The Canterbury Crusaders will lock horns with local rivals the Highlanders in a quarter-final grudge match on Friday the 21st of June.
The reigning champions face old foes the Highlanders in the first of this weekend’s quarter-finals. The hosts head into the clash as red-hot favourites with the ‘books but it must be remembered that they haven’t always performed well after a bye week.
Crusaders v Highlanders
Friday 21 June
Rugby League Park
09:35
To Win (80 Mins)
Crusaders 2/11
Draw 30/1
Highlanders 15/4
Handicap
Crusaders (-12.5) 9/10
Highlanders (+12.5) 9/10
Crusaders
The reigning champions have enjoyed yet another polished season winning only suffering two defeats this term (to the Waratahs and Chiefs) while drawing three games and winning 11.
Scott Robertson’s men did endure some late-season jitters drawing to the Sharks and Stormers and losing 40-27 to the Chiefs during their final five regular season games. They did cap their regular season off in style, though, as they beat the Melbourne Rebels 66-0 during their final regular season game.
The ‘Saders had the week off during Round 18 which is not ideal as it will have stifled their momentum somewhat. They can ill-afford a rusty performance against a Highlanders side that has started to hit their straps late on in the season.
Highlanders
The men from Otago managed to sneak into the quarter-finals with their bonus point 49-12 victory against the Waratahs seeing them pip the Lions to the final play-off berth by a solitary point. They now face the unenviable task of taking on the mighty Crusaders at the Canterbury outfit’s fortress of a stadium.
If the Highlanders are to win this one they are going to need their forward pack to fire. All Black flanker Liam Squire played an absolute blinder last week and he will be a pivotal figure in this one, while underrated lock Tom Franklin will also have a big role to play against a talented Crusaders locking combination.
Verdict: Crusaders (-12,5) 9/10
When the two sides met at Rugby League Park earlier in the season the Crusaders ran rampant winning the fixture 43-17. And while I think the winning margin may be slightly tighter this time around, I can still see the Crusaders winning it by more than 14 points.
Written by Darry Worthington for Hollywoodbets
