There's another action-packed weekend of Super Rugby action in store with Round 2 of the 2019 season getting underway on Friday the 22nd of February.
While the pick of the action will see the Crusaders and Hurricanes lock horns in Christchurch, there are a few other noteworthy fixtures to look forward to including the clash between the Stormers and Lions down in Cape Town.
Highlanders v Reds
Friday 22 February
Forsyth Barr
08:35
To Win (80 Mins)
Highlanders 1/10
Draw 30/1
Reds 6/1
Handicap
Highlanders (-19.5) 9/10
Reds (+19.5) 9/10
We get proceedings underway with a trans-Tasman clash between the Highlanders and Reds. The hosts enjoyed a memorable opening round as they came back from a half-time deficit of 19-7 to run-out 27-30 victors over local rivalss, the Chiefs.
While the Highlanders were duking it out with their countrymen, the Reds players would have been watching proceedings unfold from the comfort of their own couches as they enjoyed a Round 1 bye.
In terms of last year's result between the two sides, the game saw the Reds go down 12-36 to their opponents out in Queensland.
Verdict: Highlanders (-19.5) 9/10
I can't see the Reds offering up much of a fight here. While they do have an excellent set of coaches, their playing squad does not look to be up to Super Rugby standard. I can see them getting, what I expect to be a tough old season, off to a poor start.
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Sunwolves v Waratahs
Saturday 23 February
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium
06:15
To Win (80 Mins)
Sunwolves 8/1
Draw 30/1
Waratahs 1/16
Handicap
Sunwolves (+23.5) 9/10
Waratahs (-23.5) 9/10
Saturday's action gets underway with a clash between the Sunwolves and the Waratahs. Both sides suffered defeats in the opening round with the Sunwolves going down 10-45 to the Sharks and the Waratahs losing 19-20 to the Hurricanes.
While the Sunwolves coach Tony Brown will be extremely annoyed in the toothless display his side put in during the second-half of their clash with the Sharks, it will be Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson who will be most ticked off after Round 1 as his side could have started their campaign off with a solid win had his fly-half Bernard Foley not missed a very easy shot at goal on the 78-minute mark.
While both sets of players picked up injuries last week, it was the Sunwolves who were hardest hit with marquee off-season recruit and former All Back Rene Ranger having to be stretchered off the field with what looked to be a serious knee injury. He is unlikely to play any part in the remainder of the Sunwolves campaign.
Verdict: Sunwolves (+23.5) 9/10
Yes, they were dire last weekend but I fully expect a better performance from the 'Wolves here. As such, I'm going to back them on the plus line again this weekend.
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Crusaders v Hurricanes
Saturday 23 February
Rugby League Park
08:35
To Win (80 Mins)
Crusaders 9/20
Draw 25/1
Hurricanes 7/4
Handicap
Crusaders (-6.5) 9/10
Hurricanes (+6.5) 9/10
Saturday's next instalment is the one to watch this weekend as the reigning champions, the Crusaders, lock horns with old foes, the Hurricanes.
Both teams got their 2019 campaigns underway with narrow wins as the Hurricanes beat the Waratahs 19-20 and the Crusaders beat the Blues. In all honesty, both teams should have lost their games last week with their opponents' goal kickers missing late penalties.
In terms of team news, it looks like Hurricanes talisman Beauden Barrett will return to the pitch this weekend with both Fletcher Smith and James Marshall picking up injuries against the 'Tahs, While this would usually be a massive coup for the 'Canes, it must be remembered that Barrett has only returned to training this week from his honeymoon and may be slightly ring rusty.
Verdict: Crusaders 9/20
The two sides met three times last year with the Crusaders winning twice and the Hurricanes winning once. The result went the way of the team hosting the match in all of the three games played between the two sides in 2018. I expect that trend to continue here.
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Brumbies v Chiefs
Saturday 23 February
GIO Stadium
10:45
To Win (80 Mins)
Brumbies 26/10
Draw 25/1
Chiefs 3/10
Handicap
Brumbies (+9.5) 9/10
Chiefs (-9.5) 9/10
We make the traditional jump across the Tasman for our next fixture which will see the Brumbies take on the Chiefs. Both teams head into this one off the back of disappointing derby losses with the Brumbies outclassed by the Rebels in their 27-34 defeat to the men from Melbourne and the Chiefs blowing a huge half-time lead against the Highlanders to go down 27-30.
Both teams have some major issues to deal with this week with the Brumbies needing to sort out their midfield which stifled them on attack and offered them little security on defence, while the Chiefs really need to find a fly-half capable of pulling the strings. Que an early return for All Black Damien Mckenzie? His national coach won't be happy about it but the Chiefs really do need the whippet at 10.
Verdict: Brumbies (+9.5) 9/10
This is really a tough one to call. The Chiefs should clear this handicap against a rather mediocre Brumbies side but the men from Waikato just seem to be lacking cohesion, particularly in their back division. As such, I'm leaning towards the hosts on the plus for a very small stake.
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Sharks v Blues
Saturday 23 February
Kings Park
15:15
To Win (80 Mins)
Sharks 13/10
Draw 25/1
Blues 13/20
Handicap
Sharks (+3.5) 9/10
Blues (-3.5) 9/10
We head to South Africa for our next fixture which will see the Sharks take on a Blues side who look to be heading towards a very promising renaissance. The visitors got their 2019 campaign off to a solid start as they gave the reigning champions, the Crusaders, a massive scare at Eden Park going down by just two points to Scott Robertson's men. The Blues could have actually won the game had it not be for some errant place kicking from young gun Harry Plummer who missed a tough but kickable penalty late on in the piece.
The Sharks, while starting their campaign off with a mammoth 10-45 victory over the Sunwolves, were less impressive than the Blues with the Natalians missing a number of opportunities to really put a big score over the minnows from Japan. They will need to be far more clinical with ball-in-hand this weekend if they are to get something over a Blues side on the up.
Verdict: Blues (-3.5) 9/10
I said they'd be a force to contend with in my pre-season preview and they've proved me right thus far. I really thin this Blues side will walk away from Durban with a win.
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Stormers v Lions
Saturday 23 February
Newlands Stadium
DHL Newlands
To Win (80 Mins)
Stormers 26/10
Draw 25/1
Lions 3/10
Handicap
Stormers (+9.5) 9/10
Lions (-9.5) 9/10
Next up is the all South African affair between a wounded Stormers outfit and a Lions side that will be on a massive high having got the Argentine monkey off their back last weekend.
The hosts' tumultuous build-up to the season came home to roost last weekend as the put in a pathetic shift during their 40-3 defeat to the Bulls. The men from the Cape looked like they had just got together an hour before the game. And while the delay in the kick-off did them no favours, it cannot be blamed for such an insipid display.
The Lions had a much better time of it in the opening round as they managed to bag a 16-25 away victory over the Jaguares. While all of Swys de Bruin's men deserve credit for a solid showing in Argentine, a special mention must go to underrated flanker Marnus Schoeman, who bagged a hattrick last Saturday.
Verdict: Stormers (+9.5) 9/10
I'm expecting a far more cohesive display from the Stormers this weekend. The Lions have also just made a long-haul flight back from Argentine, and they could well be a bit less energetic during the final 20-minutes of this game.
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Jaguares v Bulls
Saturday 23 February
Estadio Jose Amilfitani
23:40
To Win (80 Mins)
Jaguares 92/100
Draw 20/1
Bulls 92/100
You know you're in for a cracking game of rugby when the bookmakers can't find a favourite when they initially come out with the line. At the time of writing, the Jaguares and Bulls head into the final Round 2 fixture priced up at 92/100 a piece.
It's definitely the right call as a lot of questions still remained to be answered regarding the two sides. Was the Bulls big victory over the Stormers a simple case of their locals rivals being absolute drivel or are the Bulls the real deal?
There are also questions lingering over the Jaguares heads? Is their squad suffering from fatigue having to endure and international season as well as the 2018 Super Rugby campaign or was last weekend just a case of the Jaguares needing a bit of time to shake off the old cobwebs?
Verdict: Jaguares 92/100
There's not much point looking at the history of matches between the two sides as the Bulls have changed their personal as well as playing style significantly this term. As such, I won't be having a major strike on this one as the data is flimsy at best. Instead, I'm going to sit back, watch the first-half unfold and then make a play on the Hollywoodbets Live In-Play platform at half-time.
If you want to go the ante-post route, then I suggest backing the hosts for a minimal stake.
Written by Darry Worthington for Hollywoodbets
