There are several finals positions still up for grabs heading into Round 15 of SMARTECH Super Rugby Pacific.
It starts on Friday with the Crusaders hunting for top spot against a Highlanders team with slim finals hopes.
Catch every game of SMARTECH Super Rugby Pacific live and on-demand via Stan Sport.
The Queensland Reds and Hurricanes will battle for fourth spot before the Chiefs and Moana Pasifika face off in a crucial Saturday clash.
The Western Force and NSW Waratahs finish the round, with the visitors holding onto slim finals hopes.
Rugby.com.au previews all the action from the weekend presented by Bet365
CRUSADERS (1-15): George Bower, Codie Taylor, Kershawl Skyes-Martin, Scott Barrett, Jamie Hannah, Cullen Grace, Tom Christie, Christian Lio-Willie, Mitch Drummond, Rivez Reihana, Macca Springer, David Havili (c), Braydon Ennor, Sevu Reece, Johnny McNicholl
Replacements: George Bell, Lewis Ponini, Seb Calder, Quinten Strange, Corey Kellow, Kyle Preston, James O'Connor, Dallas McLeod
- Mitch Drummond will make his 150th appearance for the Crusaders after being named at scrumhalf.
- George Bower comes into the starting front-row, with Lewis Ponini on the bench for a potential club debut.
- Macca Springer returns to the wing, with Sevu Reece on the right wing.
HIGHLANDERS (1-15): Ethan de Groot (co-c), Jack Taylor, Saula Ma’u, Mitch Dunshea, Fabian Holland, Te Kamaka Howden, Veveni Lasaqa, Sean Withy, Folau Fakatava, Taine Robinson, Taniela Filimone, Timoci Tavatavanawai (co-c), Tanielu Tele'a, Jonah Lowe, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
Replacements: Soane Vikena, Josh Bartlett, Sosefo Kautai, Tai Cribb, Will Stodart, Adam Lennox, Cameron Millar, Thomas Umaga-Jensen
- Taniela Filimone is the lone change to the starting side, with Joan Nareki out with a knee injury.
- Tai Cribb and Will Stodart come onto the bench for Oliver Haig and Michael Lof.t
- The Crusaders have won four of their last five against the Highlanders, including scoring 40+ in their last two wins.
- On top of this, the Crusaders have won eight of their last nine home games at Apollo Projects Stadium against the Highlanders.
- The Highlanders have lost eight of their last nine games, including their last four in a row, with four of these eight losses coming when they led at half-time.
David Havili v Timoci Tavatavanawai
Havili will be out to celebrate his new contract with a big performance in a must-win game for the Crusaders if they wish to finish top.
The All Black is one of the best in his position, but faces stiff competition from Tavatavanawai.
The Highlander has made home in the centres and a big performance against the Crusaders will re-ignite his All Blacks hopes.
Crusaders by 9
REDS (1-15): Sef Fa'agase, Richie Asiata, Zane Nonggorr, Josh Canham, Ryan Smith, Joe Brial, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson, Tate McDermott (c), Tom Lynagh, Filipo Daugunu, Hunter Paisami, Dre Paheko, Lachie Anderson, Jock Campbell
Replacements: Josh Nasser, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Trevor King, Angus Blyth, John Bryant, Kalani Thomas, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, Tim Ryan
- Harry Wilson is a huge inclusion, with the Wallabies skipper cleared of a broken arm.
- Tom Lynagh and Dre Pakeho come back into the midfield, with Lynagh missing last week with a concussion.
- Australia U20s prop Trevor King is in line for a debut via the bench.
HURRICANES (1-15): Xavier Numia, Asafo Aumua (co-c), Tyrel Lomax, Zach Gallgher, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Brad Shields (co-c), Du'Plessis Kirifi (co-c), Peter Lakai, Cam Roigard, Ruben Love, Fatafehi Fineanganofo, Peter Umaga-Jensen, Billy Proctor (co-c), Daniel Sinkinson, Callum Harkin
Replacements: Raymond Tuputupu, Tevita Mafileo, Pasilio Tosi, Hugo Plummer, Devan Flanders, Ereatara Enari, Brett Cameron, Bailyn Sullivan
- Winger Daniel Sinkinson starts for the first time in 2025, with Ngane Punival out with a lower leg injury.
- Brayden Iose has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a leg injury, seeing Brad Shields start in the back-row
- Tyrel Lomax has been cleared of injury and returns in the front row.
- The Hurricanes have won 13 of their last 14 against the Queensland Reds, including their last five in Australia.
- The Reds last defeated the Hurricanes in 2013, however, took them to extra time in their previous encounter.
- The Hurricanes are unbeaten in their last five games against Australian opposition, last recording a winning streak more than this between 2019-2021.
Fraser McReight v Du’Plessis Kirifi
The battle of the back-rowers is a tantalising prospect as two of the best over the ball go head-to-head.
McReight has slowly worked his way back into form, but his performances in the past fortnight have been some of his best.
He will face a tough test against Kirifi, who is currently ranked top for turnovers for flankers.
Reds by 3
CHIEFS (1-15): Ollie Norris, Samisoni Taukei’aho, George Dyer, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Tupou Vaa'i, Simon Parker, Luke Jacobson (c), Wallace Sititi, Cortez Ratima, Damian McKenzie, Leroy Carter, Quinn Tupaea, Daniel Rona, Emoni Narawa, Shaun Stevenson
Replacements: Brodie McAlister, Aidan Ross, Reuben O'Neill, Josh Lord, Samipeni Finau, Xavier Roe, Josh Jacomb, Gideon Wrampling
- Samisoni Taukei’aho is the long chance to the 23, swapping with Brodie McAlister to start in the front-row.
PASIFIKA (1-15): Tito Tuipulotu, Millennium Sanerivi, Feleti Sae-Ta'ufo'ou, Tom Savage, Samuel Slade, Miracle Faiilagi, Ardie Savea (c), Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa, Jonathan Taumateine, Patrick Pellegrini, Solomon Alaimalo, Danny Toala, Lalomilo Lalamilo, Kyren Taumoefolau, Tevita Ofa
Replacements: Samiuela Moli, Abraham Pole, Chris Apoua, Allan Craig, Sione Havili Talitui, Melani Matavao, Julian Savea, Jackson Garden-Bachop
- Solomon Alaimalo will return to Moana Pasifika’s starting 15 on the wing to face his former team.
- Danna Toala comes into the starting side at inside centre.
- Tevita Ofa slots in at fullback, with William Havili ruled out with a knee injury.
- The Chiefs have won all six games against Moana Pasifika by an average of 35 points per game.
- Moana Pasifika are on their best winning streak ever of three wins, with their sixth place ranking their highest ever at this point of the season.
- Each of the Chiefs’ last two games have been won by the team that trailed at the break.
Wallace Sititi v Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa
Sititi has been in fine form since his return from injury and is a key game-breaker for the Chiefs.
The All Black hasn't missed a stop and will go carry-for-carry with Tupou Ta’eiloa.
Tupou Ta’eiloa is comfortably the leader for carries in Super Rugby Pacific and needs to lead from the front to keep their finals hopes alive.
Chiefs by 17
FORCE (1-15): Fatongia Paea, Nic Dolly, Tom Robertson, Jeremy Williams (c), Darcy Swain, Will Harris, Carlo Tizzano, Nick Champion de Crespigny; Nic White, Ben Donaldson, Dylan Pietsch, Hamish Stewart, Bayley Kuenzle, Harry Potter, Mac Grealy
Replacements: Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Ryan Coxon, Tiaan Tauakipulu, Reed Prinsep, Titi Nofoagatotoa, Henry Robertson, Alex Harford, Kurtley Beale
- Carlo Tizzano, Nick Champion de Crespigny and Dylan Pietsch have been cleared of injury and start for the Force.
- Harry Potter, Nic White and Hamish Stewart are all back in the backline after being rested last week.
- Fatongia Paea has been named for his debut start in the front-row.
WARATAHS (1-15): Angus Bell, David Porecki, Taniela Tupou, Fergus Lee-Warner, Miles Amatosero, Hugh Sinclair, Charlie Gamble, Langi Gleeson, Jake Gordon (c), Tane Edmed, Triston Reilly, Joey Walton, Lalakai Foketi, Andrew Kellaway, Lawson Creighton
Replacements: Mahe Vailanu, Tom Lambert, Daniel Botha, Ben Grant, Jamie Adamson, Teddy Wilson, Jack Bowen, Darby Lancaster
- Taniela Tupou makes his return to the starting front-row after several weeks as a finisher.
- Lawson Creighton slots in at fullback, with Andrew Kellaway moving to the wing.
- Hugh Sinclair and Lalakai Foketi return to the starting side
- The NSW Waratahs have won four of their last five matches against the Western Force, although the Force have won three of their last four games against the Waratahs at HBF Park.
- The NSW Waratahs have lost their last 10 games outside of Sydney, with the club stuck on 199 Super Rugby wins.
- The Western Force have lost their last four games against Australian opposition despite trailing at half-time once.
Taniela Tupou v Tom Robertson
Tupou has been given a prime chance to make a Wallabies statement against the Western Force.
The prop is inching closer to his best form but it'll be a true test to see how he manages the start against a quality operator in Robertson.
Robertson has his own gold jersey ambitions and knows he can send a message to selectors with a strong set-piece display.
Force by 4
