PREVIEW OF SUPER RUGBY WEEK FIVE (all times AEDT):
FRIDAY, March 16:
CHIEFS v BULLS at FMG Stadium Waikato, 17:45
Head to head: Played 19 Chiefs 10, Bulls 7, drawn 2
Chiefs at home: Played 10, Chiefs 8, Bulls 1, drawn 1
Last clash: Round 6, 2017, Chiefs 28 bt Bulls 12 in Waikato
Tab Sportsbet: Chiefs $1.11 Bulls $6.50
Tip: Chiefs by 18
SATURDAY, March 17:
HIGHLANDERS v CRUSADERS at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, 17:35
Head to head: Played 32, Highlanders 10, Crusaders 22
Highlanders at home: Played 15 Highlanders 6, Crusaders 9
Last clash: Elimination final, 2017, Crusaders 17 bt Highlanders 0 in Christchurch
Tab Sportsbet: Highlanders $1.90, Crusaders $1.90
Tip: Highlanders by seven
BRUMBIES v SHARKS at GIO Stadium, Canberra, 19:45
Head to head: Played 19, Brumbies 10 Sharks 9
Brumbies at home: Played 11, Brumbies 8 Sharks 3
Last clash: Round 2, 2017, Sharks 27 bt Brumbies 22 in Canberra
The Brumbies’ season needs to gather steam fast. They enter this match already two matches behind the Melbourne Rebels in the Australian Conference and desperately need to capitalise on home matches. Coach Dan McKellar has made six changes for their first appearance at GIO Stadium after three away fixtures to open the season. Co-captain Sam Carter is a huge loss, but is replaced at No.5 by Blake Enever to partner Rory Arnold. The Sharks have had a mixed start, but found their first win in last week’s 50-22 thumping of the Sunwolves. Both teams are already well behind their conference leaders and another loss will cause some panic.
Tab Sportsbet: Brumbies $2.15 Sharks $1.70
Tip: Brumbies by five
SUNDAY, March 18:
STORMERS v BLUES at DHL Newlands, Cape Town, 00:05
Head to head: Played 18, Stormers 9, Blues 9
Stormers at home: Played 9, Stormers 5, Blues 4
Last clash: Round 13, 2017: Stormers 30 bt Blues 22 in Cape Town
Tab Sportsbet: Stormers $2, Blues $1.80
Tip: Stormers by 10
LIONS v SUNWOLVES at Emirates Airlines Park, Johannesburg, 02:15
Head to head: Played 2, Lions 2, Sunwolves 0
Lions at home: Played 1, Lions 1, Sunwolves 0
Last clash: Round 15, 2017: Lions 94 bt Sunwolves 7 in Johannesburg
Tab Sportsbet: Lions $1.01 Sunwolves $19.00
Tip: Lions by 38
JAGUARES v QUEENSLAND REDS at Estadio Jose Amalfitani, Buenos Aires, 08:40
Head to head: Played 1, Jaguares 1, Reds 0
Jaguares at home: Played 1, Jaguares 1, Reds 0
Last clash: Round 5, 2017: Jaguares 22 bt Reds 8 in Buenos Aires
The Reds can learn a lesson from the Waratahs’ last-round clash in Argentina, where the fast-starting Jaguares banked four tries in the opening 20 minutes to set up their win. The doubters were out and about after the Reds’ opening-round loss but the Queenslanders have shown they are far from the conference easybeats, producing back-to-back wins for the first time since the 2014 season. Five-eighth Jono Lance continues to find his feet after an interrupted pre-season and, with the forwards matching the Bulls, the Reds will rightly fancy their chances against the Jaguares.
Tab Sportsbet: Jaguares $1.33 Reds $3.35
Tip: Jaguares by 12
NSW WARATAHS v MELBOURNE REBELS at Allianz Stadium, Sydney, 16:05
Head to head: Played 13, Waratahs 11, Rebels 2
Waratahs at home: Played 7, Waratahs 6, Rebels 1
Last clash: Round 13, 2017: Waratahs 50 bt Rebels 23 in Sydney
The return of Wallabies enforcers Sekope Kepu and Rob Simmons are big ins for the Waratahs, who must topple the undefeated Rebels to stay in touch with the runaway Australian conference leaders. Superstar fullback Israel Folau wants more ball and is demanding the Waratahs’ forwards lay the platform for his slick backline after a disappointing last-up loss to the Jaguares in Buenos Aires.
Tab Sportsbet: Waratahs $1.80 Rebels $2
Tip: Waratahs by 10
Bye: Hurricanes
