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Cape Town - How about that for a round of Super Rugby? Round 5 was by far and away the most exciting so far this season, with so many SuperBru predictions hanging on by a thread!
Teams: Super Rugby Round 6
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It all started with Beauden Barrett’s heroics for the Hurricanes against the Blues on Friday, the young flyhalf setting up the winning try for Conrad Smith and then landing the winning conversion. Mark Gerrard then did the honours for the Rebels against the Force for their first win of 2012.
Tom Kingston was the match-winner for the Waratahs against the Sharks in arguably the game of the round, turning an 11-point deficit on its head to win at home. There was yet another late show as we returned to Christchurch for the first time since last year’s earthquake, Israel Dagg grabbing the win for the Crusaders against the Cheetahs. Jake White’s Brumbies then inflicted a first defeat of the season on the Highlanders, Joe Tomane grabbing a brace.
The one whitewash of the round came in Pretoria though, were a ferocious Bulls pack tore apart the Reds, putting an astonishing 61 points on the champions to leave their odds for successive titles looking shaky. Finally the Stormers remained unbeaten against the Lions despite the hosts putting on a strong second half comeback.
Looking ahead then to Round 6, here are your SuperBru tips:
We start in Dunedin in Friday’s only match where the Highlanders will look to bounce back from their first defeat of the season and should do so against the Rebels despite the visitors welcoming back James O’Connor and Kurtley Beale. Highlanders by 8.
It will then be the battle of two young 10s in Wellington with the Hurricanes taking on the Cheetahs. Barrett and Johan Goosen have been excellent so far in their debut Super Rugby seasons, so this one should be a high-scoring thriller. Hurricanes by 7.
The refreshed Chiefs then host the Waratahs in Waikato and the away side was so impressive last week that the temptation is to back them to stop the home side staying unbeaten in March. Waratahs by 5.
Next we head to Canberra where the Brumbies will take on the Sharks. Jake White’s team is proving to be a bit of surprise package this season, far from the perennial whipping boys that we expected early on. That being said, the Sharks were simply outstanding at moments last weekend, so being keen to make amends for losing their lead against the Waratahs should pull off a result. Sharks by 6.
The Reds will then look to bounce back from their thrashing against the Bulls by travelling to Perth to take on the Force. Injuries have derailed the Reds' start to the season so the Force will feel they have a great chance of pulling off a victory. That said, James Horwill and Will Genia would not accept a continued run of defeats, so expect the Reds by 10.
We then travel to Johannesburg to see the Lions host the Crusaders, with the away team expected to comfortably pick another win given the quality in their squad. Crusaders by 9.
Last but not least, the Stormers take on the Bulls in what is the game of the round. Undefeated but yet to really set the competition on fire, the Stormers have kept winning by keeping the scoreboard ticking over, interspersed with flashes of inspiration. Meanwhile the Bulls last week were rampant, their pack rolling back the years. If they do that again, then perhaps no one can stop them. Bulls by 5.
That’s all for this week, best of luck and let’s hope this Round is as thrilling as the last.
Click HERE to follow Ben Coles on Twitter
Teams: Super Rugby Round 6
Join the Sport24 SuperBru Super Rugby Challenge!
It all started with Beauden Barrett’s heroics for the Hurricanes against the Blues on Friday, the young flyhalf setting up the winning try for Conrad Smith and then landing the winning conversion. Mark Gerrard then did the honours for the Rebels against the Force for their first win of 2012.
Tom Kingston was the match-winner for the Waratahs against the Sharks in arguably the game of the round, turning an 11-point deficit on its head to win at home. There was yet another late show as we returned to Christchurch for the first time since last year’s earthquake, Israel Dagg grabbing the win for the Crusaders against the Cheetahs. Jake White’s Brumbies then inflicted a first defeat of the season on the Highlanders, Joe Tomane grabbing a brace.
The one whitewash of the round came in Pretoria though, were a ferocious Bulls pack tore apart the Reds, putting an astonishing 61 points on the champions to leave their odds for successive titles looking shaky. Finally the Stormers remained unbeaten against the Lions despite the hosts putting on a strong second half comeback.
Looking ahead then to Round 6, here are your SuperBru tips:
We start in Dunedin in Friday’s only match where the Highlanders will look to bounce back from their first defeat of the season and should do so against the Rebels despite the visitors welcoming back James O’Connor and Kurtley Beale. Highlanders by 8.
It will then be the battle of two young 10s in Wellington with the Hurricanes taking on the Cheetahs. Barrett and Johan Goosen have been excellent so far in their debut Super Rugby seasons, so this one should be a high-scoring thriller. Hurricanes by 7.
The refreshed Chiefs then host the Waratahs in Waikato and the away side was so impressive last week that the temptation is to back them to stop the home side staying unbeaten in March. Waratahs by 5.
Next we head to Canberra where the Brumbies will take on the Sharks. Jake White’s team is proving to be a bit of surprise package this season, far from the perennial whipping boys that we expected early on. That being said, the Sharks were simply outstanding at moments last weekend, so being keen to make amends for losing their lead against the Waratahs should pull off a result. Sharks by 6.
The Reds will then look to bounce back from their thrashing against the Bulls by travelling to Perth to take on the Force. Injuries have derailed the Reds' start to the season so the Force will feel they have a great chance of pulling off a victory. That said, James Horwill and Will Genia would not accept a continued run of defeats, so expect the Reds by 10.
We then travel to Johannesburg to see the Lions host the Crusaders, with the away team expected to comfortably pick another win given the quality in their squad. Crusaders by 9.
Last but not least, the Stormers take on the Bulls in what is the game of the round. Undefeated but yet to really set the competition on fire, the Stormers have kept winning by keeping the scoreboard ticking over, interspersed with flashes of inspiration. Meanwhile the Bulls last week were rampant, their pack rolling back the years. If they do that again, then perhaps no one can stop them. Bulls by 5.
That’s all for this week, best of luck and let’s hope this Round is as thrilling as the last.
Click HERE to follow Ben Coles on Twitter
