Super Rugby preview round eight: Have they dropped the ball?

It’s a long weekend but a short round eight of Super Rugby. Somebody, please make it make sense!

While the NRL is dishing up eight games (one on Thursday, two each on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and another on Monday), Super Rugby will have just three.

They’ve dropped the ball.

And of the three games on offer, none of them are really that compelling, but let’s try and get excited about the two Kiwi teams in action.

CRUSADERS v FIJIAN DRUA | Christchurch | Friday 7.05pm

After 14 years, the Crusaders finally get to say goodbye to the temporary stadium in Addington.

For those who have been to Apollo Projects Stadium, it will be fondly remembered for all the trophies won there, but not for much else.

It’s cold, rickety, and won’t be missed by the team or their fans, who can look forward to a warm and cosy future under the roof at the new One NZ Stadium.

It will be a special night for Codie Taylor, though, who will be running out for his 150th game. He debuted at the ground way back in 2013.

Following the season-ending back infection for Tamaiti Williams, 24 year-old prop Jack Sexton (son of Canterbury stawart Matt Sexton) will make his debut off the bench.

Luckless loose-forward Ethan Blackadder’s out for at least a month with a calf injury, with rookie Johnny Lee to start in the seven jersey.

Taking a look at the form book, the Crusaders had a big win over Moana Pasifika before a bye last week.

The Fijian Drua’s purple patch came to an end, losing to the Blues and Reds in the past fortnight, having beaten the Brumbies and Hurricanes in the two weeks before that.

Prediction: Crusaders by 35

CHIEFS v WARATAHS | Hamilton | Saturday 7.05pm

The Chiefs and Waratahs are both experiencing rollercoaster seasons.

The Tahs opened their campaign with wins over the Reds and Drua and have been up and down ever since, but they are coming off an impressive victory against the Brumbies.

The Chiefs were pre-season favourites but have struggled to get out of second gear, including a scratchy win over the Force in Perth last weekend.

They won’t have Damian McKenzie on board for this one; he’s out for a week with a concussion, allowing Liam Coombes-Fabling to slot into fullback.

With Etene Nanai-Seturo sidelined with a foot injury, big off-season signing Kyren Taumoefolau gets a rare start on the left wing.

Vice-captain Tupou Vaa’i is back from a knee injury to partner fellow All Blacks lock Josh Lord who’s re-signed with New Zealand Rugby until 2029.

The Sydney-based visitors have former Chiefs first-five Jack Debreczeni in the ten jersey and boast two of the best wingers in the competition in Max Jorgensen and Andrew Kellaway.

But for every good result the Tahs have they seem to follow it up with a bad one, while you get the feeling the Chiefs are ready to put in a statement performance to get their season humming at the halfway point.

Prediction: Chiefs by 13