Wallabies No.10 James O’Connor has given the ailing Reds a boost with a return to fitness for their Super Rugby Pacific blockbuster with the Blues on Saturday but the big news on teams night is a massive double blow for the summit chasing Brumbies.
O’Connor has missed the past three losses and captain Tate McDermott was furious at himself and teammates for failing to give adequate support to JOC’s replacement Lawson Creighton.
O’Connor is one of six changes to the Queensland starting XV, with the 31-year-old flyhalf making an early comeback from a knee injury suffered against the Melbourne Rebels in Round 9.
Fellow Wallaby Hunter Paisami also returns to the side after recovering from a shoulder injury and will push to inside-centre after Josh Flook’s strong performance in the number-13 jersey against the Highlanders.
Angus Scott-Young will start at openside flanker with Fraser McReight ruled-out with non-covid related illness, while Connor Vest comes back into the side for his third Super Rugby start.
Angus Blyth returns to the run-on side at look, as does veteran hooker Albert Anae who will start for Queensland for the first time since 2014 with Richie Asiata unavailable.
Reds head coach Brad Thorn said: “We’re looking forward to flying over to New Zealand again. We haven’t played at Eden Park in four years. It’s an iconic stadium and a good challenge awaits us.
“The Blues are on top for a reason. They’re a quality side and we are expecting a tough match on Saturday night.
“We’ve lost a couple of close ones in the last few weeks which has been disappointing. We’ll take the learnings out of those games in what will be a tough contest this week,” said Thorn.
Anae will start in the frontrow alongside Feao Fotuaika and Dane Zander, while Blyth will resume his partnership with Ryan Smith in the backrow.
Seru Uru shifts to number-eight to replace Harry Wilson as the backrower continues to recover from concussion, with Scott-Young and Vest starting in the loose forwards.
Waratahs head coach Darren Coleman has named an unchanged backline but added one new face to his forward pack and two Wallabies to his bench to the side that defeated Moana Pasifika at Mt Smart Stadium last weekend for the match against the Hurricanes in Sydney.
After an impressive starting debut against Moana, Archer Holz remains in the starting front-row packing down with Angus Bell and Dave Porecki.
Hugh Sinclair is the only change to the starting side, named in the second row alongside Jed Holloway who leads the competition in lineout wins (52).
Charlie Gamble remains at openside flanker in Michael Hooper’s absence, allowing Will Harris and Rahboni Warren-Vosayaco to form an abrasive back-row.
Hooper is still sidelined thanks to a concussion two games ago. Wallaby reps Ned Hanigan and Paddy Ryan, who commenced training with the Tahs this week, are on the bench.
Brumbies coach McKellar has made two changes to his starting side to take on the Crusaders, with Brumbies pathways product Tom Hooper coming into the backrow in place of Rob Valetini, and Rodney Iona starting at flyhalf with Noah Lolesio missing.
Lolesio is expected to return next week, with Valetini set for an extended period on the sidelines after suffering a hamstring injury in the Brumbies 38-28 victory over the Chiefs in Hamilton.
Allan Alaalatoa returns to the starting side at tighthead, the Wallabies prop leading the side with Slipper at loosehead and Lachlan Lonergan at hooker.
The second-row combination of Darcy Swain and Cadeyrn Neville is retained from the Brumbies victory in New Zealand, with Hooper the only change to the backrow alongside Jahrome Brown at openside and Pete Samu at number eight.
Nic White will partner Iona in the halves, Iona having steered the side to wins in Lolesio’s absence against the Reds, Force and Fijian Drua.
Irae Simone and Len Ikitau continue their partnership in the centres, with the back-three of Andy Muirhead, Tom Wright and Tom Banks all in good form heading into the top-three fixture.
Head coach Tim Sampson has made three changes to the Force starting XV to take on the Highlanders in Dunedin on Friday night.
Former All Black Jeremy Thrush will move up to the starting lock position to play alongside Wallaby Izack Rodda. The two international players will bring significant experience to the forward pack. Ryan McCauley moves to the reserves.
Scrumhalf Ian Prior will also rejoins the starting line-up after Issak Fines-Leleiwasa was ruled out of selection with a foot injury sustained against the Crusaders. Palmyra Rugby Club player Michael McDonald will join the reserves.
Having successfully completed his HIA protocols, Manasa Mataele will play in the 11 jersey with winger Byron Ralston at 14.
Andrew Ready continues as the starting hooker, with captain Feleti Kaitu’u named on the bench.
Brynard “The Bull” Stander and former All Black and Highlanders player Richard Kahui both come onto the bench. The duo brings over 165 Super Rugby games of experience between them.
Homegrown centre Kyle Godwin will lead the side as run-on captain.
Friday, 5:05pm, Forsyth Barr Stadium
Highlanders (1-15): Ethan de Groot, Andrew Makalio, Jermaine Ainsley, Bryn Evans, Josh Dickson, James Lentjes (co-c), Billy Harmon, Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, Aaron Smith (co-c), Sam Gilbert, Scott Gregory, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Josh Timu, Fetuli Paea, Connor Garden-Bachop.
Reserves: Rhys Marshall, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Saula Mau, Fabian Holland, Hugh Renton, Folau Fakatava, Mitch Hunt, Liam Coombes-Fabling.
Force (1-15): Tom Robertson, Andrew Ready, Santiago Medrano, Jeremy Thrush, Izack Rodda, Fergus Lee-Warner, Ollie Callan, Tim Anstee, Ian Prior, Reesjan Pasitoa, Manasa Mataele, Bayley Kuenzle, Kyle Godwin, Bryon Ralston, Jake Strachan.
Reserves: Feleti Kaitu’u, Angus Wagner, Bo Abra, Ryan McCauley, Brynard Stander, Michael McDonald, Jake McIntyre, Richard Kahui.
Friday, 7:45pm, GIO Stadium
Brumbies (1-15): James Slipper, Lachlan Lonergan, Allan Alaalatoa (c), Darcy Swain, Caderyn Neville, Tom Hooper, Jahrome Brown, Pete Samu, Nic White, Rod Iona, Andy Muirhead, Irae Simone, Len Ikitau, Tom Wright, Tom Banks.
Reserves: Folau Fainga’a, Scott Sio, Tom Ross, Nick Frost, Luke Reimer, Rory Scott, Ryan Lonergan, Ollie Sapsford.
Crusaders (1-15): George Bower, Codie Taylor, Fletcher Newell, Scott Barrett (c), Sam Whitelock, Pablo Matera, Ethan Blackadder, Cullen Grace, Bryn Hall, Richie Mo’unga, George Bridge, David Havili, Jack Goodhue, Sevu Reece, Will Jordan.
Reserves: Ricky Jackson, Finlay Brewis, Tamaiti Williams, Liam Hallam-Eames, Tom Christie, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Braydon Ennor, Leicester Faninga’anuku.
Saturday, 2:35pm, CommBank Stadium
Drua TBC
Moana Pasifika TBC
Saturday, 5:05pm, Eden Park
Blues TBC
Reds (1-15): Dane Zander, Albert Anae, Feao Fotuaika, Ryan Smith, Angus Blyth, Connor Vest, Angus Scott-Young, Seru Uru, Tate McDermott (c), James O’Connor, Jordan Petaia, Hunter Paisami, Josh Flook, Suliasi Vunivalu, Jock Campbell.
RESERVES: Matt Faessler, Harry Hoopert, Sef Fa’agase, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Tuaina Tualima, Kalani Thomas, Hamish Stewart, Lawson Creighton.
Saturday, 7:45pm, Leichhardt Oval
Waratahs (1-15) Angus Bell, Dave Porecki, Archer Holz, Jed Holloway, Hugh Sinclair, Will Harris, Charlie Gamble, Rahboni Warren-Vosayaco, Jake Gordon (c), Tane Edmed, Dylan Pietsch, Lalakai Foketi, Izaia Perese, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Alex Newsome.
Reserves: Mahe Vailanu, Teterta Faulkner, Paddy Ryan, Ned Hanigan, Langi Gleeson, Jack Grant, Ben Donaldson, Triston Reilly.
Hurricanes TBC
Sunday, 2:00pm, AAMI Park
Rebels (1-15): Matt Gibbon, Jordan Uelese, Pone Fa’amausili, Matt Philip, Josh Hill, Michael Wells (c), Brad Wilkin, Rob Leota, James Tuttle, Carter Gordon, Glen Vaihu, Stacey Ili, Andrew Kellaway, George Worth, Reece Hodge.
Reserves: James Hanson, Cameron Orr, Cabous Eloff, Josh Canham, Richard Hardwick, Joe Powell, Nick Jooste, Lukas Ripley.
Chiefs TBC.
Springboks prop Frans Malherbe joined The Roar rugby experts Brett McKay and Harry Jones to talk about his unusual rugby origin story, what surprised him about the United Rugby Championship coming out of Super Rugby, and Rassie Erasmus’ call for a specialist scrum referee.
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Rhys Bosley
Roar Pro
With McReight out and Stewart on the bench, it will be the area of concern.
Highlander
Roar Guru
They have struggled at ruck time against kiwi sides so far, interesting to see how this group goes
Rhys Bosley
Roar Pro
I disagree on the Reds pack, aside from the obvious consequences of the loss of Tupou, I think they will be pretty strong in tight. My main concern is that while I rate ASY highly, he doesn’t have any Super Rugby experience at 7 and is probably a bit slow for that position, so I think this could cost the Reds in open play, both in attack and defence. That is why JOC orchestrating a kicking game to suit our pack is vital, we have five tall jumpers and all of the flankers are big enough to play lock, so emphasising lineouts and mauls is an obvious strategy for this game.
Shano
Guest
Yes agree, if the Crusaders don`t beat the Brumbies, it is a massive fail from them.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Like those in’s for the Tahs. Ned and Paddy great additions and very pleased Vailanu will get another go. Mahe was excellent vs the Crusaders and back in after a week to recover should hopefully see him continue that form.
Colvin Brown
Roar Guru
I'm leaning your way Jacko. Hunt has done some good stuff but he's been too up and down, compounded particularly by his nightmare kicking style, whether tactical, for line or off the tee. In NZ, I imagine he wouldn't rate that high amongst the Super 10's. I rated Ioane higher than Hunt till he seemed to lose his way after he made the ABs. It's hard to say what happened but Highlanders have had a stack of talented options for 10 since Sopoaga but none really developed their games down South. Looking on the positive side Gilbert is quite experienced, has been in the environment for a while, seems confident and this could be his making.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
I see it as not a lot to lose. The other options arnt in great form and he has safety on the bench anyway. He needs a better 10 than he has been getting from Banks and Hunt so give someone else a shot.
savant
Roar Rookie
He will get there before ASY. Even from scrums. Not sure its the role of an 8 to be ruck monkey though. Particularly if he is expected to take over Wilson's carries.
Mirt
Roar Rookie
This could be ugly indeed. The driven backwards that Malotru refers to might be the difference that allows us to see if O’Connor will look as serviceable behind a retreating pack as he has looked behind an advancing pack in the aus games the last couple of years.
Matt
Guest
The Wallabies have Holloway Leota or Hanigan to be Valetini`s potential replacement. Plenty of depth this year. Wallabies will be fine.
Mirt
Roar Rookie
And I would usually think this is the right type of game to try him, but with the Force only three points adrift and a game in hand it may turn out to be an egg-faced decision. Though I doubt it very much, bonus point win for the hielanders
Double Agent
Guest
Just because Uru has an 8 on his back doesn't mean he's not allowed to get to a ruck first.
Zulu
Guest
Asking ASY to be RED 7, is like asking lock Will Skelton to jump in a lineout.
ethan
Guest
Looks an undersized pack too without Valentini, and starting Lonergan. Brumbies up against it this week.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
He isnt out of form. Average has always been his form. Thats on Brown for contracting him.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
He played there a lot more than just school tho. He was a 10 and the Highlanders only use him at wing or FB. This is a NZ problem and Ive been annoyed about it for some time now. Guys like ZS are 10s, contracted because of what they did at 10 at lower levels but never given a shot at SR level. He will be fine. I believe!!!!!
Zulu
Guest
Reds without their 3 best forwards the Blues will put on 90+ i reckon. Reds are in for the shellacking of shellackings. This could be worse than the 92-3 to drubbing to the Bulls in 2007. Die Blou Masjien !!
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Like MO says the Brumbies play off 9 anyway and Lolesio aint great at running games so I cant see them changing the way they play this week.
Matt
Guest
Hanigan in. Ladies Gents and Maggots put all your money on the Tahs. The Hammer is back !
LuckyPhil
Roar Rookie
A few tough ones to pick again this week. Highlanders should win out over the Force Brumbies, even without Valentini, should scrape past the Crusaders. It is going to be a wet game which should help the Brumbies. MP to grind Fiji down. Should be a game full of big hits. Blues to win easily over the Reds Tahs to edge out the Canes. Backrow of Gamble, Harris, Rahboni should be too strong. Chiefs to pile on plenty against the Rebels.