PREVIEW OF SUPER RUGBY WEEK 3 (all times AEDT):
FRIDAY, March 2:
BLUES v CHIEFS at Eden Park, Auckland, 17:35pm
Head to head: Played 28, Blues 10, Chiefs 17, Draw 1
Blues at home: Played 14, Blues 5, Chiefs 8
Last clash: Round 14, 2017, Chiefs 16 Blues 16 in Auckland
Tab Sportsbet: Blues $1.66 Chiefs $2.23
Tip: Blues by 8
REDS v BRUMBIES at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, 20:00pm
Head to head: Played 29, Reds 6, Brumbies 22, Draw 1
Reds at home: Played 13, Reds 3, Brumbies 9, Draw 1
Last clash: Round 16, 2017, Reds 16 bt Brumbies 15 in Brisbane
It wasn’t easy to get a proper read on these two sides in the opening round. The Brumbies might have beaten an improved Sunwolves side in Tokyo but they did it tough, coming back from 14-3 down after just 15 minutes. The Reds, meanwhile, made a promising enough start at AAMI Park but were reduced to 13 men in the first half, during which time the Rebels broke the game open before sealing a thumping seven-try win. Three-game suspensions to Scott Higginbotham and Lukhan Tui will hurt, but the Reds believe they are a much better side than what most people concluded. Proving it against a settled Brumbies side – seen by most as the favourites to win the Australian conference – won’t be particularly straightforward, however.
Tab Sportsbet: Reds $2.60 Brumbies $1.50
Tip: Brumbies by 15
SATURDAY, March 3:
SUNWOLVES v REBELS at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium, Tokyo, 15:15pm
Head to head: Played 1, Sunwolves 0, Rebels 1
Sunwolves at home: Played 1, Rebels 35 bt Sunwolves 9
Last clash: Round 4, 2016, Rebels 35 bt Sunwolves 9 in Tokyo
The Rebels banked an important first-up win over the Reds but know they will be up against a much-improved Sunwolves outfit, who almost toppled the Brumbies. For the first time in about two seasons they have avoided injury in their big opening win. Their backline combinations, led by a dazzling Will Genia, improved as the Reds match went on while their talent-laden set-piece started to gel so they should have the size and strike-power to get the better of the home side.
Tab Sportsbet: Sunwolves $3.20, Rebels $1.35
Tip: Rebels by 11
CRUSADERS v STORMERS at AMI Stadium, Christchurch, 17:35pm
Head to head: Played 20, Crusaders 16, Stormers 4
Crusaders at home: Played 10, Crusaders 10, Stormers 0
Last clash: Round 9 2017, Crusaders 57 bt Stormers 24 in Christchurch
Tab Sportsbet: Crusaders $1.11 Stormers $6.50
Tip: Crusaders by 21
SUNDAY, March 4:
SHARKS v NSW WARATAHS at Kings Park Stadium, Durban 12.05am 19:45
Head to head: Played 19, Sharks 6, Waratahs 12, Draw 1
Sharks at home: Played 9, Sharks 5, Waratahs 3, Draw 1
Last clash: Round 3, 2017: Sharks 37 bt Waratahs 14 in Durban
The Waratahs’ long haul to South Africa and then Argentina got a little tougher with hugely-experienced Test lock Rob Simmons left behind after suffering a quad injury in their come-from-behind win over the Stormers. They can expect the Sharks, led by 98-Test prop Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira to muscle up on the NSW youngsters. The Sharks will be looking to get their season started after a first-up loss to the Lions and then a bye. The Tahs haven’t won in Durban since 2009 and that record is likely to stretch for another year.
Tab Sportsbet: Sharks $1.44 Waratahs $2.80
Tip: Sharks by 12
BULLS v LIONS at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria 02:15am
Head to head: Played 23, Bulls 14, Lions 9
Bulls at home: Played 12, Bulls 8, Lions 4
Last clash: Round 13, 2017: Lions 51 bt Bulls 14 in Johannesburg
Tab Sportsbet: Bulls $3.75 Lions $1.27
Tip: Lions by 5
JAGUARES v HURRICANES at Estadio Jose Amalfitani, Buenos Aires , 08:40am
Head to head: Played 1, Jaguares 0, Hurricanes 1
Jaguares at home: Played 0
Last clash: Round 7, 2016: Hurricanes 40 bt Jaguares 22 in Wellington
Tab Sportsbet: Jaguares $5.00 Hurricanes $1.17
Tip: Hurricanes by 12
Bye: Highlanders
