Super Rugby Predictions: 16-18 April

My picks last week weren’t too bad, with 2 out of 4 across the board, but 3 MPs yielded green arrows, and things aren’t looking too bad as we near the business end of the season.

Here are my Super Rugby predictions for this weekend.

Super Rugby Aotearoa

Highlanders v Blues: We start in New Zealand this time, and I’m tempted to pick an upset here, but I can’t trust the Highlanders at the moment. How do you beat the Crusaders in Christchurch one week and then lose at home to the Chiefs the next? The Blues are settled and I think they’ll edge it. Blues by 4

Chiefs v Crusaders: This is another tricky one, and the Chiefs have made the intriguing move of shifting Damian McKenzie to fly-half. They clearly have a gameplan to take on the Crusaders, and an upset is not out of the question here either. But I’m still not brave enough to pick against the perennial champions. Crusaders by 6

Super Rugby AU

Force v Waratahs: This looks fairly straightforward, with the Waratahs continuing to struggle, and the Force growing in confidence. They beat the Tahs away from home, and enjoyed a win over the Rebels last weekend, and the home side should take this one. Force by 7

Rebels v Brumbies: This is quite a tricky pick, with the Rebels a better side than their Superbru streak makes them look. Apart from a heavy defeat to the Reds, they have lost three other matches by a combined 6 points. That said, everyone is going to pick the Brumbies here, and they should be the better side. Brumbies by 6