Rugby

Super Rugby AU: Round 10 Preview

by
Darry Worthington
September 1, 2020

Campbell Magnay of the Melbourne Rebels

Darry Worthington takes a look at the final set of Super Rugby AU round-robin phase fixtures, which will be played on Saturday the 5th of September.

Image Copyright – Steve Haag Sports

Two women looking excitedly at cellphone
Rugby fans are in for a treat this Saturday with a double-bill of Super Rugby AU fixtures in store for fans.

The day’s first fixture will see the Rebels square off with the Force in a must-win game for the Melbourne franchise, while the second fixtures sees the Reds play host to the Brumbies in what may be a very feisty dead-rubber of a game.

Melbourne Rebels v Western Force
Saturday 5 September
McDonald Jones Stadium

To Win (80 Mins)
Rebels

Draw
Force

Handicap
Rebels
Force

The Melbourne Rebels need to beat the Force by more than three points in order to ensure they make next weekend’s play-off fixture against the Reds. They could have been in a far worse position had they not salvaged a losing bonus point in the dying minutes of their 38-22 loss to the Waratahs.

Like the Rebels, the Force also suffered a defeat last weekend as they went down 31-14 to a Brumbies side that was rather out of sorts. The Force head into Saturday’s fixture having lost all their previous games, and while there’s nothing on the line in terms of log positions for the men from Perth they will be eager to break their duck in the ‘comp.

Verdict: Force (+)

When these two sides last met the Rebels needed extra time to secure a 20-25 victory. I think we’re in for a similarly tight game this time around.

Queensland Reds v Brumbies
Saturday 5 September
Suncorp Stadium

To Win (80 Mins)
Reds
Draw
Brumbies

Handicap
Reds

Brumbies

The Reds and Brumbies will bring down the curtain on the round-robin phase of the inaugural Super Rugby AU season. Both sides are likely to field slightly weakened teams with their log positions already secured; the Brumbies top the pops and can’t be usurped while the Reds set in second and can’t be displaced from that position.

This weekend’s hosts enjoyed a bye week in Round 9, while the Brumbies put in a rather patchy display against the Force despite running out comfortable 31-14 victors. The Reds do come into this one off the back of a solid result having beaten the Force 5-57 in Round 8.

Verdict: Reds
I’m all over the Reds here. They were unlucky to lose when the sides met at the GIO Stadium earlier in the season and I reckon they’ll bag a win here.