There are some quality games in this abbreviated round with the two derby games between the Reds and Brumbies and the Highlanders and Hurricanes the real standouts.
Friday 7 April
Crusaders N/A | Draw 33/1 | Moana Pasifika 18/1
Handicap
Crusaders (-29.5) 9/10 | Moana Pasifika (+29.5) 9/10
The two outfits have experienced vastly contrasting starts to the season with the Crusaders in fourth place with four wins from their six outings while their opponents have yet to win a single fixture.
Scott Robertson’s men kept up their good run of form since their shock defeat against the Drua making it three wins on the spin with a workman like 12-25 win over the Reds in Queensland. Pivot Richie Mo’unga was once again the catalyst for the most successful team in Super Rugby history’s most recent win with the All Black pivot brilliant off the tee and playing the territory game well.
While the Crusaders grabbed their fourth win of the campaign, Moana Pasifika suffered their sixth defeat as they went down 17-45 to the underperforming Highlanders. Moana’s Achille’s Heel was once again evident in the fixture as they again could not build on a solid first half showing and as fatigue set in, they were run rampant.
I expect the visitors to again put in a solid first half stint but then fall off the boil in the second half. I reckon a flurry of second half tries will see the Crusaders past the handicap.
Crusaders on the minus.
Reds 14/10 | Draw 20/1 | Brumbies 6/10
Handicap
Reds (+3.5) 9/10 | Brumbies (-3.5) 9/10
Queensland’s finest gave a decent account of themselves at home last weekend but were ultimately no match for the Crusaders who beat them by 13 points. They did go into the game with a plethora of big name stars on the treatment table including Wallabies center Hunter Paisami, who was greatly missed against the Crusaders midfield.
The Brumbies had a far better time of it in Round 6 as they beat a spirited Waratahs side 40-36. The game was an absolute cracker with controlling proceedings during the first stanza and taking a 24-12 lead into the half-time break. The Waratahs maintained the 12-point gap until their were only 20-minutes left in the fixture and this is where the Brumbies took control running in three tries to claim a 40-36 victory.
Get on the Reds at 14/10.
Saturday 8 April
Highlanders 22/10 | Draw 22/1 | Hurricanes 7/20
Handicap
Highlanders (+7.5) 9/10 | Hurricanes (-7.5) 9/10
Our second and final derby for the weekend sees the second-place Hurricanes take on the sixth-placed Highlanders. The hosts have enjoyed a brilliant start to the campaign and have the chance to go top of the Super Rugby Pacific log this weekend as the current leaders, the Waikato Chiefs, are on a bye this weekend.
The Hurricanes registered their fifth win of the campaign last weekend as they edged the Force 45-42. It was arguably their worst showing of the campaign with their defense about as porous as a sieve. They were actually pretty lucky to claim the win with the Force scoring three tries in the final ten-minutes and the four minutes of extra time. The ‘Canes looked really leggy at that point and had the game gone on for five minutes longer they would have likely lost the fixture.
The Highlanders enjoyed a far more comfortable win in Round 6 as the hammered Moana Pasifika 17-45. What will have been most pleasing for the Highlanders was that they dealt with the pressure Moana Pasifika put on them during the first half and then took advantage of their opponents extra workload and fatigue running in a number of tries in the second half to claim a bonus point victory.
I don’t think this will be a pretty win for the ‘Canes but I think they’ll manage to get the job done in Dunedin.
Get on the Canes minus.
Rebels 9/2 | Draw 33/1 | Blues 1/7
Handicap
Rebels (+14.5) 9/10 | Blues (-14.5) 9/10
We bring things to a close in Melbourne with a cross-conference affair as the fifth-placed Blues make the trip across the Tasman to take on the ninth-placed Rebels.
The hosts got a rude awakening last weekend as they were taken to task by a red-hot Drua outfit going down 38-28 to the Fijians. The men from Melbourne were absolutely shell-shocked by their abrasive Drua defense that had them going backwards ever time a Rebels man went into contact.
Like the Rebels, the Blues also come into this one off the back of a disappointing defeat as they went down 20-13 to domestic foes and current competition pacesetters, the Chiefs. The Blues were well in the game for the entirety of the fixture but made far too many handling errors as the rain bucketed down in Waikato,
I expect the Blues top return to form here. They’ve had a couple difficult weeks but they are a quality side who should have no issues bagging a comfortable win over a mediocre Rebels outfit.
Blues to clear the handicap.
