Super Rugby previews Rd.7 AU & Rd.6 Aotearoa

The Crusaders and Highlanders kick-off Easter weekend’s Super Rugby action in Christchurch followed by the Waratahs and Brumbies in Sydney.

The 11-times Super Rugby champions Crusaders have an eight-point lead in the standings over the Blues in Super Rugby Aotearoa and look like they will claim yet another title.

The Reds top Super Rugby AU, but they only have a three-point lead on the defending champion Brumbies, who face a winless Waratahs side this weekend.

The Waratahs are the only team in both Super Rugby tournaments who have yet to win a match this season which is one of the reasons they parted ways with their coach earlier this week.

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Waratahs vs Brumbies Super Rugby AU Preview

The NSW Waratahs have played the Brumbies 38 times in Super Rugby since 1996, the Waratahs have won 17 matches, lost 21 times, and drawn none.

The Waratahs’ 17 wins out of 38 matches gives them a record of winning 45% of their matches against the Brumbies regardless of venue.

The average score when the Tahs play the Brumbies is Waratahs 21 Brumbies 26.

This weekend the match will be played at home for New South Wales, they have had home advantage in 20 of the 38 matches.

In 20 Waratahs home matches, the Sydney-based side has won 13 matches and lost seven.

The average score when NSW plays the ACT franchise at home is Waratahs 27 Brumbies 20.

The Brumbies have won the last seven meetings between these teams.

The Bookies have given the Waratahs a 20 point start for this Match – click HERE to see the latest odds.

Average score: Waratahs 21 Brumbies 26.

Last five results
2019-06-08 NSW Waratahs 24 – 35 Brumbies
2020-03-15 Brumbies  47 – 14 Waratahs
2020-07-18 NSW Waratahs 23 – 24 Brumbies
2020-08-22 Brumbies 38 – 11 NSW Waratahs
2021-02-27 Brumbies 61 – 10 NSW Waratahs

Waratahs overall record against the Brumbies
Played 38, won 17, lost 21, drawn 0

Match Officials and details
Match: Waratahs v Brumbies
Date: Friday 2 April
Venue: Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Kick-off local: 19:45
Referee: tbc
Assistant Ref 1: tbc
Assistant Ref 2: tbc
TMO: tbc

Teams

Waratahs

15 Jack Maddocks, 14 Alex Newsome, 13 Izaia Perese, 12 Lalakai Foketi, 11 James Ramm, 10 Will Harrison, 9 Jake Gordon (captain), 8 Will Harris, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Hugh Sinclair, 5 Max Douglas, 4 Jeremy Williams, 3 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 2 David Porecki, 1 Angus Bell

Replacements: 16 Tom Horton, 17 Te Tera Faulkner, 18 Darcy Breen, 19 Michael Wood, 20 Charlie Gamble, 21 Jack Grant, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Mark Nawaqanitawase

Brumbies

15 Tom Banks, 14 Tom Wright, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Irae Simone, 11 Andy Muirhead, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Nic White (captain), 8 Pete Samu, 7 Tom Cusack, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Cadeyrn Neville, 4 Nick Frost, 3 James Slipper, 2 Folau Fainga’a, 1 Harry Lloyd

Replacements: 16 Lachlan Lonergan, 17 Fred Kaihea, 18 Sefo Kautai, 19 James Tucker, 20 Rory Scott, 21 Ryan Lonergan, 22 Bayley Kuenzle, 23 Mack Hansen

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Rebels v Reds Super Rugby AU Preview

The Melbourne Rebels have played the Queensland Reds 21 times in Super Rugby since 2011, the Rebels have won seven matches, lost 13 times, and drawn once.

The Rebels’ seven wins out of 21 matches give them a record of winning 33% of their matches against the Reds regardless of venue.

The average score when the Melbourne Rebels play the Queensland Reds is Rebels 21 Reds 27.

This weekend the match will be played at home for the Rebels and they have had home advantage in 10 of the 21 matches.

In those 10 Rebels home matches, they have won four matches and lost five.

The average score when Melbourne plays Queensland at home is Rebels 23 Reds 25.

The Reds have won the last three meetings between these teams, the previous clash ended in the only draw.

The Bookies have given the Rebels a 4 point start for this Match – click HERE to see the latest odds.

Average score: Rebels 21 Reds 27

Last five results
2019-05-10 Rebels 30 – 24 Queensland Reds
2020-07-10 Rebels 18 – 18 Queensland Reds
2020-08-15 Queensland Reds 19 – 3 Rebels
2020-09-12 Queensland Reds 25 – 13 Rebels
2021-02-26 Queensland Reds 23 – 21 Rebels

Rebels overall record against the Reds
Played 21, won 7, lost 13, drawn 13

Match Officials and details
Match: Melbourne Rebels v Queensland Reds
Date: Saturday 3 April
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Kick-off local: 19:45
Referee: tbc
Assistant Ref 1: tbc
Assistant Ref 2: tbc
TMO: tbc

Teams

Melbourne Rebels

15 Tom Pincus, 14 Frank Lomani, 13 Stacey Ili, 12 Reece Hodge, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Matt To’omua (captain), 9 Joe Powell, 8 Michael Wells, 7 Richard Hardwick, 6 Joshua Kemeny, 5 Trevor Hosea, 4 Steve Cummins, 3 Pone Fa’amausili, 2 Jordan Uelese, 1 Cabous Eloff

Replacements – from: 16 James Hanson, 17 Matt Gibbon, 18 Albert Anae, 19 Tom Nowlan, 20 Robert Leota, 21 James Tuttle, 22 Lewis Holland, 23 Jeral Skelton, 24 Lucio Sordoni, 25 Glen Vaihu

Queensland Reds

15 Bryce Hegarty, 14 Jordan Petaia, 13 Hunter Paisami, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 Jock Campbell, 10 James O’Connor (captain), 9 Tate McDermott, 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Angus Scott-Young, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Ryan Smith, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Feao Fotuaika

Replacements: 16 Alex Mafi, 17 Richie Asiata, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Angus Blyth, 20 Seru Uru, 21 Kalani Thomas, 22 Josh Flook, 23 Filipo Daugunu

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Crusaders v Highlanders Super Rugby Aotearoa Preview

The Crusaders have played the Highlanders 41 times in Super Rugby since 1996, the Crusaders have won 29 matches, lost 11 times, and drawn once.

The Crusaders’ 29 wins out of 41 matches gives them a record of winning 71% of their matches against the Highlanders regardless of venue.

The average score when the Canterbury franchise plays the Otago-based side is Crusaders 29 Highlanders 20.

This weekend the match will be played at home for the Crusaders and they have had home advantage in 22 of the 41 matches.

In those 22 Crusaders’ home matches, they have won 18 matches and lost four.

The average score when the Saders play the Landers at home is Crusaders 33 Highlanders 20.

The Highlanders have won the last six meetings between these teams. The Highlanders have not beaten the Crusaders since 2018.

The Bookies have given the Highlanders a 19 point start for this Match – click HERE to see the latest odds.

Average score: Crusaders 29 Highlanders 20.

Last five results
2019-06-21 Crusaders 38 – 14 Highlanders
2020-02-21 Crusaders 33 – 13 Highlanders
2020-07-04 Highlanders 20 – 40 Crusaders
2020-08-09 Crusaders 32 – 22 Highlanders
2021-02-26 Highlanders 13 – 26 Crusaders

Crusaders overall record against the Highlanders
Played 41, won 29, lost 11, drawn 1

Match Officials and details
Match: Crusaders v Highlanders
Date: Friday 2 April
Venue: Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch
Kick-off local: 19:05
Referee: Mike Fraser
Assistant Ref 1: Paul Williams
Assistant Ref 2: James Doleman
TMO: Ben O’Keeffe

Teams

Crusaders

15 Will Jordan, 14 George Bridge, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 David Havili, 11 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Mitchell Drummond, 8 Cullen Grace, 7 Sione Havili Talitui, 6 Ethan Blackadder, 5 Samuel Whitelock, 4 Scott Barrett (captain), 3 Michael Alaalatoa, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Joe Moody

Replacements: 16 Brodie McAlister, 17 George Bower, 18 Oliver Jager, 19 Mitchell Dunshea, 20 Whetukamokamo Douglas, 21 Bryn Hall, 22 Fergus Burke, 23 Sevu Reece

Highlanders

15 Connor Garden-Bachop, 14 Scott Gregory, 13 Michael Collins, 12 Thomas Umaga-Jensen, 11 Jona Nareki, 10 Mitch Hunt, 9 Folau Fakatava, 8 Kazuki Himeno, 7 Billy Harmon, 6 Shannon Frizell, 5 Paripari Parkinson, 4 Bryn Evans, 2 Ash Dixon (co-captain), 1 Ethan De Groot

Replacements: 16 Liam Coltman, 17 Ayden Johnstone, 18 Josh Hohneck, 19 Josh Dickson, 20 Hugh Renton, 21 Aaron Smith (co-captain), 22 Caleb Makene, 23 James Lentjes

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Blues v Hurricanes Super Rugby Aotearoa Preview

The Blues have played the Hurricanes 36 times in Super Rugby since 1996, the Blues have won 17 matches, lost 18 times, and drawn once.

The Blues’ 17 wins out of 36 matches gives them a record of winning 47% of their matches against the Hurricanesregardless of venue.

The average score when the Auckland franchise plays the Wellington team is Blues 26 Hurricanes 25.

This weekend the match will be played at home for the Blues and they have had home advantage in 18 of the 36 matches.

In those 18 Blues home matches, they have won nine matches and lost nine.

The average score when the Blues play the Canes at home is Blues 24 Hurricanes 23.

The Blues have won three of the last five meetings between these teams.

The Bookies have given the Hurricanes an 8 point start for this Match – click HERE to see the latest odds.

Average score: Blues 26 Hurricanes 25.

Last five results
2019-06-15 Hurricanes 29 – 24 Blues
2020-03-07 Hurricanes 15 – 24 Blues
2020-06-14 Blues 30 – 20 Hurricanes
2020-07-18 Hurricanes 29 – 27 Blues
2021-02-27 Hurricanes 16 – 31 Blues

Blues overall record against the Hurricanes
Played 36, won 17, lost 18, drawn 1

Match Officials and details
Match: Blues v Hurricanes
Date: Saturday 3 April
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Kick-off local: 19:05
Referee: Brendon Pickerill
Assistant Ref 1: Paul Williams
Assistant Ref 2: James Doleman
TMO: Ben O’Keeffe

Teams

Blues

15 Stephen Perofeta, 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 Tom Robinson (captain), 5 Sam Darry, 4 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 3 Ofa Tuungafasi, 2 Luteru Tolai, 1 Karl Tu’inukuafe

Replacements: 16 Leni Apisai, 17 Alex Hodgman, 18 Nepo Laulala, 19 Josh Goodhue, 20 Akira Ioane, 21 Jonathan Ruru, 22 Harry Plummer, 23 AJ Lam

Hurricanes

15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Julian Savea, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Salesi Rayasi, 10 Orbyn Leger, 9 Luke Campbell, 8 Ardie Savea (captain), 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 6 Reed Prinsep, 5 Scott Scrafton, 4 James Blackwell, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Fraser Armstrong

Replacements: Ricky Riccitelli, 17 Xavier Numia, 18 Tevita Mafileo, 19 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 20 Devan Flanders, 21 Jonathan Taumateine, 22 Peter Umaga-Jensen, 23 Wes Goosen