Crusaders set to dominate Super Rugby again:
Super Rugby is back and it’s likely to be a familiar team to land the big prize at the end of the season as the Crusaders have been installed as the odds-on favourites to land the title again. Three successive years Crusaders have won the Super Rugby crown and this year they will look to make it four years in a row.
In Head Coach Scott Robinson, they have a top coach who knows how to win. Robinson is the best in the business and will ensure the team are fully motivated to deliver another title this season. It goes without saying what a top job Robinson has done so far as he looks to deliver yet another successful season.
This year a new captain has been appointed for the Crusaders and Scott Barrett is the man to lead the team as its skipper. Barrett is twenty years old and leads from the front and his strong build makes him perfect for the lock position. He has played thirty-six times for his country and has been tipped to captain the All Blacks in the future.
Barrett has played over sixty appearances for Crusaders over the past four seasons and scored sixty five points in the process. He is a player who leaves everything on the pitch and has been a key part of the team who have won three titles in a row.
Coming from a Rugby family Scott Barrett has two other brothers who are also outstanding at Rugby in Beauden Barrett and Jordan Barrett. His elder brother Beauden has been the star of New Zealand rugby for many years and domestically has led Hurricanes for many years before transferring to Blues this season.
Super Rugby 2020
The new season has started as it left off with Crusaders winning well. Their opening game of the season was a win over Hurricanes and then they followed up with a win over the Chiefs. Both teams are the biggest threat to Crusaders winning the New Zealand conference, but they are both going to have to improve if they are going to dispose Crusaders.
Richie Mo’unga scored nineteen points in the opening game with superb kicking as well as scoring a try. Sevu Reece was on top form to also score a try as well as Braydon Ennor, Jack Goodhue and David Havili also on the scoresheet. Defensively Crusaders weren’t on top form, but when you score thirty-nine points, you’re always going to win.
The most recent game was a lower scoring one and the star man was Will Jordan who scored a brace of tries to maintain Crusaders 100% record. Richie Mo’unga was on hand with expert kicking to deliver another win.
The Blues have also made a winning start to the season and top the table after three wins from three matches. With new signing Beauden Barrett, they will prove the toughest test this season to the Crusaders dominance and this has been evident in the opening matches.
Caleb Clarke is likely to be a key man for The Blues all season along with reliable kicker Otere Black. Clarke has scored two tries so far while Black has been on target with his boot to kick really well in all three games. Wins over Chiefs, Highlanders and Hurricanes has seen the Blues top the table, however, the big match is set for Saturday 11th July as the Blues face Crusaders.
Super Rugby Aotearoa Odds
Crusaders have been installed as the odds-on favourites to land another title at odds of 8/11 (1.73) and US odds of -137.50 given their success in 2019 and also have the best squad. Blues are next in the betting to be champions at 12/5 (3.4) and US odds +240 to cause an upset and overcome the dominant force in Super Rugby.
Caleb Clarke, Will Jordan and Seve Reece are the main favourites to be the top try scorer and with plenty of opportunities to deliver, it will be a close call to see which one comes out on top as tries are shared account equally.
