Super 14 preview for this weekend’s round 10 matches

Super 14 preview panel for this weekend’s round 10 action (all times AEDT):

FRIDAY, April 18

CHIEFS v CRUSADERS at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton, at 5.35pm
Last meeting: Chiefs 30-24 in Christchurch, round 13, 2007
After fielding a second-string outfit last week against the Lions, Crusaders coach Robbie Deans has recalled all his available big guns, including playmaker Stephen Brett and key forwards Richie McCaw and Brad Thorn, to protect his team’s unbeaten record in what shapes as one of their biggest tests of season. In all, Deans has made four personnel and seven positional changes. The Chiefs are intact after notching 18 tries in a succession of impressive wins over the Bulls, Highlanders and Brumbies to climb to fourth on the ladder and emerge as genuine finals contenders. They slipped to eighth after missing round nine with a bye, but are a mere three points adrift of the top four.
Lasseters Sportsbook: Chiefs $3.00, Crusaders $1.40
Tip: Crusaders by 12

QUEENSLAND REDS v WESTERN FORCE at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane at 7.40pm
Last meeting: Force 38-3 in Perth, round 7, 2007
Both teams are missing their attacking spearheads for the grudge match with Force playmaker Matt Giteau and Queensland fullback Chris Latham both sidelined with injuries. But the Reds are also without several more key figures with Wallabies Sam Cordingley, Greg Holmes, Hugh McMeniman and Digby Ioane all injured. The Force are desperate for a victory to keep their title hopes alive but the big question is whether they have been able to shake off last week’s brutal 17-12 loss to NSW. The Reds will be fresh after having a bye week and will be well prepared for revenge. They are still smarting from last year’s thumping and have form at home after rolling the Bulls 40-8 in their last start at Suncorp.
Lasseters Sportsbook: Reds $2.45, Force $1.57
Tip: Force by 3

SATURDAY, APRIL 19

NSW WARATAHS v LIONS at the Sydney Football Stadium at 5.30pm
Last meeting: Waratahs 25-16 in Johannesburg, round 1, 2007
After finally cracking the top four on the most congested of competition tables with a hard-earned triumph over the Force, the Waratahs are unlikely to drop their guard now against a Lions line-up with just one win to their credit all campaign. And especially not at home, where the Tahs are four from four this season. The Waratahs’ greatest threat, other than complacency, appears the weather, with forecast rain which could slow the track and bring the South Africans’ heavyweight pack into the contest. With a rugged draw, including a clash with the unbeaten Sharks and then three games in South Africa to follow, the Waratahs need maximum points against the Lions to remain on track for a top-two finish and all-important home semi-final.
Lasseters Sportsbook: Waratahs $1.10, Lions $7.50
Tip: Waratahs by 17

BRUMBIES v SHARKS at Canberra Stadium at 7.30pm
Last meeting: Brumbies 21-10 in Durban, round 9, 2007
Another must-win affair for the ninth-placed Brumbies, who will be without inspirational skipper Stirling Mortlock for the showdown with the unbeaten Sharks. Mortlock copped an accidental knee to the head in his side’s 16-11 upset win in Auckland last week and has been replaced at outside centre by Wallabies teammate Adam Ashley-Cooper, with flanker George Smith assuming the captaincy. On the plus side for the Brumbies is the return of classy No.8 Stephen Hoiles, who will make his comeback from a facial injury via the bench. It will be interesting to see how the Brumbies respond to this week’s announcement that coach Laurie Fisher will not be at the helm in 2009.
Lasseters Sportsbook: Brumbies $2.00, Sharks $1.82
Tip: Brumbies by three

BULLS v HIGHLANDERS at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria at 11pm
Last meeting: Bulls 22-13 in Otago, round 9, 2007
The Bulls have been the major disappointments of the competition in 2008 after taking all before them to win last year’s crown. Coach Frans Ludeke has lost patience and swung the axe, dropping Rayno Gerber, Danie Rossouw, Pedrie Wannenburg and Derrick Hougaard. They are also without regular captain Fourie du Preez because of a hand injury. Morne Steyn will run the show at five-eighth. The Highlanders have been the hard-luck stories of the year, winning just one of more than a handful of matches they’ve been in right down to the final whistle. Coach Glenn Moore has warned his players of a Bulls backlash after their 50-22 loss to the Hurricanes. But Moore has been able to pick his strongest side which is looking to jump from 12th on the table, one position ahead of the Bulls.
Lasseters Sportsbook: Bulls $1.48, Highlanders $2.72
Tip: Bulls by 10

SUNDAY, APRIL 20

STORMERS v HURRICANES at Newlands Stadium, Cape Town at 1.05am
Last meeting: Stormers 30-17 in Wellington, round 5, 2007
Another pivotal encounter which offers the Hurricanes, who have won on their last two visits to Cape Town, a massive opportunity to open up a gap on one of their many rivals for a playoff berth. On the flip side, the seventh-placed Stormers are only three points behind the Hurricanes and can surge above the New Zealanders with their third successive victory. A key to the match could be how the Hurricanes’ impressive attacking unit handles the Stormers’ tight defence – only the undefeated Crusaders and Sharks have conceded less tries than the Stormers in 2008.
Lasseters Sportsbook: Stormers $1.75, Hurricanes $2.10
Tip: Stormers by eight

BYE: Blues, Cheetahs