Super Rugby Round 4: Friday Preview

After four rounds of competition in 2015, were starting to get an idea of who are the contenders, and who are the pretenders.

The Hurricanes, Stormers, Brumbies and Chiefs are all flying high, while last year’s finalists find themselves at the wrong end of the table.

Chiefs V Highlanders

Last week, the Chiefs really put a stamp on their title claim with a thumping win over the Crusaders.

In 2015, the Chiefs look like the real deal. The combination of SBW and Aaron Cruden is proving devastating. While the Highlanders claimed their second win of the season over the Reds, the Chiefs are a completely different prospect. The Highlanders will need to get more quality ball out to players such as Fekitoa and Naholo to really push this game.

Prediction

The Highlanders may feel like they’re on a bit of a roll, with a gutsy victory over the Reds last weekend, but the Chiefs outclass the Reds in every aspect. And being played in Hamilton, I feel the Chiefs will prove too strong for the men from Dunedin. Cheifs by 15.

CHIEFS: Tom Marshall; Hosea Gear, Charlie Ngatai, Sonny Bill Williams, James Lowe; Aaron Cruden, Augustine Pulu; Liam Messam (capt) / Maama Vaipulu, Sam Cane, Johan Bardoul; Michael Fitzgerald, Matt Symons; Ben Tameifuna, Hika Elliot, Pauliasi Manu. Reserves: Quentin MacDonald, Siate Tokolahi, Mitchell Graham, Michael Allardice, Michael Leitch / Maama Vaipulu, Brad Weber, Damian McKenzie, Andrew Horrell.

HIGHLANDERS: Ben Smith (co-capt); Waisake Naholo, Malakai Fekitoa, Shaun Treeby, Patrick Osborne; Lima Sopoaga, Aaron Smith; Nasi Manu (co-capt), Elliot Dixon, Gareth Evans; Joe Wheeler, Mark Reddish; Ma’afu Fia, Liam Coltman, Josh Hohneck. Reserves: Ash Dixon, Brendon Edmonds, Ross Geldenhuys, Tom Franklin, Dan Pryor, Fumiaki Tanaka, Marty Banks, Jason Emery.

Brumbies v Force

The hard-nosed and disciplined Brumbies should prove too strong for the one-dimensional Western Force.

The Canberra-based side have conceded one try in three games and have a lethal attack to complement their stoic defence. Steven Larkham’s side have also been awarded more penalties than any other team and conceded the fewest.

The return of Nick Cummins for the Force will provide some much-needed spark and hopefully a change in tactics from coach Michael Foley, who prefers to play a tight, forwards-based style.

Prediction

The Brumbies look set to show why they are top of the Australian conference and five-points clear of the fourth-placed Force. And with the game being played in Canberra, I can’t see the Force getting on top. Brumbies by 17.

BRUMBIES: Robbie Coleman, Henry Speight, Tevita Kuridrani, Christian Leali’ifano, Joe Tomane, Matt Toomua, Nic White, Ita Vaea, Jarrad Butler, Scott Fardy, Sam Carter, Rory Arnold, Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, Scott Sio. Reserves: Josh Mann-Rea, JP Smith, Ruan Smith, Jordan Smiler, Blake Enever, Michael Dowsett, James Dargaville, Jesse Mogg.

FORCE: Luke Morahan, Marcel Brache, Kyle Godwin, Solomoni Jnr Rasolea, Nick Cummins, Zack Holmes, Alby Mathewson, Ben McCalman, Chris Alcock, Brynard Stander, Steve Mafi, Sam Wykes (c), Tetera Faulkner, Nathan Charles, Pekahou Cowan. Reserves: Heath Tessmann, Chris Heiberg, Oliver Hoskins, Wilhelm Steenkamp, Kane Koteka, Ian Prior, Sias Ebersohn, Luke Burton