GEAR UP RUGBY FANS: Super Rugby Aotearoa Round 2 Preview

GEAR UP RUGBY FANS: Super Rugby Aotearoa Round 2 Preview

Round Two of the Super Rugby Aotearoa gets going this weekend, with the Hurricanes hosting the Crusaders, and the Blues visiting the Chiefs.

Jun 18, 2020 by Alex Rees
GEAR UP RUGBY FANS: Super Rugby Aotearoa Round 2 Preview

Round 1 of the new Super Rugby Aotearoa was a thrilling affair, as the Blues proved they're legit contenders with a strong win over the Hurricanes and the Highlanders won a classic over the Chiefs. With the three-time defending Super Rugby champion Crusaders joining the fray in Round 2, things should only heat up. 

First the Blues will head to Waikato to battle the Chiefs, then the Hurricanes will welcome the Crusaders to Wellington. Here is the quick rundown on each matchup:

Chiefs vs Blues | 6/20 | 3:05 am (ET)

It took a heroic Bryn Gatland drop goal from nearly 40 meters to down the Chiefs in Round 1, but the Chiefs will have moved on by now and set their sights on rivals the Blues. The men from Waikato got some strong performances from Damian McKenzie, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, and Shaun Stevenson, but will be hoping for a few more members of their depleted forward pack to step up in Round 2. 

The Chiefs have an unchanged front row from last week's contest, with the only change in the tight five the inclusion of 20 year old Ah Kuoi into the starting lineup. The back row remains the same, and fans will hope to see a little more from All Black Luke Jacobson, who was quiet in Round 1. 

Aaron Cruden returns to the starting XV for the Chiefs after questionably starting on the bench in favor of Kaleb Trask against the Highlanders. Cruden's impact on the game was a positive one in Round 1, and he should figure to give the Chiefs a bit more direction against the Blues than they had last week. 

The Blues dazzled fans last week with their poise and quick-striking ability against the Hurricanes at Eden Park. With Beauden Barrett and Otere Black playing the dual-10 roles, the Blues looked extremely dangerous. The rest of the squad stepped up as well, and with so many threats around the park, like Rieko Ioane and Caleb Clarke, the men from Auckland looked great. 

The Blues only make two changes to the first XV, with All Blacks Akira Ioane and Dalton Papalii joining the back row for the injured Tom Robinson and Blake Gibson. Fans will have to wait at least another week to see the return of rugby GOAT Dan Carter to Super Rugby. 

Prediction: Chiefs 24-30 Blues

Hurricanes vs Crusaders | 6/20 | 11:35 pm (ET)

The Hurricanes were left in the dust in the second half last week in Auckland, but hope the comfort of a home crowd in Wellington helps them to stay switched on for the full 80. Dane Coles and Ngani Laumape were strong in Week 1, but the rest of the boys needed to step up as well. 

Ardie Savea returns to the starting lineup for the Hurricanes, which should provide the men from Wellington with more go forward ball and more strength around the breakdown. Vaea Fifita, another All Black, joins the starting pack as well after coming off the bench in Round 1. 

The Crusaders were off on a bye week during Round 1, and figure to come in hot for Round 2. The three-time defending Super Rugby champs were off to another fine start in the 2020 season before the Covid-19 pandemic shut everything down. Looking ahead to the rest of the Aotearoa, the Crusaders will certainly be the favorites once again, but will face stiff competition along the way from their four counterparts. 

Eight All Blacks start for the Crusaders in their first hit out of the season, with impressive young up-and-comer Will Jordan slotting in at fullback. David Havili and Ethan Blackadder both return from lengthy injury layoffs to make their season debuts, which will be a welcome sight for Crusaders fans. 

The Canterbury side will unfortunately be without skipper Scott Barrett, who is out with a foot injury, so Codie Taylor will captain the team for the first time. 

Prediction: Hurricanes 20-31 Crusaders