We’re down to business end of the season! Only six teams remain, and after day, there’ll be four.
Brumbies Vs Chiefs
In a replay of last year’s grand final, the Brumbies get the first shot at knocking the two-time defending champions out. While the Brumbies are talking down the ‘revenge’ angle, you can be sure there is not one player amongst them who has forgotten the pain of having the trophy ripped from their grasp in the final 15 minutes of Super Rugby last year.
For the Chiefs this is their chance to respond to their critics and show that they are not pretenders, but genuine contenders. Sudden death play-off games realistically started last week for the Chiefs, and if the Chiefs are to make it three in a row, they have to do it the hard way.
The Brumbies have made just one starting tweak, Robbie Coleman returning from a quad niggle for injured winger Clyde Rathbone (hamstring). The Chiefs will also have the luxury of making just one change, with Dwayne Sweeney starting at fullback, pushing Tom Marshall to the bench.
The Brumbies are coming into this qualifying final full of momentum after smashing the Western Force 47-25 in Canberra last week. Five-eighth Matt Toomua picked up a hat-trick in the win, and his battle with All Blacks No.10 Aaron Cruden should be a cracker.
The Chiefs only just scraped into the finals with an 11-8 victory over the Blues last week. But they’ve proven they’re a big-match side, winning their last four finals matches – albeit all at home.
The Chiefs thrive off broken play, and the Brumbies thrive off denying their opposition of opportunities. The Brumbies have one of the best set piece forward packs in the competition and will be looking to dominate the scrum and the lineout. We can expect the Brumbies to get on top of the Chiefs forward pack early on, and continue that dominance throughout the 80 minutes.
Because of that, we’re tipping the Brumbies to get on top at home. Brumbies to win by 6.
Sharks Vs Highlanders
The Highlanders have been woeful away from home this year, they’ve lost all three of their last away matches, two of which were heavy defeats to the table topping Waratahs and Crusaders. With just one win in the last month, the Highlanders have limped their way into the top six, form seems to have deserted them at the wrong end of the season.
Everyone is writing off the Highlanders against the Sharks; their third match against a conference leading team in as many weeks. But with co-captain Ben Smith returning from a leg infection to take his place as custodian, his kick-returns will go a long way to nullifying the Sharks ‘Jakeball’ kicking game.
The Highlanders will also take confidence from the fact they shocked the Sharks with a bonus-point win in Durban in round 11. That was the first loss the Sharks suffered at home in nine games.
Meanwhile, never one to shirk away from a big call, Sharks’ director of rugby Jake White is risking the return of five-eighth Pat Lambie. The Springbok back hasn’t played competitive rugby since March 22 when he injured a bicep against the Bulls. But with the Sharks re-discovering their mojo with a 34-10 win over the Stormers last week, his return would be more readily accommodated this week than it would if they are to book a date against the Crusaders.
Despite the Sharks form deserting them in the last few weeks, you can never write them off at home. And coupled with the Highlanders seemingly forgetting how to play the game the minutes they board a plane, we’re tipping the Sharks to win by 12.
Happy tipping, what your thoughts?
