Darry Worthington previews the two Round 8 Super Rugby AU fixtures, which will take place on Friday the 21st of August and Saturday the 22nd.
Image Copyright – Steve Haag Sports
With just three weeks left until Super Rugby AU reaches its play-off phase, there’s a lot riding on every single game from now to the end of the regular season.
This weekend will see the Western Force, who while still in with a mathematical chance of qualifying for the semi-finals, take on a Reds side that is gunning for a home semi. The second game of the weekend will see the log-leading Brumbies take on a Waratahs side that have hit a purple patch over the past fortnight. An upset win for the away side would really throw the cat amongst the pigeons headed into the final two rounds.
16:05
Force
Draw
Handicap
Force
The Force need to win this one to keep their slim semi-final qualification hopes alive. The Super Rugby returnees currently sit at the foot of the log having only been able to muster up two points from their six outings.
On top of the above, the Force are yet to win a game and when they last met the Reds they were beaten 31-24. They also head into this one off the back of a resounding defeat going down 8-28 to the Waratahs last weekend.
The Reds had a far better time of it in Round 7 as they beat the Rebels 19-3. The victory broke a two-game losing streak for the Queenslanders who went down 45-12 to the Waratahs in Round 6 and 22-20 to the Brumbies in Round 5.
Verdict: Reds (-)
Brumbies v WaratahsTo Win (80 Mins)
Brumbies
Draw
Handicap
Brumbies
Waratahs
Next up is the headline clash of the round with old foes, the Brumbies and Waratahs, squaring off at the GIO Stadium. When the two sides met earlier in the season it was a tight old affair with the Brumbies edging the game 24-23.
The ‘Tahs racked up their second win on the trot last weekend as they beat the Force 8-28. It was only their third win of the campaign but the result has seen them move just three points shy of the Brumbies.
The Brumbies, who enjoyed a bye week last weekend, head into the clash off their first defeat of the season which saw them go down 30-12 to the Melbourne Rebels. They’ll be eager to bounce back here and the week’s break will have given them time to iron out some on the kinks that cost them so nearly in their last outing.
Verdict: Waratahs (+)
I’m expecting another really close encounter here which is why I’m strongly on the Waratahs plus.
