SUPER RUGBY – FULL ROUND 10 PREVIEW !

Hurricanes vs Brumbies, 5.05pm (AEST) – 7.05pm (NZT)

The ACT Brumbies have won their last three games on the bounce against the Hurricanes in Super Rugby competitions after having won only two of their six previous meetings (L4); a fourth straight win against them would equal their longest winning run against the Canes (4 games from 2011 to 2014).

The Hurricanes have won six of their last eight Super Rugby home games against the ACT Brumbies (L2) including their last three on the bounce by margins of 20+ points on the day; their last loss at home to the Brumbies came in Round 4, 2014 (29-21).

The Hurricanes have won their last four straight Super Rugby Pacific games against teams from Australia, including a 45-42 win over the Western Force in their most recent such fixture (Round 6, 2023).

The Hurricanes have won 31 of their last 32 home games in Super Rugby when hosting teams from outside New Zealand on the day; their only defeat in that term came against the Jaguares in Round 14, 2019 (28-20).

The ACT Brumbies have won only one of their last four regular season games against teams from New Zealand in Super Rugby Pacific (L3) after having won three straight games prior against them.

The ACT Brumbies have conceded nine penalties per game this Super Rugby Pacific campaign, the fewest of any team in the competition and two per game fewer than the Hurricanes (11).

The Hurricanes have made 14 offloads per game this Super Rugby Pacific season, the most of any team in the competition, while the ACT Brumbies (6) have made the fewest per game of any team.

Du’Plessis Kirifi (Hurricanes) has won 10 turnovers in the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season, the second most of any player in the competition and four more than any ACT Brumbies player.

Cam Roigard (Hurricanes) has scored five tries in his last four starts in Super Rugby Pacific, crossing for at least one try in each of those four starts; although, this will be just his second game against the ACT Brumbies after failing to find the try line in a 21-minute performance in June 2021.

Lachlan Lonergan (ACT Brumbies) has scored seven tries across his last eight appearances in Super Rugby Pacific, including one in each of his last five starts in the competition.

Hurricanes (1-15):  Xavier Numia, Asafo Aumua, Tyrel Lomax, James Blackwell, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Devan Flanders, Du’Plessis Kirifi, Ardie Savea (c), Cam Roigard, Aidan Morgan, Salesi Rayasi, Jordie Barrett, Peter Umaga-Jensen, Julian Savea, Josh Moorby.

Replacements: Jacob Devery, Tevita Mafileo, Owen Franks, Caleb Delany, Brayden Iose, Jamie Booth, Harry Godfrey, Kini Naholo.

Brumbies (1-15): James Slipper, Billy Pollard, Allan Alaalatoa (c), Nick Frost, Cadeyrn Neville, Rob Valetini, Rory Scott, Charlie Cale, Nic White, Noah Lolesio, Corey Toole, Tamati Tua, Ollie Sapsford, Andy Muirhead, Tom Wright

Replacements: Lachlan Lonergan, Fred Kaihea, Sefo Kautai, Darcy Swain, Luke Reimer, Ryan Lonergan, Jack Debreczeni, Ben O’Donnell.

Waratahs vs Highlanders, 7.35pm (AEST) – 9.35pm (NZT)

The NSW Waratahs will be looking to win back-to-back regular season games against the Highlanders in Super Rugby competitions for the first time since 2009 after picking up a 32-20 win in their most recent regular season encounter (Round 14, 2022).

The NSW Waratahs have won five of their last seven Super Rugby games at home against the Highlanders (L2) including their last two on the bounce; their last defeat at home to the Highlanders came in Round 4, 2016 (30-26).

The NSW Waratahs logged a 36-16 win over the Western Force in their last game as hosts in Super Rugby Pacific, snapping a four-game losing run at home in the process; they have conceded more than 24 points in a game at home only once since the beginning of the 2022 season.

The NSW Waratahs have won only two of their last 19 Super Rugby games against teams from New Zealand (L17), conceding an average of 40 points per game in that term; their last win against a New Zealand team came against the Highlanders in Round 14, 2022 (32-20).

The Highlanders have lost three of their last four games against teams from Australia in Super Rugby Pacific (W1) after having lost only one of their eight previous games against Australian clubs (W7).

The NSW Waratahs have carried for an average of 419 metres per game in the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season, their most in a single campaign since 2018 when they ran for 512 metres per game.

The Highlanders have scored three points per attacking 22m entry in the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season, the most of any team in the competition.

The Highlanders have missed 32 tackles per game in the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season, the most of any team in the competition and 10 per game more than the NSW Waratahs (22), who have conceded the third fewest.

Mark Nawaqanitawase (NSW Waratahs) has scored one try in each of his two Super Rugby games against the Highlanders, making two clean breaks and five tackle breaks in each of those two appearances.

Billy Harmon (Highlanders) has made 102 tackles throughout the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season, one of only four players to have made 100+ tackles this season while no NSW Waratahs player has made more than 82 tackles.

Waratahs (1-15): Te Tera Faulkner, David Porecki, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Jed Holloway, Hugh Sinclair, Taleni Seu, Michael Hooper, Langi Gleeson, Jake Gordon, Ben Donaldson, Dylan Pietsch, Lalakai Foketi, Izaia Perese, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Max Jorgensen.

Replacements: Mahe Vailanu, Nephi Leatigaga, Daniel Botha, Will Harris, Charlie Gamble, Harrison Goddard, Joey Walton, Mosese Tuipulotu.

Highlanders (1-15): Ethan de Groot, Andrew Makalio, Jermaine Ainsley, Fabian Holland, Will Tucker, Shannon Frizell, Sean Withy, Hugh Renton, Aaron Smith (c), Mitch Hunt, Scott Gregory, Sam Gilbert, Fetuli Paea, Jonah Lowe, Connor Garden-Bachop.

Replacements: Rhys Marshall, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Saula Ma’u, Pari Pari Parkinson, Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, Folau Fakatava, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Jona Nareki.

Referee: Damon Murphy.

Fijian Drua vs Blues, 12.05pm (AEST) – 2.05pm (NZT)

This will be the second meeting between the Fijian Drua and the Blues in the Super Rugby Pacific; their previous encounter ended in a 35-18 win to the Blues on the day (23 April 2022).

The Fijian Drua have won their last two games as hosts in Super Rugby Pacific, as many as they had won in all eight home games in the competition prior (W2 L6).

The Fijian Drua have lost seven of their eight previous Super Rugby Pacific games against teams from New Zealand (W1) including their last two on the bounce each by a margin of 33 points on the day.

The Blues have scored 50+ points in each of their last two Super Rugby Pacific games and will be looking to become just the third team in Super Rugby history to score 50+ points in three consecutive games (Bulls – 3 games in 2009/2010; Lions – 3 games in 2017).

The Blues have won 12 of their last 13 Super Rugby games as the away team on the day; a seven-point loss to the Chiefs earlier this month their only blemish in that period (20-13).

The Fijian Drua and Blues have each made 13 break assist offloads in the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season, more than any other teams in the competition.

The Fijian Drua (4.3) and Blues (4.9) have won fewer turnovers per game than any other teams in the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season.

The Blues have a 94% success rate at exiting their own 22m zone in the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season, the second-highest rate of any team in the competition, while the Fijian Drua (81%) have the lowest rate of any team.

The Blues’ Hoskins Sotutu (13) and Fijian Drua’s Joseva Tamani (10) are two of only three forwards to have made 10+ offloads this Super Rugby Pacific campaign (also Josh Canham – 12).

Hoskins Sotutu (Blues) has carried for 543 metres in the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season, the most of any forward in the competition and 89 more than any other forward in the competition.

Drua (1-15): TBC

Blues (1-15): TBC

Referee: Ben O’Keeffe.

Moana Pasifika vs Rebels, 2.35pm (AEST) – 4.35pm (NZT)

The Melbourne Rebels recorded a 26-22 win in their only previous game against Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby Pacific (30 April 2022), scoring four tries to Moana Pasifika’s three on the day.

Moana Pasifika have lost their last eight consecutive games in Super Rugby Pacific by an average margin of 21 points per game; although, they’ve scored four or more tries in half of those eight games.

Moana Pasifika have lost all five of their games as the home team on the day in the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season after having won two of their seven games at home in 2022 (L5); they’ve conceded 40+ points in each of their last four home games in the competition.

The Melbourne Rebels have lost 12 of their last 13 games outside Victoria in Super Rugby (W1), including their last five in a row; the Rebels’ only win outside their home state in that span was a 22-21 victory against the Western Force (8 April 2022).

Moana Pasifika have crossed the gainline on 54% of their total gainline carries in the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season, the lowest rate of any team in the competition and five percentage points lower than the Melbourne Rebels (59%).

Moana Pasifika have made dominant contact on 42% of their total carries this Super Rugby Pacific campaign, the second-highest rate of any team in the competition and 11 percentage points higher than the Melbourne Rebels (31%).

The Melbourne Rebels have conceded 17 turnovers per game in the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season, the most of any team in the competition and the Rebels’ most in a season since 2017 (18).

Miracle Faiilagi (Moana Pasifika) has scored three tries across his last two Super Rugby Pacific games against teams from Australia including a brace of tries against the Queensland Reds in his last such fixture (14 April 2023).

Brad Wilkin (Melbourne Rebels) has scored one try in each of his last two Super Rugby Pacific games and has now scored four tries in the 2023 campaign which is as many as he scored in all his five seasons prior.

Monty Ioane (Melbourne Rebels) has made 14 offloads in the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season; only the Hurricanes’ Salesi Rayasi (19) has made more across the entire competition.

Rebels (1-15): TBC

Referee: Brendon Pickerill.

Chiefs vs Crusaders, 5.05pm (AEST) – 7.35pm (NZT)

The Crusaders have won four of their last seven away games against the Chiefs in Super Rugby (L3) with all three of their defeats in that period coming after they had led at half-time on the day.

The Chiefs have won 12 of their last 13 games in Super Rugby Pacific including their last eight on the bounce; their only defeat in that span came against the Crusaders in the 2022 semi final (20-7).

The Chiefs have won all four of their games against fellow New Zealand opponents in the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season, conceding an average of just 12 points per game across that stretch; they had won only three of their nine previous games against New Zealand clubs (L6).

The Crusaders have won 14 of their last 15 games in Super Rugby when visiting fellow New Zealand teams on the day (L1), with their only defeat in that span coming against the Chiefs in Round 8 of the 2021 Super Rugby Aotearoa season (26-25).

The Chiefs (1.9) and Crusaders (2) have conceded fewer points per entry their opposition has made into their 22m zones than any other teams this Super Rugby Pacific campaign.

Moana Pasifika (69 times) are the only team to have carried the ball out of their own 22m zone more times than the Crusaders (68) and the Chiefs (65) in the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season.

The Chiefs (910m) and Crusaders (784m) have made the most and third-most metres per game from kicks in play respectively of any teams in the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season (Queensland Reds – 791).

The Crusaders have made 10 dominant tackles per game in the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific campaign, the second-most of any team in the competition and two more per game than the Chiefs (8).

Samisoni Taukei’aho (Chiefs) has beaten 26 defenders in the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season, one of only two forwards to have beaten 20+ this campaign (also Ardie Saves – 22).

Cullen Grace (Crusaders) has scored three tries in his last three games against the Chiefs in Super Rugby Pacific and has scored three tries in his last four games in the competition overall.

Referee: Angus Gardner

Reds vs Force, 7.35pm (AEST) – 9.35pm (NZT)

The Queensland Reds have won five of their six Super Rugby games against the Western Force since the beginning of the 2020 Super Rugby AU campaign after having won only two of their 10 meetings prior (D1 L7).

The Queensland Reds will be looking to log back-to-back wins in Super Rugby Pacific for the first time since Round 9 last season after picking up a 40-28 win over Moana Pasifika in their last game in the competition.

The Queensland Reds have lost their last three Super Rugby games against fellow Australian teams after having lost only three of their 22 such games prior (W19); the last time they lost more than three straight games against Australian clubs was a five-game stretch from March 2019 to January 2020.

The Western Force have lost their last four straight games when playing away from home in Super Rugby Pacific despite scoring 35+ points in two of those four games.

The Western Force have won only one of their last eight Super Rugby Pacific games against teams from Australia; although, three of their seven defeats in that period have come by margins of seven points or fewer on the day.

The Queensland Reds have crossed the gainline on 62% of their gainline carries this Super Rugby Pacific season, the highest rate of any team in the competition while the Western Force (60%) are one of only two other teams to have a rate of 60% or higher.

The Western Force have been shown 10 cards in the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season (8 yellow, 2 red), more than any other team in the competition and twice as many as the Queensland Reds (4 yellow, 1 red).

The Western Force have made dominant contact on 43% of their total carries in the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season, the highest rate of any team in the competition and four percentage points higher than the Queensland Reds (36%).

Harry Wilson (Queensland Reds) has made dominant contact on 41 carries in the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season, the second most of any player in the competition (Hoskins Sotutu – 44).
Santiago Medrano (Western Force) has conceded 20 penalties in the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season, the most of any player in the competition and five more than next-highest Dane Zander (15).

Reds (1-15): TBC

Force: (1-15): TBC

Referee: Reuben Keane.