Sharks v Hurricanes, Saturday 7th May, Durban, KO 4pm BST
This is only the fourth home game of the season for the Sharks who beat Los Jaguares 19-15 at Kings Park back in Round 2 but went down to the Crusaders (19-14) and the Lions (24-9) in subsequent home games. They return home after a 3 match tour of New Zealand which started with a narrow defeat at the Blues (23-18), peaked with a 15-14 win at the Highlanders and ended last week with a 24-22 loss at the table topping Chiefs.
The Sharks are currently outside the play-off spots in the South African group but their schedule eases a bit from here and they need to put a consistent run together to make the post season
The Hurricanes handed out a 50-17 beating to the Lions in Johannesburg last week, running in 7 tries and conceding 3. They now have 6 wins and 3 defeats but they have won 6 of the last 7 and 5 of those wins were accompanied by bonus points. The Hurricanes won both their matches in South Africa last season but they have lost their last 4 in Durban and the last time they won at this venue came back in 2005.
In a play-off spot in the Australasian group, the Hurricanes currently have the 3rd best record of the 5 New Zealand teams.
This should be a very close game yet the visitors have been installed as 4/6 favourites with the Sharks 5/4 at Bet365
I like the Sharks to win this, outright
Recommendation Sharks to beat the Hurricanes 5/4 Bet365
The one New Zealand derby on the Round 11 Super Rugby slaten sees the Chiefs host the Highlanders in Hamilton on Saturday.
Chiefs v Highlanders, Saturday 7th May, Hamilton, KO 10.35am BST
The Chiefs made it 8 wins from 9 when they edged the Sharks 24-22 in New Plymouth last week and they continue to set the pace at the top of the standings. Their 3 matches against New Zealand opposition this season were all settled in their favour but they were all pretty close. The Chiefs started with a 27-21 win away at the Crusaders in Round 1, they beat the Blues here 29-23 in Round 7 and in Round 9 they squeezed home 28-27 against the Hurricanes in Wellington.
The Highlanders have 6 wins and 3 defeats from 9 outings and they come into this game after seeing off the Brumbies 23-10 in Invercargill last week. Their two intra-New Zealand matches this season were nail-biters, a 33-31 loss to the Blues in Auckland in Round 1 and a 17-16 victory over the Hurricanes in Dunedin a week later. This is a critical period for the defending champions who host the Crusaders next week and then, after a bye, they are due in Wellington.
In such blistering form its no surprise to see the Chiefs 8/15 favourites here, the Highlanders 7/4 only on our green listed bookmakers. The Highlanders can be backed with a 5 point start at 19/20 on the handicap with Sportingbet. Given how close these New Zealand battles tend to be, the Highlanders with the points looks an option here
Recommendation Highlanders +5 19/20 Sportingbet
Calculators
