The sole all-Kiwi quarter-final will pit log-topping Auckland Blues up against a Highlanders side that just scraped a play-off berth.
Check out our other Super Rugby Pacific quarter-final previews by clicking below:
The hosts come into this one as heavy favourites but will need to be wary of a Highlanders outfit who had a very average round-robin phase in last season’s Super Rugby Aotearoa season, but then made it all the way to the final of that competition.
Blues v Highlanders | Saturday 4 June | Eden Park | 09:05
To Win Match
Blues 1/8 | Draw 33/1 | Highlanders 5/1
Handicap
Blues (-) 9/10 | Highlanders (+) 9/10
The Blues were by far and away the most impressive team during the round-robin phase of the inaugural Super Rugby Pacific season. The men from Auckland registered 13 victories with their only defeat cing at the hands of the Hurricanes during the early salvos of the season. They are a side stacked with seasoned talent as well as a number of young guns who have come good this term.
The hosts for Saturday have played some beautiful free flowing rugby during the competition but they’ve also shown they can grind out a win winning their last two games courtesy of late drop goals.
Their opponents for this weekend are pretty lucky to be here with the Force’s failure to claim a bonus point win over the Hurricanes and a solid late defensive shift from the Highlanders against the Rebels earning the New Zealand side a place in the play-offs by virtue of a losing bonus point.
While the Highlanders have struggled for form this term they do have some solid players on their books who know all about getting through knock-out fixtures. One such man is scrum-half Aaron Smith, who will undoubtedly be a thorn in the side of the Blues this weekend.
The Highlanders got a massive boost on the injury front this week with Shannon Frizell once again available for selection. His return could not have come at a better time for the men from Dunedin with flanker James Lentjies struggling with a shoulder problem. The Blues will also welcome back an All Black this weekend as Beuaden Barrett returns having been rested last weekend.
Verdict: Highlanders (+) 9/10
When these two sides met during the regular season the Highlanders put in a mighty fight going down 25-32. I reckon this will be a close run thing again which is why I’m on the visitors’ plus.
