PREVIEW: Super Rugby 2024 – Round 9

To say this year’s edition of Super Rugby has been hard to predict is an understatement. Upsets continue unabated with Moana Pasifika bagging a win over the Reds in the big shock of the round. Also, the Rebels almost put 50 past the Highlanders.

This week sees our final short fixtures list for the season and there are a couple crucial ties here with the second-placed Blues playing host to the Brumbies, the Reds and Highlanders square off in a game that will have a massive impact on each side’s play-off aspirations while the Crusaders will try and keep their faint title hopes alive when they take on the Force in the battle of the cellar-dwellers.

Friday 19 April

Drua 32/10 | Draw 28/1 | Hurricanes 2/9 (09:05)

Handicap
Drua (+10.5) 9/10 | Hurricanes (-10.5) 9/10

We kick things off at the graveyard of established Super Rugby sides – Churchill Park. This venue has already seen several big Fijian wins this term with the Drua beating the Crusaders – for the second year running – the Force and Waratahs at the ground.

While the Drua have struggled on the road this term, they are an absolute nightmare to play at home and the ‘Canes should be wary headed into Saturday’s clash.

Speaking of the men from Wellington, they remain the only unbeaten team in the competition with their latest victory coming last weekend against the Chiefs. TJ Perenara rolled back the years during last week’s win with the All Black nine putting in a polished and composed display while also bagging a try. His vast experience will be crucial for this ‘Canes team away from home.

The Drua weren’t in action last weekend as they enjoyed a bye week. The break came at just the right time for them as they had a bit of a shocker on the discipline front in their Round 7 fixture losing a couple players to cards during their 41-20 defeat to the Rebels in Melbourne.

While team news is hard to come by at the time of writing, the Drua will be without veteran nine Frank Lomani who received a six-week ban following a red card against the Rebels. He is joined on the sidelines by prop Jone Koroiduadua who also copped a ban, albeit a lot shorter at two weeks, following his Red in Melbourne.

Verdict: Hurricanes (-10.5) 9/10

The loss of Lomani is a massive blow for the Drua with the nine having a solid season up until his reckless elbow against the Rebels. I also think this ‘Canes side is the most suited team to taking the Drua on at their own game. Money on the visitors claiming a big win in Suva.

Reds 7/20 | Draw 22/1 | Highlanders 23/10 (11:35)

Handicap
Reds (-7.5) 9/10 | Highlanders (+7.5) 9/10

Friday’s action comes to a close in Queensland where the Reds will be looking to bounce back from their shock defeat at the hands of Moana Pasifika when they take on the Highlanders. With only six points separating the sides on the log, and the tournament fast approaching its business end, this fixture could prove vital.

The hosts head into Friday’s encounter in poor form having lost their last three fixtures. While a 19-20 Round 6 defeat to the Brumbies is not the worst result ever, their other two losses – a 40-31 loss to the struggling Force and last weekend’s 17-14 defeat to Moana Pasifika – are cause for concern for Les Kiss and his coaching staff.

The Moana game will have given them sleepless nights especially as having started the fixture slowly, the Reds managed to claw their way back from a 10-0 half-time deficit to go 10-14 up with less than ten minutes to play. A reckless tackle from Fraser McReight left the Reds down to 14 men for the rest of the fixture with Moana Capitalizing and taking the win with a 79th-minute try. McReight will miss this weekend’s fixture with fellow Wallaby Tate McDermott who also copped a red card.

If it’s any consolation for the Reds, their opponents also head into this on a poor run of form themselves. The Highlanders have lost their last four games on the spin. In fairness, three of those fixtures came against solid sides with the Brumbies (21-27), the Chiefs (28-21) and the Hurricanes (12-47) likely to be in the mix for a final. Last weekend’s 47-31 defeat to the Rebels, will have hit differently, however, with the Melbourne outfit hardly feared opposition.

Verdict: Highlanders (+7.5) 9/10

I reckon this one will be pretty tight with both sides knowing a loss will massively dent their play-offs aspirations. As such, I’m on the visitors on the plus handicap.

Saturday 20 April

Blues 2/9 | Draw 28/1 | Brumbies 33/10 (09:05)

Handicap
Blues (-10.5) 9/10 | Brumbies (+10.5) 9/10

It’s the big ticket Round 9 clash next up with the second-placed Blues playing host to the third-placed Brumbies. The two sides are locked on 27 conference points apiece and will be eyeing home semi-final hosting rights, although a loss here could well dent those aspirations.

The hosts for Saturday are impressing under Joe Schmidt with their no-nonsense attack chewing through meters against all and sundry. And while it’s not exactly the free-flowing, adventurous rugby the Blues have always been associated with, it is reaping rewards with Auckland’s finest winning six of their seven fixtures.

In fairness to Schmidt, his side have cut loose in their previous two outings running up two big wins as they beat Moana Pasifika 8-47 in Round 6 and the Force 50-3 in Round 7. They enjoyed a bye week this past weekend as well, so they will be fresh and ready for Saturday’s clash.

The Brumbies have also just suffered one defeat this term and are currently on a five-game winning streak with their latest victory being the Round 7 40-16 bonus point win over the ‘Tahs. They are no doubt the best-equipped Australian side to take on Kiwi opposition with their solid set piece always allowing them a foothold in fixtures.

Verdict: Blues (-10.5) 9/10

While I think the Brumbies will keep pace with their opponents in the first stanza, I reckon they’ll run out of steam in the second especially with the Blues able to call on a loaded bench.

Force 4/1 | Draw 33/1 | Crusaders 1/6 (11:35)

Handicap
Force (+13.5) 9/10 | Crusaders (-13.5) 9/10

Round 9 comes to a close out in Perth with the Force and Crusaders will be looking to keep their slim hopes of attaining a play-off berth alive. Both sides have really struggled this term and have only won a game each. While pundits may have expected the Force to be this woeful, no one would have foreseen the shambles that has been the Crusaders’ 2024 campaign.

Having bagged their first win in Round 5 beating the Reds 40-31, normal service resumed for the Force who proceeded to go down 31-13 to the Drua in Round 6 and then 50-3 against the Blues in Round 7. They were put out of their misery for a week, missing Round 8 as they were off on a bye.

While there hasn’t been much hope for Force fans for a good while now, Crusaders supporters were dead set that their side were about to turn things around and mount a title challenge after they beat fierce local rivals the Chiefs 37-26 in Round 6. Their joy was short-lived, however, as a late drop goal from the Waratahs sent last week’s clash between the two sides to a Golden Point shoot out that the ‘Tahs would ultimately win.

Verdict: Crusaders (-10.5) 9/10

While this is a far from vintage Crusaders outfit, I still can’t see them having any problems claiming a big win over the hapless Force.