Darry Worthington previews the two Round 5 Super Rugby AU games which are being played between Friday the 7th of August and Saturday the 8th.
Image copyright – Steve Haag Sports
This weekend throws up another rather interesting set of Super Rugby AU fixtures with the log-leading Brumbies taking on a Melbourne Rebels side that desperately need to rack up some wins.
Round 5 also sees a similarly desperate Waratahs sides take on a Queensland Reds outfit that is looking to bounce back from their narrow defeat to the Brumbies.
Melbourne Rebels v Brumbies
Friday 7 August
11:05
To Win (80 Mins)
Rebels 2/1
Draw 20/1
Melbourne will be the next side to front up against the unbeaten Brumbies. The Rebels themselves have yet to taste a defeat in normal time with their only loss coming in ‘Super Time’ against the Reds.
The men from Melbourne have actually made something of a habit of drawing games this year and registered their second regular time draw last weekend as they were level on 20 points apiece with the Force after 80-minutes. They would go onto win the clash in extra time with number eight Isi Naisarani crashing over for a try just a minute into extra time.
The Brumbies managed to get the job done in regular time in Round 4 as they staged a come-from-behind effort to beat the Reds 22-20.
The win was the Brumbies fifth of the ‘comp and has seen them move seven points clear of the second-placed Reds on the Super Rugby AU standings.
This will be the second Super Rugby AU meeting between the sides with the first clash seeing the Brumbies beat the Rebels 31-23 at GIO Stadium.
Saturday 8 August
To Win (80 Mins)
Waratahs 17/10
Draw 22/1
Handicap
Waratahs (+4.5) 9/10
Reds (-4.5) 9/10
Next up it’s the Waratahs versus the Reds, and we should be in for a cracker here as both teams are desperate for the points.
The hosts enjoyed a much-needed bye week last weekend and should come into this one well-rested. Prior to their bye week, the ‘Tahs had been hammered 10-29 by the Rebels. This was their fourth defeat of the season with their only victory coming against the Force back in Round 2.
The Reds have enjoyed a far more positive season and only suffered their first defeat last weekend as they went down in dramatic fashion to the Brumbies. The Queenslanders will be kicking themselves after that defeat as a win would have seen them close the gap on the Brumbies at the top of the standings.
Verdict: Reds (-4.5) 9/10
