The Super Rugby finals will get underway on Friday evening, with four quarter-finals scheduled for the first week set to whittle the field down from eight to four teams.
The first quarter-final of the competition will see defending premiers and the top seed from the regular season, the Crusaders, go up against the Highlanders in an all-New Zealand derby.
That match will be played on Friday, June 21 at 5:35pm (AEST), while the last of the quarter-finals will see the Brumbies take on the Sharks on Saturday, June 22 at 8:05pm (AEST), meaning all four matches will be played across a roughly 30-hour window.
While the Crusaders took the top seed in the competition, the Jaguares finished second at the top of the South African conference and host the Chiefs this weekend. The Brumbies took third spot at the top of the Australian conference, while the Highlanders had the top wildcard spot (fourth) and are rewarded with a home quarter-final against the Bulls.
When: Friday, June 21, 5:35pm
Where: AMI Stadium, CHristchurch
How to watch: Live, Fox Sports
How to live stream: Live, Foxtel App, Foxtel Now, Kayo Sports
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Crusaders
David Havili, Sevu Reece, Jack Goodhue, Ryan Crotty, George Bridge, Richie Mo’unga, Bryn Hall, Kieran Read, Matt Todd, Whetukamokamo Douglas, Sam Whitelock (c), Scott Barrett, Owen Franks, Codie Taylor, Joe Moody
Reserves: Andrew Makalio, Tim Perry, Michael Alaalatoa, Luke Romano, Jordan Taufua, Mitchell Drummond, Mitchell Hunt, Braydon Ennor
Highlanders
Ben Smith (co-c), Waisake Naholo, Rob Thompson, Teihorangi Walden, Patelesio Tomkinson, Josh Ioane, Aaron Smith, Luke Whitelock (co-c), James Lentjes, Liam Squire, Tom Franklin, Jackson Hemopo, Tyrel Lomax, Liam Coltman, Daniel Lienert-Brown
Reserves: Ash Dixon, Ayden Johnstone, Siate Tokolahi, Josh Dickson, Shannon Frizell, Elliot Dixon, Kayne Hammington, Marty Banks
When: Saturday, June 22, 8:05am
Where: Jose Amalfitani Stadium, Buenos Aires
How to watch: Live, Fox Sports
How to live stream: Live, Foxtel App, Foxtel Now, Kayo Sports
Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Jaguares
Emiliano Boffelli, Sebastian Cancelliere, Matias Orlando, Jeronimo De La Fuente (c), Matias Moroni, Joaquin Diaz Bonilla, Tomas Cubelli, Javier Ortega Desio, Marcos Kremer, Pablo Matera, Tomas Lavanini, Guido Petti, Santiago Medrano, Agustin Creevy, Mayco Vivas
Reserves: Julian Montoya, Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Enrique Pieretto, Tomas Lezana, Francisco Gorrissen, Felipe Ezcurra, Domingo Miotti, Santiago Carreras
Chiefs
Solomon Alaimalo, Shaun Stevenson, Tumua Manu, Anton Lienert-Brown, Sean Wainui, Jack Debreczeni, Brad Weber, Pita Gus Sowakula, Sam Cane (c), Lachlan Boshier, Tyler Ardron, Brodie Retallick, Angus Ta’avao, Nathan Harris, Atu Moli
Reserves: Samisoni Taukei’aho, Aidan Ross, Nepo Laulala, Jesse Parete, Mitchell Jacbobson, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Marty McKenzie, Alex Nankivell/Ataata Moeakiola
When: Saturday, June 22, 5:35pm
Where: Westpac Stadium, Wellington
How to watch: Live, Fox Sports
How to live stream: Live, Foxtel App, Foxtel Now, Kayo Sports
Referee: Nic Berry (Australia)
Hurricanes
Jordie Barrett, Wes Goosen, Peter Umaga-Jensen, Ngani Laumape, Ben Lam, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara, Gareth Evans, Ardie Savea, Reed Prinsep, Isaia Walker-Leawere, James Blackwell, Jeff To’omaga-Allen, Dane Coles (c), Toby Smith
Reserves: Asafo Aumua, Fraser Armstrong, Ben May, Kane Le’aupepe, Du’Plessis Kirifi, Richard Judd/Finlay Christie, James Marshall, Salesi Rayasi
Bulls
Warrick Gelant, Cornal Hendricks, Jesse Kriel, Johnny Kotze, Rosko Specman, Handre Pollard (c), Andre Warner, Duane Vermeulen, Hanro Liebenberg, Marco van Staden, RG Snyman, Jason Jenkins, Trevor Nyakane, Jaco Visagie, Lizo Gqoboka
Reserves: Johan Grobbelaar, Simphiwe Matanzima, Wiehahn Herbst, Jannes Kirsten, Ruan Steenkamp, Ivan van Zyl, Manie Libbok, Divan Rossouw
When: Saturday, June 22, 8:05pm
Where: GIO Stadium, Canberra
How to watch: Live, Fox Sports
How to live stream: Live, Foxtel App, Foxtel Now, Kayo Sports
Referee: Mike Frazer (New Zealand)
Brumbies
Tom Banks, Henry Speight, Tevita Kuridrani, Irae Simone, Toni Pulu, Christian Lealiifano (c), Joe Powell, Pete Samu, Tom Cusack, Rob Valetini, Sam Carter, Rory Arnold, Scott Sio, Folau Faingaa, Allan Alaalatoa
Reserves: Connal McInnerney, James Slipper, Les Makin, Darcy Swain, Lachy McCaffrey, Jahrome Brown, Matt Lucas, Tom Wright
Sharks
Curwin Bosch, Sbu Nkosi, Lukhanyo Am, Andre Esterhuizen, Makazole Mapimpi, Robert du Preez, Louis Schreuder (c), Daniel du Preez, Tyler Paul, Jacques Vermuelen, Hyron Andrews, Ruben van Heerden, Coenie Oosthuizen, Kerron van Vuuren, Mzamo Majola
Reserves: Cullen Collopy, Juan Schoeman, Thomas du Toit, Gideon Koegelenberg, Luke Stringer, Cameron Wright, Jeremy Ward, Rhyno Smith
All times AEST.
Simply put, the seedings will direct who plays who in the second week of the finals.
The winner of the Crusaders and Highlanders will take on the winner of the Hurricanes and Bulls, as that’s the highest and lowest place games should the top team win each contest.
That means the winner of the Brumbies and Sharks will play the winner of the Jaguares and Chiefs.
Should the Crusaders and Jaguares win their matches, they will have home ground advantage for the semi-finals.
To watch the games on Fox Sports throughout the Super Rugby finals, you’ll need to have a valid Foxtel TV subscription, with the sports package included.
Don’t forget, you can also tune into The Roar for live coverage of the matches with our blogs and highlights.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
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