Darry Worthington previews all the Round 7 Super Rugby AU fixtures, which get underway on Friday, 9 April.
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Things are set to get rather heated ‘ down under’ this coming weekend with the Rebels and Force trying to keep their playoff hopes alive in the Round 7 opener and the Reds and Brumbies set to battle it out for pole position heading into the final round-robin set of fixtures.
Who will achieve their goals and who will head into the final two rounds of the regular season needing to make up ground in order to make the playoffs? Let’s see if we can find out, shall we?
Melbourne Rebels v Western Force
Friday 9 April
Melbourne Rectangular Stadium
11:45
To Win (80 Mins)
Rebels 7/10
Draw 22/1
Force 5/2
Handicap
Rebels
Force
First up we have a crucial fixture with the third-placed Rebels taking on the fourth-placed Force in Melbourne. Both sides still have three games to play as they have used up all the bye weeks. The Rebels are currently four points clear of their opponents, and a win here would all but secure their place in the play-offs.
The hosts head into this one off the back of a heavy defeat as they went down 19-44 to the Reds last Saturday. This was their third defeat of the season. Their two victories have come over the Waratahs, who they beat 33-14 in mid-March, and this week’s opponent, who they ground out a 10-7 victory against in March as well.
Unlike their opponents, the Force had a week to recoup from their 42-14 defeat from the Brumbies as they were on a bye in Round 6.
Verdict: Force (+)
I’m expecting another scrappy old dogfight here. The Rebels haven’t impressed on attack and I can see their attacking woes continuing against the Force. My money is on the hosts winning it but only by the smallest of margins.
Reds v Brumbies
Saturday 10 April
Suncorp Stadium
11:45
To Win (80 Mins)
Reds 7/10
Draw 22/1
Brumbies 11/10
Handicap
Reds
Brumbies
We’re on to our headline clash now, which will see the log-leading Reds take on the second-placed Brumbies out in Queensland.
Unlike the Force and Waratahs, the Reds and Brumbies only have two fixtures remaining so this game is of vital importance. The hosts currently sit four points clear of their opponents and a win here would see them claim top spot on the log and automatically advance to the final. however, should the Brumbies win this one, then it would be all to play for headed into the final two rounds of the regular season.
Both teams head into this one off the back of wins, although the Reds 19-44 victory over the Brumbies was far more impressive than the Brumbies scrappy 22-24 victory over the Waratahs.
The two sides played out an absolute cracker the last time they met with the Reds coming from behind to beat their opponents 38-40. Here’s hoping we get an epic like that this coming Saturday.
Verdict: Reds (-)
They’ve been a cut above this term and with a guaranteed Super Rugby AU final on the line, I reckon we’ll see the Reds deliver another polished performance.
