PREVIEW OF SUPER RUGBY ROUND 17 (all times AEDT):
FRIDAY, July 13
HIGHLANDERS v QUEENSLAND REDS at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, 17:35
Head to head: Played 20, Highlanders 10, Reds 10
Highlanders at home: Played 9, Highlanders 8, Reds 1
Last clash: Round 7, 2016, Reds 28 bt Highlanders 27 in Brisbane.
It’s been yet another season to forget for the Reds but they are dreaming of finishing it off with back-to-back wins. Queensland somehow found a way to win at the death against the Brumbies last week and are aiming to end the miserable run of Australian teams against New Zealand sides in Dunedin. Realistically, however, they’re not much chance. The Highlanders might have a bit of rust about them in their first game back since the British and Irish Lions series, they will be treating this as a serious pre-finals tune-up.
Tab Sportsbet: Highlanders $1.04, Reds $11.00
Tip: Highlanders by 26
MELBOURNE REBELS v JAGUARES at AAMI Park, Melbourne, 19:45
Head to head: Played 0
Rebels at home: 0
Last clash: Nil
This could be the Rebels last ever Super Rugby match. There will be no doubting the heart they will show but it will be tough going against the Jaguares, who have their tails up after trouncing the Waratahs last round. The return of flanker Sean McMahon will rally the home troops in his likely farewell game but a miserable season is likely to have an equally sad end.
Tab Sportsbet: Rebels $2.80, Jaguares $1.44
Tip: Jaguares by 9
SATURDAY, July15
KINGS v CHEETAHS at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth, 03:00
Head to head: Played 3, Kings 0, Cheetahs 3
Kings at home: Played 1, Kings 0, Cheetahs 1
Last clash: Round 12, 2016: Cheetahs 34 bt Kings 20 in Bloemfontein
Tab Sportsbet: Kings $1.62, Cheetahs $2.30
Tip: Cheetahs by 12
SUNWOLVES v BLUES at Prince Chichibu Stadium, Tokyo 13:05
Head to head: Played 0
Sunwolves at home: Played 0
Last clash: Nil
Tab Sportsbet: Sunwolves $21.00 Blues suspended
Tip: Blues by 26
CHIEFS v BRUMBIES at FMG Stadium, Waikato, 17:35
Head to head: Played 23, Chiefs 9, Brumbies 13, Draw 1
Chiefs at home: Played 10, Chiefs 6, Brumbies 4
Last clash: Round 6 2016, Chiefs 48 bt Brumbies 23 in Canberra.
The injury-hit Brumbies have wrapped their stars in cotton wool for their final clash before the finals. Coach Stephen Larkham has rested most of his key players, making 12 changes all up for this meeting with the Chiefs. Some of those changes were forced, with Kyle Godwin and Aidan Toua to miss the remainder of the season after suffering injuries in last week’s disastrous loss to the Reds in Brisbane. The Australian conference winners could face the Chiefs again next week in the opening round of the play-offs – it all depends on if the Hurricanes can beat the undefeated Crusaders this weekend.
Tab Sportsbet: Chiefs $1.10, Brumbies $7.00
Tip: Chiefs by 20
HURRICANES v CRUSADERS at Westpac Stadium, Wellington 17:35
Head to head: Played 31, Hurricanes 10, Crusaders 18, Draw 3
Hurricanes at home: Played 13, Hurricanes 5, Crusaders 6, Draw 2
Last clash: Round 12, 2017: Crusaders 20 bt Hurricanes 12 in Christchurch
Tab Sportsbet: Hurricanes $1.62, Crusaders $2.30
Tip: Crusaders by 5
WESTERN FORCE v NSW WARATAHS at Nib Stadium, Perth, 19:45
Head to head: Played 17, Force 5, Waratahs 11, Draw 1
Force at home: Played 9, Force 2, Waratahs 7
Last clash: Round 1, 2017: Waratahs 19 bt Force 13 in Sydney.
Like the Rebels, the Force are clueless if this will be their last ever Super Rugby match. But one thing’s certain, it’s retiring veteran Matt Hodgson’s last effort and his team will be determined to send him out a winner. A win could see the Force finish second behind the Brumbies and send a message to the ARU that they have big Super Rugby future.
Tab Sportsbet: Force $2.00, Waratahs x $1.80
Tip: Force by 9
BULLS v STORMERS at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria, 23:05
Head to head: Played 27, Bulls 10, Stormers 16, Draw 1
Bulls at home: Played 13, Bulls 7, Stormers 6
Last clash: Round 1, 2017: Stormers 37 bt Bulls 24 in Cape Town.
Tab Sportsbet: Bulls $2.25, Stormers $1.65
Tip: Stormers by 12
SUNDAY, July 16
SHARKS v LIONS at GrowthPoint Kings Park, Durban 01:15
Head to head: Played 25, Sharks 16, Lions 7, draws 2
Sharks at home: Played 12, Sharks 10, Lions 2.
Last clash: Round 6, 2017: Lions 34 bt Sharks 29 in Johannesburg
Tab Sportsbet: Sharks $4.20, Lions $1.23,
Tip: Sharks by 7
