HURRICANES1The Force host the Hurricanes in Round 15 of Super Rugby Pacific in Perth on Saturday and the home side need an upset win to keep their chances of a spot in the play offs alive.

 

 

 

Force v Hurricanes, Saturday 28th May, Perth, KO 14:00 (South African time)

 

Referee: Angus Gardner
Assistants: Graham Cooper, Jordan Kaminski
TMO: Kyle Burnett

 

Weather Forecast – HBF Park, Perth

 

Force:

 

It's a quick turnaround for the Force who kept themselves in play off contention with a 48-28 bonus point win over Moana Pasifika in a catch up game in Auckland on Tuesday.

 

That victory leaves the Force in ninth spot but now just 3 points behind the Highlanders who visit the Rebels on Sunday. Should the Force win here they will be hoping for the Melbourne side do them a favour and beat the Landers so they can secure the last remaining play off spot.

 

In earlier matches against New Zealand opposition the Force were thrashed 54-21 by the Chiefs in Hamilton, they also crashed and burned 61-10 away to the Highlanders in Dunedin and they went down 53-15 to the Crusaders in a home fixture. One of their better displays saw them run the Blues close at this venue when they were edged out 22-18.

 

The Force have 3 wins (and 10 defeats) against their name, early in the tournament they won 28-3 away to the Rebels and they also edged out Fijian Drua (20-18)

 

Hurricanes:

 

The Canes are in fifth spot and they will be hoping that the fourth placed Chiefs come unstuck against Drua in Fiji earlier on Saturday. If that were to happen the Canes could still over haul the Chiefs and claim a home play off.

 

The Canes have won 3 and lost 1 of their matches against Australian opposition. They beat the Reds (30-17) in the Super Round in Melbourne before going down 42-25 away to the Brumbies. More recently they edged out the Waratahs 22-18 in Sydney and beat the Rebels 45-22 in Wellington.

 

Team News (subject to change)

 

Force: Tom Robertson, Andrew Ready, Santiago Medrano, Ryan McCauley, Jeremy Thrush, Fergus Lee-Warner, Tim Anstee, Jackson Pugh, Ian Prior, Reesjan Pasitoa, Manasa Mataele, Richard Kahui, Bryon Ralston, Toni Pulu, Jake McIntyre

 

Reserves: Feleti Kaitu'u, Angus Wagner, Bo Abra, Izack Rodda, Jack Winchester, Michael McDonald, Kyle Godwin, Brad Lacey

 

Hurricanes: Pouri Rakete-Stones, Dane Coles, Owen Franks, James Blackwell, Justin Sangster, Caleb Delany, Du'Plessis Kirifi, Brayden Iose, TJ Perenara (c), Aidan Morgan, Salesi Rayasi, Billy Proctor, Bailyn Sullivan, Wes Goosen, Josh Moorby

 

Reserves: Asafo Aumua, Xavier Numia, Tevita Mafileo, Blake Gibson, Ardie Savea, Jamie Booth, Jackson Garden-Bachop, Teihorangi Walden

 

 

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Force +15.5 points at 9/10

Hurricanes -14.5 points at 9/10

 

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

 

Betting Angle

 

This game is handicapped virtually where I set it in my Sunday night exercise on the forum, but after last nights THE HANDICAP our Rugby Betting Show I find myself leaning to the home team here. The Hurricanes are missing a couple of key players and while the Force failed to deliver on some promise shown earlier in the season I think they are capable of scoring the points required to keep within the handicap here. Small interest for me on the plus at this stage as my main focus likely to be in the points markets.

 

Click here for the video preview for Force v Hurricanes to see what @TheConductor and @TheCroweTips are betting on

For bets from other punters keep an eye on our forum

 

BET: 3 Units, Western Force +15.5 at 9/10 at Hollywoodbets

 

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

 

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