Emirates Lions Marvin Orie (top) in action during the Super Hero Sunday match played at Soccer City, Johannesburg, South Africa, 19 January 2020. The matches serves as a warm up for the 2020 Super Rugby Championship. EPA/KIM LUDBROOK
Super Rugby fixtures 2020: Predictions and kick off times – Round 1
The 2020 Super Rugby season is upon us. Here’s an overview on what to expect on the opening weekend.
Emirates Lions Marvin Orie (top) in action during the Super Hero Sunday match played at Soccer City, Johannesburg, South Africa, 19 January 2020. The matches serves as a warm up for the 2020 Super Rugby Championship. EPA/KIM LUDBROOK
The 25th edition of Super Rugby will kick off on Friday, the silver anniversary will lose its shine with the absence of many stars who lit up the World Cup only a few months ago.
In the last season of the cumbersome conference system and one that will say sayonara to the no longer wanted Japanese Sunwolves, the talent vacuum will be highlighted from game one when the Auckland Blues host the Waikato Chiefs.
The Blues’ star signing from the off-season Beauden Barrett – the All Blacks playmaker and double World Player of the Year – has an extended holiday written into his new contract and won’t be seen until mid-April.
Brodie Retallick, another former World Player of the Year, has been excused Super Rugby so he can play in Japan but still be available for the All Blacks.
Retallick’s New Zealand second row partner Sam Whitelock, one of five All Blacks missing from the Canterbury Crusaders pack, is in Japan on the same deal.
Most of the Springboks squad that lifted the World Cup in Japan are now scattered throughout Europe and Japan.
The Bulls, South Africa’s best franchise last season, are without several of their stars, including Lood de Jager, Duane Vermeulen and Handre Pollard.
The Pretoria-side play the Sharks who are without the “Beast” Mtawarira, along with Ruan Botha and the du Preez brothers.
The Sunwolves start their final season against the Rebels and the Crusaders play the Waratahs.
The Stormers managed to retain Siya Kolisi and Pieter-Steph du Toit while Eben Etzebeth and Damian de Allende have moved to France and Japan, play the Hurricanes and the Jaguares are at home to the Lions.
Confusing as the competition might be, South African fans will hope to see young players rising through the ranks in the wake of the country’s World Cup win last year. It’s taken the Springboks twelve years every time to win the William Webb Ellis cup – a trend the brains trust is hoping to change.
Predictions are made by using an algorithm from a New Zealand statistician.
Super Rugby 2020: Round 1 predictions
Blues vs Chiefs
Prediction: Chiefs by two points.
Brumbies vs Reds
Prediction: Brumbies by 12 points.
Sharks vs Bulls
Prediction: Sharks by three points.
Sunwolves vs Rebels
Prediction: Rebels by five points.
Crusaders vs Waratahs
Prediction: Crusaders by 25 points.
Stormers vs Hurricanes
Prediction: Hurricanes by three points.
Jaguares vs Lions
Prediction: Jaguares by 12 points.
Super Rugby 2020: Fixtures and kick off times – Round 1
| Date | Fixture/Result | Time | Venue | |
| 31 Jan 2020 | Blues v Chiefs | 29-37 | Eden Park | |
| 31 Jan 2020 | Brumbies v Reds | 27-24 | GIO Stadium | |
| 31 Jan 2020 | Sharks v Bulls | 23-15 | Jonsson Kings Park Stadium | |
| 1 Feb 2020 | Sunwolves v Rebels | 36-27 | Fukuoka Hakatanomori Stadium | |
| 1 Feb 2020 | Crusaders v Waratahs | 43-25 | Trafalgar Park | |
| 1 Feb 2020 | Stormers v Hurricanes | 27-0 | Cape Town | |
| 2 Feb 2020 | Jaguares v Lions | 38-8 | Estadio Jose Amalfitani |
