Three South African teams, led by the conference-leading Stormers, provide the fly-in opposition for New Zealand and Australian sides as Super Rugby reaches the one-third point of its season this weekend.
The Stormers, who lead the South Africa conference by a point over the Sharks, play the Highlanders at Dunedin, New Zealand on Saturday just after the Cheetahs, based in Bloemfontein, take on the Chiefs at Hamilton.
On Friday, the league-leading Hurricanes host the Melbourne Rebels a few hours before the Queensland Reds host the Johannesburg-based Lions in Brisbane.
In other weekend matches, the New South Wales Wararahs host the winless Auckland-based Blues in Sydney, the Sharks host the Western Force in Durban and the Bulls play the Christchurch, New Zealand-based Crusaders in Pretoria.
The ACT Brumbies, which have a six-point lead atop the Australian conference, have a seventh-round bye.
The busy 2015 season will see the Super teams play an 18-match preliminary round followed by three weeks of playoffs concluding with the final on July 4. That will be followed by an abbreviated three-round Rugby Championship involving Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina, and after a break of about three weeks, the Rugby World Cup in England and Wales from Sept. 19 to Oct. 31.
The Rebels play the Hurricanes a week after allowing the Lions to score a late try in a 20-16 loss. Rebels captain Scott Higginbotham is expected to play his 100th Super match.
Rebels coach Tony McGahan said the improved Hurricanes had found a way to win from any position - something the Rebels need to do.
“The Hurricanes have played some close games but have been good enough to find their way to the end of the line,” McGahan said. “I think the big thing is they are playing with a huge amount of confidence in their attack and their defense has improved.”
Chiefs captain Liam Messam has been cleared to play against the Cheetahs despite being cited for a dangerous tackle in last weekend's match against the Sharks at Durban. Messam admitted to a lesser charge of “acts contrary to good sportsmanship,” but a judicial officer said that because of Messam's good disciplinary record, there would be no suspension.
Flyhalf Quade Cooper is among four key backs returning from injury for the Reds against the Lions. Wallabies playmaker Cooper will make his first start of the season after recovering from a fractured collarbone. His return allows coach Richard Graham to put James O'Connor on the wing for the first time as the utility also returns to the starting side along with outside center Samu Kerevi and fullback Lachie Turner.
Lions coach Johan Ackermann has reshuffled his backline - Elton Jantjies is back at flyhalf after spending time in the midfield in last week's win over the Rebels. Marnitz Boshoff moves to the bench while Andries Coetzee will receive a starting berth in the place of Jaco van der Walt.
The Force will be attempting to end a five-match losing streak when they play the Sharks. Last weekend in Pretoria, a final-minute penalty from Handre Polland gave the Bulls a 25-24 win.
The Bulls and Crusaders go into their match at Pretoria with 14
points each from three wins and two losses. The third-place Bulls are just two points behind the Stormers in the South Africa conference while the Crusaders are in fourth place in New Zealand, eight points adrift of the Hurricanes. – Sapa-AP