BRUMBIESThe Brumbies host the Blues in Round 14 of Super Rugby Pacific in Canberra on Saturday and the visitors are bidding to seal top spot in the standings

 

 

 

Brumbies v Blues, Saturday 21st May, Canberra, KO 11:45 (South African time)

 

Referee: Damon Murphy
Assistant Refs: Angus Gardner , Jordan Way
TMO: James Leckie

 

Weather Forecast - Canberra

 

Brumbies:

 

With a couple of key players absent the Brumbies were given around 6.5 points start for last week's home game against the Crusaders. They put in another big shift but couldn't repair the damage of a 23-5 half time deficit and eventually went down 37-26.

 

Prior to that the Brumbies had been a real handful for New Zealand sides. They were given 7.5 points start on the handicap for a visit to the Chiefs in Hamilton and they came away with a 38-28 victory. In Round 11 they were slight underdogs for a home fixture against the Hurricanes and they came out on top 42-25 and they beat the Highlanders 28-17 in Super Round in Melbourne.

 

The Brumbies have won 10 and lost 2 and are now in third spot, level on points with the Crusaders and 7 points behind the Blues with this game and a trip to Auckland to face Moana Pasifika still to come.

 

The Brumbies are currently trading at around 17/2 in the outright betting to win the tournament.

 

Blues:

 

The Blues (-20.5 points on the handicap) put the Reds away 53-26 in Auckland last week to put themselves in touching distance of top spot and home advantage in the final should they get that far. They are 7 points clear of the two chasers and after this their final match of the regular season is away to the Waratahs.

 

In earlier matches against Australian sides the Blues hammered the Rebels 71-28 at Eden Park and they held off a second half comeback from the Force in Perth for a 22-18 win.

 

The Blues have chalked up 11 straight wins since losing to the Canes in the opening round and in the outright betting they are trading as 15/10 favourites with WSB to win the tournament.

 

Team News (subject to change)

 

Brumbies: James Slipper, Folau Fainga’a, Allan Alaalatoa (c), Darcy Swain, Caderyn Neville, Tom Hooper, Luke Reimer, Pete Samu, Nic White, Noah Lolesio, Andy Muirhead, Irae Simone, Len Ikitau, Tom Wright, Tom Banks

 

Reserves: Billy Pollard, Scott Sio, Sefo Kautai, Nick Frost, Rory Scott, Ryan Lonergan, Hudson Creighton, Ollie Sapsford

 

Blues: Alex Hodgman, Kurt Eklund, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, James Tucker, Sam Darry, Tom Robinson, Dalton Papalii (c), Hoskins Sotutu, Finlay Christie, Beauden Barrett, Caleb Clarke, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Bryce Heem, Mark Telea, Stephen Perofeta

 

Reserves: Ricky Riccitelli, Karl Tu'inukuafe, Nepo Laulala, Luke Romano, Anton Segner, Sam Nock, Tanielu Tele'a, Zarn Sullivan

 

 

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Brumbies +7.5 points at 9/10

Blues -6.5 points at 9/10

 

Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.

 

Betting Angle

 

Brumbies v Blues should be the clash of the weekend and the bookies appear to have handicapped this one pretty well. I actually went +8.5 Brumbies so if anything should be leaning towards the Blues minus, but actually I think this is a game for the 1-12 winning margins as I fancy the Blues to win it, but not by many.

 

BET: 3 Units Blues To win by 1-12 points inclusive at 7/4 at Sunbet

 

Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.

 

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