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We preview the best matches to catch on Rugby Pass this weekend, including an emotional match for Munster, a record-setting match for the All Blacks and the Currie Cup decider.
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Bledisloe Cup: New Zealand vs Australia (Saturday October 22, 2:35pm HKT)
The Bledisloe Cup may already be locked away in the NZ Rugby trophy cabinet for yet another year but the third test still has a fair bit on the line. The All Blacks are going for their 18th consecutive test win, which would break the record winning streak by a top tier nation – a record currently shared by the ‘65-’69 and ‘13-’14 All Blacks and the ‘97-’98 Springboks. The odds, form and history books are all stacked in favour of the home side – the All Blacks aced the Rugby Championship with six-from-six bonus point wins, and haven’t lost a game at Eden Park since 1994.
Champions Cup: Munster vs Glasgow (Saturday October 22, 8:00pm HKT)
Emotions will be running high at Thomond Park on Saturday when Munster play their first game since the shocking, tragic death of coach Anthony Foley in Paris last weekend. Their game against Racing 92 was rightfully postponed, whereas Pool 1 rivals Glasgow Warriors come into the match in prime form after a record 42-13 win over Leicester Tigers last weekend. But buoyed by a passionate home crowd expect Munster to leave nothing in reserve as they play to honour their talismanic leader.
Currie Cup: Cheetahs vs Blue Bulls (Saturday October 22, 10:00pm HKT)
The Free State Cheetahs put last year’s Currie Cup champion Golden Lions to the sword in their semifinal last weekend, keeping their perfect season alive with a 55-17 win which included a hat trick to Sergeal Petersen. The Blue Bulls’ path to the final was tougher, taking a 78th minute try from Ivan van Zyl to see them past Western Province, while lock RG Snyman left the game with a fractured skull. Unsurprisingly he’s out this weekend as the Bulls look to pull the rug from under the rampant Cheetahs. Both teams are competing in their first final since 2009, when the Blue Bulls won in Pretoria.
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Mitre 10 Cup: Canterbury vs Counties Manukau (Sunday October 23, 9:05am HKT)
They were shown up last weekend but Canterbury are still runaway favourites to win the Mitre 10 Cup title again this year – it takes more than one loss to dent their impressive record. Counties are having one of their best seasons since the glory days when Lomu and Vidiri prowled the wings, and they ran the defending champs ragged in the second half in Pukekohe. Can they do it a second week in a row, this time in Christchurch with a parochial crowd of Cantabs in the referee’s ear all game? The odds are against them, but what a glorious upset it would be.
Champions Cup: Leicester vs Racing 92 (Monday October 24, 12:30am HKT)
Leicester’s loss to Glasgow last weekend came as something of a surprise. Not so much the result – Warriors are a good side, and especially formidable at home – but the way in which it was achieved. With a final score of 42-13 the Tigers left Scotland on the wrong end of a hiding. Back at Welford Road this weekend, they face a Racing 92 side who are struggling to get back to the form which saw them win the Top 14 and reach the final of last year’s Champions Cup. A win here would put Tigers back on track and avenge their 19-16 semifinal loss to the Parisian club earlier this year.
