Five of the most important head-to-heads in the Super Rugby Pacific semi-finals

Dylan Coetzee
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Super Rugby Pacific: Split with Leicester Fainga'anuku and Mark Telea

The 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season enters the final four as this weekend plays host to a couple of fascinating semi-finals.

The teams have been named with quality aplenty making for some brilliant matchups. Planet Rugby has selected five head-to-heads to keep an eye on.

Leicester Fainga’anuku v Mark Telea

The semi-finals have served up the most intriguing of battles as two of New Zealand’s finest wingers face off.

Fainga’anuku has scored the most tries since Super Rugby Pacific was introduced last season, reaching double digits in back-to-back years. He has done that without playing every game too. The powerhouse wing is a brilliant player offering one of the most balanced power-to-speed ratios. He can do just about anything on the field and will no doubt be a danger this weekend. He is heading to Toulon after this season and will be looking to bow out with a brilliant effort. It is a big game for his World Cup prospects.

Facing up to him is probably the most in-form wing in the whole competition in Telea who is beating defenders in his sleep at the moment. The Blues man has been a constant threat with ball in hand and had the kind of season that should have secured him a starting spot for the All Blacks. He will be a try threat again and do not be surprised to see him cross the whitewash.

Expect fireworks between these two superstars of the competition.

Tamaiti Williams v Nepo Laulala

One for the big men as an exciting front-row battle awaits in Christchurch between two talented props.

Williams has been a star of this campaign for the Crusaders and has really thrown his name in the All Blacks conversation. He is a versatile prop and can fill in on both sides of the scrum if required. In open play, he is very handy but at scrum-time he has been brilliant for the Christchurch men. The front-row’s stock has risen tremendously this season and he will be eager to keep his foot on the gas.

Up against him is the Test-established Laulala who has been a rock for the Blues in his own right. At scrum-time he is technically sound and has added more dynamism to his game in 2023. In a high pressure environment such as a Super Rugby play-off the small margins count and his set-piece performance will need to be on point.

It may be one of the more low-key battles but it could be one of the most important on Friday.

Damian McKenzie v Jack Debreczeni

McKenzie is a master at finding influence in the games he plays and has shown that throughout this season. His inspired return to Super Rugby has elevated his side into the team to beat. The playmaker has been clear in his decision-making and near flawless in his execution. However, that all means little if he cannot keep his team in the competition. If McKenzie plays well then the Chiefs are halfway to the final. Simply put, a big performance is expected from the supremely talented All Black.

Meanwhile, Debreczeni is a well-travelled and experienced pivot who had an outstanding game last weekend against the Hurricanes. It was probably some of the best rugby he has played in an extended period. He took the ball to the line much better and linked up well with veteran Nic White. He will know that if his team are to win this clash then he has to play well. His decision-making needs to be clear and decisive whilst his game management needs to be as good as it can get for this massive clash.

Luke Jacobson v Rob Valetini

There will be plenty of excitement ahead of this battle as it pits two players against each other at the peak of their powers and it could be a case of an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object when they collide in Hamilton on Saturday.

Both are able to play on the blindside flank but will be packing down at number eight in this fixture. It’s fair to say that they will be key figures in the implementation of their respective sides’ game-plans as both are outstanding players, blessed with excellent skill sets.

Jacobson has been on the fringes of the All Blacks side in recent years and has won just 12 Test caps since his debut in 2019. However, he has been one of the Chiefs’ best players in 2023, combining brilliant attacking ability with a solid defensive game.

Similarly, Wallaby Valetini has been one of the Brumbies‘ standout players, who is renowned for gaining plenty of metres with ball in hand and putting in big hits on defence.

That sets the scene for a fascinating battle between two of the game’s hard men and whoever comes out on top in this duel should also finish on the winning side.

Samisoni Taukei’aho v Lachlan Lonergan

The forward battle will be huge when the Chiefs and Brumbies do battle in Hamilton on Saturday and Taukei’aho and Lonergan will be in the thick of the action in that facet of play.

Taukei’aho has cemented himself as one of the best hookers in the world, who prides himself on executing his core duties superbly with his scrummaging, lineout throwing and ball carrying ability amongst his undoubted strengths.

The 25-year-old is important to his team’s excellent form in 2023 and will be at the forefront of the Chiefs’ challenge on Saturday. Once he gets momentum on attack it usually filters through to his team-mates but he can expect a tough challenge from Lonergan, who has also been in fine form for the Brumbies.

Lonergan is different in his approach to Taukei’aho in that he thrives in the wide channels and is dangerous in broken play. He is also excellent on defence and will be keen to test his skills against a quality opponent in Taukei’aho.

READ MORE: Seven players to watch in the Super Rugby Pacific semi-finals including Rieko Ioane

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