After a big week of Round 1 action in Super Rugby we now move on to Round 2 with a handful of big games to preview.
It all starts when the Highlanders and the reigning Super Rugby champion the Crusaders do battle on Friday.
Analysis, previews and best bets are ready to go below.
Highlanders v Crusaders
february 26th 5:05pm
The opening round of the Super Rugby Aotearoa is headlined by the clash between fierce rivals The Highlanders and the reigning champion The Crusaders on Friday night.
In what is usually a war of attrition between the sides, the Crusaders are looking to commence its defence of the Super Rugby title on the right note.
The Highlanders, however, are out for revenge after being crushed 33-13 in this very fixture in February of last year.
Head coach Tony Brown has named five club debutants in Hugh Renton, Bryn Evans, Connor Garden-Bachop and Solomon Alaimalo to step into the side for their first game of the season.
New recruit Billy Harmon has also been listed to line up against his old club.
Former All Blacks flanker Liam Squire will make his Super Rugby return from the bench for the Highlanders too.
For the Crusaders, the return of sturdy All Blacks capped lock Scott Barrett will be much awaited after he missed the entire 2020 championship winning campaign through injury.
His return to the line-up alongside Sam Whitelock are the forming of an enviable front row.
A lot has changed in this Highlanders side since its loss to the Crusaders all the way back the beginning of 2020 and they can definitely cover the line in this one.
Home ground advantage is a big factor here.
Suggested Bet: Highlanders to cover the +6.5 line at $1.96
Queensland Reds v Melbourne Rebels
february 26Th 7:45pm
The Melbourne Rebels kick start their 2021 Super Rugby season when they take the field against the Queensland Reds on Friday night and Suncorp Stadium.
Following a tumultuous 2020 which left the Rebels stranded outside of Victoria to play away from home all year, the news does not get any easier for them in their season opener.
Having already faced schedule changes and fixture postponements due to COVID-19, the Rebels can finally get themselves in game mode again.
The Queensland Reds will prove a tough challenge to overcome after it poleaxed the NSW Warathas 41-7 in its season opener last week.
It was the biggest ever win recorded by the Reds over their arch-rivals and now face their second round game against the Rebels with supreme confidence.
The Rebels will still also be without their inspiring skipper Dane Haylett-Petty who is still battling with concussion symptoms after a big hit in the tri-nations series last year.
Vice-captain Matt Toouma will assume the role of captain against the Reds and will be without the run of Isi Naisarani who is currently battling a hip injury.
Given the injuries and the forced time away from home it all points towards another comfortable for the Reds here.
Suggested Bet: Queensland Reds to cover the -11.5 handicap at $1.85
Hurricanes v Blues
february 27Th 5:05pm
The Hurricanes and Blues begin their seasons with a battle against each other at the Sky Stadium on Saturday night.
The Blues showed good signs in their two pre-season victories against the Crusaders and the Chiefs to hit this match full steam ahead.
A 24-15 victory in early March of 2020 prior to the cancellation of matches might just give the mental edge the Blues need to overcome the Hurricanes again.
That particular win marked the end of a nine-game losing streak against the Hurricanes in a sign that the tide may have turned.
Notoriously slow starters in the last four seasons, the Hurricanes have only managed to win one season opener since 2017 and that was a 20-19 triumph over the NSW Waratahs.
John Plumtree would have a keen eye on Caleb Clarke who has managed to score a try in his last two Super Rugby games against the Hurricanes.
All signs point to this being a super tight contest.
Slightly in favour of the Hurricanes here despite their recently sluggish beginnings to open their Super Rugby.
Suggested Bet: Hurricanes head to head at $1.89
