Well, we got a bit of a surprise last week with the Highlanders pipping the Crusaders to a spot in the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman final by just courtesy of their narrow seven points differential.
The Highlanders will now look to upset the odds again when they take on a much-fancied Blues outfit at Eden Park this Saturday.
Blues v Highlanders
Saturday 19 June
Eden Park
To Win (80 Mins)
Blues 7/20
Draw 25/1
Highlanders 22/10
Handicap
Blues (-7.5) 9/10
Highlanders (+7.5) 9/10
Blues
The Blues brought down the curtain on the successful Super Rugby Trans-Tasman campaign with a rather tame 31-21 victory over the Force. Having raced to a 28-0 lead at half-time, the Blues were full of jitters during the second stanza and were only able to add three points to their points tally while they conceded 21 points to the Force.
Last weekend’s hard-fought victory also came at a cost for the Blues with in form fly-half Otere Black picking up a leg injury and star flanker Tom Robinson and All Black prop Ofa Tuungafassi also sustaining knocks that could well keep them out of the game.
There was some good news as flanker Dalton Papalii will likely to be ready for Saturday as he has already overcome his hip injury and trained this week.
The rumour mill went into overdrive in Auckland this week as well, with the returning Beuaden Barrett having been involved in training.
He is unlikely to come into the Blues matchday 23 this week, however, as New Zealand rugby have stated that he is ineligible for the game. So, should Black be ruled it will be either Harry Plummer or Stephen Perofeta filling the Maori All Black’s boots.
Highlanders
The Highlanders have had an absolute dream of a Super Rugby Trans-Tasman season with them men from Otago finishing second on the log. They would have been biting their nails last week as they watched the Crusaders fall just short of the big dance due to a seven-point inferior points differential.
While the Crusaders did cock their chances up with a multitude of butchered opportunities, credit must go to the Highlanders who recorded an impressive 12-33 away victory over the Brumbies in the final week.
Heading into this weekend and the Highlanders also have some injury concerns with star winger, Jona Nareki, trying to overcome a shoulder issue and lock Pari Pari Parkinson also looking to overcome a shoulder problem.
Verdict: Highlanders (+7.5) 9/10
This will be an extremely tight game. If Otere Black fails to recover from his injury then I reckon the Highlanders are in with a massive shout of causing an upset. Safe play is still on the plus handicap, however.
