The biggest matches to watch on Rugby Pass this week

The Lions tour is in full swing, while elsewhere England and France kick off their respective tours of Argentina and South Africa.

Super Rugby: Hurricanes vs Chiefs (Friday, June 9, 3:35 pm HKT)

A lone Super Rugby game in a weekend of internationals – but what a game it promises to be. The Hurricanes and Chiefs are both guaranteed spots in the playoffs but the result here could still be all-important when it comes to the final standings. A win for the home side would see them lock in 2nd place in the New Zealand conference and a presumptive playoff against the Brumbies. 3rd place, currently held by the Chiefs, will likely involve a trip to South Africa to play the Stormers – something they would probably prefer to avoid.

Lions Tour: Crusaders vs Lions (Saturday, June 10, 3:35pm HKT)

The third match for the Lions in a week – and, by far, their toughest outing to date. The hosts’ young squad are unbeaten in their Super Rugby campaign, while the vaunted visitors struggled in their opener against the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians before being outdone by the Blues midweek. Popular opinion suggests the Lions have to perform well here if they are to avoid a dismal and humiliating few weeks.

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International: South Africa vs France (Saturday, June 10, 10:00pm HKT)

Step by occasionally faltering step, Guy Noves’ France are moving away from the craven, rabbit-in-the-headlights side of the Philippe Saint-Andre years. A ‘meh’ first Six Nations in 2016 was followed by an improving tour of Argentina; then a hint of exciting things to come in the November 2016 internationals and a three-from-five Six Nations. This is Les Bleus’ most difficult test on their quest to escape their recent past – but it’s an indication of how far they have come that there is quiet confidence in the camp.

International: Argentina vs England (Sunday, June 11, 3:15am HKT)

Shorn of many of his regular starting line-up, Eddie Jones has opted for a mix of youth and monstrous size for the two-Test tour of the Rugby Championship nation. It’s not hard to imagine that the England side for the World Cup in Japan will be a mix of the Red Rose representatives on the Lions tour, and a generous sprinkling of the young guns here. For those who have ambitions to be on the plane to Japan in two years, the journey starts here.

Lions Tour: Highlanders vs Lions (Tuesday, June 13, 3:35pm HKT)

The tour does not get any easier for the Lions. Their fourth outing of the 10-match tour of New Zealand is another difficult encounter against a high-flying Super Rugby side. Those three Tests against the All Blacks are looming ever larger on the tour horizon – and, by now, we should be starting to get a hint of the gameplan, and the shape of the side that will face the best rugby side in the world. Unless Warren Gatland has a few surprises in store, that is…