We finally make it to the big show and despite all the comments about the format of the competition, it looks like we have the best 2 teams there. Here is my prediction.
First here’s a link to my round-up of all the action last weekend.
How did your semi final predictions go?
1 from 2, I thought that the Lions might get overawed by the occasion.
Here is my 30 second 1 line prediction with the reasoning below.
Hurricanes v Lions
In all honesty this game is a real coin toss. The Lions are accomplished travellers as they showed both last season and early this season. So it’s not like some of the other South African sides that you can discount purely due to the plane ride. Both sides are in form and have form 10s running the show very well. It’s going to be a battle all over the pitch but there are two areas that came up during #RugbyChat this week that I think will be telling.
The Canes will be wanting to avoid knocking the ball on and having to defend scrums. This is an area that could sap them of energy but the Kiwi sides are good at avoiding these.
The weather, the Lions are used to playing in dry sunny conditions. Wellington has been far from that over the last few weeks. If it’s wet and windy then the local knowledge of how the wind swirls in the stadium will count for a lot.
Having said all this I think that home advantage and having Barrett in such amazing form is going to carry the Canes home after falling at this stage last year.
Hurricanes by 5
This season I’m competing with Rugby Numbers, check out his algorithmic prediction.
Predictions Leagues
There is a lot of rugby that’s going to kickoff soon, please do join in my SuperBru leagues for The Rugby Championship, Aviva Premiership, Pro12, Top 14, Mitre 10 Cup, Currie Cupand NRC or you could just join the DrivingMaul club.
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