PREVIEW-Rugby-Super Rugby Pacific 2023: Team by Team

QUEENSLAND REDS Best finish: Champions - 2011 Last year: Quarter-finals (8-7) Coach: Brad Thorn Co-captains: Tate McDermott and Liam Wright The Reds have tinkered little with their squad for the new season except for the addition of lock Luke Jones, and could surprise a few teams if they can keep their talented backs fit.

Team-by-team preview of the new season of Super Rugby Pacific, which kicks off on Friday. (Listed in order of last season's finish on regular season standings): AUCKLAND BLUES

Best finish: Champions (4) - 1996, 1997, 2003, 2021 (Trans Tasman) Last year: Runners up (15-2)

Coach: Leon McDonald Captain: Dalton Papalii

Last year's loss to the Crusaders in the final snapped a 15-match winning streak and hit the Blues hard. The Auckland powerhouse will be out for revenge this year and should again be among the frontrunners. CANTERBURY CRUSADERS

Best finish: Champions (13) - 1998-2000, 2002, 2005-6, 2008, 2017-2019, 2020-21 (Aotearoa), 2022 Last year: Champions (14-3)

Coach: Scott Robertson Captain: Scott Barrett

A supreme winning culture and a seemingly endless supply of young talent make the Christchurch-based powerhouse perennial favourites to land the title and this year is no different. WAIKATO CHIEFS

Best finish: Champions - 2012, 2013 Last year: Semi-finals (11-5)

Coach: Clayton McMillan Co-captains: Sam Cane, Brad Weber

Damian McKenzie returns after a sabbatical in Japan to bring pace and creativity to a backline that lacked a bit of both when it came to the crunch last year. ACT BRUMBIES

Best finish: Champions - 2001, 2004 Last year: Semi-finals (11-5)

Coach: Stephen Larkham Captain: Allan Alaalatoa

The Brumbies will be expected to continue to set the standard for Australian rugby despite the departure of coach Dan McKellar and a string of Wallabies. WELLINGTON HURRICANES

Best finish: Champions - 2016 Last year: Quarter-finals (8-7)

Coach: Jason Holland Captain: Ardie Savea

They possibly lack a bit of squad depth but the Hurricanes have some world class players, most notably loose forward Savea and centre Jordie Barrett. NEW SOUTH WALES WARATAHS

Best finish: Champions - 2014 Last year: Quarter-finals (8-7)

Coach: Darren Coleman Captain: Jake Gordon

With a new home stadium, a new training facility and bundles of exciting young talent, the Waratahs have targeted a top-four finish after Coleman turned around the ailing franchise in his first year in charge. QUEENSLAND REDS

Best finish: Champions - 2011 Last year: Quarter-finals (8-7)

Coach: Brad Thorn Co-captains: Tate McDermott and Liam Wright

The Reds have tinkered little with their squad for the new season except for the addition of lock Luke Jones, and could surprise a few teams if they can keep their talented backs fit. OTAGO HIGHLANDERS

Best finish: Champions - 2015 Last year: Quarter-finals (4-11)

Coach: Clarke Dermody Captain: Billy Harmon

The weakest of the New Zealand teams last year, the Highlanders only just scraped into the playoffs. New coach Dermody will be hoping for more luck with injuries this year. WESTERN FORCE

Best finish: 3rd (AU, 2021) Last year: Ninth (4-10)

Coach: Simon Cron Captain: Michael Wells

The Perth-based outfit missed the playoffs by a single point last season and will be looking to get over the line this year after strengthening their spine with the arrival of Wells, flyhalf Hamish Stewart and hooker Folau Fainga'a. MELBOURNE REBELS

Best finish: 3rd (AU, 2020) Last year: 10th (4-10)

Coach: Kevin Foote Captain: Rob Leota

The Rebels were forced to blood a lot of young players last season and coach Foote will be looking to reap the dividend of their increased experience in this campaign. FIJIAN DRUA

Last year: 11th (2-12) Coach: Mick Byrne

Captain: Meli Derenalagi Home advantage in the heat and humidity of Fiji could be a big factor in the Drua's second season after they played most of their inaugural campaign in Australia.

MOANA PASIFIKA Last year: 12th (2-12)

Coach: Aaron Mauger Captain: Sekope Kepu

The Auckland-based side managed to win only two matches in their debut season, albeit against the Hurricanes and Brumbies, and will be looking to produce 80-minute performances with more consistency in 2023. 

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