Super Rugby Aotearoa reaches the third round this weekend and now that we have had two rounds all teams have played at least one match.
The Hurricanes have the bye this weekend which will give them time to consider where it is not working for them as they are placed last after two matches.
The Blues start the weekend – playing at home – and at the top of the standings following wins against the Highlanders and Chiefs.
The Crusaders are hot on their heels though and they are the only team to have won with a bonus point so far.
Blues v Highlanders Super Rugby Aotearoa Preview
The Blues have played the Highlanders 33 times in Super rugby since 1996 and the Blues have won 17 matches, lost 16 times and drawn none.
The Blues 17 wins out of 33 matches gives them a record of winning 52% of their matches against the Highlanders regardless of venue.
This weekend the match will be played in Auckland which is home for the Blues and the venue where the teams have met 17 times.
In those 17 matches played in Auckland, the Blues have won 112 matches and lost 5. This gives the Blues a record of winning 71% of their matches against the Highlanders at home.
The average score when the Blues play the Highlanders in Auckland is: Blues 29 Highlanders 22.
The Blues won the last match against the Highlanders in Auckland but the two before that were won by the Highlanders.
Average score: Blues 26 Highlanders 23
Last five results
Sat, 20 Apr 2019 Blues v Highlanders 12-24 Dunedin
Fri, 22 Mar 2019 Blues v Highlanders 33-26 Auckland
Fri, 20 Apr 2018 Blues v Highlanders 16-34 Auckland
Fri, 23 Feb 2018 Blues v Highlanders 34-41 Dunedin
Sat, 08 Apr 2017 Blues v Highlanders 20-26 Dunedin
Blues overall record against the Highlanders
Played 33 ,Wins 17 ,Losses 16 , Draws 0
Match Officials and details
Match : Blues v Highlanders
Date : Saturday 27 June
Venue : Eden Park, Auckland
Kick Off local: 19:05
Referee: Paul Williams
Assistant Ref 1:Brendon Pickerill
Assistant Ref 2:Ben O’Keeffe
TMO : Mike Fraser
Teams
Blues
15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Mark Telea, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 TJ Faiane, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Otere Black, 9 Sam Nock, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Dalton Papalii, 6 Akira Ioane, 5 Josh Goodhue, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (captain), 3 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 2 James Parsons, 1 Alex Hodgman
Replacements: 16 Kurt Eklund, 17 Marcel Renata, 18 Sione Mafileo, 19 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 20 Tony Lamborn, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Harry Plummer, 23 Joe Marchant
Highlanders
1. Ayden Johnstone 2. Ash Dixon (C) 3. Siate Tokolahi 4. Paripari Parkinson 5. Josh Dickson 6. Shannon Frizell 7. Dillon Hunt 8. Marino Mikaele Tu’u 9. Aaron Smith 10. Mitch Hunt 11. Jona Nareki 12. Patelesio Tomkinson 13. Rob Thompson 14. Sam Gilbert 15. Scott Gregory
Replacements: 16 Liam Coltman, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Jeff Thwaites, 19 Manaaki Selby-Rickit, 20 Teariki Ben-Nicholas, 21 Kayne Hammington, 22 Bryn Gatland, 23 Ngane Punivai
Crusaders v Chiefs Super Rugby Aotearoa Preview
The Crusaders have played the Chiefs 36 times in Super rugby since 1996 and the Crusaders have won 21 matches, lost 15 times and drawn none.
The Crusaders 21 wins out of 36 matches gives them a record of winning 58% of their matches against the Chiefs regardless of venue.
This weekend the match will be played in Christchurch which is home for the Crusaders and the venue where the teams have met 13 times.
In those 13 matches played in Christchurch the Crusaders have won 9 matches and lost 4. This gives the Crusaders a record of winning 69% of their matches against the Chiefs at home.
The average score when the Crusaders play the Chiefs in Christchurch is : Crusaders 33 Chiefs 20.
The Crusaders have won the last three matches against the Chiefs in Christchurch but the three before that were worn by the Chiefs.
Average score: Crusaders 27 Chiefs 22
Last five results
Sat, 08 Feb 2020 Crusaders v Chiefs 15-25 Hamilton
Sat, 01 Jun 2019 Crusaders v Chiefs 27-40 Suva
Sat, 09 Mar 2019 Crusaders v Chiefs 57-28 Christchurch
Sat, 02 Jun 2018 Crusaders v Chiefs 34-20 Hamilton
Sat, 24 Feb 2018 Crusaders v Chiefs 45-23 Christchurch
Crusaders overall record against the Chiefs
Played 36 ,Wins 21, Losses 15 , Draws 0
Match Officials and details
Match : Crusaders v Chiefs
Date : Sunday 28 June
Venue : Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch
Kick Off local: 15:35
Referee: James Doleman
Assistant Ref 1:Ben O’Keeffe
Assistant Ref 2:Mike Fraser
TMO : Brendon Pickerill
Teams
Crusaders
5 Will Jordan, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Braydon Ennor, 12 Jack Goodhue, 11 George Bridge, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Bryn Hall, 8 Whetu Douglas, 7 Billy Harmon, 6 Cullen Grace, 5 Mitchell Dunshea, 4 Samuel Whitelock, 3 Michael Alaalatoa, 2 Codie Taylor (c), 1 Joe Moody
Replacements: 16 Brodie McAlister, 17 George Bower, 18 Oliver Jager, 19 Luke Romano, 20 Ethan Blackadder, 21 Mitchell Drummond, 22 David Havili, 23 Leicester Faingaanuku
Chiefs
15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Solomon Alaimalo, 13 Quinn Tupaea, 12 Anton Lienert-Brown, 11 Sean Wainui, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Brad Weber, 8 Pita Gus Sowakula, 7 Sam Cane (c), 6 Lachlan Boshier, 5 Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 4 Mitchell Brown, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Bradley Slater, 1 Aidan Ross
Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Reuben O’Neill, 18 Ross Geldenhuys, 19 Adam Thomson, 20 Mitchell Karpik, 21 Lisati Milo-Harris, 22 Kaleb Trask, 23 Tumua Manu
