PREVIEW OF SUPER RUGBY WEEK EIGHT
FRIDAY, April 6 (all times AEST)
HURRICANES v SHARKS at McLean Park, Napier, 17:35
Head to head: Played 19, Hurricanes 9, Sharks 9, drawn 1 Hurricanes at home: Played 10, Hurricanes 6, Sharks 3, drawn 1 Last clash: 2017 elimination final, Hurricanes 41-0 in Wellington Tab Sportsbet: Hurricanes $1.05, Sharks $10 Tip: Hurricanes by 24
SATURDAY, April 7
SUNWOLVES v NSW WARATAHS at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium, 15:15
Head to head: Played 1, Sunwolves 0, Waratahs 1 Sunwolves at home: Played 1, Sunwolves 0, Waratahs 1 Last clash: Rd 15, 2017, Waratahs 57-12 in Tokyo With three wins and a draw from their first five games, the Waratahs are looking to build on their best start to a season in almost a decade and should do it easy against the competition cellar dwellers, despite being without injured attacking ace Israel Folau. A bonus-point win in the Japanese capital would vault the Tahs to within a competition point of Australia’s early conference leaders the Melbourne Rebels, who have a bye.
Tab Sportsbet: Sunwolves $6, Waratahs $1.13 Tip: Waratahs by 24
CHIEFS v BLUES at FMG Stadium, Hamilton, 17:35 Head to head: Played 29, Chiefs 18, Blues 10, drawn 1 Chiefs at home: Played 14, Chiefs 9, Blues 5 Last clash: Rd 3, 2018, Chiefs 27-21 in Auckland Tab Sportsbet: Chiefs $1.33, Blues $3.30 Tip: Chiefs by 12
BRUMBIES v QUEENSLAND at GIO Stadium, Canberra, 19:45
Head to head: Played 30, Brumbies 22, Reds 7, drawn 1 Brumbies at home: Played 16, Brumbies 13, Reds 3 Last clash: Rd 3, 2018, Reds 18-10 in Brisbane A huge derby with potential major ramifications, particularly for the Brumbies if they lose. Australia’s conference champions for the past two years risk fading out of finals contention with a fourth defeat of the season. Already 11 points adrift of the Rebels, the Brumbies must win to avoid falling two wins shy of the Reds — and likely Waratahs too — heading towards the half-way point of the season. The Reds have been boosted by the return to their starting side from suspension of skipper Scott Higginbotham as they chase only a fourth win in 22 years in the national capital. Tab Sportsbet: Brumbies $1.60, Reds $2.35 Tip: Brumbies by 5
SUNDAY, April 8
LIONS v STORMERS at Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg, 01:15
Head to head: Played 23, Lions 7, Stormers 15, drawn 1 Lions at home: Played 12, Lions 4, Stormers 8 Last clash: Round 8, 2017, Lions 29-16 in Cape Town Tab Sportsbet: Lions $1.40, Stormers $2.95 Tip: Lions by 12
JAGUARES v CRUSADERS at Estadio Jose Amalfitani, Buenos Aires, 07:40
Head to head: Played 1, Jaguares 0, Crusaders 1 Jaguares at home: first meeting Last clash: Rd 8, 2016, Crusaders 32-15 in Christchurch Tab Sportsbet: Jaguares $6, Crusaders $1.13 Tip: Crusaders by 18
Bye: Bulls, Rebels, Highlanders
