Whilst the competition is still months away, Sunday's draw announcement gives Super Rugby fans plenty of time to plan out their schedule and highlight the key games for each team.The 2023 edition of Super Rugby Pacific favours family-friendly timeslots with nearly a quarter of games in daylight as they return to the intended format that will see Australian and New Zealand teams face each other from the opening round.As well as this, the loosening of restrictions surrounding COVID will allow Fijian Drua to play their home games in Fiji whilst Moana Pasifika will take its first game to Suva in round eight.With this in mind, here are 10 of the major matchups set to shape Super Rugby PacificRound One: NSW Waratahs v ACT BrumbiesThe opening game for the Australian teams is a blockbuster with old rivals NSW Waratahs and ACT Brumbies out to set the tempo for an exciting season.It will mark a homecoming for the Waratahs, ending their nomadic journey across Greater Sydney as the new Allianz Stadium becomes home.Darren Coleman turned Leichhardt into a fortress last year and they need strong results early on to build off last year's breakout season and ensure fans keep buying into the rebuild.Meanwhile, the Brumbies begin life under new coach Stephen Larkham, returning wiser for his team at Irish giants Munster.In regards to the Australian sides, the ACT side is the 'hunted' after their semi-final appearance and will need their Wallaby-lathered core to lift as they enter life without Tom Banks, Folau Fainga'a, Irae Simone and Scott Sio.Round One: Western Force v Melbourne RebelsThe Force and Rebels get to add another chapter to their growing rivalry as they head to Perth.Whether fair or not, both sides' history will always be interconnected, with this fixture always delivering great matches, highlighted by the Rebels' one-point win at HBF Park in April.The departure of influential Rebel Michael Wells to the Force adds another element, linking up with new coach Simon Cron, only matched by Cron's predecessor Tim Sampson's journey to the Victorian-based club.The Rebels will be eager to build momentum before Super Round, once again slated to be held in Melbourne, returning to its original slot at Round Two.Round Three: Blues v HurricanesLeon McDonald and the Blues beat 11 of 12 teams in 2022. The team they didn't beat? The Hurricanes.Both teams delivered one of the matches of the season as a late try to Ardie Savea delivered a remarkable 33-32 comeback victory in Dunedin.It kick-started the Blues' club-record 15-game winning streak, however, there will be plenty of players still hurting from the tough defeat, conceding three tries in ten minutes.Also, any match-up between the Barrett brothers is guaranteed to deliver fireworks.Round Four: Blues v CrusadersThe Grand Final rematch: doesn't get any bigger.Both sides established themselves as the premier sides in the competition in 2022, dominating their rivals.Whilst the Blues were minor premiers, the Crusaders showed why they are one of the most successful clubs in World Rugby to take the inaugural title.The departure of Pablo Matera leaves a big hole in the back row for the champions, but the emergence of Cullen Grace as a superstar will be fascinating to watch.Round five: Moana Pasifika v HurricanesThe Hurricanes will always go down in history as the first team to lose to the expansion club, eager for their revenge.Danny Toala became an instant cult hero for Moana Pasifika with his extra-time try in that 24-19 victory, sending the Mt Smart faithful wild.Their final-round win over the Brumbies provided key momentum heading into this season, needing to recruit some big-name players if they want to compete for a finals spot.Meanwhile, the presence of Brett Cameron provides crucial experience for a youthful playmaking group for the Hurricanes.Round seven: Reds v BrumbiesIt's a rivalry that has been supercharged over the past five years, with a return to Suncorp only amplifying the action.Both teams will play each other twice, first at GIO Stadium in round three, in a quest to solidify their claim as the premier Australian side.The Reds' late season fade has heaped pressure on the playing group and Brad Thorn, losing Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Hamish Stewart.Meanwhile, the Brumbies will be out for revenge after their 21-7 defeat in April, the site of the Reds' famous Super Rugby AU victory in 2021.Round eight: Moana Pasifika v RedsRound eight is a historic one for Moana, set to take their first game to Samoa as they play the Reds in Apia.If the scenes are like anything the Drua's return to Fiji, then expect a carnival-like atmosphere as the crowd gets behind their team for their inaugural home game outside of NZ.The Reds know what to expect, having played in the first Super Rugby game in the region against the Blues in 2017.Hunter Paisami and Jordan Petaia are amongst several players with Samoan heritage in the Reds squad, looking to spoil the party.Round 12: Brumbies v HighlandersAs the road to the finals begins, this game looms as a key fixture for both sides to stake their finals claims.The Brumbies used this year's Super Round clash to announce themselves to the rest of the competition with a 28-17 win before backing it up with wins over the Hurricanes and Chiefs.Meanwhile, the Highlanders struggled towards the back end of the season after defeats to the Waratahs and Rebels, limping into the finals in eighth position.With games against the Reds and Blues to finish the year, it could loom as a must-win for Clarke Dermody's side.Round 14: Fijian Drua v Moana PasifikaThe two expansion sides will face off for the first time in Fiji in Round 14.The Drua came away with the victory in their inaugural encounter at CommBank Stadium, cruising to a 34-19 win.The return to Fiji highlights six home games for the Drua after COVID limited them to just two, still out for their first win after narrow defeats to the Highlanders and Chiefs.Expect a monster crowd for this match-up between the rival sides.Round 15: Force v ChiefsWhilst there isn't a natural rivalry between these two sides, this game could be crucial towards the make-up of the finals as the final game of the regular season.The Force narrowly missed out after a late-season charge, defeating Moana Pasifika and Hurricanes in less than a week.It will mark the first time excitement machine Chase Tiatia will get to play his old side, looking to develop a lethal combination with Manasa Mataele.Meanwhile, the Chiefs will be hurting after their quarter-final defeat to the Brumbies at home, eager to end their season on a high.Click Here: injection mold
