{"id":262362,"date":"2023-04-21T09:22:01","date_gmt":"2023-04-21T07:22:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/betcentral.onpressidium.com\/?p=262362"},"modified":"2023-04-21T09:42:23","modified_gmt":"2023-04-21T07:42:23","slug":"super-rugby-pacific-4-key-battles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/machibet777-affiliate.com\/rugby\/super-rugby\/super-rugby-pacific-4-key-battles\/","title":{"rendered":"Super Rugby Pacific: 4 Key Battles"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Super Rugby<\/a> is going into round 9 and the New Zealand sides are still looking dominant as the playoff picture begins to take shape, Bet Central<\/a> looks at 4 key battles that could shape this weekend\u2019s clashes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chiefs v Fijian Drua: Combative Hookers<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Samisoni Taukei\u2019aho had a massive 2022 and has picked up where he left off playing a big role in making sure the unbeaten Chiefs\u2019 record remains without blemish, equally so 23-year-old Tevita Ikanivere has been an influential player in an ever-improving Fijian Drua side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both hookers are combative and tough with exemplary set-piece work at the lineout and scrum. It is the younger Ikanivere who is a bit more mobile and quicker than the All Blacks hooker, Taukei\u2019aho is a much more efficient ball carrier taking a couple of defenders with him in comparison with his young counterpart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If Drua are to stand any chance, Ikanivere will have to step up both as a leader and a player in the face of the behemoth that Taukei\u2019aho which is not an easy feat \u2013 not many hookers have had the better of the Chiefs man over the past season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rebels v Crusaders: Form 10s Face Off<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Rebels are looking for a major upset at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium when they face a tough and uncompromising Crusaders side whose ambition is to send off outgoing coach Razor Robinson with yet another Super Rugby title.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Key to Rebels getting their upset is young flyhalf Carter Gordon who has played so well this season he is being spoken of as a possible World Cup bolter for the Wallabies as they begin life under new mentor Eddie Jones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Standing right in front of Gordon\u2019s and by extension the Rebels\u2019 ambition for this weekend is Crusaders legend and flyhalf Richie Mo\u2019unga who at Super Rugby level is near untouchable. The standards are lofty, but Gordon has shown throughout this season that he is up to the task. It remains to be seen whether outplaying Mo\u2019unga may be a bridge too far \u2013 time will tell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blues v Waratahs: Perese, Ioane Looking For Edge<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Izaia Perese\u2019s excellent form wouldn\u2019t ordinarily worry incumbent Wallabies outside centre Len Ikitau, but with a new national coach in the picture and the Wallabies identity yet to be defined, Perese could usurp the brilliant Ikitau who was crucial under Dave Rennie. But rolling things back Perese\u2019s present dilemma is his battle against Rieko Ioane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ioane\u2019s own form isn\u2019t too bright at the moment, but his experience could play a role in stopping one of the in-form outside centres in this year\u2019s competition. Ioane himself is capable of being an offensive threat who can break the game open at any point, but his defence needs to come to the fore to prevent Perese from running riot at Eden Park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The former NRL star against the former All Blacks 7s star will make for a tasty battle in the spiritual home of New Zealand rugby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Force v Highlanders: Man Mountains Collide<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Both the Western Force and Highlanders have their respective nations\u2019 worst performing teams with the Force occupying 2nd<\/sup> from bottom on the log, so it will be a monumental battle at home as they welcome 7th<\/sup> place Highlanders to Perth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Highlanders are without inspirational leader Aaron Smith and will be vulnerable against a Force side eager to prove a point. If the Force are to win the war, the battle up front will be crucial and Argentine international Santiago Medrano will need to be at his best as he takes on All Blacks incumbent loosehead prop Ethan de Groot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both props are accomplished scrummagers and neither will want to give an inch when they collide in the last of this weekend\u2019s Super Rugby games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We look at 4 key battles that could shape this weekend\u2019s Super Rugby Pacific clashes as the playoff picture begins to take shape.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":262370,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","beyondwords_generate_audio":"1","beyondwords_project_id":"20741","beyondwords_content_id":"","beyondwords_preview_token":"","beyondwords_player_style":"","beyondwords_language_id":"","beyondwords_title_voice_id":"","beyondwords_body_voice_id":"","beyondwords_summary_voice_id":"","beyondwords_error_message":"","beyondwords_disabled":"","beyondwords_delete_content":"","beyondwords_podcast_id":"6173520","beyondwords_hash":"3e42f9ebd8b7d4373944b72a2657661049293141","publish_post_to_speechkit":"","speechkit_hash":"","speechkit_generate_audio":"","speechkit_project_id":"","speechkit_podcast_id":"","speechkit_error_message":"","speechkit_disabled":"","speechkit_access_key":"","speechkit_error":"","speechkit_info":"","speechkit_response":"","speechkit_retries":"","speechkit_status":"","speechkit_updated_at":"","_speechkit_link":"","_speechkit_text":""},"categories":[952,956],"tags":[5,1202,79,392,2297],"yoast_head":"\nSuper 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