JON CARDINELLI looks ahead to the Super Rugby matches on Thursday and Friday, including the Sharks' clash in Brisbane.
REBELS vs BLUES, MELBOURNE, THURSDAY 10:45
On each of the five occasions where these teams have met, the home side has come away with the spoils. That could change on Thursday, though, with the Blues winning in Melbourne and getting their campaign off to a positive start.
Jerome Kaino, Sonny Bill Willams, James Parsons, Patrick Tuipulotou, Billy Guyton, Declan O'Donnell and Stephen Perofeta are all unavailable for the first game of the season. Coach Tana Umaga will count on exciting players such as Rieko Ioane, Melani Nanai and new signing Augustine Pulu to spark some magic.
The Rebels will be without Sean McMahon, Toby Smith, James Hanson, Sefa Naivalu and league recruit Marika Koroibete. Five players, including 22-year-old flyhalf Jackson Garden-Bachop, will make their debuts for the injury-hit Melbourne side.
The Blues do boast some quality in the form of Charlie Faumuina, George Moala and Rene Ranger on their bench. The first half may be closely contested, and then we could see the Kiwi team breaking clear of the Rebels in the second stanza.
Rebels – 15 Jack Debreczeni, 14 Jack Maddocks, 13 Mitch Inman, 12 Reece Hodge, 11 Tom English, 10 Jackson Garden-Bachop, 9 Nic Stirzaker, 8 Amanaki Mafi, 7 Colby Fainga'a, 6 Jordy Reid, 5 Lopeti Timani, 4 Steve Cummins, 3 Laurie Weeks, 2 Pat Leafa, 1 Cruze Ah Nau.
Subs: 16 Jordan Uelese, 17 Tom Moloney, 18 Tyrel Lomax, 19 Culum Retallick, 20 Jake Schatz, 21 Ben Meehan, 22 Sione Tuipulotu, 23 Jonah Placid.
Blues – 15 Michael Collins, 14 Matt Duffie, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Piers Francis, 11 Melani Nanai, 10 Ihaia West, 9 Augustine Pulu, 8 Akira Ioane, 7 Blake Gibson, 6 Steven Luatua, 5 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 4 Jimmy Tupou, 3 Sione Mafileo, 2 Matt Moulds, 1 Pauliasi Manu.
Subs: 16 Hame Faiva, 17 Sam Prattley, 18 Charlie Faumuina, 19 Scott Scrafton, 20 Murphy Taramai, 21 Sam Nock, 22 George Moala, 23 Rene Ranger.
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HIGHLANDERS vs CHIEFS, DUNEDIN, FRIDAY 08:35
The Highlanders have won their last six matches against the Chiefs, and 11 of their last 12 Super Rugby matches at home. They begin the 2017 season with most of their star players fit and available – with the exception of co-captain Shane Christie – and will be favourites to win the derby on Friday.
The Chiefs have been plagued by off-field dramas and distractions in recent times. They will start their campaign without their inspirational skipper, namely All Blacks flank Sam Cane. As many as five debutants will feature against the Highlanders.
The game at the Forsyth Barr Stadium should witness a clash of styles. The Highlanders prefer to use the boot, aerial skills and aggressive defence as weapons. No team made more tackles per game than the Highlanders in 2016, who averaged 122.5 per game. The Chiefs, by contrast, looked to keep ball in hand last season and averaged 4.5 tries per match.
Defence will prevail over attack this Friday, though, just as it has in the previous six meetings between the two Kiwi sides. Lima Sopoaga enjoyed one of the better goal-kicking success rates in 2016 (72%) and that could also be decisive in a tight match.
Highlanders – 15 Ben Smith (c), 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Rob Thompson, 11 Tevita Li, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Liam Squire, 7 James Lentjes, 6 Gareth Evans, 5 Tom Franklin, 4 Alex Ainley, 3 Siate Tokolahi, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Daniel Lienert-Brown.
Subs: 16 Adrian Smith, 17 Craig Millar, 18 Guy Millar, 19 Jackson Hemopo, 20 Elliot Dixon, 21 Kayne Hammington, 22 Fletcher Smith, 23 Matt Faddes.
Chiefs – 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Toni Pulu, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Johnny Faauli, 11 James Lowe, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Liam Messam, 7 Mitch Karpik, 6 Taleni Seu, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Dominic Bird, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Kane Hames.
Subs: 16 Samisoni Taukei'aho, 17 Siegfried Fisi'ihoi, 18 Atu Moli, 19 Mitchell Brown, 20 Lachlan Boshier, 21 Jonathan Taumateine, 22 Tim Nanai-Williams, 23 Shaun Stevenson.
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REDS vs SHARKS, BRISBANE, FRIDAY 11:00
New coach Robert du Preez has selected an interesting mix of players for the Sharks' season opener in Brisbane. Scrumhalf Cobus Reinach will make his comeback after missing much of the 2016 season through injury, and out wide, Lwazi Mvovo will win his 100th Super Rugby cap for the franchise. Exciting young talents such as fullback Curwin Bosch, centre Lukhanyo Am and flank Jean-Luc du Preez will have a chance to shine.
The make-up of the back row has sparked some debate, though. Du Preez will team up with Tera Mtembu and Philip van der Walt in this department. It's a combination that's big on physicality and light on breakdown prowess.
Meanwhile, the Reds have George Smith, one of the best fetchers of the modern era, and the powerful yet elusive Scott Higginbotham in their ranks. If the new-look Sharks back row fails to deal with the challenge of Smith and Higginbotham, it could be a long night for the visitors. Another new signing in Stephen Moore could make an impact for the Reds in the breakdown area.
The Sharks have won eight of the last 10 matches against the Brisbane-based side. Their last visit to Australia witnessed a 21-14 victory against this Reds team.
Yet, a move away from the tactics which brought the Sharks relative success in 2016 – as well as the lack of experience across the board – may do more harm than good. Expect this Sharks side to make mistakes as they attempt to embrace a new game plan and up the tempo. Expect the Reds' playmakers and finishers to make the Sharks pay for their errors with points at the other end of the park.
Reds – 15 Karmichael Hunt, 14 Chris Kuridrani, 13 Samu Kerevi, 12 Duncan Paia’aua, 11 Eto Nabuli, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Nick Frisby, 8 Scott Higginbotham, 7 George Smith, 6 Adam Korczyk, 5 Kane Douglas, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Sam Talakai, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 James Slipper (c).
Subs: 16 Andrew Ready, 17 Markus Vanzati, 18 Sef Fa’agase, 19 Izack Rodda, 20 Hendrik Tui, 21 James Tuttle, 22 Jake McIntyre, 23 Izaia Perese.
Sharks – 15 Curwin Bosch, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 André Esterhuizen, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Pat Lambie (c), 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Tera Mtembu, 7 Jean-Luc du Preez, 6 Philip van der Walt, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Franco Marais, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Subs: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Thomas du Toit, 18 Lourens Adriaanse, 19 Stephan Lewies, 20 Jacques Vermeulen, 21 Michael Claasens, 22 Jeremy Ward, 23 Clement Poitrenuad.
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Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images
