Super Rugby round nine preview: Derby days as Reds v Brumbies, Force v Waratahs headline action
CAN the in-form Force make it five in a row? Will the Reds stay alive? Two Aussie derbies headline round nine — check out our preview!
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TWO blockbuster Australian derby clashes headline a huge weekend of Super Rugby action as a host of teams put their playoffs credentials on the line.
The rising Force will be looking to make it five in a row when they host Aussie rivals the Waratahs, while the Reds simply cannot afford anything but victory at home to the in-form Brumbies.
Read on for a full preview of round nine!
Round Nine teams: Full line-ups for every game this weekend
Bulls v Highlanders
Friday, Dunedin, 5.35pm AEST, Fox Sports 2
The incredible Indian Ocean stat may have come and gone but one fact remains: a South African team is yet to win outside the Republic in 2014.
That shouldn’t worry the Bulls too much however as they went within a whisker of victory on their first tour outing in Napier last weekend, falling just short of the Hurricanes when Beauden Barrett kicked a couple of late penalty goals.
And while a solitary bonus point was the Bulls’ only reward, the fact they outscored the usually free-running Canes two tries to one gives the tourists plenty to build on this week.
Injuries up front have forced coach Frans Ludeke to abandon the plan of resting veteran Victor Matfield from the trip, with the former Springboks skipper joining Jono Ross and Jacques du Plessis in changes to the pack.
The Highlanders have won their last two at home, although last week’s victory over the Rebels was far from convincing. They again leaked 30 points and would have been in serious trouble had the Rebels been able to clear their own line.
The hosts also have a veteran lock of their own returning in the form of All Blacks great Brad Thorn while a six-week lifting tackle suspension to Kurt Baker sees the hard-running Patrick Osborne start on the wing.
The Highlanders have won eight of the nine clashes between the two sides in New Zealand but while that won’t make pleasant reading for the Bulls, they look to be the team in the better recent form.
A tight one awaits.
Reds v Brumbies
Friday, 7.40pm AEST, Fox Sports 2
As far as last-chance fixtures go, a clash with their Super Rugby bogey team is the last match-up the Reds would have wanted.
Another loss will just about end 11th-placed Queensland’s season — and their record against the men from Canberra doesn’t make for good reading.
Sure the Reds claimed a 10-point win against the Brumbies in their season opener in the nation’s capital, but that scoreline was bloated by a fluke late try to Chris Feauai-Sautia — and the Brumbies could easily have been level just moments earlier when Jesse Mogg missed a very kickable penalty.
How the Brumbies lost after dominating possession (57%) and territory (68%) that night is anyone’s guess. They have dominated just about every game since, racking up five wins from their next six matches to come into round nine on top of the Australian conference and second on the overall rankings.
Suncorp Stadium holds no fears for the Brumbies either — they have won four of the six meetings between the two sides at the Brisbane venue as well as last year’s 19-all draw.
One of the reasons for the Brumbies hot run has been the form of Pat McCabe, and the rampaging centre will keep Quade Cooper busy by zeroing in on the Reds playmaker as often, and as hard, as he can.
Recalled centre Anthony Faingaa — a tenacious tackler — will help Cooper combat the McCabe threat, while winger Feauai-Sautia returns to boost a depleted backline and give the Reds at least one genuine attacking weapon out wide.
The Brumbies welcome back hooker Stephen Moore and Scott Sio to their Wallaby-laden pack, although have been forced to blood teenager Tom Staniforth at lock.
In a sign of their strength, Test centre Christian Lealiifano will again start from the reserves bench.
Chiefs v Rebels
Saturday, 5.35pm AEST, Fox Sports 2
What is going on with the Chiefs? Are the defending champs vulnerable, after returning from a three-game road trip of Australia and South Africa with no wins, and losing star flyhalf Aaron Cruden to a long-term injury?
Or is the fact that they twice staged stunning miracle comebacks away in hostile territory — scoring three tries in the final 11 minutes to draw 34-all with the Bulls, then coming from 34-10 down at half-time against the Cheetahs to tie at 43-all — a sign of their incredible resilience and proof that they can never be written off?
Fullback Gareth Anscombe seamlessly stepping into the No. 10 jersey and steering the Chiefs to victory would provide further evidence of the latter, and it certainly wouldn’t surprise if that were the case.
Anscombe has spoken of his desire to take the playmaking reins and will be looking to back that up with a big game, while his promotion gives former Crusader Tom Marshall a chance to shine at his preferred position — fullback.
For all that the Rebels will surely never have a better chance of upsetting the Super Rugby heavyweights, who have made eight changes all up, and clinching a first win outside Australia — especially if they can clean up the errors that cost them so dearly in their narrow lost to the Highlanders in Dunedin last start.
Colby Faingaa returns from injury and wins at start at blindside flanker for Melbourne, with Sean McMahon dropping to the bench, while Bryce Hegarty has passed concussion protocols to take his place at flyhalf.
Force v Waratahs
Saturday, 7.40pm AEST, Fox Sports 2
Five in a row. Do the Force dare to dream? Coach Michael Foley has tried to keep a lid on things this week but it can’t have been easy following that marvellous victory over the Reds last Saturday.
Where has it come from? That’s an excellent question. And to anyone who watched their limp opening efforts against the Waratahs and Brumbies not one that’s easily answered.
Perhaps the best explanation is that it’s simple rugby, and all 23 players are buying into it. The Force just kept coming at the Reds in Brisbane with their three tries the result of sustained periods of ball retention.
A lot of that has had to do with standout backrowers Matt Hodgson and Ben McCalman and they’ll need more of the same at home this week with Waratahs ace Michael Hooper arriving for a breakdown scrap.
There’s also added motivation in the desire for redemption and to atone for their round-two hammering in Sydney earlier this year.
That victory must seem like another season ago for the Waratahs, who’re on their way home from South Africa with four crucial competition points in the bank.
A win this weekend would give the Waratahs two from three on the road and with the Brumbies, Force and Rebels all still to tour Africa, give them the upper hand in the Aussie conference.
It’s a fixture they’ve dominated since the Force’s inception (9-2) and an unbeaten record at nib Stadium suggests the home side’s famed “Sea of Blue” supporters hold few fears.
A potential distraction could be news coach Michael Cheika will face a SANZAR judicial hearing next week though that has surely been offset by confirmation Israel Folau will play.
It’s a game that deserves a sell-out and with Wallabies spots on the line, it’s one that shouldn’t disappoint. Bring it on.
Cheetahs v Crusaders
Sunday, 1.05am AEST, Fox Sports 2
Are the Crusaders back? It might be a little early to answer that question but last week’s comprehensive victory over the Lions certainly eased a few fears around Christchurch.
Coach Todd Blackadder asked his senior players to stand up in Johannesburg and the likes of veterans Andy Ellis and Ryan Crotty obliged, even in the presence of another dubious evening’s officiating.
While it was an important victory on the road, it’ll count for little unless they back it up with a first win in Bloemfontein since 2007.
What of the Cheetahs? We told you there’d be points last week against the Chiefs — 86 to be exact — problem was that they were split down the middle at 43 apiece.
It makes for compelling viewing for the neutrals but for Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske it must be a complete nightmare. Their defensive woes have been evident right through this year’s competition and while it’s reasonable to assume Drotske has tried to address them at training, it’s clearly not working.
A drastic defensive improvement is needed otherwise it’s curtains for the Cheetahs in 2014.
Lions v Sharks
Sunday, 3.10am AEST, Fox Sports 2
Round nine wraps up with the competition’s best team to date — the ladder-leading Sharks — travelling to Johannesburg to take on the Lions at Ellis Park.
The Lions continue to defy pre-season predictions of a tough season by remaining in the race for a playoffs berth, although last week’s 28-7 loss at home to a depleted Crusaders outfit saw them slip outside the top six, to seventh on the ladder.
The Sharks had their second bye of the season last weekend, and will be freshened up for just their second match away from Kings Park in 2014, albeit still in South Africa. Interestingly, their only match outside Durban to date resulted in their one loss of the season — a 23-19 defeat to the Bulls.
Lions coach Johan Ackermann wasn’t impressed with his side’s performance against the Crusaders, and expect them to roar out of the blocks.
They will do well to get off to a flier against the Sharks though, with Jake White’s side yet to concede a first-half try this season.
Winger Odwa Ndungane will bring up a century of Super Rugby caps for the Sharks.
Reds primed for Super season
The Reds don’t want to waste their good work on a successful pre-season tour of the United Kingdom when they kick-off their Super Rugby Pacific season later this month.
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