Super Rugby preview round ten: can the Chiefs stop the Canes Train?

Week ten of Super Rugby promises to be one of the best so far.

We’ve got two Kiwi derbies as well as a Crusaders team who are looking vulnerable on their Aussie roadtrip.

Can the Canes Train keep rolling against the Chiefs in Hamilton?

Are the Highlanders done or can they upset the Blues at Eden Park?

And are the Saders taking the Force too lightly?

Let’s have a closer look at the three games involving New Zealand teams.

BLUES v HIGHLANDERS, Auckland, Friday 7.05pm

This is turning into another predictably disappointing season for the Highlanders.

They got everyone’s hopes up with a week one win over the Crusaders but have only managed victories over the Force and Moana Pasifika since.

The Blues were flying high in second place before crashing back down to earth after last weekend’s loss to the Hurricanes.

All Blacks lock Patrick Tuipulotu returns from off-season shoulder surgery to captain the Blues who also welcome back key loose-forwards Dalton Papali’i and Hoskins Sotutu from injury.

The Highlanders continue to lose close matches, and while their defence is solid, they’re struggling to find their attacking rhythm which is strange for a team boasting Timoci Tavatavanawai, Caleb Tangitau, and a fit-again Finn Hurley on the bench.

I expect the Blues pack to dominate the Southern Men and they’ll have too much fire-power at the Garden of Eden.

Prediction: Blues by 14

CHIEFS v HURRICANES, Hamilton, Saturday 7.05pm

Here we go again, another top-of-the-table clash for the Hurricanes who are surprisingly underdogs to beat the Chiefs in the Tron.

The noise surrounding the Canes’ chances of claiming just their second title, a decade after their first, is now deafening.

The inside back axis of Cam Roigard, Ruben Love, and Jordie Barrett is getting most of the credit but the form of the loose-forward trio of Peter Lakai, Du’Plessis Kirifi, and Devan Flanders is just as impressive.

They might meet their match though coming up against Simon Parker, Luke Jacobson (in his 100th game), and Samipeni Finau with a fit-again Wallace Sititi on the bench.

There are mini-All Blacks trials all over the park including Player of the Season leader Quinn Tupaea up against Billy Proctor at centre, Roigard and Love against Cortez Ratima and Damian McKenzie at 9 and 10, and Samisoni Taukei’aho taking on Asafo Aumua at hooker.

Dave Rennie and co will no doubt be keeping an extremely close eye on this one.

Prediction: Canes by 1

CRUSADERS v FORCE, Perth, Saturday 11.55pm

The fear that the Crusaders are a one-man team was once again confirmed last week.

Will Jordan was absent, and like they did against the Blues, the Crusaders looked average in the loss to the Reds without their All Blacks fullback.

They still don’t have Codie Taylor either while his front-row mate Fletcher Newell is also out along with captain David Havili.

Christian Lio-Willie takes over the captaincy and needs a big performance having been underwhelming all season.

Halfback Noah Hotham and wing Sevu Reece have been benched to give Louie Chapman and Macca Springer a shot.

It’s a bit of a gamble from coach Rob Penney to rotate his line-up against a team like the Force who can cause an upset on their day.

They’ve got tireless flanker Carlo Tizzano back from injury while former NRL star Zac Lomax gets his first start on the wing.

This game is a massive banana skin for the Saders.

Prediction: Crusaders by 5