PREVIEW OF SUPER RUGBY WEEK 13 (all times AEST):
FRIDAY, May 11:
BLUES v HURRICANES at Eden Park, Auckland, 17:35
Head to head: Played 28, Blues 14, Hurricanes 13, drawn 1
Blues at home: Played 15, Blues 8, Hurricanes 7
Last clash: Rd 8, 2017, Hurricanes 28-24 in Auckland
Tab Sportsbet: Blues $3.65, Hurricanes $1.30
Tip: Hurricanes by 18
SATURDAY, May 12:
SUNWOLVES v QUEENSLAND REDS at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium, Tokyo, 13:05
Head to head: Played 1, Sunwolves 0, Reds 1
Sunwolves at home: never met
Last clash: Rd 13, 2016, Reds 35-25 in Brisbane
The Reds resume after a bye, hoping to continue the momentum from a last-up win over 2017 finalists the Lions. But they must do so without JP and Ruan Smith, who have been dumped by no-nonsense coach Brad Thorn for missing a training session during the bye week. Veteran James Slipper will start in the front row in place of JP Smith after recovering from a collarbone injury as the Reds, eight points behind the NSW Waratahs, look to remain in contention for Australian conference honours and a spot in the finals.
Tab Sportsbet: Sunwolves $3.20, Reds $1.35
Tip: Sunwolves by 6
CRUSADERS v NSW WARATAHS at AMI Stadium, Christchurch, 15:15
Head to head: Played 24, Crusaders 18, Waratahs 6
Crusaders at home: Played 13, Crusaders 12, Waratahs 1
Last clash: Rd 6, 2017, Crusaders 41-22 in Sydney
Bookmakers are offering Waratahs believers their longest odds in Super Rugby history to reign in Christchurch for only the second time. To do so, the Tahs would not only need to snap the record run by Australian teams of 38-straight losses to New Zealand opposition, but also inflict the first home defeat of the year on the table-topping defending champions. Halfback Nick Phipps will start for the first time in 2018 as he looks to state his case for a Wallabies recall, while the match marks Israel Folau’s first appearance across the Tasman since embroiling himself in controversy with a series of divisive social media posts about homosexuals.
Tab Sportsbet: Crusaders $1.07, Waratahs $8.50
Tip: Crusaders by 15
HIGHLANDERS v LIONS at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, 17:35
Head to head: Played 18, Highlanders 11, Lions 7
Highlanders at home: Played 10, Highlanders 9, Lions 1
Last clash: Semi-final 2016, Lions 42-30 in Johannesburg
Tab Sportsbet: Highlanders $1.35, Lions $3.20
Tip: Highlanders by 5
BRUMBIES v MELBOURNE REBELS at GIO Stadium, Canberra, 19:45
Head to head: Played 14, Brumbies 9, Rebels 5
Brumbies at home: Played 6, Brumbies 5, Rebels 1
Last clash: Rd 4, 2018, Rebels 33-10 in Melbourne
This Australian conference derby will just about end the finals aspirations of the loser. The 3-6 Brumbies enter the match without their best player, David Pocock. But they do have reinforcements with the return of co-captain Christian Lealiifano and dependable No.6 Lachlan McCaffrey. But the Rebels have injury concerns of their own, with Dane Haylett-Petty (concussion) joining fellow Wallaby Will Genia (knee) on the sidelines. The Melbourne franchise is coming off a humbling 55-10 loss against the Crusaders, who the Brumbies had pushed a week earlier.
Tab Sportsbet: Brumbies $1.50, Rebels $2.60
Tip: Rebels by 10
STORMERS v CHIEFS at DHL Newlands, Cape Town, 23:05
Head to head: Played 20, Stormers 10, Chiefs 10
Stormers at home: Played 11, Stormers 6, Chiefs 5
Last clash: Quarter-final 2017, Chiefs 17-11 in Cape Town
Tab Sportsbet: Stormers $1.90, Chiefs $1.90
Tip: Chiefs by 1
SUNDAY, May 13:
BULLS v SHARKS at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria, 01:15
Head to head: Played 27, Bulls 16, Sharks 9, drawn 2
Bulls at home: Played 13, Bulls 7, Sharks 4, drawn 2
Last clash: Rd 9, 2018, Bulls 40-10 in Durban
Tab Sportsbet: Bulls $1.65, Sharks $2.25
Tip: Bulls by 10
Bye: Jaguares
