The lead in the South Africa and Australia conferences is up for grabs this weekend behind tearaway Super Rugby frontrunners Wellington Hurricanes as the Canterbury Crusaders face a must-win game.
The Northern Bulls lead the Western Stormers by just one point in the South Africa conference, but face a big task against twice winners Waikato Chiefs in Rotorua on Friday.
The Pretoria-based Bulls have only won once in nine visits to the Chiefs, while the Stormers are at home to Australia’s Melbourne Rebels in Cape Town.
Meanwhile, the defending champions, New South Wales Waratahs, can leapfrog the inactive ACT Brumbies at the top of the Australia conference in they win their rematch of last year’s final over the Crusaders in Sydney on Saturday.
All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw is back at openside flanker in the crucial game for the seven-time Super Rugby champion Crusaders, who must beat the Waratahs to stay in touch with the top-six playoffs with just four rounds left.
“We are up against a very formidable side and will have to play much better than last weekend,” Bulls coach Frans Ludeke said of the showdown with the Chiefs.
“We did not execute the way we wanted against the Auckland Blues and the Chiefs will pose even more questions to our defence and attack. So we have to start well and finish well.”
Injuries are mounting in the Chiefs camp following last week’s 22-18 loss to the Hurricanes and they have made a number of changes.
Mitchell Graham starts at loosehead prop while Michael Fitzgerald has been bracketed at lock with former Chief and All Black Ross Filipo, who was called into the side as cover.
Augustine Pulu starts at scrum-half in place of Brad Weber.
– McCaw return –
McCaw and fellow All Black Luke Romano return for the Crusaders among five changes against the Waratahs in Sydney.
Romano returns at lock to boost the lineout, while McCaw will start his first match since he was knocked out in the Crusaders’ 29-15 Anzac Day win over the Blues.
The Crusaders will be looking for some revenge after losing 33-32 to the Waratahs in last year’s Super 15 final in Sydney.
“We’re expecting a great outfit from the Crusaders,” Waratahs Wallabies centre Adam Ashley-Cooper said.
“They are starting to come right at this time of the year, they always do towards the business end and they’ll be out to challenge for a really good win.”
The Hurricanes will be looking to extend their already burgeoning 14-point overall lead with victory over the Blues in Auckland on Saturday.
Skipper Conrad Smith is being rested among five team changes, while All Blacks centre Ma’a Nonu will make a milestone 122nd appearance, equalling the team’s record as their most capped player shared with Tana Umaga.
The Stormers may be boosted by dazzling sevens star Seabelo Senatla for their match against the Rebels.
Senatla has been committed to South African sevens duty for much of the season and he must, according to SANZAR policy, make at least four appearances during the league phase to qualify for selection in the play-offs.
Including the Rebels clash, the Stormers only have four matches remaining on their league schedule.
In this weekend’s remaining games, the Queensland Reds host South Africa’s Coastal Sharks, Western Force face the New Zealand’s Otago Highlanders in Perth, while the Central Cheetahs have home advantage against the Golden Lions and the ACT Brumbies have a bye.