Super Rugby Aotearoa promises yet another week of scintillating action in round 7 which features matches between the Crusaders and Hurricanes as well as the Blues and the Chiefs.
The Crusaders still have a comfortable lead over the rest of the teams but their closest rivals in the standings the Blues have a match against the so-far winless Chiefs.
Should the Chiefs earn their first win of the season and the Crusaders beat the Hurricanes the Christchurch side will be almost untouchable in Super Rugby Aotearoa.
The Crusaders kick off the action at home in Christchurch on Saturday. The Blues play the Chiefs on Sunday.
Crusaders v Hurricanes Super Rugby Aotearoa Preview
The Crusaders have played the Hurricanes 38 times in Super rugby since 1996 and the Crusaders have won 23 matches, lost 12 times and drawn three.
The Crusaders 23 wins out of 33 matches gives them a record of winning 61% of their matches against the Hurricanes 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 22 times.
In those 22 matches played in Christchurch the Crusaders have won 16 matches and lost 5 and drawn 1. This gives the Crusaders a record of winning 73% of their matches against the Hurricanes at home.
The average score when the Crusaders play the Hurricanes in Christchurch is : Crusaders 27 Hurricanes 20.
The Crusaders have won the last five matches against the Hurricanes in Christchurch and the Hurricanes have not won in the city since 2016.
Average score: Crusaders 27 Hurricanes 20
Last five results
Sat, 29 Jun 2019 Semi Crusaders v Hurricanes 30-26 Christchurch
Fri, 29 Mar 2019 Crusaders v Hurricanes 32-8 Wellington
Sat, 23 Feb 2019 Crusaders v Hurricanes 38-22 Christchurch
Sat, 28 Jul 2018 Semi Crusaders v Hurricanes 30-12 Christchurch
Fri, 25 May 2018 Crusaders v Hurricanes 24-13 Christchurch
Crusaders overall record against the Hurricanes
Played 38 ,Wins 23 , Losses 12 ,Draws 3
Match Officials and details
Date : Saturday 25 July
Venue : Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch, NZ
Kick Off local: 19:05
Referee: James Doleman
Assistant Ref 1: Paul Williams
Assistant Ref 2: Mike Fraser
TMO : Ben O’Keeffe
Teams
Crusaders
1. Joe Moody 2. Codie Taylor (C) 3. Michael Alaalatoa 4. Samuel Whitelock 5. Mitchell Dunshea 6. Tom Sanders 7. Tom Christie 8. Whetukamokamo Douglas (VC) 9. Bryn Hall 10. Richie Mo’unga 11. George Bridge 12. Jack Goodhue (VC) 13. Fetuli Paea 14. Sevu Reece 15. Will Jordan
Replacements : 16. Andrew Makalio 17. George Bower 18. Oliver Jager 19. Quinten Strange 20. Sione Havili 21. Mitchell Drummond 22. Brett Cameron 23. Leicester Fainga’anuku
Hurricanes
1 Fraser Armstrong 2 Asafo Aumua,3 Tyrel Lomax,4.James Blackwell,5 Scott Scrafton ,6 Reed Prinsep,7 Du’Plessis Kirifi ,8 Ardie Savea ,9 TJ Perenara [C] ,
10 Jackson Garden-Bachop,11 Ben Lam ,12 Ngani Laumape,13 Peter Umaga-Jensen ,14.Wes Goosen,15Jordie Barrett
Replacements :16.Ricky Riccitelli,17. Tevita Mafileo ,18. Alex Fidow ,19. Isaia Walker-Leawere,20.Vaea Fifita ,21.Jamie Booth,22.Vince Aso ,23. Chase Tiatia
Blues v Chiefs Super Rugby Aotearoa Preview
The Blues have played the Chiefs 33 times in Super rugby since 1996 and the Blues have won 11 matches, lost 21 times and drawn once.
The Blues 11 wins out of 33 matches gives them a record of winning 33% of their matches against the Chiefs 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 6 matches and lost 10 and drawn one. This gives the Blues a record of winning 35% of their matches against the Chiefs at home.
The average score when the Blues play the Chiefs in Auckland is : Blues 23 Chiefs 24.
The Chiefs won the last matches against the Blues in Auckland but these team have alternated wins since 2018.
Average score: Blues 22 Chiefs 26
Last five results
Sat, 31 Jan 2020 Blues v Chiefs 29-37 Auckland
Sat, 18 May 2019 Blues v Chiefs 23-8 Auckland
Sat, 13 Apr 2019 Blues v Chiefs 29-33 Hamilton
Sat, 07 Apr 2018 Blues v Chiefs 19-21 Hamilton
Fri, 02 Mar 2018 Blues v Chiefs 21-27 Auckland
Blues overall record against the Chiefs
Played 33, Wins 11 , Losses 21 , Draws 1
Match Officials and details
Date : Sunday 26 July
Venue : Eden Park, Auckland, NZ
Kick Off local: 15:35
Referee: Brendon Pickerill
Assistant Ref 1: Ben O’Keeffe
Assistant Ref 2:Paul Williams
TMO : Mike Fraser
Teams
Blues
15 Matt Duffie, 14 Mark Telea, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 TJ Faiane, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Finlay Christie, 8 Akira Ioane, 7 Dalton Papalii, 6 Blake Gibson, 5 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 3 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 2 Kurt Eklund, 1 Alex Hodgman
Replacements: 16 Luteru Tolai, 17 Karl Tu’inukuafe, 18 Sione Mafileo, 19 Josh Goodhue, 20 Tony Lamborn, 21 Sam Nock, 22 Otere Black, 23 Harry Plummer
Chiefs
15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Sean Wainui, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Alex Nankivell, 11 Solomon Alaimalo, 10 Kaleb Trask, 9 Brad Weber, 8 Pita Gus Sowakula, 7 Sam Cane (c), 6 Lachlan Boshier, 5 Mitchell Brown, 4 Tupou Vaa’i, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Bradley Slater, 1 Reuben O’Neill
Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Ollie Norris, 18 Ross Geldenhuys, 19 Adam Thomson, 20 Mitchell Karpik, 21 Lisati Milo-Harris, 22 Aaron Cruden, 23 Quinn Tupaea