CRUSADERSSecond meets third when the Brumbies host the Crusaders in Round 13 of Super Rugby Pacific in Canberra on Friday and the home side are unbeaten against New Zealand opposition.

 

 

 

Brumbies v Crusaders, Friday 13th May, Canberra, KO 11:45 (South African time)

 

Referee: Angus Gardner
Assistant Refs: Nic Berry, Damon Murphy
TMO: James Leckie

 

Weather Forecast - Canberra

 

Brumbies:

 

The Brumbies are proving a real handful for New Zealand sides. They were given 7.5 points start on the handicap for last week's visit to the Chiefs in Hamilton and they didn't need any of it as 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. The Brumbies first match up with a New Zealand side saw them beat the Highlanders 28-17 in Super Round in Melbourne. Their only defeat so far came against the Reds in Brisbane (21-7) but otherwise they have a perfect record.

 

 

The Brumbies remain in second spot in the standings with a record of 10 wins and 1 defeat. They are 2 points behind the Blues and 4 better off than the Crusaders and they are currently trading at around 7/1 in the outright betting to win the tournament.

 

Crusaders:

 

The Crusaders easily covered a -19.5 point handicap when they thrashed the Force 53-15 in Perth last week. A round earlier they came unstuck in Sydney when they went down 24-21 to the Waratahs. In one earlier clash against Australian opposition the Crusaders put the Rebels away 42-17 in Melbourne.

 

With a record of 8 wins and 3 defeats the Saders come into the weekend third in the standings with 39 log points, 4 points shy of the Brumbies and 6 behind the Blues.

 

The Crusaders are currently trading at around 7/4 second favourites in the outright betting to win the tournament.

 

Team News (subject to change)

 

Brumbies : James Slipper, Lachlan Lonergan, Allan Alaalatoa (c), Darcy Swain, Caderyn Neville, Tom Hooper, Jahrome Brown, Pete Samu, Nic White, Rod Iona, Andy Muirhead, Irae Simone, Len Ikitau, Tom Wright, Tom Banks

 

Reserves: Folau Fainga'a, Scott Sio, Tom Ross, Nick Frost, Luke Reimer, Rory Scott, Ryan Lonergan, Ollie Sapsford

 

Crusaders: George Bower, Codie Taylor, Fletcher Newell, Scott Barrett (c), Sam Whitelock, Pablo Matera, Ethan Blackadder, Cullen Grace, Bryn Hall, Richie Mo'unga, George Bridge, David Havili, Jack Goodhue, Sevu Reece, Will Jordan

 

Reserves: Ricky Jackson, Finlay Brewis, Tamaiti Williams, Liam Hallam-Eames, Tom Christie, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Braydon Ennor, Leicester Faninga'anuku

 

 

The Betting Need to open an account? Claim your 1st deposit bonus of up to R2,000 here

 

Brumbies +6.5 points at 9/10

Crusaders -6.5 points at 9/10

 

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

 

Betting Angle

 

Southpaw one of our forum stalwarts was all over the Crusaders -3.5 earlier in the week and the money has come for the visitors. The Crusaders have named a strong side and the Brumbies are missing key players and the -6.5 still looks the business.

 

BET: 4 units Crusaders -6.5 at 9/10 at Betxchange

 

Click here for the video preview of the game and the views of @ThoughtsOnSports and @Chad_Reich

 

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

 

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