Super charged: Big game and Jack Goodhue v Reece Hodge

David Skippers
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Making its return to Planet Rugby, we bring you Super charged, in which we preview the main talking points ahead of the upcoming Super Rugby action.

Game to watch – Waratahs v Brumbies

Like most of this weekend’s matches, there will be plenty at stake when these two heavyweights of the Australian game go head-to-head in what should be a thrilling encounter in Sydney on Saturday.

The Brumbies are in a rich vein of form as they are currently on a four-match winning streak – after beating the Blues, Bulls and the Sunwolves twice – and are sitting pretty at the top of the Australian Conference.

But they face a tough challenge from their hosts, who can ill afford a defeat as they are in third place in their conference – nine points adrift of the Brumbies – and in 10th spot on the overall table, three points behind the Sharks, who currently occupy the last play-off berth.

With this being a derby, this should be a closely-fought contest, although the Brumbies will be in a confident mood after claiming a 19-13 win when these sides met in the corresponding fixture in Canberra earlier this year.

Players to watch -TJ Perenara and Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes)

Perenara and Barrett are genuine stars of the game and have been at the forefront of the Hurricanes’ success in recent years.

The 2016 champions take on the Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday and this will be a significant match for the All Blacks duo as it will be the 100th time they combine as the Hurricanes’ starting half-back pair since they first played together in 2012.

Both are brilliant attacking players who will be play crucial roles in implementing the Hurricanes’ game-plan in what should be a fast-paced showdown against an unpredictable Lions side.

A Hurricanes victory will not only consolidate their position amongst the tournament’s frontrunners, but also be the perfect gift for two of Wellington’s favourite sons to celebrate their milestone.

One-v-one battle to watch – Jack Goodhue (Crusaders) v Reece Hodge (Rebels)

These are two of the most exciting players in the game and will play important roles for their respective sides when the teams do battle in Christchurch on Saturday.

Goodhue is a player who has come on in leaps and bounds and has cemented his place in the All Blacks’ run-on side.

He runs good angles, which makes him a constant threat on attack, but that wasn’t the case against the Chiefs in Suva last weekend when he was overshadowed by All Blacks rival Anton Lienert-Brown, who played a leading role in the men from Hamilton’s win over the champions.

Goodhue faces a tough challenge against Hodge, who is very different in his approach to the game. Although not a regular number 13, the Wallaby utility back’s direct style of play should test Goodhue’s defence and he should also make an impact with his booming boot which is one of his strengths.

Subplot to watch – Jaguares to win the South African Conference?

After reaching the play-offs last year, the men from Buenos Aires have shown that their achievement was not a fluke as they head into Saturday’s home fixture against the Sharks in top position in the South African Conference.

After their former head coach, Mario Ledesma, left the Jaguares at the end of last year’s tournament to take over the reins as Argentina’s boss, there were concerns in some quarters that they would not be able to build on that success but their new coach, Gonzalo Quesada, deserves plenty of credit for continuing where Ledesma left off.

With two rounds of the league phase left to play, they have a six-point lead over the Lions at the top of the table and a win over the Sharks will seal their place as the South African Conference winners – something few would have predicted at the start of the season.

Best of the rest

Round 17’s action gets underway in Dunedin where the Highlanders take on the Bulls and this should be a drama-filled affair as these sides chase victory in a bid to stay in the race for the play-offs.

The Bulls drew against the Blues in Auckland last weekend while the Highlanders return to action after having a bye in Round 16. Aaron Mauger’s charges will be desperate for a win, however, as they lost their last two matches against the Lions and Stormers in South Africa.

After that match in Dunedin, two of the tournament’s strugglers face off when the Reds host the Blues in Brisbane. The home side will be keen to turn the tables on the men from Auckland, who have been victorious in the last two matches between these sides.

In other action, the Stormers will be determined to return to winning ways when they face Sunwolves, who are firmly rooted to the bottom of the table.

by David Skippers

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