Super Rugby 2022 kicks off this weekend with two new franchises added to the competition.
The Fijian Drua will join the Australian conference and take on the Waratahs in their first match.
In New Zealand, Moana Pasifika will be forced to wait an extra week for their debut thanks to a Covid outbreak.
There’s still five matches coming up including an enticing Saturday triple header from both sides of the Tasman.
Check out our Super Rugby tips for Round 1 here!
MATCH POSTPONED
In terms of a soft landing, taking on a team that did not win a game in 2021 is about as friendly of a first game as the Drua could have hoped for.
There is a lot to like about their side however I just don’t like the spot for them coming out of the gate as they may need a few proper matches to get their combinations to gel.
A -9.5 line seems very short for the Waratahs and that’s where the opening play of the season will go.
On paper the Chiefs do have the better side than the Highlanders but there are plenty of unknowns heading into this Round 1 clash.
For starters, the day games in New Zealand are getting played at what is nominally a neutral venue with Queenstown’s Wakatipu Rugby Club hosting games in the early rounds of the season.
It looks like the teams that get off to a fast start will be the ones that respond to hub life the best.
The Highlanders look way over the odds as the underdog and I’ll back them in at this price.
Remarkably, the Crusaders missed the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman final last year despite a 5-0 record because they “only” had a +97 points differential.
It might seem like a minor inconvenience to most but considering this is a side that has made a fairly successful habit of trophy accumulation, they will be back with a vengeance this time around.
In the post-Covid era, they have not had their way with the Canes, losing once and being taken to extra time last April, but they Wellington franchise is on course for a long season.
A number of key players have either departed or are out with injury and the pressure on Ardie Savea to carry this team is going to be immense.
Back a statement win from the Crusaders here.
The Rebels have not beaten the Reds since May 2019 and that steak does not seem likely to end at Suncorp this weekend.
Queensland has a much stronger squad while the Rebels have had more big name departures than arrivals in their team.
Perhaps that might help explain why Brad Thorn’s men are the biggest favourites of the weekend and after a disappointing Trans Tasman campaign, they will be desperate for a fast start this time around.
If they hit the accelerator from the start in this game, we could see a similar scoreline to their last meeting back in April which ended 44-19 in favour of the Reds.
On paper this should be no contest but the Force have the makings of a side that could cause some problems for the Brumbies here.
In the Super Rugby AU Semi Final last season the Force were in with a chance in the final 10 minutes before a pair of late penalties put the game out of reach.
Having built on the confidence of last season’s successes, I’ll back the Force to at least keep this one close.