There’s a bumper ‘Super Rugby Saturday’ just around the corner, with five games taking place on the 23rd of March.
There will be a slightly sombre backdrop to this weekend’s Super Rugby action with last week’s events in Christchurch shaking New Zealand as well as the rugby fraternity to its core.
The men most affected by the atrocity were the Crusaders who called their game against the Highlanders off in respect of the poor souls who lost their lives in the malicious attack. The men from Canterbury will be looking to do their part for the city by putting in a big showing against the Waratahs when the two sides meet in Sydney this Saturday.
Hurricanes v Stormers
Westpac Stadium
08:35
To Win (80 Mins)
Hurricanes 1/8
Draw 30/1
Stormers 47/10
Handicap
Hurricanes (-15.5) 9/10
Stormers (+15.5) 9/10
The Stormers will get their tour of New Zealand underway with a clash against the ‘Canes in the day’s opener. The visitors will head to the ‘land of the long white cloud’ in buoyant mood having beaten the Jaguares 35-8 at Newlands this past Saturday. The bonus point victory saw the men from South Africa’s Western Cape move up to third-place on the Africa Conference standings.
The hosts didn’t enjoy as good a time of it in Round 5 as they were held to a 23-23 draw by a somewhat rejuvenated Chiefs side. The ‘Canes actually played some good rugby last weekend but their forward pack struggled against a solid Chiefs tight-five. The hosts’ big men will need to lift their game here as the Stormers have a very good engine room that could take the ascendancy at the set piece.
Verdict: Hurricanes (-15.5) 9/10
The Stormers have struggled for results in New Zealand over the past few years and I can see their woes continuing against a Hurricanes side that will be desperate for a bonus point win.
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Waratahs v Crusaders
Sydney Cricket Ground
10:45
To Win (80 Mins)
Waratahs 15/4
Draw 30/1
Crusaders 2/11
Handicap
Waratahs (+14.5) 9/10
Crusaders (-14.5) 9/10
The next fixture of the day will see the Crusaders jump across the Tasman for a clash with a misfiring Waratahs side. As touched upon earlier, the hosts had their game with the Highlanders called off last week due to the Christchurch shootings. They will be eager to do their own little bit for the city by getting a big win over their Australian opponents this weekend.
The Waratahs poor start to the season continued last Friday as they went down 19-13 to local rivals, the Brumbies. While losing a derby is a tough pill to swallow, coach Daryl Gibson will be more displeased with the number of times his side produced unforced errors while on attack.
Verdict: Crusaders (-14.5) 9/10
While the ‘Saders were unable to clear the handicap during their last visit to Australia where they took on the Reds, I can see them clearing it this weekend as the ‘Tahs are a side rife for the taking.
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Sunwolves v Lions
Singapore National Stadium
12:55
To Win (80 Mins)
Sunwolves 5/2
Draw 28/1
Lions 3/10
Handicap
Sunwolves (+8.5) 9/10
Lions (-8.5) 9/10
We head from Australasia to Singapore for our next fixture which will see the Sunwolves take on the Lions. The hosts will still be wondering how they let a 5-21 half-time lead slip against the Reds last weekend, with the ‘Wolves ending up losing the contest 31-34 courtesy of a late penalty to the Reds.
The Lions experienced vastly different weekend last time out as they managed to come back from 5-31 with 35 minutes to play to beat the in-form Rebels 36-33, with a late Gianni Lombard penalty sealing the victory for Swys de Bruin’s men.
Verdict: Lions (+8.5) 9/10
The Sunwolves have proved a tough nut to crack this term and they are likely to provide stiff opposition this Saturday especially considering that a number of their Japanese internationals will be available having sat out the first five rounds of the tournament. I really do fancy the hosts to stay within the plus line.
While I’ll be making my main play the plus line, I will also be having a small punt on the hosts to win it.
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Bulls v Chiefs
Loftus Versfeld
15:05
To Win (80 Mins)
Bulls 7/20
Draw 25/1
Chiefs 22/10
Handicap
Bulls (-9.5) 9/10
Chiefs (+9.5) 9/10
Saturday’s penultimate fixture will see the Africa Conference-leading Bulls take on the New Zealand Conference’s last-placed side, the Chiefs. The hosts head into this one off the back of a well-deserved bye weekend with their last outing seeing them beat the Sharks 37-14, while the visitors make the trip having bounced back from their defeat to the Sunwolves with a 23-23 draw against the Hurricanes.
The Bulls are yet to taste defeat on home soil this term beating the Lions, Sharks and Stormers in South Africa. Their only defeat to date came at the hands of the Jaguares who beat them 27-12 out in Buenos Aires.
Verdict: Bulls (-9.5) 9/10
I think the Bulls are set to clear this handicap by a big margin. The Chiefs looked much-improved last week with Damien McKenzie moving to fullback, but the whippet may well be rested for this one due to the All BLack rest period rules. Even if he does play, I still fancy the Bulls to clear a rather small margin.
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Sharks v Rebels
Kings Park Stadium
17:15
To Win (80 Mins)
Sharks 5/10
Draw 25/1
Rebels 16/10
Handicap
Sharks (-5.5) 9/10
Rebels (+5.5) 9/10
The Rebels will be looking to bounce back from their heartbreaking defeat to the Lions when they travel down to Durban to take on a hit-and-miss Sharks outfit.
The visitors somehow managed to blow a 26 point advantage against the Lions last week with a yellow card to inside centre Billy Meakes and a moment on madness form Quade Cooper inside his own in-goal area costing the Melbourners what would have been a fourth straight victory.
The Sharks had a much easier time of it last weekend as they watched proceedings unfold from the comfort of their living rooms with the Natalians enjoying a bye. They will be keen to get back on the playing field, though, and bounce back from successive defeats to local rivals the Stormers and Bulls.
Verdict: Sharks (-5.5) 9/10
The Rebels are just the type of side the Natalians like to play against. While the Australians possess a mesmerizing backline, the likes of Cooper and Jack Maddocks could well have a frustrating afternoon in Durban if the Sharks’ forwards cut off their supply line.
Written by Darry Worthington for Hollywoodbets
