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Super Rugby preview - Round 14

Thursday, May 16, 2013

	HURRICANES v CHIEFS
Westpac Stadium, Wellington, Friday 5.35pm (AEST)
The Chiefs' title defence is threatening to be derailed by a spate of injuries to key players. With backline stars Andrew Horrell, Tim Nanai-Williams, Richard Kahui and Gareth Anscombe all sidelined, the defending champions are scraping the bottom of the barrel for replacements. Their bid to recruit an overseas player to ease the injury crisis has been rejected, meaning the Chiefs will have to make do with what they've got. The Hurricanes kept their finals hopes alive with last week's upset over the Cheetahs in South Africa. They're unchanged but remain without skipper Conrad Smith (concussion). The Chiefs also looked vulnerable in their 22-21 win over the Force. Tip: Chiefs by 1 point
Last clash: Round 18 2012 - Hurricanes 28 bt Chiefs 25 at Westpac Stadium		Head to head: Hurricanes 11 Chiefs 8 drawn 1
$2.25	Odds		$1.60

	REBELS v STORMERS
AAMI Park, Melbourne, Friday 7.40pm (AEST)
After four successive tight losses is it finally time for the Rebels to crack a win? With no James O'Connor or Kurtley Beale they won't they'll be in for a battle against the Stormers, who have also had a number of narrow defeats. Melbourne have a new halves pairing in Nic Stirzaker and league convert Bryce Hegarty. The pair are light-on in both size and experience and can expect some extra attention from the bruising Stormers. The South Africans have made six changes to the team that was pipped by the Waratahs, notably losing backrowers Rynhardt Elstadt and Springbok Duane Vermeulen to knee injuries. They've struggled to find the tryline this season but that might change against the Rebels' dodgy defence. Tip: Stormers by 8 points
Last clash: Round 18 2012 - Stormers 26 bt Rebels 21 at Newlands Rugby Stadium		Head to head: Rebels 0 Stormers 2
$3.00	Odds		$1.36

	FORCE v SHARKS
nib Stadium, Perth, Friday 9.45pm (AEST)
The Sharks are in freefall. A five-match losing streak has killed their finals hopes. And they were forced to deal with off-field drama this week after a South African newspaper published an article claiming captain Keegan Daniel was unhappy with the number of Afrikaners in the squad. The Sharks strongly deny a rift within the camp, but the distraction comes at the tail-end of a horror four-match road trip. The Force have lost their past five matches to the Sharks. But after drawing with the Reds and losing by just a point to the Chiefs over the past fortnight, they will fancy their chances of an upset. Tip: Force by 4 points
Last clash: Round 12 2012 - Sharks 53 bt Force 11 at Kings Park Stadium		Head to head: Force 1 Sharks 6
$2.10	Odds		$1.70

	CRUSADERS v BLUES
Christchurch Stadium, Saturday 5.35pm (AEST)
Emerging from a dodgy start to the season, the Crusaders are now looking ominous. Their last-start win over the Brumbies and the return of inspirational No.8 Kieran Read from a toe injury gives them great momentum heading into their grudge match. The Cantabs are fresh from their bye and also far more formidable at home. The Blues come off a topsy-turvy 36-32 win over the Rebels which put them back in the top six. Jackson Willison returns to the centres, while big guns Luke Braid and Keven Mealamu are back starting in a young pack that will be thoroughly tested. Highlighting the Crusaders' improved backline form, Israel Dagg remains on the bench. Tip: Crusaders by 9 points
Last clash: Round 3 2013 - Blues 34 bt Crusaders 15 at Eden Park		Head to head: Crusaders 12 Blues 10
$1.30	Odds		$3.30

	WARATAHS v BRUMBIES
ANZ Stadium, Sydney, Saturday 7.40pm (AEST)
It'll be lights out for the Waratahs if they slip up in the most significant Australian derby of the season. Wallabies coach Robbie Deans is sure to be in the stands on the eve of his squad naming for the looming Lions series as a host of hopefuls go head-to-head in key individual match-ups. Most notably, NSW revelation Israel Folau will be jousting Brumbies fullback Jesse Mogg for the Wallabies No.15 jumper, while the front-row battle could also prove decisive at the selection table. But with the Waratahs already playing sudden-death rugby and the Brumbies clinging to their conference lead over the Queensland Reds, national selection is unlikely to be the prime motivating factor for these two arch rivals. Tip: Waratahs by 1 point
Last clash: Round 4 2013 - Brumbies 35 bt Waratahs 6 at Canberra Stadium		Head to head: Waratahs 11 Brumbies 10
$1.90	Odds		$1.90

	BULLS v HIGHLANDERS
Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria, Sunday 1.05am (AEST)
The Highlanders boast a fine record against the Bulls and have sprung wild upsets before at their Loftus fortress but it's hard to see it happening here. The Southern Men were poor in their 44-27 loss to the Kings, losing whatever confidence they gained from the breakthrough win over the Sharks. The Bulls are fresh after their bye and upbeat following their last-start smashing of the Hurricanes. The Bulls backline has been bolstered with Bok halfback Francois Hougaard starting his first match since March and boom young No.12 Jan Serfontein recovering from injury. Captain Pierre Spies will celebrate his 100th match. Tip: Bulls by 8 points
Last clash: Round 13 2012 - Highlanders 16 bt Bulls 11 at Forsyth Barr Stadium		Head to head: Bulls 4 Highlanders 4 drawn 1
$1.10	Odds		$6.25

	CHEETAHS v REDS
Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein, Sunday 3.10am (AEST)
The Highlanders boast a fine record against the Bulls and have sprung wild upsets before at their Loftus fortress but it's hard to see it happening here. The Southern Men were poor in their 44-27 loss to the Kings, losing whatever confidence they gained from the breakthrough win over the Sharks. The Bulls are fresh after their bye and upbeat following their last-start smashing of the Hurricanes. The Bulls backline has been bolstered with Bok halfback Francois Hougaard starting his first match since March and boom young No.12 Jan Serfontein recovering from injury. Captain Pierre Spies will celebrate his 100th match. Tip: Bulls by 8 points
Last clash: Round 6 2011 - Reds 41 bt Cheetahs 8 at Suncorp Stadium		Head to head: Cheetahs 3 Reds 4
$2.00	Odds		$1.75

Bye: Kings