Super Rugby Semi Finals Preview

Super 15 Rugby Semi Finals sees two great matches with the Chiefs vs Crusaders and the Bulls vs Brumbies. It is strange that the Crusaders who are the bottom placed team of the four left and will have to win away from home if they are to win, are actually the favourites to win the Super Rugby 2013 title.

The Bulls host the Brumbies in a battle between two teams who have gone off the boil in recent weeks, but will still be entertaining.

For updated starting team lists named go to

http://www.superrugbytips.com/p/super-rugby-2013.html

Chiefs vs Crusaders

The Chiefs and Crusaders are meeting for the sixth time in the last two years. The competition format is strange when you get these two teams playing each other three times in a season yet they don’t play some teams from other conferences each season. These two teams met in the semi finals in the same location last season and the Chiefs won. These two teams one home win each against each other this season, while the Chiefs were the last team to beat the Crusaders over two months ago.

The Chiefs did win Super Rugby 2013 and the previous match in Hamilton earlier this season, but I haven’t seen the Crusaders juggernaut look this impressive. A return to regular games in Christchurch must have helped as has having so many quality international stars hitting top form at the business end of the season. It is an embarrassment of riches when they have Richie McCaw on the bench when their entire loose forward trio and starting eight have played for the All Blacks.

There will be so many match ups on display including the Dan Carter vs Aaron Cruden battle pictured above. This match is going to be epic, but given the way that the Crusaders have been destroying their opponents it will be difficult for the Chiefs to win. It is crazy how the Chiefs are the top team in the New Zealand conference, but they go into this home semi final as underdogs.

Can a star team beat a team of stars? Not when the team of stars is playing this well!

This game should by rights be close, but the way the Crusaders have been playing then it could be worth going for a big margin.

My pick – Crusaders by 14.

Bulls vs Brumbies

Both the Bulls and Brumbies have been impressive this season, especially at home, but they have both been a bit disappointing recently. The Bulls go into this one after a week off and will be heavy favourites at home. The Bulls will rely heavily on Morne Steyn to get them home against the Brumbies who looked a bit flat when just beating the Cheetahs in Canberra last week. It seems that the British and Irish Lions series did have an affect on players.

My pick – Bulls by 6

For SuperBru tipsters who need to make up placings may have to chance their arm by picking the Chiefs or Brumbies, but I think there is more chance of the Crusaders and Bulls winning by bigger than expected margins. This could be a way to chance your arm remembering that it is double points in this round.

Who are you picking to win Super Rugby Semi Finals 2013?

http://www.superrugbytips.com/2013/07/super-15-rugby-semi-finals-2013.html

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