Preview of Super Rugby Round 10 matches (all times AEST):
Friday, April 29
Chiefs v Sharks at Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth 5.35pm
Head to Head: Played 18 Chiefs 10 Sharks 8
In New Plymouth: first meeting
Last clash: Round 6 2015 – Sharks 12 bt Chiefs 11 at Kings Park Stadium
The Chiefs remain the team to catch at the top of the table, but some chinks are starting to show in their armour. The ladder leaders were lucky to escape with a 28-27 win over the Hurricanes last week, and injuries to halfback Tawera Kerr-Barlow, centre Charlie Ngatai and winger James Lowe will further test them. The Sharks snapped a worrying four-match winless run with an upset 15-14 win over the Highlanders last week in Dunedin. But winning on NZ territory, two games in a row, is tough and the Sharks will need to produce something special to achieve it.
Tab Sportsbet: Chiefs $1.15 Sharks $5.25 Draw $41
Tip: Chiefs by 14
Force v Bulls at nib Stadium, Perth 9.05pm
Head to Head: Played 9 Force 4 Bulls 5
In Perth: Played 5 Force 3 Bulls 2
Last clash: Round 6 2015 – Bulls 25 bt Force 24 at Loftus Versfeld
You can’t help but feel for the poor old Force. A horror run with injury means they will field their fourth-choice hooker in this match. And with all three of their flyhalves sidelined, scrumhalf Ian Prior will start at No.10. The pressure is growing on coach Michael Foley following a six-match losing run, and they could be in for some more pain against a Bulls side gunning for their fifth straight win. Force skipper Matt Hodgson had a heart-to-heart with his team during the week, but will it be enough to end the team’s form funk? The betting odds say no.
Tab Sportsbet: Force $3.15 Bulls $1.36 Draw $31
Tip: Bulls by 13
Saturday, April 30
Blues v Rebels at Eden Park, Auckland 3.15pm
Head to Head: Played 4 Blues 2 Rebels 2
In Auckland: Played 2 Blues 2 Rebels 0
Last clash: Round 13 2015 – Rebels 42 bt Blues 22 at AAMI Park
The Rebels are the surprise leaders of the Australian rugby conference, but matches against the Blues (away), Brumbies, and Chiefs (away) over the next three weeks will decide whether they stay there. The Blues will be without star centre Rene Ranger, but they have home comfort on their side. The Rebels have only tasted victory once in New Zealand – against the Crusaders last year. But if they’re going to snare a maiden finals berth, these are the types of games they’ll need to win.
Tab Sportsbet: Blues $1.35 Rebels $3.25 Draw $31
Tip: Blues by 5
Highlanders v Brumbies at Rugby Park Stadium, Invercargill 5.35pm
Head to Head: Played 19 Highlanders 7 Brumbies 12
In Invercargill: Played 3 Highlanders 2 Brumbies 1
Last clash: Round 11 2015 – Brumbies 31 bt Highlanders 18 at GIO Stadium
This match could be season-defining for the Brumbies, who’ve been smashed in two of their past three matches – both against Kiwi sides. Last round’s 40-14 loss to the Crusaders, their biggest at home, cost them top billing on the Australian conference and winger Joe Tomane who is out for up to eight weeks. Co-captain Stephen Moore is also in doubt with a serious cork to his calf. Working in their favour, though, is the return of star flanker David Pocock from suspension and their record against the Highlanders, with seven wins from their past eight meetings and three of four in New Zealand.
Tab Sportsbet: Highlanders $1.45 Brumbies $2.75 Draw $26.00
Tip: Brumbies by 5
Queensland Reds v Cheetahs at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane 7.45pm
Head to Head: Played 9 Reds 6 Cheetahs 3
In Brisbane: Played 4 Reds 4 Cheetahs 0
Last clash: Round 10 2015 – Reds 18 bt Cheetahs 17 at Toyota Stadium
The Reds managed to get their noses in front in both games of their South African tour, only to be blown out of the water late on both occasions. Surely here, with an unchanged squad, they can reverse the trend. The Cheetahs might have put nearly 100 points on the Sunwolves two weeks ago but they’ve never won at Suncorp and the likes of fringe Reds Curtis Browning, Ben Matwijow and Junior Laloifi will be desperate to help cement their starting positions and reacquaint themselves with what winning feels like.
Tab Sportsbet: Reds $1.42 Cheetahs $2.90 Draw $26
Tip: Reds by 12
Sunday, May 1
Lions v Hurricanes at Emirates Airlines Park, Johannesburg 1.05am
Head to Head: Played 16 Lions 3 Hurricanes 13
In Johannesburg: Played 5 Lions 1 Hurricanes 4
Last clash: Round 1 2015 – Hurricanes 22 bt Lions 8 at Emirates Airlines Park
The Hurricanes have won eight of their nine meetings with the Lions, a defeat in 2007 the only blemish. But they face a difficult task against this year’s Lions side, who have emerged the South African standout at the halfway mark of this year’s competition. The ‘Canes are coming off a tough one-point loss at home to the Chiefs while the Lions tuned up with a 35-point mauling of the struggling Kings.
Tab Sportsbet: Lions $1.72 Hurricanes $2.10 Draw $26
Tip: Lions by 8
Stormers v NSW Waratahs at Newlands Rugby Stadium, Cape Town 3.15am
Head to Head: Played 18 Stormers 10 Waratahs 7 drawn 1
In Cape Town: Played 9 Stormers 5 Waratahs 3 drawn 1
Last clash: Round 9 2015 – Stormers 32 bt Waratahs 18 at Allianz Stadium
In the blink of an eye, the Waratahs have regained control of their own finals destiny with a record win over the Force – but they must keep winning. Newlands is a notoriously tough venue for visiting teams to triumph but the Tahs have a reasonable record there and are growing in confidence with the slick backline beginning to hit top gear. With a six-from-eight start, the Stormers are top of the South Africa conference.
Tab Sportsbet: Stormers $1.38 Waratahs $3.10 Draw $26
Tip: Stormers by six
Jaguares v Kings at Estadio Jose Amalfitani, Buenos Aires 7.40am
Head to Head: first meeting
The Jaguares were supposed to be by far the strongest of the three expansion sides, but they too are feeling the pinch of Super Rugby’s incredible travel demands. Last week, the fatigued South Americans became the first team to fall to fellow newbies the Sunwolves, who notched their historic first win in Japan. It was a surprise result but they should have no trouble dealing with the Kings back on home soil. An easy win awaits.
Tab Sportsbet: Jaguares $1.04 Kings $11 Draw $81
Tip: Jaguares by 20
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