Round 1 Super Rugby preview with Duncan McRae
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Friday 5:35pm (AEDT) Blues $1.67 v Crusaders $2.20- Eden Park, Auckland
The Super Rugby season kicks off with a blockbuster between tournament favourites, The Crusaders ($4.50) and second favourites, The Blues ($5.50)
These teams met in the Super Rugby season opener in 2011 with the Blues prevailing 24-22.
The Crusaders will be looking to turn the tables this time around but will have to do it without skipper Richie McCaw and Super Rugby’s highest point scorer Daniel Carter. The Crusaders have also lost the services of Sonny Bill Williams to the Chiefs.
Both of these sides had successful 2011 seasons with the Blues making the semi-finals while the Crusaders were grand-finalists.
The Blues are always a tough side to play but even tougher when playing at Eden Park. Fly-half Michael Hobbs will direct the side around the park after some impressive pre-season form with Piri Weepu relegated to the bench.
Always a difficult game to predict but should be very close at the end of 80 minutes.
Tip- Blues
Friday 7:40pm (AEDT) Brumbies $1.60 v Force $2.34- Canberra Stadium, Canberra
The Brumbies and Force will launch the Super Rugby season on Australian soil. Unfortunately for both of these sides they are both in contention to take out the 2012 wooden spoon.
Both sides will be desperate to prove their knockers wrong and get their season off to a positive start.
The Brumbies will field a relatively inexperienced side and will need to make sure they pick up as many victories at home as possible. Former Waratah Ben Mowen will captain the side and will be leading by example.
The Force’s forward pack under the guidance of David Pocock is one of the strongest in the competition and the pressure will now sit with the backline minus James O’Connor who will be playing for the Rebels.
Another tough match to predict but the Force to get home on the back of their forward pack.
Tip- Force
Saturday 4:10am (AEDT) Bulls $1.75 v Sharks $2.07- Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
A massive all-South African contest to kick off the Super Rugby season in the Republic.
The Bulls have had a huge turnover within their playing ranks but are always stiff competition on home soil.
They will be the first to admit they had a disappointing 2011 season by missing the finals and will be looking to make amends this year.
The Sharks will fancy their chances of leaving Pretoria with the competition points. Forwards Willem Alberts and Ryan Kankowski will be influential as always while big things are expected from fly-half Patrick Lambie this season.
Tip- Sharks
Saturday 5:35pm (AEDT) Chiefs $1.42 v Highlanders $2.85- Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
The Chiefs had a disappointing 2011 Super Rugby season finishing at the bottom of the New Zealand conference.
They have added some talent to their squad with the additions of Aaron Cruden and Sonny Bill Williams. However, they have also lost the experience of Mils Muliaina and Stephen Donald.
The Highlanders will once again rely on loose forward Adam Thomson to lead the way and will want nothing less than a finals berth.
The Chiefs deserve to be favourites while the Highlanders will fancy their chances of an upset after knocking off the Chiefs in Round 2 last year. I’ll stick with the home side.
Tip- Chiefs
Saturday 7:40pm (AEDT) Waratahs $1.77 v Reds $2.05- ANZ Stadium, Sydney
A mouth-watering clash lies ahead between these two bitter rivals.
The Reds are the defending Super Rugby champions while the Waratahs will fancy their chances of lifting the trophy in 2012.
Both sides have injury concerns to key players and could be a factor that decides the outcome of this contest.
The Waratahs will be without a host of players including Rocky Elsom, Drew Mitchell and Lachlan Turner.
The Reds will be missing Quade Cooper for a large part of the season and could decide whether the defending champions can go back to back.
Should be a cracker with the Tahs geting home.
Tip- Waratahs
Sunday 2:05am (AEDT) Stormers $1.20 v Hurricanes $4.50- DHL Newlands, Cape Town
A tough road trip to Cape Town lies ahead for the rebuilding Hurricanes side.
The likes of Ma’a Nonu, Piri Weepu , Aaron Cruden and Hosea Gear have all moved on which means more expectation will rest on the shoulders of Conrad Smith and Cory Jane this season.
The Stormers are a difficult proposition at home and are the favourites to take out the South African conference.
With the likes of Andries Bekker and Bryan Habana in the side they will fancy their chances of having a successful 2012 Super Rugby campaign.
Stormers should win this one comfortably.
Tip- Stormers
Sunday 4:10am (AEDT) Lions $1.72 v Cheetahs $2.12- Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg
Another all-South African affair to round out the first weekend of Super Rugby action for 2012.
The Lions coached by John Mitchell will fancy their chances in this one and will want to take their Currie Cup form into this season’s Super Rugby competition.
The Cheetahs have lost a wealth of talent over the off-season but none bigger than Sarel Pretorius to the Waratahs. It will be interesting to see if they can fill that void.
They will also be without Juan Smith as he recovers from an Achilles injury so will rely on the Springboks Heinrich Brussow.
Could be a tough season for the Cheetahs and if they want to do anything in this tournament they need to knock over the Lions.
Tip- Cheetahs
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