Chiefs to boss the Super Rugby final

Both the Chiefs and the Sharks upset the odds to win their Super Rugby semi-finals but surely the favourites will get the chocolates in the title decider at Waikato Stadium.

Bookmakers have installed the Chiefs at around 4-9 to win the final in their own backyard and, also, they favour the Hamilton-based franchise by about half a dozen points.

The Chiefs and the Sharks have met once during this Super Rugby season and it was the Kiwis who emerged triumphant on Saturday 21 April 2012 despite playing in South Africa.

All Blacks five-eighth Aaron Cruden scored 13 points as the Chiefs stretched their then Super Rugby winning run to seven matches with a 18-12 victory over the Sharks in Durban.

The Chiefs defended brilliantly to limit the Sharks to four penalty goals, with the visitors crossing the line for two tries - one for Cruden and one for replacement halfback Augustine Pulu, who scored in the corner very late on.

The Sharks made several unforced errors, particularly when they were close to breaking through the line of the Chiefs, as a combination of the intensity of the contest and the testing, humid conditions in which the game was played got the better of the John Plumtree-coached home team.

Given the recent head-to-head form - not only did the Chiefs beat the Sharks on the road earlier this year but also they have not conceded a try in any of their last three matches versus the Durban-based outfit - and the attack, attack, attack approach of the favourites, there is an excellent case for backing them to win and win handsomely.

Despite being in the toughest of the three Super Rugby conferences - there are no whipping boys in the New Zealand section, unlike the Australia and South Africa groups that contain such lightweights as the Force and the Lions - the Chiefs scored 444 points in 16 regular season matches and almost kept up with their average in beating the mighty Crusaders 20-17 at Waikato Stadium eight days ago.

The Chiefs have the best back division in Super Rugby and it would not come as a huge surprise if the Sharks ran out of steam in the final as a consequence of their recent travels that have seen them cross the Indian Ocean four times since beating the Bulls 32-10 in Durban on Friday 6 July 2012.

Such a punishing schedule - over the past month the Sharks players have spent more time on aeroplanes and in airport lounges than on the training paddock - has got to catch up with them sooner or later. After all, they are only human.

If the Chiefs can get away to a flying start - and it is not that big an if - there is a very good chance that they will run away with it as the Sharks tire and the home side`s brilliant three-quarters go looking for a try or two.

Bookmakers are offering odds of around 5-2 that the Chiefs win their first Super Rugby championship by 13 or more points and that looks like a reasonable investment.

Go To bet365

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03/08/2012     © Frixo 2024