Rugby: Super 12 - Round 1 Preview

Compiled by CHRIS RATTUE

HURRICANES V SHARKS

WestpacTrust Stadium, Wellington; Friday February 25, 7.35pm.

Referee: Peter Marshall (A)

Hurricanes: Christian Cullen, Jonah Lomu, Alama Ieremia, Tana Umaga, Jason O'Halloran, David Holwell, Jason Spice; Gordon Falcon, Kupu Vanisi, Dion Waller, Inoke Afeaki, Campbell Feather, Kevin Yates, Norm Hewitt (c), Gordon Slater. Res: Joggie Viljoen, Paul Steinmetz, Daryl Lilley; Semo Sititi, Paul Tito, Mike Edwards, Shane Carter.

Sharks: Justin Swart, Stefan Terblanche, Trevor Halstead, Ricardo Laubscher, Pieter Muller, Gaffie du Toit, Chad Alcock; A J Venter, Wayne Fyvie (c), Albert van den Berg, Philip Smit, Charl van Rensburg, Brent Moyle, Mornay Visser, Ollie Le Roux. Res: Craig Davidson, Clinton van Rensburg, Roger Smith; Warren Brosnihan, Baksteen Nel, John Slade, John Smit.

* The injury-hit Sharks are missing great lock Mark Andrews amongst others and are entering a rebuilding phase following the departure of Henry Honiball, Andre Joubert and Gary Teichmann. The Hurricanes have been patchy in the pre-season but apart from number eight Filo Tiatia, are relatively injury free.

Man to watch: Wellington first five Holwell, who is under pressure to deliver to his classy outside backs.

Changed man: A J Venter makes his Sharks debut after a court ruling helped him escape the Cats.


BRUMBIES V BLUES

Bruce Stadium, Canberra; Friday 25, 9.35pm (NZ time).

Referee: Andre Watson (SA)

Brumbies: Andrew Walker, Mark Bartholomeusz, Stirling Mortlock, Joe Roff, Rod Kafer, Stephen Larkham, George Gregan; Jim Williams, Brett Robinson (captain), Owen Finegan, David Giffin, Justin Harrison, Patricio Noriega, Jeremy Paul, Bill Young. Res: Travis Hall, James Holbeck, Graeme Bond; Ipolito Fenukitau, Troy Jaques, Ben Darwin, Adam Freier.

Blues: Adrian Cashmore, Doug Howlett, Iliesa Tanivula, Joeli Vidiri, Craig Innes, Orene Ai'i, Mark Robinson; Xavier Rush, Justin Collins, Troy Flavell, Charles Riechelmann, Andrew Blowers, Craig Dowd (c), Davin Heaps, Paul Thomson. Res: Ben Meyer, Walter Little, Eroni Clarke; Finau Maka, Leo Lafaiali'i, Nick White, Keven Mealamu.

* The Brumbies are listed as title favourites by many. They have a superbly creative inside back combination who along with a respected forward pack should deliver plenty of opportunities for the talented outside backs. The Blues are an unknown quantity after last year's disasters, and go into the game without captain Robin Brooke (hamstring).

Man to watch: Second five Kafer can be as dangerous as the more famous Gregan and Larkham inside him.

Changed man: Tanivula gets a surprise first round start against his old Brumbies team mates.


HIGHLANDERS V REDS

Carisbrook, Dunedin; Saturday 26, 7.35pm.

Referee: Tappe Henning (SA)

Highlanders: Marc Ellis, Jeff Wilson, Rua Tipoki, Romi Ropati, Pita Alatini, Tony Brown, Byron Kelleher; Taine Randell (c), Josh Kronfeld, Simon Maling, John Blaikie, Kelvin Middleton, Kees Meeuws, Anton Oliver, Carl Hoeft. Res: Brett McCormack, Rico Gear, Brendan Laney; Samiu Vahafolau, Brendon Timmins, Joe McDonnell, Tom Willis.

Reds: Chris Latham, Damian Smith, Daniel Herbert, Nathan Williams, Tim Horan, Shane Drahm, Sam Cordingley; Toutai Kefu, David Wilson, John Eales (c), Nathan Sharpe, Mark Connors, Fletcher Dyson, Sean Hardman, Glenn Panoho. Res: Jacob Rauluni, Elton Flatley, Ricky Nalatu; Mark Murray, Mike Mitchell, Nick Stiles, Tim Tavalea.

* New coach Peter Sloane has broken up the longstanding locking partnership of Blaikie and Timmins, who goes to the bench because Sloane favours the workrate of Maling. It will be his first big-match start.The All Black front row will undoubtedly want to pressure the Reds' new combination.

Big battle: North Harbour's sidestepping Tipoki fills in for the injured Jeremy Stanley, and faces the mighty Herbert.

Injury cloud: The great Horan is in doubt because an ankle injury is hampering his sideways movement.


NORTHERN BULLS V CATS

Loftus, Pretoria; Sunday February 27, 4.10am.

Referee: Carl Spannenberg (SA)

Bulls: (probable) Jorrie Kruger, Wim Meyer, Chris Kruger, Marius Goosen, Tiaan Joubert, Jannie de Beer, Stanley Raubenheimer; Anton Leonard, Schutte Bekker, Krynauw Otto, Wium Basson, Ruben Kruger, Jaco Espag, Naka Drotske, Os du Randt.

Cats: Kobus Engelbrecht, Chester Williams, Grant Esterhuizen, Thinus Delport, Japie Mulder/Jannie van der Walt, Hennie le Roux, Werner Swanepoel; Andre Vos (c), Andre Venter, Victor Matfield, Johan Ackermann/Jannes Labuschagne, Piet Krause, Willie Meyer, Leon Boshoff, Marius Mostert. Res: Jimmy Powell, Jannie van der Walt/Mac Masina, Louis Koen; Torros Pretorius, Labuschagne/Ackermann, Pierre Ribbens, Delarey du Preez.

* The Bulls have bolstered their forward pack and have World Cup first five Jannie de Beer to direct operations. Raubenheimer starts to help meet the unofficial quoto of players of colour after wing Paul Treu was injured.. The Cats are under fire for including just one player of colour - Williams - while leaving Masina out.

Game breaker: Will de Beer go on another drop goal splurge to get the Bulls away to a much needed winning start?

Welcome back: Coach Laurie Mains returns to the big time trying to get the Cats to show some claws.


STORMERS V WARATAHS

Newlands, Cape Town; Sunday February 27, 6.15pm.

Referee: Colin Hawke (NZ)

Stormers: (probable) Percy Montgomery, Breyton Paulse, Robbie Fleck, Pieter Rossouw, Brendan Venter, Braam van Straaten, Dan van Zyl; Tokkie Kasselman, Hendrik Gerber, Hottie Louw, Selborne Boome, Corne Krige (c), Cobus Visagie, Charl Marais, Robbie Kempson.

Waratahs: Matthew Burke, Scott Staniforth, Jason Little (c), Matt Dowling, Marc Stcherbna, Manny Edmonds, Chris Whitaker; Tiaan Strauss, Phil Waugh, Peter Besseling, John Welborn, Stu Pinkerton, Cameron Blades, Brendan Cannon, Richard Harry. Res: Sam Payne Christian Warner, Darren Junee; Daniel Manu, David Lyons, Rod Moore, Mark Crick.

* The Stormers face life without number eight Bobby Skinstad and many doubt they have enough creativity around the fringes without him as van Straaten is a predictable flyhalf. The Waratahs have lost five of eight matches in South Africa, but drew with the Sharks and thrashed the Cats there last year.

Burning question: Were the Stormers one hit wonders last year when they surprised by making the semis.?

Man to watch: Burke is a class act at fullback who is used to the sort of pressure the Waratahs will face.


CHIEFS V CRUSADERS

Rugby Park, Hamilton; Sunday February 27, 2.35pm.

Referee: Paddy O'Brien (NZ)

Chiefs: (probable) Loki Crichton, Damian Karauna, George Leaupepe, Roger Randle, Mark Ranby, Glen Jackson, Rhys Duggan; Isitolo Maka, Glen Marsh, Glenn Taylor (c), Chresten Davis, Koula Tukino, Paul Martin, Paul Mitchell,Michael Collins. Res: Danny Lee, Keith Lowen, Justin Wilson; Hare Makiri. Mark Cooksley, David Briggs, Greg Smith.

Crusaders: (probable) Leon MacDonald, Afato So'oalo, Norm Berryman, Ben Blair, Mark Mayerhofler, Andrew Mehrtens, Justin Marshall; Ron Cribb, Dallas Seymour, Norm Maxwell, Todd Blackadder (c), Reuben Thorne, Greg Somerville, Mark Hammett, Dave Hewett. Res: Aaron Flynn, Mark Robinson, Caleb Ralph; Scott Robertson, Chris Jack, Con Barrell, Slade McFarland.

* The Chiefs have injury problems, especially in the backs where they will miss Scott McLeod, James Kerr, Bruce Reihana and never-on-Sunday Todd Miller. Former All Black Maka is expected to take Deon Muir's number eight spot. As first up away assignments go, it looks a good draw for the champion Crusaders. Both sides will confirm their lineups today.

Needs to shine: The Chiefs will need a storming game form Maka to get some momentum into the pack.

Man to watch: Mehrtens is one of the key figures in the Super 12 and central to Crusader hopes.

Chris Rattue's Tips:

Hurricanes

Brumbies

Reds

Bulls

Stormers

Crusaders