Darry Worthington previews the three Round 6 Super Rugby games that are being played on Friday the 6th of March.
Image Copyright – Steve Haag Sports
It will be Australia versus the rest in Super Rugby this Friday with three Australian sides set to duke it out against foreign outfits. The day’s play gets underway in Wollongong where the Brumbies will play host to an extremely unpredictable Sunwolves outfit. We then head across the Tasman for a clash between the Crusaders and the Reds, while we return to Wollongong where the Waratahs will tackle the Chiefs.
Brumbies v Sunwolves
Friday 6 March
WIN Stadium
05:45
To Win (80 Mins)
Brumbies 1/100
Draw 40/1
Sunwolves 14/1
Handicap
Brumbies (-28.5) 9/10
Sunwolves (-28.5) 9/10
The Australian Conference-leading Brumbies have been given a bit of a boost this week as their away game against the Sunwolves has been moved to Wollongong, which is just outside of Sydney, due to Japan suffering from an increase in Corona Virus cases.
Dan McKellar’s men have enjoyed a solid opening five weeks winning three of the four fixtures they have played thus far, with their only defeat coming in Round 3 at the hands of the Highlanders. They head into this one off the back of a great result too as they caused a major upset two weekends ago out in New Zealand. They head into this one off of a bye and should be raring to go.
The Sunwolves have endured a far less impressive start to their final season in Super Rugby with the Japanese failing to win a game since upsetting the Rebels back in Round 1. They head into Saturday’s fixture off the back of a heavy 62-15 defeat to the Hurricanes.
Verdict: Brumbies Half Time Handicap (-14.5) 9/10
I think the ‘Wolves are in for another tough old day at the office. My money is on the hosts enjoying a fast start and being more than 15 points to the good at half-time.
Crusaders v Reds
Friday 6 March
Rugby League Park
08:05
To Win (80 Mins)
Crusaders 1/25
Draw 35/1
Reds 10/1
Handicap
Crusaders (-24.5) 9/10
Reds (+24.5) 9/10
A sans James O’Connor Reds outfit will be looking to cause a major upset when they take on reigning champions, the Canterbury Crusaders, out in Christchurch. The hosts have only tasted defeat once this term while the Reds have lost four of their first five fixtures.
Last weekend saw the Crusaders enjoy a bye while the Reds were outclassed by a Sharks side, who ran out 23-33 victors in Queensland.
Like the Reds, the Crusaders have made a couple changes for this one with Scott Barrett returning to the starting pack and young gun Ereatara Enari coming in at outside centre for his first Super Rugby start of 2020.
Verdict: Crusaders Half Time Handicap (-12.5) 9/10
I’m on the half-time handicap again here. The ‘Saders are generally solid starters and I can see them giving an injury-hit Reds outfit a real rugby lesson during the first 40-minutes of this one.
Waratahs v Chiefs
Friday 6 March
WIN Stadium
10:15
To Win (80 Mins)
Waratahs 32/10
Draw 25/1
Chiefs 2/9
Handicap
Waratahs (+10.5) 9/10
Chiefs (-10.5) 9/10
The Waratahs will be looking to make it back-to-back wins when they take on a Chiefs side that suffered a shock home defeat at the hands of the Brumbies two weeks ago.
Last weekend saw the Waratahs finally break their duck in this year ‘comp as they beat a struggling Lions side 29-17. While it wasn’t the most polished of performances – the ‘Tahs defence looked really shaky at times – the men from New South Wales will be relieved to have got a win in the bag.
While the hosts were registering a win over the Lions, the Chiefs were enjoying a much needed week off. The New Zealanders really struggled in Round 4, with star man Damien McKenzie failing to spark anything. The All Black has been rested this weekend with his place in the starting XV taken by Solomon Alaimalo.
Verdict: Waratahs (+10.5) 9/10
I think this could well be a tight game. The Waratahs are scrappers and could cause the Chiefs some problems. While I expect the hosts to win I doubt it will be by more than ten points.
Written by Darry Worthington for Hollywoodbets.
