7 March 2019, by: Quintin van Jaarsveld

SUPER RUGBY PREDICTIONS – ROUND 4

The Bulls welcome the Sharks to Loftus Versfeld on Saturday in Round Four’s headliner, which promises to be a humdinger.

The big South African battle will wrap up what’s set to be a thrilling weekend of Super Rugby, which features two New Zealand as well as two Australian derbies.

The Blues host the high-riding Sunwolves and the Lions look to make it two in a row over the Jaguares to fill out the fourth-round fixtures list.

An ideal way to kick-off Round Four, with two talented New Zealand sides throwing everything at each other. While they share a 2-1 win-loss record, the ‘Landers have been more consistent, all three of their results decided by five or less. The hosts have started as so many ‘Canes teams of the past – erratic – a big win following a heavy defeat and narrow victory before that. The visitors’ best bet is to make it a dog fight. It’s hard to bet against the Hurricanes after their superb showing last weekend.

Prediction: Hurricanes by 6. (Suggested BET – Highlanders +8.5)

A key clash between the two top Australian teams. The Rebels are one of just two teams that remain unbeaten after three rounds and everything’s in their favour for this one. They beat the Brumbies in Canberra in Round One and saw off the Highlanders last week, while the Brumbies were blown away by the Hurricanes.

Prediction: Melbourne Rebels by 3. (Suggested BET – Rebels 1-12 points)

No. 1 v No. 15. As bizarre as that seems, the Chiefs have been shockingly clueless. The victims of the biggest upset in Super Rugby history limping into Christchurch to take on a team on an 18-match winning streak…only the margin is in question in this one.

Prediction: Crusaders by 20. (Suggested BET – Crusaders -15.5)

Will lightning strike twice? The Sunwolves will certainly back themselves to pull off another improbable win on New Zealand soil. Not for nothing, the Singapore side have bounced back remarkably well from their heavy first-round loss to the Sharks and are playing their best rugby yet. The Blues are winless and vulnerable, but they were a different side at home, where they let a win over the Crusaders slip, and I expect them to click in front of their home crowd.

Prediction: Blues by 17. (Suggested BET – Blues -14.5)

The banana peel of the week. The Waratahs haven’t found second gear yet, losing (to the Hurricanes) and winning (against the Sunwolves) by one, while the Reds ran into the Crusaders last week and lost their only other fixture against the Highlanders as well. Hopefully this isn’t one of those notoriously dire Aussie derbies.

Prediction: Reds by 2. (Suggested BET – Reds to win)

The Lions look a shell of their former self, however, they did defeat the self-same Jaguares – for the first time in Buenos Aires – in Round One. That feels ages ago, and while the visitors will have momentum on their side, I believe the embarrassment at the hands of the Bulls will inspire a backlash.

Prediction: Lions by 5. (Suggested BET – Jaguares +9.5)

As significant as an early-season fixture gets as the early frontrunners in the South Africa Conference seek to seize control. The Sharks’ lead was cut to just two after the shock home loss to the Stormers, and they’ll be determined to bounce back. The Bulls, conversely, were in imperious form as they lashed the Lions and while the hosts are the favourites, the Sharks shouldn’t be overlooked. The Durban side’s upset should be seen as an anomaly; they have the personnel and style to beat the Bulls, who had a similar slip-up in Round Two. A titanic tussle that could go either way, but I’m backing the Bulls to edge the gainline battle and therefore eke out the win at Loftus.

Prediction: Bulls by 3. (Suggested BET – Bulls to win)

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Quintin van Jaarsveld

Quintin Van Jaarsveld is a former MDDA-Sanlam SA Local Sports Journalist of the Year and a former three-time Vodacom KwaZulu-Natal Sports Journalist of the Year. Formerly the sports editor and Outstanding Journalist of the Year award winner at The Fever Media Group, deputy editor at eHowzit, editor at SARugby.com and senior staff writer at Rugby365.com, he boasts over 15 years’ experience and is currently a freelance sports writer.