Other highlights of the round see the Rebels and Reds square off in an all Australian affair, while Moana Pasifika and the Hurricanes clash in Auckland.
Friday 24 March
Crusaders 1/5 | Draw 33/1 | Brumbies 7/2
Handicap
Crusaders (-17.5) 9/10 | Brumbies (+17.5) 9/10
We kick things off at the Orangetheory Stadium where the Crusaders will be looking to steady the ship having registered two wins and two defeats in their opening four games.
The Saders opponents for the weekend have fared far better having won all four of their fixtures. They head into this one off yet another having hammered Moana Pasifika 62-36. The scoreline was actually pretty flattering with Moana Pasifika well in the game until the final quarter, which saw the Brumbies run away with it.
The hosts for Saturday bounced back from their shock Round 3 defeat at the hands of the Drua with a real statement win as they beat the Blues 28-34 in Auckland. They were made to work hard for the win with some late last ditch defending ensuring the Blues wouldn’t sneak a victory at the death.
I fancy the Bumbies to keep things nice and tight here. While I don’t see the Australian Conference leaders winning the game, I can see them keeping things close.
Brumbies on the plus.
Waratahs 5/1 | Draw 33/1 | Chiefs 1/8
Handicap
Waratahs (+15.5) 9/10| Chiefs (-15.5) 9/10
We jet across the Tasman for our next fixture which will see the underperforming Waratahs take on tournament pacesetters, the Chiefs, at the Allianz.
The hosts have only managed one win this term beating the Drua 17-46 in Round 3. They followed up that maiden victory with a 34-17 loss to the Rebels and they went down 34-17 to the Hurricanes this past weekend. They did show glimmers in that clash with ‘Canes but they’ll need to be more clinical with ball-in-hand if they are to trouble the Chiefs this weekend.
No McKenzie, no problems. This was the story for the Chiefs last weekend as they hammered the Rebels 44-25 sans their talismanic playmaker. This was the men from Waikato’s first fixture that they didn’t take a bonus point from but they still managed to give their points differential a boost as they currently sit on a +84 differential.
This should be a rather open game with the ‘Tahs pretty porous on defence thus far. I reckon we’ll get loads of points and the visitors will clear the ‘cap at a canter.
Chiefs to take it on the minus.
Saturday 25 March
Highlanders 1/3 | Draw 22/1 | Fijian Drua 24/10
Handicap
Highlanders (-8.5) 9/10 | Drua (+8.5) 9/10
We should have a cracker on our hands next up with an extremely competitive Drua side taking on a Highlanders outfit that have only one win from their four outings.
The hosts managed to finally break their duck for the season as they beat a similarly struggling Western Force outfit 43-35. It was a far from convincing result, however, and the Highlanders will need to up their game tenfold if they are to beat the Drua this Saturday.
The Fijians gave a brilliant account of themselves during their 27-24 defeat to the Reds. Having trailed their opponents 24-3 with just under half an hour left in the game, the Drua came storming back into it and almost bagged a draw or possibly even a win but a couple dodgy late penalty calls went against them and ruined their chances of a famous comeback.
I’m all over the visitors here. They’ve beaten the Crusaders already this term and I reckon they’ll claim their second Kiwi scalp this Saturday.
Drua to take it at 24/10.
Moana Pasifika 13/2 | Draw 33/1 | Hurricanes 1/12
Handicap
Pasifika (+18.5) 9/10 | Canes (-18.5) 9/10
Cellar-dwellers, Moana Pasifika will take on the high flying Hurricanes in Saturday’s penultimate fixture. The visitors have been in fine fettle but could face a real challenge from this ever improving Moana Pasifika outfit.
The visitors bounced back from their 19-25 Round 3 loss to the Blues with a solid showing against the Waratahs beating the Australian outfit 34-17. It was the third game of the season where the ‘Canes managed to score over 30 points which illustrates their attack is firing at the moment.
Moana Pasifa, despite a rather unflattering scoreline, actually gave a solid account of themselves in Round 4 as they went down 62-36 to the Brumbies. The two sides were neck and neck for most of the fixture before the Brumbies pulled away in the final quarter of the game. Fatigue has been an issue for this weekend’s hosts and they will need to put in a stronger final quarter if they are to trouble the ‘Canes.
I fancy the hosts to keep it within the handicap here. They are improving every week and if they can solidify their defence, then they should keep the scoreline respectable.
Pasifika will get the W.
Rebels 17/10 | Draw 20/1 | Reds 5/10
Handicap
Rebels (+5.5) 9/10 | Reds (-5.5) 9/10
Saturday’s final fixture is an all-Australian affair with the Melbourne Rebels taking on the Reds. Both sides have been inconsistent this far and with the Reds winning two and losing two while the Rebels have only won one of their four but have put in solid shifts in a couple of their other fixtures.
Both teams gave decent accounts of themselves last weekend with the Rebels managing to keep things somewhat respectable against a rampant Chiefs side as they went 44-25 in Waikato.
Unlike their Melbourne counterparts, the Reds managed to bag a win in Round 4 but it was a pretty streaky victory as they held off a late surge from the Drua to hold out for a 27-24 win.
They looked really good at times against the Drua and I’m expecting a far more clinical display from Queensland’s finest this coming weekend.
Reds on the minus.
Blues 1/25 | Draw 40/1 | Western Force 9/1
Handicap
Blues (-21.5) 9/10 | Force (+21.5) 9/10
The round comes to a close at Eden Park this Sunday with a true ‘David versus Goliath’ affair as the big guns from Auckland take on a scratched together Perth outfit.
The Blues had a bit will be eager to bounce back from last week’s defeat to arch-rivals, the Crusaders. What will annoy the Aucklander’s coaching staff the mosts is that they had a really good chance to win the game at the death but just couldn’t produce any dynamism with ball in had as they went with one off runners while camped on the Crusaders five metre line for the final four-minutes of the fixture.
The Force didn’t fare much better in Round 4 as they went down 43-35 to a struggling Highlanders outfit. They missed out on a bonus point in the defeat and look like they will be in a battle to avoid the wooden spoon this term.
I can see a fired up Blues side running rampant here.
Blues to clear the handicap.
