The countdown to the second season of Super Rugby Pacific has entered its final week.
Read on as we preview the Fijian Drua, Western Force, Highlanders and Hurricanes.
MELBOURNE REBELS
Coach: Kevin Foote
Captain: Rob Leota
Last year: Officially taking over as head coach on a permanent basis at the end of the 2021 season, Kevin Foote couldn't have suffered a more horrendous start in 2022 with his side losing five straight to open the year - including a sensational loss to newcomers Fijian Drua in Round 3. It was a long season for Foote and his Rebels side, winning just four in all - with a sneaky one-point victory over the Highlanders to finish off the year - with a young team thrust together early on through a seemingly never-ending injury list. Without Wallabies' Andrew Kellaway, Rob Leota, Jordan Uelese, and Pone Fa'amausili to start the season, Trevor Hosea and Josh Kemeny ruled out for the year, and losing Matt To'omua for several weeks, the Rebels became a patchwork side with players slotting in to fill several holes. Amongst it all we finally saw the potential of backrow Brad Wilkin, who'd suffered his own injury setbacks, while Carter Gordon stepped up in fly-half and made even more gains following his debut in 2021.
This year: Looking to improve on last year, the Rebels have already been dealt several injury blows with lock Matt Philip ruled out for the season through an ACL rupture, captain Rob Leota to miss much of the year with an Achilles injury and attacking threat Andrew Kellaway out for at least six rounds following a foot fracture. Add to that the loss of captain Michael Wells to the Force and Carter Gordon racing the clock for the opening round and trouble is already brewing for the men in Melbourne. A 24-0 loss to Drua in preseason an ominous sign of what could be coming their way. With Matt To'omua moving on, Gordon will take on the No.10 jersey permanently and while he might have struggled early last year, expect him to take his game to another level. The signing of Monty Ioane gives their backline some excitement factor, but it's their forward pack that will garner the most attention. The return of Hosea is a big boost in Philip's absence while Kemeny's return also helps. It's their front row though that is the team's greatest strength with Alex Mafi, Anaru Rangi and Jordan Uelese all vying for the starting hooker role. A loss to the Force to open their campaign could spell a long season ahead for Foote with a replication of last year's five-straight losses a big possibility.
Draw: Force [A], Hurricanes [Super Round], Waratahs [H], Chiefs [A], Reds [H], Fijian Drua [A], Blues [H], BYE, Crusaders [H], Moana Pasifika [A], Brumbies [H], Waratahs [A], Highlanders [A], Force [H], Brumbies [A].
MOANA PASIFIKA
Coach: Aaron Mauger
Captain: Sekope Kepu
Last year: One of the two newest additions to Super Rugby in 2022, Pasifika were always going to have a difficult season, add in COVID delays, lack of time together and the youthfulness of the squad, it all resulted in just two wins and a spot at the bottom of the table. Despite the numbers in the win/loss column, it was still an admirable and highly entertaining season for Pasifika. Smashed by COVID early on, Pasifika's first two matches of the season were postponed, with another two added to the list several rounds in, resulting in four mid-week clashes - hardly the start a new franchise needs. Forced to cap 11 players outside their original 38-man squad to fill line-ups for mid-week games, some players were meeting teammates just hours before they were taking the pitch together. Despite the many setbacks, a win over the Hurricanes in a delayed round three clash and an upset win over the Brumbies to end the season demonstrated there was plenty of potential within the squad. Led by former Wallabies Sekope Kepu and Christian Leali'ifano, there was experience scattered throughout, but it was 27-year-old, Samoa international Henry Time-Stowers who proved to be the player to watch.
This year: One year wiser and with plenty of trials and tribulations under their belt, Moana Pasifika enter the 2023 season no longer behind the eight ball. Eying a top eight finish, Aaron Mauger is expecting plenty from his side, whether they can deliver remains to be seen after they suffered a 48-7 preseason defeat to the Chiefs. But as anyone will tell you, you can't take much stock from preseason games, with the side set to unveil plenty of young new talent. But with the losses of Solomone Kata, Time-Stowers - arguably their best player in '22 - and Sekope Kepu to an Achilles injury for much of the season, backs will be against the wall again in '23. Expect some excitement from young new signings with 23-year-old loose forward Miracle Fai'ilagi getting plenty of praise from co-captain Leali'ifano, while 25-year-old Timoci Tavatavanawai is sure to be a handful on the edge. Add in a game in Samoa for the first time for Pasifika and there's plenty to be excited about this year, but a top eight finish is hard to picture.
Draw: Fijian Drua [H], Chiefs [Super Round], Force [A], Brumbies [A], Hurricnaes [H], Highlanders [H], Crusaders [A], Reds [H], BYE, Rebels [H], Blues [A], Hurricanes [A], Crusaders [H], Fijian Drua [A], Waratahs [A].
WARATAHS
Coach: Darren Coleman
Captain: Jake Gordon
Last year: After going winless through 2021 the Waratahs introduced new coach Darren Coleman to the fold for 2022 alongside the return of several key names in Michael Hooper, Jed Holloway and Ned Hanigan and saw benefits instantly. Opening the season with a statement win over newcomers Fijian Drua, the Tahs pushed the Reds and Brumbies in consecutive matches before they found their form midway through the season with their three-point shock win over eventual champions Crusaders in front of a packed-out hill at Leichhardt Oval the highlight of the season. Holloway returned a new player from Japan, playing a breakout season and providing the Tahs a strong edge up front, alongside Charlie Gamble who continued his impressive form, while young guns Ben Donaldson and Tane Edmed stepped up in their roles at fly-half following Will Harrison's season-ending injury part way through the season. Dylan Pietsch established himself as one of the form wings in the competition, while Mark Nawaqanitawase worked his way from rank outsider all the way to a Wallabies debut with his incredible finishing ability - his dive into the corner against the Blues at Leichhardt hard to forget. Undone by the Chiefs in the quarters, a rise from winless to eight victories in one season breathed life back into one of Australia's most important franchises.
This year: Unveiling a new centre of excellence, returning to their home ground at the new Allianz Staidum and welcoming big signings in Nemani Nadolo and Tolu Latu the Waratahs have the makings of being a true title contender in 2023. Bolstered by the return of Lachie Swinton from a long-term shoulder injury, the Tahs' backrow looks menacing and well-balanced with Hooper, Gamble, Hanigan and Langi Gleeson itching to go, while there'll be an intriguing battle for the No.10 jersey with Tane Edmed, Ben Donaldson and the returning Will Harrison all vying for the fly-half spot. An alleged sexual assault has seen Kurtley Beale ruled out for the season leaving his fullback position open for the taking with Harrison, Donaldson, Aussie sevens breakout player Ben Dowling and former schoolboy young gun Max Jorgenson all in line to take on the role. With a nice balance across the squad, anything below a top four finish will be a failure for DC and his side.
Draw: Brumbies [H], Fijian Drua [Super Round], Rebels [A], Hurricanes [A], Chiefs [H], Brumbies [A], BYE, Force [H], Blues [A], Highlanders [H], Reds [A], Rebels [H], Fijian Drua [H], Crusaders [H], Moana Pasifika [H].
QUEENSLAND REDS
Coach: Brad Thorn
Captain: Tate McDermott
Last year: Another year of promise ended with below par results with the Reds finishing seventh on the ladder and failing to secure a win over any New Zealand side in 2022. Vying with the Brumbies to be Australia's number one side, a poor backend of the season that saw the side lose five games on the trot - all against NZ opposition - saw the team slide quickly down the rankings and finish behind the resurgent Waratahs. Winning four straight to kick-off the season, the Reds were promising much with Taniela Tupou at his destructive best while Tate McDermott had his side marching with Jordan Petaia and Filipo Daugunu finding form and Suliasi Vunivalu showing off his considerable talent late in the season. But a string of injuries to big name players including Tupou, James O'Connor and Hunter Paisami played havoc on the team and their ladder position. Tupou's loss was perhaps the most significant with the Reds set-ravaged. Young Lawson Creighton showed he was a fly-half of the future when given his chance, but with little support around him the side struggled to find consistency while their discipline left more than just their coach frustrated.
This year: In Brad Thorn's final season, the pack will be keen to send him off on a high, but with Tupou sidelined with an Achilles injury, Harry Hoopert a late return with a knee issue and O'Connor continuing to battle hamstring niggles, 2023 is looking a difficult year for the men in red. Retaining a relatively unchanged squad from 2022, Thorn has bolstered his lock stocks with the signing of former Wallaby Luke Jones, while young guys such as Mac Grealy and Creighton will be keen to make an impression after their experiences last year. In the absence of Tupou the Reds have brought in Fiji international Peni Ravai to fill his very large boots, while the signing of Tom Lynagh - Wallabies great Michael Lynagh's son - promises to bring something exciting with the 19-year-old showing flashes of what he's capable of during the team's trial against NSW. A fit and firing Paisami is a massive boost for the side, and they'll be determined to get the best out of Vunivali, who's been dogged by injuries throughout his time at the Reds. In a draw similar to last year's, they'll be tested straight out the blocks with their opening game against Kiwi opposition who they haven't defeated since 2021 before the run home to the finals will again be Kiwi heavy with three trans-Tasman clashes on the bounce, which could easily derail their season for a second year. Finishing in the top eight will be an expectation for Thorn with any push beyond the quarter-final a bonus.
Draw: Hurricanes [H], Force [Super Round], Brumbies [A], Fijian Drua [H], Rebels [A], Crusaders [H], Brumbies [H], Moana Pasifika [A], BYE, Force [H], Waratahs [H], Chiefs [A], Blues [H], Highlanders [A], Fijian Drua [A].
FINAL PREDICTIONS
Crusaders
Chiefs
Blues
Waratahs
Brumbies
Hurricanes
Reds
Force
Highlanders
Drua
Moana Pasifika
Melbourne Rebels