Super Rugby Round Thirteen Predictions

Round 12 was another tough one, with two draws picked by just 1% of the community on Superbru, and I was on the wrong side of the key 50/50 clash, with the Brumbies beating the Blues in Canberra (41% picked that).

My 4 out of 7 was right on the community average of 3.98, but I still suffered some red arrows in most of my pools and cling on to the top 10% overall.



Congratulations to Rod Tyrrell from Australia who won the Yellow Cap in my 'Challenge Hutch' pool in Round 12. Given there were two draws, 5/7 was a solid effort and the Crusaders draw was the only game he didn't receive a Margin Point for.

It's another 7-match round this weekend, including several tricky ones. Here are my Super Rugby predictions for Round 13:

Blues v Hurricanes

The Blues return to Eden Park after three consecutive defeats on the road, but their home form before that suggests they could be a threat to the Canes. Wingers Rieko Ioane (Blues) and Ben Lam (Hurricanes) both return with each team naming a strong lineup, but I think the Hurricanes will edge it. Hurricanes by 6

Rebels v Reds

Just three points separate the four Australian teams, with the Rebels top despite three defeats in a row. They have only lost one match at home this season though, and I still don't rate the Reds particularly highly. Rebels by 9

Bulls v Crusaders

The Crusaders were held to a draw by the Sharks last week, and playing at Loftus is never easy, but they have some key players returning and I think they'll be too strong for the Bulls. Crusaders by 13

Highlanders v Jaguares

Having won four in a row, the Jaguares are right in the mix for the playoff places, but now embark on a difficult tour in New Zealand and Australia. I can't see them kicking off with a win in Dunedin, frankly. Highlanders by 16

Chiefs v Sharks

The Sharks have had a great tour so far, beating the Waratahs and so nearly defeating the Crusaders last week. With the Chiefs out of sorts this season, they have a chance, but the travel could catch up with them and it's safer to pick the home team. Chiefs by 4

Lions v Waratahs

The Lions have won the last four meetings between these two, and you have to go back to 2009 to find the most recent Tahs win in Johannesburg. This is another tough match at altitude for the men from Sydney and I would expect a home victory. Lions by 9

Brumbies v Sunwolves

The round concludes on Sunday, with the Brumbies hosting the lowly Sunwolves. The Japanese franchise is capable of the odd upset, but equally likely to implode and be blown away. The Brumbies have only lost once at home this season, all the way back in Round 1, and you'd expect them to win this one. Brumbies by 16

Follow Superbru on Twitter: @Superbru for Super Rugby updates throughout Round 13.