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Super Rugby Aotearoa: Round 6 Preview

We take a look at the weekend’s Super Rugby Aotearoa fixtures featuring the Highlanders vs the Chiefs and the Hurricanes vs the Crusaders.

Image Copyright – Steve Haag Sports

Two women looking excitedly at cellphone

There’s another intriguing Super Rugby Aotearoa fixture list in store this coming weekend with our opening game seeing a hit-and-miss Highlanders side taking on an equally unpredictable Chiefs outfit. The second game of the weekend will see a wounded Blues outfit tackle a ‘Canes side who will be desperate to claim only their second victory of the season. 

Highlanders v Chiefs

Saturday 10 April

Forsyth Barr Stadium

09:05

To Win Outright
Highlanders 6/10
Draw 22/1

Chiefs 13/10

Handicap
Highlanders (-4.5) 9/10
Chiefs (+4.5) 9/10

The Highlanders will be full of confidence headed into their clash against the Chiefs after they provided the shock of the tournament by beating the pacesetting Crusaders 12-33 this past weekend.

What makes the result over the Crusaders all the more remarkable is that this was only the Highlanders second victory of the campaign with their other coming over the Chiefs back in Round 2, where they came from a significant half time deficit to run out 23-39 victors. 

While the Highlanders were toppling giants, the Chiefs had their feet up as they enjoyed a bye week in Round 5. The men from Waikato will be hoping that the bye doesn’t kill the momentum they will have garned from their dramatic 15-12 Round 4 victory over the Blues. 

Verdict: Highlanders 6/10I reckon we’re in for an absolute cracker here as both sides play a rather open game. I reckon the Highlanders will edge a high-scoring thriller. 

Jockeys Ride Horses

Hurricanes v Crusaders
Saturday 11 April

Westpac Stadium

05:35

To Win (80 Mins)
Hurricanes 3/1

Draw 25/1

Crusaders 1/4 

Handicap
Hurricanes (+9.5) 9/10
Crusaders (-9.5) 9/10

The Crusaders will be looking for a massive response when they tackle a Hurricanes side that are enduring a tough old season.

As noted above, the Crusaders suffered a surprise defeat as they were pretty much torn apart by the Highlanders in Canterbury. They looked extremely disjointed last weekend and made a multitude of handling errors which the Highlanders fully capitalised on. 

The Hurricanes also struggled this past weekend as they went down 27-17 to the Blues. They were well in the contest throughout the game but a number of crucial handling errors near and in their opponent’s red zone cost them the game. 

When the two sides met earlier this year, the Crusaders were by far the better team as they ran out 33-16 victors. 

Verdict: Crusaders (-9.5) 9/10

I’m expecting a huge response from the reigning champions, who will be smarting over last week’s defeat. The ‘Canes have been a one-trick pony this year, reliant on Jordie Barrett to spearhead them. I reckon the Crusaders were shut down Barrett the younger and score a big win here. 

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