This should be a cracker of a round and you're not gonna wanna miss a minute of the action.
Friday 2 June
Blues 1/9 | Draw 33/1 | Highlanders 24/5
The eighth place Highlanders need to grab a win over the third-placed Blues if they are to make the play-offs. The Blues, on the other hand, only need a point to assure themselves of a home semi-final but they will be looking for a big bonus point win so as to give themselves a shot of claiming second place.
The hosts put in a great performance last weekend as they beat the Hurricanes 26-35 in a crucial Kiwi derby. The Blues forward pack laid the foundation for the victory with brilliant work at the set piece while flying winger Mark Taelea caught the eye bagging four tries.
Highlanders fans were put through the ringer against the Reds last week as their side pulled off a memorable come from behind victory with a last minute Folau Fakatava try seeing them grab a 35-30 win over the Reds. The result was a crucial one as it keeps them in the hunt for a finals berth.
We may well see the Blues field a slightly weakened side here in preparation for the play-offs. The Highlanders will also be going all out for the win but I can’t see them doing anything other than staying within the handicap.
Highlanders at +15 (10/11).
Brumbies 24/100 | Draw 24/1 | Rebels 29/10
We cross the Tasman for our next installment which will see the Brumbies try and end a two game losing streak when they take on a Rebels outfit that is still in the hunt for the play-offs but has to win this one in order to have a chance of advancing to the quarters.
This weekend’s hosts were unable to bounce back from their surprise Round 13 defeat at the hands of the Force as they went down 21-31 to the Chiefs in Round 14. They actually played some decent rugby during the contest but handling errors at crucial times saw them turn over possession which was punished by the log leaders.
The Rebels had a far better time of it this past weekend as they hammered the Force 52-14. It was by far and away the Melbourners best attacking performance as they impressed with ball-in-hand throughout the 80-minutes.
The Brumbies have dropped off the boil in recent weeks while the Rebels seem to be coming into form. While I can’t see the Rebels taking the win, I can see them keeping things close.
Rebels at +10.5 (4/5).
Saturday 3 June
Drua 21/20 | Draw 25/1 | Reds 8/11
Saturday’s opener is an absolutely crucial one with the tenth-placed Drua needing either a bonus point win or a win and the denial of the Reds claiming a losing bonus point to claim a quarter-final while a solitary point would be enough for the Reds to advance to the next round.
Both these teams were involved in nail biting fixtures this past weekend as the Drua managed to hold off a spirited Moana Pasifika side in a high-scoring cracker with the fijians edging their fellow Super Rugby newbees 46-45.
While the Drua managed a narrow win, the Reds ended up on the wrong side of the scoreline with a last minute try seeing them go down by five points to the Highlanders. The men from Queensland actually gave a brilliant account of themselves in that fixture and were extremely unlucky not to win it.
I can see this one being a very close affair with my money on the Drua winning it but the Reds claiming a losing bonus point that will likely see both sides advance to the next round.
Drua at 21/20.
Hurricanes 6/5 | Draw 25/1 | Crusaders 5/8
Saturday’s second fixture should be an intriguing one with fifth-placed Hurricanes taking on the second-placed Crusaders. The visitors need just a solitary point to secure second-placed but they may well look to field a slightly weakened side with one eye on the quarter-finals. The Hurricanes need the win here and the Brumbies to go down to the Rebels if they are to book a home quarter-final of their own.
The ‘Canes had a strange showing against the Blues, struggling during the first half of the encounter and then producing some decent rugby in the second stanza. They would ultimately go down by nine points and miss out on what could have been a crucial losing bonus point.
Their opponents had a far easier time of it in Round 14 as they beat the Waratahs 42-18. They looked the business in that fixture with All Blacks Will Jordan and Richie Mo’unga put in solid displays. The victory did come at a cost , however, with David Havilli and Cullen Grace sustaining what looked to be serious injuries.
I’m gonna go with the hosts here. The Crusaders have lost some key players in recent weeks and they won’t be keen on losing too many big names before the quarters so they’re likely to rest a number of their stars which should open the door for the Hurricanes.
Canes at 6/5.
Waratahs 2/13 | Draw 33/1 | Moana Pasifika 15/4
The penultimate fixture of Round 15 will see the six-placed Waratahs take on cellar-dwellers Moana Pasifika. The Tahs can’t finish any higher or lower than sixth so they may well field a weakened side. Moana Pasifika, on the other hand, will be looking to claim their first win of the season.
While the ‘Tahs did start their clash with the Crusaders well – they were a point to the good after 20-minutes – they were unable to keep pace with the tournament’s most successful side who pulled away following the first quarter.
Moana Pasifika, on the other hand, were desperately unlucky not to register their first win of the campaign as they went down by just a point to the Fijian Drua. A late try from a rolling maul gave them the chance to win the game but Christian Leali’ifano pulled his kick to leave his side winless with just one game of the campaign remaining.
I reckon the visitors will keep this one tight against what should be a much changed ‘Tahs outfit.
Pasifika at +13.5 (4/7).
Force 17/10 | Draw 28/1 | Chiefs 4/9
The final game of the season will see the log-leading Chiefs take on the ninth-placed Force. The visitors don’t have anything to play for as they have already guaranteed themselves first place while everything is on the line for the hosts who need a win to remain in contention for the play-ffs.
It was business as usual for the Chiefs this past weekend who registered a 21-31 win over the Brumbies in Canberra. They’re likely to field a significantly weakened side this weekend with first spot sewn up.
The Force were unable to build on from their Round 13 victory over the Brumbies as they were well and truly beaten by the Rebels going down 52-14 in Melbourne. It was one of their poorest performances of the season and they will need to produce more if they are to be what will be a weakened but still dangerous Chiefs outfit.
The Waikato outfit have a deep squad who will be fully capable of causing the Force problems. I can see them signing their regular season campaign off with a big win.
Chiefs at -6.5 (17/20).
