Super Rugby Australia enters its fifth week, and another two games are on the schedule.
The Rebels host the young Waratahs on Friday night before the Reds look to keep their undefeated season alive at the expense of the Western Force.
Find a preview for both games and our Super Rugby Australia Round 5 Tips below.
The Rebels are offered the opportunity at a soft kill and the chance to consolidate third position when they host the Waratahs on Friday night.
They have been good, if not pretty luckless throughout the first few weeks of Super Rugby Australia, and the Rebels do look to have a lot of upside.
Having been forced to weather the league’s two best teams at their first two appearances in 2021, the Rebels faced off with a brave Force in Perth last week and ground out a well-deserved win.
They probably didn’t capitalise on their chances as well as they could have, but I’m confident they’ll have a lot of that ironed out for this week, and there’s little doubt that this represents an easier prospect for them.
The Waratahs haven’t fired a shot in 2021, but probably fairly so.
They’ve lost almost all of their star power and are blooding a lot of young players who simply cannot match it with these other Super Rugby Australia franchises for a full 80 minutes.
The line is currently set at 10.5 points and I think that is generous of the Waratahs’ ability.
The Reds stamped themselves as the team to beat this season with a tight win over the Brumbies in Canberra last weekend and they are justifiable short favourites to defeat the Force in Brisbane on Saturday.
That made it three wins from as many matches for the Reds, who are now the only team who is yet to taste defeat in Super Rugby Australia 2021, and who will also complete the set with a win over the Force.
Their impressive win over the reigning champions last weekend was highlighted by many things, including Hunter Paisami’s late grubber to see Jordan Petaia over for the match winner with just two minutes remaining on the clock.
The Force went all the way with the Rebels last week and can perhaps count themselves unlucky not to have won.
I’m confident that the Force will return another gutsy performance this weekend, I think they’ll simply be outdone by class.