Super Rugby Round 10 Preview

Written by @QuintenLetcher for @Hollywoodbets. Follow them both on Twitter and Facebook now!

The Sharks continue to lead the chaotic race for this year’s title as we approach the halfway mark of the competition, and judging by this weekend’s upcoming fixtures, they are unlikely to be deposed. Jake White’s charges run out for a home game against the hapless Cheetahs, while the second-placed Brumbies sit this week out and the Chiefs have a rejuvenated Crusaders outfit to deal with in Hamilton. The Australian sides are faring surprisingly well with three sides in the top six, but with the volatile nature of this year’s competition they are going to have a tough time shielding the status quo for any considerable length of time, a few relentless attacks coming from below.

Hurricanes vs Blues | Friday 18 April | Westpac Stadium | 09:35
A more evenly weighted contest won’t be found this week, with both sides sitting on sixteen points from seven matches this season, and both coming back from a bye in Round 9.

To Win (80mins) 
Hurricanes 11/20
Blues 31/20
Draw 25/1

Handicaps 
Hurricanes (-3.5) 9/10
Blues (+3.5) 9/10

The Hurricanes have impressively managed to salvage their 2014 campaign after a rickety start to the season left them winless after their first three clashes. They have since secured impressive victories over the Cheetahs, Crusaders and Bulls, and head into this season-defining derby following a week off. Coach Mark Hammett has made only one change to his run-on side with Reggie Goodes replacing Ben Franks in the front row. The Blues have battled with consistency this season, but have several big names returning to the action this week from injury. Keven Mealamu returns at hooker to join fellow All Blacks Tony Woodcock and Charlie Faumuina in the front row, while in the second row Patrick Tuipulotu and Tom Donnelly both return from injury. Captain Luke Braid starts after playing off the bench against the Brumbies, with Jerome Kaino taking over at eight and shifting Steven Luatua to blindside flanker.

VERDICT: Hurricanes (-3.5) 9/10
The Hurricanes will be looking to put Cory Jane to good use by exploiting the almost non-existent defence of the Blues, which saw them miss a whopping 21 tackles against the Brumbies. It’s bound to be a close contest, an innate characteristic of Kiwi derbies, but the Hurricanes with home ground advantage against a reshuffled Blues side should manage the -3.5 handicap.

Rebels vs Force | Friday 18 April | AAMI Park | 11:40
The Force head into Melbourne looking to extend their logic-defying run of consecutive wins to six, by putting a beleaguered Rebels side to the sword this Friday.

To Win (80mins) 
Rebels 19/20
Force 19/10
Draw 25/1

The Rebels have managed only two victories to date, but one of those was against the leaders of the conference, the Brumbies, which may offer some solace for their fans in an otherwise dismal season. Coach Tony McGahan has made only one change to the side that went down to the Chiefs, with Caderyn Neville taking over from Hugh Pyle in the second row. The Western Force are having a dream season so far, with winger Nick Cummins pulling off a hat-trick last week against the Waratahs in Perth to secure the Force’s fifth consecutive victory. The Rebels will need to find a way to keep the ‘Honey Badger’ away from the white wash this weekend, if they want to put an end to the Force’s winning streak.

VERDICT: Rebels 9/10
The Force suffered several injury blows against the Waratahs which could aid the Rebels in restoring natural order to the Australian conference, ensuring the Force don’t sneak past the Brumbies into pole this weekend.

Chiefs vs Crusaders | Saturday 19 April | Waikato Stadium | 09:35
A clash of the Kiwi rugby union titans takes place in Hamilton on Saturday, with the revitalised Crusaders looking to narrow the gap between them and the defending champs.

To Win (80mins)
Chiefs 11/20
Crusaders 16/10
Draw 25/1

Handicaps 
Chiefs (-4.5) 9/10
Crusaders (+4.5) 9/10

The Chiefs control the New Zealand conference with an impressive six-point buffer between them and the Crusaders as we head into the tenth week of Super Rugby action. They have only suffered one defeat so far this season, a shock defeat to Force back in Round 6, and have pulled off some gutsy performances, notably during the miraculous two draws in South Africa against the Bulls and the Cheetahs. Their chances of extending that buffer have been bolstered by the news that All Black Brodie Retallick has been cleared to play after leaving the field last week following a knock to the head. The Crusaders have turned their fortunes around by becoming the first team to claim two victories over in South Africa this year, claiming nine log points along the way. They need to secure the win this weekend to keep their playoff aspirations alive. They have shown over the past two rounds that they have the firepower in the back to put the Chiefs under pressure, but the Chiefs have proved to be a resolute bunch this season and taking them down at home is going to be all that much tougher after a long return trip over the Indian Ocean.

VERDICT: Chiefs (-4.5) 9/10
The Chiefs have won their last three home clashes against the Crusaders, and have been one of the more consistent sides in this year’s competition. The Crusaders are building good momentum at the moment and removed any doubt in their attacking prowess by dotting down no fewer than nine times while out in South Africa over the last two weeks. Bound to be fierce contest between these two rivals, but I think the Chiefs will pull it off as the Crusaders adjust from the long trip back from SA.

Waratahs vs Bulls | Saturday 19 April | Allianz Stadium | 11:40
The Bulls head for Sydney hoping to turn their discouraging overseas trip around, and judging by the Waratahs’ performance against the Rebels last week, they just might pull it off.

To Win (80mins) 
Waratahs 1/3
Bulls 24/10
Draw 28/1

Handicaps 
Waratahs (-8.5) 9/10
Bulls (+8.5) 9/10

The Waratahs will be running out with a more potent attack this weekend as their top try-scorer Israel Folau has been cleared to play after missing the last three clashes due to a throat injury. Other than Folau’s inclusion, the backline remains unchanged for this week’s clash with the physical Bulls. Nick Phipps and Bernard Foley team up for the eighth consecutive game this week, while Will Skelton’s impressive performance last week retains his position in the second row. The Bulls have squandered two possible away wins over the last couple of weeks by taking the foot off the pedal in the second half against both the Hurricanes and Highlanders. They will need to keep the intensity up for the full eighty minutes this week to secure their first win on tour.

VERDICT: Bulls (+8.5) 9/10
The Bulls will put in a strong contest up front and will be waiting to punish the Waratahs for each and every infringement. But the Waratahs are difficult to contain when they start executing their chances on attack, a field Israel Folau is a bit of an expert in.  The Bulls won’t let the game run away from them, so the +8.5 handicap is enough to persuade me to get on.

Sharks vs Cheetahs | Saturday 19 April | Kings Park | 15:00
The Cheetahs head to the Shark Cage this weekend to take on Jake White’s ruthless frontrunners.

To Win (80mins)
Sharks 1/7
Cheetahs 52/10
Draw 33/1

Handicaps 
Sharks (-12.5) 9/10
Cheetahs (+12.5) 9/10

The Sharks found themselves under unfamiliar pressure last weekend, as they ended the first half against the Lions with the scores squared at 6-6. They finished up with a 13-point victory at Ellis Park, but will be concerned about the number of wasted opportunities that provided the Lions with a staggering 23 turnovers during the game. The Cheetahs suffered a 31-52 home loss to the Crusaders last weekend despite leading 31-26 around the sixty minute mark, allowing the visitors to cross the try-line an alarming four times in the last sixteen minutes. They were punished the week before in a similar style by the Chiefs who bounced back from a 24-point deficit at half time to finish up with the scores tied. Effective possession thief Heinrich Brussow returns for the Cheetahs this weekend, while injury prone pivot Johan Goosen is out having suffered a concussion last weekend. He is replaced by Elgar Watts.

VERDICT: Sharks (-12.5) 9/10
The Cheetahs have scored more points than any other side this season, but thanks to their laughable defence they have also conceded a massive ninety points more than any other side. The Sharks will be focusing on their finishing abilities this Saturday after last week’s wake up call, and the Cheetahs’ perforated defensive wall should offer them countless opportunities.

Stormers vs Lions | Saturday 19 April | Newlands | 17:05
The Stormers will be looking repay the Lions for that 24-point hiding handed to them up at Ellis Park in Round 2, and ultimately put an end to their insufferable five-match losing streak.

To Win (80mins) 
Stormers 7/20
Lions 23/10
Draw 25/1

Handicaps 
Stormers (-6.5) 9/10
Lions (+6.5) 9/10

The Stormers had a well deserved bye last week after a gruesome four week tour led straight into a home game loss to the Waratahs in Round 8. They return the action this week well rested and slightly reshuffled, with Springbok Jean de Villiers returning to captain the side. Damian de Allende shifts back to the wing, while Peter Grant moves to fifteen to make way for a new look half-back pairing of Nic Groom and Demetri Catrakilis. The Lions allowed poor discipline to cost them in Round 9, allowing the Sharks an inexcusable nine shots at goal. They looked impressive for much of the first half, with their impermeable defence frustrating the table-topping Sharks no end. But the Stormers have built their reputation on a rock solid defence and the inability to score tries, living off oppositions’ infringements to keep the scoreboard ticking. So if the Lion’s are unable to control their discipline this week, they’ll be no more than lambs to the slaughter at Newlands.

VERDICT: Stormers (-6.5) 9/10
The Stormers will be a far stronger side after the rest, and will be eager to put an end to their bad form in the competition.