Just the one super rugby match this weekend as the International season and the British Lions tour of New Zealand begins
Friday 9th June
8.35am BST
Hurricanes v Chiefs
These two teams are currently 5th and 6th in the overall standings, and second and third in the New Zealand conferences with two games of the regular season to go ahead of the playoffs after the International break in mid-July
The Hurricanes won 34-12 at the Force in Australia lat weekend are second in the conference with 11 wins from 13 games, 10 points behind the Crusaders. This is their game in hand, an absolute must win if they hope for a home quarter-final especially as they end their regular season on 17th July at home to the Crusaders in Wellington
Last weekend the Chiefs won at home versus the Waratahs 46-31 in a match that was closer thane expected. The Chiefs have ten wins and a draw from their 13 games and are four points behind the Hurricanes. They end their regular season on 15th July at home to the Brumbies. They need to win their last two games to stand a chance of second in the conference and a home quarter-final.
Outright odds in green listed bookmakers for the game are Hurricanes 4/9 (at William Hill) Chiefs 15/8, Hurricanes -5 on the points handicap at 10/11 with Bet365. I would expect the Hurricanes to win and cover the handicap.