Super Rugby Aotearoa came back with a bang last weekend with the four New Zealand sides in action treating us to a pair of memorable contests.
The Highlanders upset the Chiefs thanks to a last minute drop goal and the Blues showed their form in the original 2020 Super Rugby competition was no fluke either.
This weekend the Crusaders get to open their account against the Hurricanes but not before the Chiefs and Blues face off in what should be the match of the round.
We’re previewing both matches for Super Rugby Aotearoa Round 2 here.
The Blues might have paid a price for 30-20 win in Round One, with Tom Robinson and Blake Gibson suffering injuries in that clash.
Although that win did extend their winning streak to five matches dating back to Super Rugby’s first seven rounds.
Up next is a Chiefs side that did everything but win down in Dunedin, thinking they had stolen the match late with a Damien McKenzie, only to be undone by their coach’s son, Bryn Gatland, nailing a drop goal of his own seconds from time.
When these sides faced off in January, it was the Chiefs coming away with a 37-29 win.
If last week is anything to go by we could be looking at another race to 30 points with the last team to score winning.
Before the numbers came through, I would have said back the Blues at the line, but when it is +1.5 (at publish), you may as well just take the point and back them head to head.
It doesn’t matter which tournament they are playing in, the Crusaders are still a really good team.
Sure they had a few wobbles in the late stages of Super Rugby but these players always seemed to save their best for this time of year… mostly because normally this was around the time of the finals.
The only way this is close is if the Crusaders think this is still a warm up match, although with the stadium likely to be packed out (because how awesome is sport with a rowdy fans?) they will flick the switch and turn it on for the fans in Wellington.