S14 Preview: Round Four, Part One

The Bulls, Chiefs and Hurricanes are the only teams unbeaten, having gone three-from-three, as we head into Round Four of the Super 14.

The Bulls, Chiefs and Hurricanes are the only teams to keep their perfect records intact, having gone three-from-three as we head into Round Four of the Super 14.

The leading four now virtually mirrors the 2009 final standings, with South Africa's red-hot Bulls leading the way, followed by the Hurricanes, Chiefs and Crusaders. Reverse the order of the Chiefs and Hurricanes and the semi-final mix of last year already applies.

The Chiefs are at home for the first time this season and will be looking to extend a franchise record winning sequence of six at Waikato Stadium. Their hopes were boosted by the return of winger Sitiveni Sivivatu from a shoulder strain, while All Black full-back Mils Muliaina is having his first outing from his extended off-season break.

Last season's beaten finalists are favoured to toss aside injury-ravaged Queensland Reds in Hamilton on Friday and take over the lead after four weeks of the southern hemisphere championship.

Elsewhere, the seventh-placed Brumbies are unchanged for their first home game of the season against the Lions in Canberra where former All Black Carlos Spencer could earn his 100th Super Rugby cap in this game if he recovers from injury. The ex-Blues pivot, who will warm the bench for the Lions, is also the only current player who featured in the first season of the Super 12.

Chiefs vs Reds

At home for the first time this year, the unbeaten Chiefs will be looking to add to their best ever start to a Super Rugby campaign when they host the depleted Reds in Hamilton.

Confidence is soaring in the Chiefs' camp after completing an unprecedented three-win start to the Super 14.

Their 37-19 win over the Western Force in Perth last week meant for the first time they have completed their overseas tour with a perfect record, the latest victory coming hard on the heels of wins over both the Sharks and Lions in South Africa.

The Chiefs have now returned home knowing they only have three more away games, only one of which is overseas (versus the Brumbies in Canberra), and can look forward to seven home matches where they will have the backing of what shapes to be big supporting crowds.

The Reds cross the Tasman for the first time this year on a downer after they were unable to add to their stunning upset of the Crusaders last weekend by bowing out to the Blues. Although they had their chances, the Reds were unable take enough of them, slipping to an 18-27 loss in the wet at Ballymore.

When it rains it pours, and that has certainly been the case for the Queenslanders this week as their casualty list reached an all-time high. Joining James Horwill on the sidelines after Round Three's defeat are Rod Davies (facial fracture), Peter Hynes (finger) and Digby Ioane (knee) – that's the Reds entire back three ruled out.

Playing the Chiefs in their own back yard is tough enough, but with a side ravaged by injuries it's even tougher. However Reds coach Ewen Mckenzie is confident the replacements making the trip across the Tasman are up for the challenge.

“The replacements we have selected are experienced and we have every confidence that they will step up and show the character this squad is becoming recognised for,” he said.

“They've been given an opportunity because of injuries, which is unfortunate, but a fact of life in a tough competition such as this. It's up to them now to make the most of that opportunity.”

Last year's 31-24 win over the Blues in Auckland was Queensland's first success on the other side of the Tasman in 10 attempts, since the Reds beat the Chiefs 20-6 at Hamilton in 2005. However, the Chiefs have beaten the Reds in their last four matches highlighted by last year's 50-26 result in Brisbane.

Super head to head: Daniel Braid v Stephen Donald. The surest way to neuter the deadly Chiefs back-line is by putting the squeeze on their supply of quality ball. If tearaway fanker Braid can get to Donald quickly enough, his physical attention he will deliver may well be enough to fatally rattle the Chiefs general. But Donald has been around the block… he knows how to pull the strings even when under pressure.

Prediction: It's hard to bet against Ian Foster's Chiefs claiming their fourth scalp in as many weeks. Chiefs to win by ten points.

The teams:

Chiefs: 15 Mils Muliaina (c), 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Richard Kahui, 12 Callum Bruce, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Stephen Donald, 9 Brendon Leonard, 8 Colin Bourke, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Culum Retallick, 4 Romana Graham, 3 Nathan White, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Sona Taumalolo.
Replacements: 16 Aled de Malmanche, 17 Toby Smith, 18 Jarrad Hoeata, 19 Luke Braid, 20 Junior Poluleuligaga, 21 Mike Delany, 22 Dwayne Sweeney.

Reds: 15 Luke Morahan, 14 Will Chambers, 13 Morgan Turinui, 12 Anthony Faingaa, 11 Brando Va'aulu, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia (c), 8 Leroy Houston, 7 Daniel Braid, 6 Scott Higginbotham, 5 Van Humphries, 4 Adam Byrnes, 3 Laurie Weeks, 2 Saia Faingaa, 1 Ben Daley.
Replacements: 16 Sean Hardman, 17 Greg Holmes, 18 Robert Simmons, 19 Jake Schatz, 20 Ben Lucas, 21 Ben Tapuai, 22 Blair Connor.

Date: Saturday, March 5
Venue: Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
Kick-off: 19:35 (06:35 GMT)
Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Garratt Williamson (New Zealand), Shane McDermott (New Zealand)
TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)

Brumbies vs Lions

The Lions will be aiming to break the hold that the Brumbies have over South African teams in Canberra when these two sides meet on Friday.

The Brumbies have won 32 of their last 34 matches against South African opposition at home. And while the Lions beat the Brumbies 25-17 in Johannesburg last year, they have never won from eight previous attempts in the Australian capital.

The Lions have played some exciting rugby in the first three rounds of the competition, but the Johannesburg outfit have yet to register a win.

They are one of just three teams without a victory and occupy twelfth spot on the Super 14 standings with only the Sharks and Western Force below them. While they have scored the third most number of tries in the first three rounds (12) they have let in the most five-pointers (15).

The Lions showed greater defensive commitment in their 33-18 loss against the Hurricanes last weekend, but will need to keep improving in that area if they are to rein in the Brumbies who will be on a high following their close victory over the Stormers.

That victory means the Brumbies arrive home with their tails up having won two out of three on their road trip to Perth and South Africa and will be keen to kick start an extended home sequence – they play seven of their next ten games in Canberra – with a strong performance first up.

If the Brumbies can do the business against the Lions, which