Preview of Super Rugby round-16 matches (all times AEST):
FRIDAY, July 8
Blues v Brumbies at Eden Park, Auckland 5.35pm
» View the full 2017 Super Rugby draw right here
Head to Head: Played 21 Blues 12 Brumbies 9
In Auckland: Played 12 Blues 8 Brumbies 4
Last clash: Round 9 2015 – Blues 16 bt Brumbies 14 at Eden Park
The mission is simple for the Brumbies: keep winning. The NSW Waratahs are in form, breathing down their necks and on the hunt for the bonus points that could allow them to steal top spot in the Australian conference – but that’s only if the Brumbies slip up. There’s no reason why they should, even if Eden Park remains one of the toughest grounds to visit in world rugby. The Blues have little to play for, while the Brumbies take a largely settled side into this one, and should book an important win.
Tab Sportsbet: Blues $2.00 Brumbies $1.80 Draw $26.00
Tip: Brumbies by 10 points
Queensland v Chiefs at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane 7.45pm
Head to Head: Played 19 Reds 10 Chiefs 9
In Brisbane: Played 9 Reds 5 Chiefs 4
Last clash: Round 17 2015 – Chiefs 24 bt Reds 3 at Suncorp Stadium
The Chiefs have their sights set on silverware but, for the Reds, the 2017 pre-season has pretty much already arrived, and anything they do in the last two rounds of the regular season will be about the future. Wallaby Kane Douglas has been handed his first start while impressive youngsters Taniela Tupou and Lukhan Tui are on the bench. The Chiefs have rested Brodie Retallick, but Liam Messam is on the bench after missing out on an Olympics spot. While the Reds would dearly love to finish off the year with a second massive upset over a New Zealand side, it’s just not happening.
Tab Sportsbet: Reds $5.25 Chiefs $1.16 Draw $34.00
Tip: Chiefs by 15 points
SATURDAY, July 9
Lions v Kings at Emirates Airlines Park, Johannesburg 3.00am
Head to Head: Played 1 Lions 1 Kings 0
In Johannesburg: N/A
Last clash: Round 9 2016 – Lions 45 bt Kings 10 at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
The race for top spot is heating up, and the Lions have the chance to extend their gap at the top of the pile when they take on the lowly Kings. The Lions haven’t even played finals since 2001, but they are well placed to take home the title this year after winning seven of their past eight games. The Kings have leaked the most tries in the competition, and they appear set for another painful outing despite making six changes to their starting line-up.
Tab Sportsbet: Lions $1.01 Kings $17.00 Draw $81.00
Tip: Lions by 29 points
Crusaders v Rebels at Christchurch Stadium, Christchurch 5.35pm
Head to Head: Played 4 Crusaders 2 Rebels 2
In Christchurch: Played 2 Crusaders 1 Rebels 1
Last clash: Round 1 2015 – Rebels 20 bt Crusaders 10 at Christchurch Stadium
The injury-hit Rebels crashed out of the finals race following four losses from their past five games, and they’ll need to fix their leaky defence if they’re to have any chance against the Crusaders. The Rebels conceded seven tries in last week’s 57-31 loss to the Stormers in Melbourne, and they’ll take on a Crusaders outfit who are within reach of finishing first in the NZ conference. Bonus points could prove crucial for the Crusaders, so don’t be surprised if this game turns into a try-fest. The Crusaders were disappointing in their 23-13 loss to the Chiefs, but they rarely play two bad games in a row.
Tab Sportsbet: Crusaders $1.05 Rebels $10.00 Draw $51.00
Tip: Crusaders by 15 points
NSW Waratahs v Hurricanes at Allianz Stadium, Sydney 7.45pm
Head to Head: Played 20 Waratahs 10 Hurricanes 10
In Sydney: Played 10 Waratahs 7 Hurricanes 3
Last clash: Round 10 2015 – Waratahs 29 bt Hurricanes 24 at Westpac Stadium
They’ve pocketed plenty of them already this year but the Waratahs need maximum bonus points from their last two games to be any chance of a finals berth. And having beaten the Chiefs before the June break and picking up where they left off with a big win in Tokyo last week, they’ll be full of confidence. The Waratahs have won six of their past eight against the Hurricanes, who are also in must-win territory, needing back-to-back victories to book a playoff spot as well.
Tab Sportsbet: Waratahs $1.75 Hurricanes $2.05 Draw $26.00
Tip: Waratahs by 8 points
Force v Stormers at nib Stadium, Perth 9.55pm
Head to Head: Played 9 Force 2 Stormers 7
In Perth: Played 5 Force 1 Stormers 4
Last clash: Round 10 2015 – Stormers 13 bt Force 6 at nib Stadium
The Force are a team in crisis, with their horror on-field results followed by a drama-filled trip last week to Bloemfontein. Wallaby trio Adam Coleman, Dane Haylett-Petty and Pek Cowan were all involved in a hotel controversy, with one Force player allegedly urinating in the hallway during the alcohol-fuelled misadventures. On the field, the Force were unlucky in last week’s 30-29 loss to the Cheetahs, and Saturday night’s clash is their last chance of 2016 to notch a win at home. A victory for the Stormers would secure them top spot in the African conference, and they should get the job done against a Force team battling too many distractions.
Tab Sportsbet: Force $3.60 Stormers $1.28 Draw $31.00
Tip: Stormers by 13 points
SUNDAY, July 10
Bulls v Sunwolves at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria 1.05am
Head to Head: Played 1 Bulls 1 Sunwolves 0
In Pretoria: N/A
Last clash: Round 5 2016 – Bulls 30 bt Sunwolves 27 at Singapore National Stadium
The Sunwolves are yet to win away from home, conceding more than 30 points in each away game and an average of 54 per match on the road. This is unlikely to be the drought-breaker. The Bulls need a big win to keep their faint finals chances alive and, while they claimed only a slender victory the last time they met the Japanese expansion side, it should be a much different story in Pretoria. Captain Adriaan Strauss returns from injury for the Bulls while Springbok centre Jesse Kriel has been named at fullback.
Tab Sportsbet: Bulls $1.01 Sunwolves $16.00 Draw $51.00
Tip: Bulls by 25 points
Sharks v Cheetahs at Kings Park Stadium, Durban 3.15am
Head to Head: Played 15 Sharks 9 Cheetahs 6
In Durban: Played 8 Sharks 4 Cheetahs 4
Last clash: Round 5 2015 – Sharks 27 bt Cheetahs 10 at Toyota Stadium
Home-ground advantage could prove crucial for the Sharks in this one. The Cheetahs have lost their past six matches away from home, and it will be hard to break that trend against a Sharks side still desperate to secure a finals berth. The Cheetahs escaped by the skin of their teeth in last week’s 30-29 win over the Western Force. The Sharks copped a 37-10 hammering from the Lions, and another loss here could prove fatal for their finals’ hopes.
Tab Sportsbet: Sharks $1.27 Cheetahs $3.75 Draw $34.00
Tip: Sharks by 14 points
Jaguares v Highlanders at Estadio Jose Amalfitani, Buenos Aires 7.40am
Head to Head: First meeting
The Jaguares are on a high after posting a 29-11 win over the Bulls last week in Buenos Aires. The fifth-placed Highlanders are right in the thick of the title race, but they’ll need to scrap hard over the last two games to snare a home final. Bonus points could end up having a large say in their title hopes, so they’ll be aiming to snare one here against the hot-and-cold Jaguares.
Tab Sportsbet: Jaguares $2.75 Highlanders $1.45 Draw $26.00
Tip: Highlanders by 14 points
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
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