AUCKLAND, NZ: Unfortunately it’s another short preview this week and I apologise for that. But the short and sweet style will still give you what you need to know if you’re dropping some coin on this round of Super Rugby. Whether that’s at Vegas or down at the local TAB, I can tell you that I managed to predict five out of the six games last weekend.
Here’s a quick wrap of what’s coming up this weekend:
At FMG Stadium, Palmerston North: Hurricanes vs. Blues #HURvBLU Prediction: Canes by plenty, 25 to be exact.
At nib Stadium, Perth: Force vs. Rebels #FORvREB Prediction: Rebels by 3
At AMI Stadium, Christchurch: Crusaders vs. Lions #CRUvLIO Prediction: Crusaders by 20
At Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin: Highlanders vs. Waratahs #HIGvWAR Prediction: Tahs by 5
At Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane: Reds vs. Brumbies #REDvBRU Prediction: Brumbies by 14
At Newlands Stadium, Cape Town: Stormers vs. Chiefs #STOvCHI Prediction: Stormers by 1
At Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein: Cheetahs vs. Sharks #CHEvSHA Prediction: Cheetahs by 2
The Bulls get the week off, which they probably would be a bit annoyed about since they’ve hit some seriously good form.
Talking points of the weekend:
Dan Carter will make his return to Super Rugby, starting at second five for the Crusaders.
The Chiefs have made six changes to the side that lost to the Highlanders last week, with Damian McKenzie starting at fullback and Japanese test captain Michael Leitch at number 8.
Flanker Luke Jones will play his 50th Super Rugby game for the Rebels.
Former England test lock Mauritz Botha returns to the Sharks starting line up after injuring his eye in round one.
The Blues and Hurricanes will replay the first ever game of professional rugby in New Zealand when they square off in Palmerston North. Back in 1996 Mark ‘Bull’ Allen and Zinzan Brooke led the two respective teams on the historic occasion, then known as the Wellington Hurricanes and Auckland Blues. Check out a bit of vintage action here:
That’s it for now. Feel free to add your thoughts below, please look for and “Like” our Facebook Rugby Wrap Up Page and follow us on Twitter@: RugbyWrapUp, Jamie Wall, Junoir Blaber, James Harrington, Nick Hall, DJ Eberle, Scheenagh Harrington, Jake Frechette, Cody Kuxmann, Jaime Loyd, Karen Ritter and Declan Yeats, respectively.
