Former Crusaders team-mates Justin Marshall and Andrew Mehrtens are divided on how the opening round of Super Rugby Trans-Tasman will play out this weekend.
Marshall, the former All Blacks halfback, has backed a Kiwi clean sweep in the five matches, starting with the Highlanders hosting the Queensland Reds in Dunedin on Friday night.
There should be some short games for the Aussies this weekend because Im not convinced. They asked me to target a game for the weekend. Im targeting all five, Marshall said to Mehrtens on Sky Sport.
Former Crusaders Justin Marshall and Andrew Mehrtens with the Super Rugby trophy in 2005.
But Mehrtens, who is based in Sydney and is following Super Rugby AU as a commentator, has backed the Australian teams to surprise the Kiwis in the first trans-Tasman Super Rugby clashes in 14 months.
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The Kiwi teams coming over, wanting that fluid game they get back at home, whether the more stop-start nature, or a more gritty game, will actually suit them … I wonder if there might be a surprise, the former All Blacks first five-eighth said.
Dont count your chickens yet, Marshy. That Force team over in Perth, theyve got a lot of passion behind them, and theyve been playing some pretty tough rugby in previous weeks.
Theyre the only team to beat the Reds over here. The Chiefs, coming off that big effort in the [Super Rugby Aotearoa] final, I reckon they might be susceptible.
Marshall bet two bottles of wine, Central Otago pinot noir, against one bottle of South Australian shiraz with Mehrtens.
Martin Hunter/Getty Images
Andrew Mehrtens and Justin Marshall are working in commentary after their playing days.
The Reds, coached by ex-All Blacks and Crusaders lock Brad Thorn, won Super Rugby AU last Saturday after edging the Brumbies 19-16 in a thrilling Brisbane decider. The Crusaders beat the Chiefs 24-13 in the Super Rugby Aotearoa final in Christchurch.
After the opener in Dunedin, the Waratahs host the Hurricanes at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Saturdays triple-header starts with the Crusaders welcoming the Brumbies to Christchurch, then the Rebels and the Force host the Blues and the Chiefs in Melbourne and Perth respectively.
All five New Zealand teams have been ranked ahead of the Australians by Australian bookmakers.
According to odds published in The Sydney Morning Herald, the bookies have the Crusaders 12-time Super Rugby champions as favourites at $1.83, followed by the Blues ($7) and the Highlanders, Chiefs and Hurricanes (all at $8.50).
The Reds are the top-ranked Australian team at $13, followed by the Brumbies ($15), the Melbourne Rebels ($67), the Western Force ($151) and the Waratahs ($501).
