Brumbies have won 16 of their last 17 games against the Western Force, their highest winning rate against any other active Super Rugby side
- The ACT side are hunting their 250th Super Rugby win, with only the Crusaders (303) tallying more wins in history
- The Western Force are looking for back-to-back wins for the first time in history
Corey Toole v Dylan Pietsch
Two of the fastest guys in Australian Rugby will go head-to-head in an exciting battle on Saturday.
Toole was quiet for his standards on the weekend but has a great record in Canberra.
He will look to press his claims against Wallaby Pietsch, who cemented his spot in the Test set-up with a brilliant second half of the year.
Brumbies by 6
