We have reached Round 11 of the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season. That means five rounds are left to decide the eight teams that will face off in the finals. Here is a look ahead at the Round 11 fixtures.
Hurricanes VS. Waratahs – Sky Stadium, Wellington
The table-topping Hurricanes host the lowly Waratahs at Sky Stadium in the first match of Round 11.
The ‘Canes will be ready to bounce back from their first defeat of the season last weekend at the hands of the Brumbies in Canberra. The Tahs have just two wins and 12 points in the season, both wins coming against the disappointing Crusaders.
The Canes have won six games in a row against the Waratahs, including the last two games in Wellington. They are heavy favorites here for a reason, and anything other than a Hurricanes win would be a massive shock.
Rebels VS. Blues – AAMI Park, Melbourne
The Blues are playing their fourth consecutive Australian team as they travel to AAMI Park to take on the Rebels. After blasting the Force and the Brumbies by a combined 96-10 score, they were fortunate to win last week in Queensland, nipping the Reds 41-34 in a tryfest.
The Rebels sit fifth on the log, 12 points behind the second-placed Blues. Last week’s game will give the Victoria side a blueprint of how to approach this, but their scrum will have to be much better than the unit dismantled by the Crusaders last time out.
It feels like the Blues overlooked the Reds. I wouldn’t expect anything similar this week, and they should win by 10+ points on the road.
Moana Pasifika VS. Highlanders – Teafiava Stadium, Nuku’alofa
This is the closest battle of the week by table standings, with the eighth-placed Highlanders hosting the ninth-placed Moana Pasifika. Obviously, this is a huge game in terms of Finals qualification, with the sides separated by just one point going into the fixture.
This will be the first-ever Super Rugby match in Tonga, so the hosts will be right up for it. That wave of emotion will carry them over the edge to win in a tight, thrilling encounter.
Crusaders VS. Reds – Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch
Looking at the table after Round 10, it is weird to see the mighty Crusaders two places off the bottom ahead of only the Waratahs and Force. It has been a chastening season for the side – one shorn of many stars, including do-everything fly-half Richie Mo’unga – with just two sins to show for their nine matches played.
Looking at this from a positive standpoint, the Crusaders’ best game this season came last time out as they slapped the Rebels around in winning 39-0
The Reds come into this after a heartbreaker. Last weekend, the Hurricanes broke their spirit until the clock was in the red, winning by a converted try. They will be buoyed by the return of in-form flanker Fraser McReight for this one.
The Crusaders’ price here is wild, given they have won just twice all season. Even so, I would back them, as the Reds’ form has trailed off, and the Crusaders need to make Christchurch the terrifying fortress it has been for the last decade once again.
