We bore witness to another couple of thrillers in Round 5 with the Canes just holding off the Highlanders while the Chiefs beat the Blues by the narrowest of margins. This has been the most competitive Super Rugby Pacific season thus far and we could well have more close-run affairs with the two derbies for the weekend looking like they could well go down to the wire.
Darry Worthington previews the aforementioned local clashes as well as the remaining three Round 6 fixtures.
Friday
To win (80 minutes)
58/10 Moana Pasifika | Draw 38/1 | Chiefs 1/10
We kick things off in North Harbour where last-placed Moana Pasifika take on the log-leading Chiefs for the second time.
The men from Waikato bounced back from their first defeat of the season at the hands of the Drua by doing the double over the Auckland Blues. The victory was far less comfortable than their first one over Auckland’s finest with the Blues having a kick at goal to win the game late in the piece but missing.
The 32-31 victory was far from convincing and there are a number of things for the Chiefs to work on before they take on Moana this Friday.
While the Chiefs were duking it out in a hard-fought local derby, Moana Pasifika were getting some well-deserved rest as they enjoyed a bye week.
They probably would have taken another week out on the paddock, however, as their bye came the weekend after they put in their best performance of the campaign beating the Hurricanes 40-31.
Looking at the team news for Friday’s sole fixture, the Chiefs have made a couple of changes to their starting front row with Jared Proffit, Bradley Slater and Reuben O’Neill cracking the nod while All-Black Anton-Lienhaardt Brown misses out with a minor leg issue.
Over To Moana Pasifika now and Ardie Savea is still sidelined with Tom Savage acting as skipper in the interim while promising young gun Tuna Tuitama is set for a debut off the bench.
Friday Single
Moana Pasifika (+17.5) 9/10
They’ve become something of a plus punter’s dream in recent weeks and I fancy them keeping things tight against the Chiefs here.
Saturday
To win (80 minutes)
5/10 Highlanders | Draw 24/1 | Reds 33/20
Over to Saturday’s action now and we’ve got a triple-header with the Highlanders taking on the Reds in the opener while the Blues and Crusaders go head-to-head in an all-Kiwi affair with the day closing out with an Aussie derby between the Waratahs and the Brumbies.
The Reds have been channelling their inner Captain Cook as they continue to traverse the Tasman having headed home after a 43-19 defeat to the Crusaders to then take on the Waratahs last weekend. They had far more joy against their domestic foes as they ran out 35-15 victors in Queensland.
While the Reds have been racking up the air miles, the Highlanders have been enjoying the comforts of home as they have played their last three games inside New Zealand. They’ve given a decent account of themselves in these three fixtures beating Moana Pasifika 29-31 and the Blues 29-21.
And while they do come into Saturday’s encounter off the back of a defeat, they were desperately unlucky not to register a win as a couple of late attempts at goal from Sam Gilbert – including a late drop goal attempt – went well wide leaving the men from Dunedin to go down 18-20 to their rivals from Wellington.
Looking at the team news for this one, Thomas Umanga-Jensen will make his debut for the Highlanders in the midfield while Finn Hurley has returned from injury and starts at fullback.
On the Reds side of things, Tate McDermott, Liam Wright, Matt Faessler, Ryan Smith and Fraser McReight are all sidelined.
To win (80 minutes)
17/20 Blues | Draw 23/1 | Crusaders 1/1
Over to our first derby of the day and arguably the pick of the Round 6 action. It’s something of a grudge match here with arch-foes the Blues and Crusaders squaring off at Eden Park.
The visitors have enjoyed a decent start to the season and sit second on the having only tasted defeat once in their four fixtures, the hosts, on the other hand, lie in ninth and have only managed one win from their first five matches.
Round 5 saw the Blues put in a solid shift against the log-leading Chiefs with a late try giving them a chance to win the fixture. Young gun Xavi Taele stepped up for a tough conversion but ended up hitting the post.
While Auckland’s finest endured a narrow defeat, the South Island boys managed a comfortable win as they cruised to a 55-33 win over the Force.
The Crusaders did have issues during the first half and only went into the sheds 20-18, but they were solid value in the second stanza as they ran in 35 points.
There’s good news for Blues fans headed into this one with All Black Stephen Perofeta getting his first start of the campaign while Hoskins Sotutu returns after a two-game ban.
On the Crusaders side of things, Macca Springer is out of the starting XV with Chay Fihaki taking his role on the wing, while Cullen Grace and Dallas McLeod also return to the starting line-up.
To win (80 minutes)
19/10 Waratahs | Draw 25/1 | Brumbies 9/20
It’s on to our final fixture of the day which will see the Waratahs play host to the Brumbies in New South Wales.
Only a solitary point separates the sides on the log with the Brumbies currently occupying fourth spot while the Waratahs are a place behind in fifth.
The two sides experienced vastly contrasting fortunes in Round 5 with the Brumbies holding off a late surge from the Drua to claim a 38-21 victory, while the Waratahs were outclassed by a solid Reds outfit, who they went down 35-15 to in Queensland.
While they do head into this one off the back of a defeat, the ‘Tahs will take solace from the fact they are yet to lose on home soil this season. Worryingly though, they are still without Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii who is still sidelined with a foot injury.
For the Brumbies, their injury news is far more positive as they’ll welcome back Wallaby backrower Rob Valetini, who has recovered from a hamstring injury.
Saturday Singles
Highlanders (-4.5) 17/20
The Reds are missing the spine of their team due to injury, and I reckon they’ll struggle against this dogged Highlanders outfit.
Blues (-0.5) 17/20
I fancy the Aucklanders. They looked decent at times against the Chiefs and the return of Perofeta is a massive coup for them.
Waratahs Win
I’m going against the grain and backing the ‘Tahs for a win here. They have been solid at home thus far and I’m expecting a big performance from them after their poor showing against the Reds.
Saturday Double
Highlanders Minus & Waratahs Win
Sunday
To win (80 minutes)
11/20 Force | Draw 25/1 | Fijian Drua 31/20
The round comes to a close with a Sunday arvo clash between the Western Force and the Drua, and with both sides committed to playing running rugby, we could well be in for a cracker in Perth.
After a fast start to the campaign, the Force have faced something of a reality check over the past three weeks as they’ve gone down 24-28 to the Reds, 34-10 to the Tahs and 55-33 to the Crusaders.
The Drua have produced more of a mixed bag in recent weeks going down to the Brumbies (38-21) and the Waratahs (29-24) while beating the Chiefs (28-24).
In terms of team news, the hosts have named arguably their strongest side with Ben Donaldson, Dylan Pietsch, Hamish Stewart, Carlo Tizzano, and Nic White all returning to the starting 15. For the Drua, Caleb Muntz returns at flyhalf while Meli Tuni and Livai Natave are given their first starts in the run-on front row.
Sunday Singles
Drua Win
I fancy the Drua here. They thrive playing against open teams like the Force and I’m expecting them to come up trumps in what could well be a high-scoring affair.
Weekend Treble
Highlanders (-4.5) 17/20, Blues (-0.5) 17/20 and Drua Win
