Super Rugby Preview: Round Eight

Cancel everything! It's Round Eight of Super Rugby with five intriguing clashes set to keep us entertained on Super Saturday.

Cancel everything! It's Round Eight of Super Rugby with five intriguing clashes set to keep us entertained on Super Saturday.

Although the competition hasn't quite yet reached the half-way point, there is plenty still to play for as no team wants to drop off the pace set by the leaders.

One slip up will put the chasers right back in with a chance of winning their respective Conferences.

So lets get straight to it shall we?

Crusaders vs Bulls

The Bulls will be aiming for their second win on tour and a fourth consecutive victory over the Crusaders when the two Super Rugby heavyweights clash in Timaru.

The two teams have shared the last six Super Rugby titles between them, but it is the defending champion Bulls who have come out on top in their last three meetings.

The Bulls' last three victories – the most recent being the 2010 Super 14 semi-final – over their New Zealand rivals have all been in the Republic though, and the Crusaders hold a distinct advantage over the men from Pretoria on home soil.

It's been 10 long years since any South African team managed to beat the Crusaders in New Zealand and 15 seasons since the Bulls (known as Northern Transvaal back then) last secured an away victory against the seven-time champions (in 1996).

So history is certainly with the men in red and black in their own back yard. But the Bulls will be bouyed by the fact that they at least avoid the quake-hit AMI Stadium, that has proven to be a daunting ground for any visiting teams in the past. Instead they will head 160 kilometres south of Christchurch to the small port town of Timaru and play at the Alpine Energy Stadium in front of 12,000 Crusaders' supporters – as apposed to 39,000 up the road.

The Bulls would also have breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing that Dan Carter will be sitting this one out due to a hamstring complaint. Carter as well as All Blacks lock Sam Whitelock will watch from the sidelines, which will suit the Bulls just fine.

It does take away a tantalising match-up between Carter and Morne Steyn – two world class pivots that are tipped to go head to head in the World Cup semi-final later this year, but there are still other face-offs to look forward to in this superpower match.

Bakkies Botha will clash with Brad Thorn, the world's two leading number eight forwards in Pierre Spies and Kieran Read will battle it out while Sonny Bill Williams will come up against his biggest test to date in the strong tackling Wynand Olivier.

It's set to be a Test-like encounter, and the lucky 12,000 crowd are in for a treat – Carter or no Carter.

Prediction: This has the potential to go down to the wire. Steyn's boot will keep the Bulls in with a shout, but we feel the Crusaders pose a much bigger threat in other areas – namely out wide. Crusaders by five.

The teams:

Crusaders: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Matt Berquist, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Kieran Read (capt), 7 Matt Todd, 6 George Whitelock, 5 Chris Jack, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Ben Franks, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: 16 Quentin MacDonald, 17 Owen Franks, 18 Luke Romano, 19 Jonathan Poff/Joe Wheeler, 20 Kahn Fotuali'i, 21 Tom Marshall, 22 Adam Whitelock.

Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Bjorn Basson, 13 Jaco Pretorius, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Francois Hougaard, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Gary Botha, 1 Dean Greyling.
Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Rossouw de Klerk, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Danie Rossouw, 20 Derick Kuün, 21 Francois Brummer, 22 Gerhard van den Heever.

Date: Saturday, April 9
Venue: Alpine Energy Stadium, Timaru
Kick-off: 19:35 (06:35 GMT)
Referee: Jonathon White (New Zealand)
Assistant referee: Keith Brown (New Zealand), Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Television match official: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)

Brumbies vs Hurricanes

The Brumbies and Hurricanes can ill-afford another loss in Super Rugby having made less than satisfying starts to their 2011 seasons.

Both sides enter this match in Canberra with one win apiece from six matches and need a win to keep a glimmer of hope for a spot in the finals. And with still 10 games to play in the season, anything is possible.

The Brumbies have lost five on the trot – they haven't tasted victory since February 19 – making their home clash against the Hurricanes one of the most important of the season.

Brumbies coach Tony Rea has persevered with the same starting 15, with the only change being utility back Pat McCabe returning from injury on the bench. The side remains optimistic despite not winning a match since round one against the Chiefs.

“As long as you work hard you will be confident,” said Rea.

“If you feel like you are improving when you are working hard, that's the way to build that.”

The Hurricanes are smarting from the same win record as the Brumbies, and will be desperate to show their fans there is more to them than what has been on display to date.

They have now lost three in a row following last week's defeat to the Bulls, however their loss two weeks ago to the Rebels was one they will want to forget. Up 17-0 after 17 minutes, the 'Canes capitulated, going down 42-25.

Centre Ma'a Nonu has gone on record saying it's the most distressed he has ever felt during a Super Rugby season and he and his team-mates will be working on turning everything around in the Australian capital.

“Our read on them is that they'll be hungry, they'll be desperate, they'll be keen and they're talented,” said Rea.

The Hurricanes and the Brumbies faced off earlier in the year during a trial match which resulted in a draw.

Prediction: Hmmm.. always tough to make a call when two struggling teams go head to head. Both teams will dig deep into their pockets full of holes for this one, but Canberra remains a tough place to visit and we think the Brumbies will finally come good. Brumbies by seven.

The teams:

Brumbies: 15 Matt Toomua, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Andrew Smith, 12 Christian Lealiifano, 11 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 10 Matt Giteau (c), 9 Josh Valentine, 8 Ita Vaea, 7 Julian Salvi, 6 Peter Kimlin, 5 Mark Chisholm, 4 Ben Hand, 3 Salesi Ma'afu, 2 Huia Edmonds, 1 Ben Alexander.
Replacements (from): Anthony Hegarty, Dan Palmer, Colby Faingaa, Michael Hooper, Pat Phibbs, Tyrone Smith, Franky Fainifo, Pat McCabe.

Hurricanes: 15 Andre Taylor , 14 Alapati Leiua, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Tyson Keats, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Serge Lilo, 6 Jack Lam, 5 Jason Eaton, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Neemia Tialata, 2 Andrew Hore (c), 1 John Schwalger.
Replacements: 16 Dane Coles, 17 Michael Bent, 18