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We preview the five best matches to catch on Rugby Pass this week.
NRL: Tigers vs Sharks (Saturday April 2, 2:30pm HKT)
The NRL served up some cracking games of rugby league over the long weekend, with two of the best involving the Tigers and the Sharks. The latter closed out the round on Monday night with a thrilling win over the Storm at Shark Park, while the former was on the losing end of an low-scoring battle with the high-flying Parramatta Eels earlier that day. Both now sit mid-table with 2 wins and 2 losses each, but they have shown enough in the first four weeks to suggest they should be in the picture come playoffs time. If Ben Barba (pictured) can continue to show the kind of form he’s been showing for the Sharks in the last couple of weeks then he could prove the difference.
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Super Rugby: Brumbies vs Chiefs (Saturday April 2, 4:40pm HKT)
Top of the Australian conference hosts top of the New Zealand conference. The Chiefs have completed a gruelling round-the-world travel schedule over the last few weeks, but while that was predicted to take a physical toll they seem to have just got better and better. Will this be the week all the air miles catch up on them? Or are they touching down in the Australian capital in peak form to face the team who are still favourites to win the whole competition? Expect a generous serving of tries, but this could ultimately come down to a battle of the kickers – the Brumbies’ consistent Christian Lealiifano vs the Chiefs’ smiling assassin Damian McKenzie.
Aviva Premiership: Wasps vs Saints (Saturday April 2, 10:00pm HKT)
Wasps are on a three-game winning streak and go into this weekend’s match against Saints with the top of the Aviva Premiership in their sights – they are now only four points behind leaders Saracens. Northampton Saints – who climbed to fourth on the table after last weekend’s win over Harlequins – won’t be an easy opposition, but Wasps will go in confident after taking the reverse fixture 24-11 in January. If they win this weekend it will be the first time they’ve completed the regular season double over Saints since 2004-05.
Top 14: Toulon vs Clermont (Sunday April 3, 12:30am HKT)
This match is 2 vs 1 on the Top 14 table after a late penalty kick helped Toulon to a 21-20 win over Racing 92 last weekend. The result catapulted them into the all-important top two, and now they look to stay there by defeating the table-topping Clermont, who have won their last six in a row. Toulon should go in confident of a result, though – when these two teams met in Round 9 they thumped their hosts 35-9. Both teams have shown they can quickly get away on their opposition if given half a chance, but another blowout seems unlikely. Expect another nail-biter from Toulon.
Super League: Catalans vs Widnes (Sunday April 3, 1:00am HKT)
If you’ve ever found yourself wondering what former NRL stars like Todd Carney, Dave Taylor, Willie Mason and Krisnan Inu are up to these days, the answer is they’re all playing rugby league in France for Catalans Dragons, whose logo looks like it should belong to a Kung Fu club. Back-to-back wins over the long weekend has put them in touching distance of Widnes Vikings, whose back-to-back long weekend losses saw them fall to third on the Super League table. Both teams are punching above their weight so far this season – this match should help provide a clearer picture of who is the real deal.
