Super Rugby fixtures 2020: Predictions and kick off times – Round 3

The 2020 Super Rugby season continues with seven round three fixtures this weekend, spread across five countries in the Southern Hemisphere and with derbies in New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. Here are the predictions and kick off times for this weekend’s action.

by Digital Editors

13-02-2020 08:58

in Rugby

Predictions, results and fixtures for Round 3 of Super Rugby 2020 follows below this preview.

All Blacks half-back TJ Perenara was praised for his honesty after disallowing his own try during the Wellington Hurricanes win against the Jaguares in Buenos Aires last weekend.

Referee Rasta Rasivhenge was heard on live television asking Perenara whether he had grounded the ball under a pile of bodies. “Did you get it, TJ?”

“No,” replied the scrum-half, who has 64 caps for New Zealand. “Thanks for your honesty, TJ. That’s good leadership by you, thank you very much,” said the South African official. The Hurricanes were 23-12 down at the time but went on to win 26-23.

Coincidentally, Rasivhenge disallowed a Perenara try two years ago against the Northern Bulls for a knock-on and although TV replays proved inconclusive, Perenara also showed his sportsmanship. “If I had put it down more cleanly, then it’s a try,” he admitted. “But I didn’t, so it’s not.”

There was much hype when 2007 Rugby World Cup winner Jannie du Plessis quit Montpellier to join the Lions with the 37-year-old tighthead prop considered a battle-hardened warrior.

But the sight of Du Plessis being tormented by South Africa-born Reds loosehead Jean-Pierre Smith in Johannesburg last weekend must have alarmed Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen.

The former Springbok was forced to back-pedal at numerous scrums, conceded four penalties and was taken off seven minutes into the second half as the Lions won 27-20.

“We need to fix a few things,” conceded Van Rooyen ahead of a home clash with high-riding Western Stormers this Saturday. Du Plessis may be top of that list.

Meanwhile, the Blues are “excited” about their prospects ahead of hosting the Canterbury Crusaders on Friday in one of the fiercest rivalries in the competition, despite losing their 10 matches against Super Rugby’s defending champions.

“When the Super Rugby schedule comes out you always look first for the Crusaders game,” said Blues coach Leon MacDonald who made 122 appearances for the 10-time champions Canterbury between 1997 and 2009.

“They are the benchmark. It is the game where the hairs on the back of your neck bristle. I know the boys are excited.”

Jaguares fly-half Domingo Miotti is the unlikely pacesetter in the 2020 Super Rugby points scoring charts ahead of a visit from the Reds, having been on the bench for the Argentina side when the season kicked off.

Coach Gonzalo Quesada originally opted for Joaquin Diaz Bonilla as his first-choice playmaker, but he was injured a few minutes into the clash with the Golden Lions in Buenos Aires.

Enter Miotti, who scored 18 points in the rout of the Lions and another 13 in last weekend’s defeat to Wellington Hurricanes

“Losing Joaquin so early was a serious blow, but the silver lining has been the great form of Domingo,” said skipper and scrum-half Tomas Cubelli.

Super Rugby Round 3: Fixtures, times, results and predictions

Friday sees the Blues take on reigning champions the Crusaders at 8:05 SAST, with both Kiwi franchises having won one and lost one of their opening two Super Rugby fixtures.

The action then moves to the Australian conference where the Rebels host the Waratahs at AAMI Park (10:15) with neither side yet off the mark in 2020.

Ellis Park is the venue on Saturday for the South African rival clash between the Lions and Stormers with kick off at 15:05 in Johannesburg.

The visitors from the Cape top the overall log after the opening fortnight following a pair of home wins at Newlands, while the home side recorded their first success of the campaign last weekend on their return from a fruitless opening round trip to Argentina.

Another unbeaten SA side are the new-look Sharks, who continue their tour of New Zealand away to the Hurricanes at the Westpac Stadium (8:05).

Sean Everitt’s men kicked off their trip in fine style last weekend with a booming win over the Highlanders.

The Dunedin side need to dust themselves down quickly as they hop across the Tasman to play the Brumbies on Saturday at GIO Stadium (10:15).

Australia’s leading franchise are at the sharp end of the early standings thanks to their unbeaten start over the opening two rounds.

The Chiefs are the fourth team to boast a perfect record so far under new coach Warren Gatland, as they travel to play the Sunwolves at the Chichibunomiya Stadium in Tokyo with kick off at 5:45.

Wrapping up the round three action are 2019 finalists the Jaguares, who welcome the touring Reds to Estadio Jose Amalfitani at 1:00 on Sunday morning.