Super Rugby preview Round 13: Can The Blues beat the Crusaders in CHCH?

Friday night’s a great night for football, well Super Rugby in this case, and there’s two mouth-watering match-ups.

With four weeks to go until the playoffs, we get a sneak peek at what’s to come.

Will the horses return at Te Kaha as the Blues aim for a rare win in Christchurch against the Crusaders?

Can the Chiefs topple Australia’s best team at a stadium where they haven’t won since 2022?

Why are the Highlanders heavy favourites to beat the Waratahs and keep their season alive?

And how many points will the Hurricanes rack-up against Moana Pasifika?

Let’s take a look at these questions and make some predictions for the four games involving Kiwi teams.

CRUSADERS v BLUES | Christchurch | Friday 7.05pm

The Crusaders are back under the roof at Te Kaha for the first time since it’s sensational opening Super Round weekend.

It’s close to a sellout with 25-thousand fans no doubt eager to see if the six Crusaders horses will make their debut under the roof having previously been told it wouldn’t be safe for them to run around at the new stadium.

If history’s anything to go by, the Blues have next to no chance with just one win in their past 20 visits to Christchurch.

They’ve opted to start Stephen Perofeta at first-five over Beauden Barrett, who’s on the bench, while wing Caleb Clarke returns to give them some punch out wide.

Clarke will be marking Sevu Reece who’s also back after missing the loss to the Hurricanes but fullback Will Jordan remains sidelined which is a big concern for the Crusaders who can’t seem to win without him.

Prop George Bower plays his 100th Super Rugby game and is a popular man for the Crusaders who need to win to keep their top-six hopes on track.

Prediction: Crusaders by 5

REDS v CHIEFS | Brisbane | Friday 9.35pm

The Chiefs return from their bye to face the Reds at Suncorp Stadium, a place they haven’t won since a tight 27-25 victory in 2022.

The Queenslanders are a bit of a bogey team for the Chiefs, winning three of the past seven encounters, and are in good form having beaten the Brumbies last weekend to rise up to fourth on the ladder.

But the Chiefs are on a five-game winning streak themselves and welcome back captain Luke Jacobson from concussion into a pack littered with All Blacks such as Wallace Sititi, Simon Parker, Tupou Vaa’i, Josh Lord, and Ollie Norris.

They are missing a few outside backs though including wings Leroy Carter and Emoni Narawa, but still have Damian McKenzie and Quinn Tupaea to spark things up.

A bonus-point win would be enough for the Chiefs to move past the Hurricanes to the top of the standings.

Prediction: Chiefs by 8

HIGHLANDERS v WARATAHS | Dunedin | Saturday 4.35pm

The Highlanders are back from their defeat in Fiji and under the roof, needing to win to keep their playoff hopes alive.

They’re currently ninth, five points behind the Brumbies in sixth, and host a New South Wales team featuring Wallabies stars Joseph Suaalii, Andrew Kellaway, and Max Jorgensen.

But the Landers welcome back their not-so-secret weapon Caleb Tangitau from concussion who’s second equal with 15 clean breaks so far this season and appears destined for an All Blacks call-up in July.

If you’re looking for a stat leader, then Timoci Tavatavanawai’s your man: he’s beaten 66 defenders this season, 21 more than his closest rival, Crusaders hybrid Leicester Fainga’anuku.

The Waratahs lost at home to the Force last week and are there for the taking if the Highlanders can win the battle up front and earn the right to spread it wide, as cliche as that sounds.

Prediction: Highlanders by 10

MOANA PASIFIKA v HURRICANES | North Harbour | Saturday 7.05pm

The season started so well for Moana Pasifika who upset the Drua in Fiji in game one but haven’t scored a single competition point since.

They might think they’re a chance of upsetting the Hurricanes whose influential halfback Cam Roigard is facing a month on the sideline with a calf injury while Ruben Love and Jordie Barrett are being rested.

The Canes still have Fehi Fineanganofo on the wing though as he closes in on the record for most tries in a Super Rugby season with 15 so far, one behind Joe Roff and Ben Lam who both scored 16.

The loose-forwards are once again stacked as Brayden Iose retains his place at number eight after a brilliant performance against the Crusaders and Brad Shields gets a start, keeping Japan-bound Devan Flanders on the bench.

Kini Naholo, remember him?  The little brother of former All Black Waisake is back from a long-term knee injury and on the bench to remind people just how devastating he can be.

The Hurricanes have racked up 50 points four times already this season, including their round two thumping of Moana, who look like they’ll receive another licking this time around.

Prediction: Canes by 35