Sports After Dark

Round six of the Super 14 see several teams fighting for their lives, others looking to get their seasons back on track and everyone chasing the unbeaten Crusaders and Sharks.

Crusaders vs Waratahs
This game has the potential to be the match of the round, despite both sides having key players injured. The Crusaders will be without star inside centre Stephen Brett, who has a shoulder injury, while the Waratahs have lost big money winger Timana Tahu to a hamstring injury. The Crusaders have won the last four encounters between these two teams, but scraped home by one point last year and will be looking to improve on that performance. Coming off the bye the Waratahs have had two weeks to prepare for this game, and will be looking to exploit the Crusaders’ weaknesses the Force showed earlier, by attacking wide and using their centres on the angle. The home side will have their forward pack back to full strength after resting some key players last week, and if they can dominate early, this one should end in a Crusaders win.

Brumbies vs Cheetahs
The Brumbies put up a good fight in the first half of last week’s game against the Hurricanes before running out of gas in the second half, but the struggling Cheetahs provide much less of a challenge. Up against the Crusaders the visitors almost never threatened to score, their only try coming from an intercept long after the result was in no doubt. With Mark Gerrard stepping up to fill the leadership void left by injuries to regular captain Sterling Mortlock and full back Julian Huxley, this game looks to be a simple Brumbies’ win.

Highlanders vs Force
The Highlanders are coming off the bye and will be looking to put on a good show as Super 14 visits Queenstown, but their opponents are on a roll after picking up an unexpected win over the Blues. The home team would have to be the unluckiest team this season, losing all four of their games by fewer than seven points. The Force back line have really clicked together this season, with Matt Giteau and Ryan Cross proving to be dominant around the field, and last year’s stand out Cameron Shepherd continuing to play well. Across the park the Force just have too much class for this Highlanders team, expect a straight forward win here.

Blues vs Stormers
The Blues chances in this game come down to the fitness of one man: Nick Evans. Already without back up fly half Isa Nacewa, the Blues looked directionless when Evans went off against the Force last week, eventually giving up 20 unanswered points in the second half, and leaving them on a surprise two game losing streak. If Evans recovers from his concussion and plays most of the game, the Blues back line will be too good for the Stormers, but without Evans the Blues will need to out muscle the Stormers’ forward pack, and that is a battle they will struggle to win.

Chiefs vs Bulls
Two of this season’s biggest disappointments go head to head in this game which could well decide their season. Last year’s champions, the Bulls were mauled by the Reds last week, a team they thrashed by 89 points in 2007, such has been their reversal of fortune. The Chiefs have once again been decimated by injury, losing wingers Sosene Anesi, Sitaveni Sivivatu and mid fielder Richard Kahui from last week’s game, forcing another major back line reshuffle. Rotorua has been a happy hunting ground for the Chiefs, a trend they must continue if they are to have any chance at a semi final spot, while the Bulls traditionally travel poorly and given those factors I’m picking a Chiefs win.

Lions vs Reds
The final game of the round features another two teams who have failed to live up to expectations. The Reds may have thrashed the Bulls last week, but this is the same team former Wallaby Greg Martin described as “simply not good enough” earlier this year. The Lions have just one win this season, over the winless Cheetahs, but pushed the unbeaten Sharks last week. As a young team that sort of unpredictability is to be expected, however the long travel will weaken the Reds and the Lions should pick up their second win of the season.

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The Super 14: Time for the chasing pack to Force their way to the top by Hamish McBrearty, unless otherwise expressly stated, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.