13 February 2019, by: Quintin van Jaarsveld

SUPER RUGBY PREDICTIONS – ROUND 2

A clearer picture of the title contenders and pretenders will begin to emerge when the second round of Super Rugby kicks off on Friday. With the opening salvos fired, this weekend’s action will provide a clearer indication of each team’s standing in the pecking order.

Predictions this early into a tournament are always tricky, but based on first impressions, one can likely expect the following.

The Reds have the element of surprise on their side as they sat out Round 1, but that’s about it. The Highlanders have had their number in recent years, winning three of the last four head-to-head battles, and improved as the game went on in their comeback win over the Chiefs.

Prediction: Highlanders by 12. (Suggested BET – Reds +21.5)

Sadly, the Sunwolves look like a basement team. What’s more, the Waratahs’ home loss to the Hurricanes was the worst possible outcome for the Singapore side, as they’ll now play host to an ultra-motivated team intent on not just bouncing back, but making a statement in the process.

Prediction: Waratahs by at least 20. (Suggested BET – Waratahs -19.5)

This is set to be the match of the weekend. Both teams bagged away wins last weekend and will aim to establish themselves as the pacesetters in the New Zealand Conference. The ‘Saders are traditionally most vulnerable early in the season, so the ‘Canes will fancy their chances. Without the brilliant Beauden Barrett, however, the men from Wellington will fall short.

Prediction: Crusaders by 6. (Suggested BET – Crusaders 1-12 points)

Both threw away first round wins, so expect two driven and somewhat desperate sides to leave it all out on the park. Unfortunately, the Brumbies have been a franchise on the decline for years and can’t seem to buy a win against the Chiefs. With Damian McKenzie back in the saddle, the visitors are poised to pick up their fifth straight victory over the Canberra outfit.

Prediction: Chiefs by 8. (Suggested BET – Chiefs -7.5)

Just how much can be read into the Sharks’ comprehensive win over the lowly Sunwolves will be revealed against a Blues side that appears to be on the up and who should’ve beaten the Crusaders. The result will come down to which team impose their game plan on the other. The Sharks ought to stick to the set-piece strategy they showcased and persisted with last weekend and, in doing so, come away with another win.

Prediction: Sharks by 5. (Suggested BET – Sharks to win by 1-12)

This should be an intriguing contest considering the sides’ contrasting starts to the season. The Lions’ big defensive effort in their historic away win against the Jaguares, coupled with the long flight back to South Africa, could sap the visitors’ energy, while all the pressure will be on an out-of-sorts Stormers to bounce back from their Loftus horror show in front of their home crowd. The Stormers can only improve on last weekend, but not to such a degree that they’ll turn back the superior Lions.

Prediction: Lions by 10. (Suggested BET – Lions -7.5)

The Bulls will look to replicate the Lions’ achievement and break their Buenos Aires duck. The Pretoria franchise fired on all cylinders as they blew the Stormers away, and it’s the well-roundedness of their thrashing that points to a first victory on Argentine soil. It won’t be easy, as the Jaguares will come out double tough, but expect the Bulls to make it two from two.

Prediction: Bulls by 5. (Suggested BET – Bulls -1.5)

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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.