Darry Worthington takes a look at the Round 4 Super Rugby Aotearoa action, which gets underway on Saturday, 20 March.
Image Copyright – Steve Haag Sports
We’ve got two Super Rugby Aotearoa crackers in store this coming weekend with the hit and miss Hurricanes and Chiefs going head-to-head on Saturday and the tournament pacesetters, the Blues and Crusaders, squaring off on Sunday.
Hurricanes v Chiefs
Saturday 20 March
Westpac Stadium
To Win (80 Mins)
Hurricanes 11/20
Draw 22/1
Chiefs 29/20
Handicap
Hurricanes 9/10 (-4.5)
Chiefs 9/10 (+4.5)
Our first game of the weekend is a rather interesting one with two sides who have produced some good rugby at times and some rather poor rugby at others, locking horns.
The ‘Canes currently sit fourth on the log and have lost their opening two games going down 16-31 to the Blues and 33-16 to the Crusaders. They did play some good rugby in both of these encounters, however, giving the Crusaders a real run for the money during the second half of their clash and then keeping up with the Blues until the final 10 minutes of that fixture.
Like their opponents, the Chiefs also head into this one off the back of two defeats as they went down 23-39 to the Highlanders in Round 2 and 39-17 to the Crusaders last weekend. They actually gave a very good account of themselves in the first half of both these games and were ahead against the ‘Landers when the sides went to the sheds and they only trailed the Crusaders by one point at the interval last week.
Verdict: Chiefs 9/10 (+4.5)
I feel the Chiefs are due an 80-minute performance. And while I can’t see them winning this one, In can see them running their opponents awfully close.
Blues v Crusaders
Sunday 21 March
Eden Park
To Win (80 Mins)
Blues 27/20
Draw 22/1
Crusaders 6/10
Handicap
Blues 9/10 (+3.5)
Crusaders 9/10 (-3.5)
The headline clash is up next with the log-leading Crusaders taking on the second-placed Blues. Ironically enough, these are how the two teams ended up at the close of the inaugural Super Rugby season with the Crusaders edging the Blues to the title by a couple of log points.
Both teams have made fast starts to the campaign with the ‘Saders registering wins over the Highlanders (13-26), the Hurricanes (33-16) and the Chiefs (39-17). The Blues, who have played a fixture less, have notched up wins over the Hurricanes (16-31) and the Highlanders (39-17).
Both sides have some players in red-hot form with All Black pivot Richie Mo’unga having an absolute blinder for his side last weekend and his national compatriot, Akira Ioane, delivering for the Blues.
The teams only met once last year in Super Rugby Aotearoa as the second encounter was called off due to Covid concerns. The ‘Saders got the bragging rights in that day beating their opponents 26-15.
Verdict: Blues
I really fancy the hosts here. It should be an epic clash but I just think home ground advantage gives them the edge.
