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There’s silverware on the line this weekend with Champions and Challenge Cup finals in Europe, while a mouthwatering New Zealand derby is the highlight of the Super Rugby schedule.
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Challenge Cup: Gloucester vs Stade Francais (Saturday, May 13, 3:00am HKT)
Seasons don’t get more rollercoaster than the one Stade Francais have endured. The famous old club’s very existence was in doubt not that long ago, while their on-pitch fortunes have varied like the weather on an Irish spring day. Through it all, they have somehow managed to hang tough in this competition. And, now, they face English Premiership outfit Gloucester in the showpiece match. Some silverware would, somehow, make it all worthwhile for the Top 14 side. But Gloucester have suffered woes of their own, and will want the win for much the same reason.
NRL: Panthers vs Warriors (Saturday, May 13, 1:00pm HKT)
A battle to avoid the wooden spoon? Or a fight to make the top 8? Both these sides have performed worse than expected so far this season, particularly the Panthers, a pre-season Premiership contender who are currently languishing 15th on the table. The Warriors started poorly but have improved since Kieran Foran returned to partner Shaun Johnson in the halves. They now sit just a win behind the playoffs pace, and on current form, you’d take them to take the two points at Pepper Stadium. But the Panthers could start delivering on their promise any day now – bet on this one at your peril.
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Super Rugby: Crusaders vs Hurricanes (Saturday, May 13, 3:35pm HKT)
Well now. After a few weeks of entertaining but mostly one-sided games against South African opponents, the unbeaten Crusaders and rampant Hurricanes are on a collision course for what could just about be the match of the regular season. While the Crusaders have home advantage, they’ve had to travel all the way from the Republic this week. The extra travel could prove the difference – the Canes have been happily cross-kicking oppositions to death in the lower North Island for the last few weeks and might just have the fresher legs come Saturday night. Don’t miss it.
Super Rugby: Bulls vs Highlanders (Saturday, May 13, 9:05pm HKT)
The Bulls launched their official coffee during the week so they should be raring to go when the Highlanders arrive at Loftus on Saturday. The visitors are fresh off a spectacular win against the Cheetahs – a spectacular win which was very nearly a humiliating defeat. The Bulls won’t let them score three tries in the final five minutes, but nor are the Bulls likely to run in 41 points. After a hiding from the Crusaders last week, this is must-win for the home side if they want to maintain their slim playoff chances.
Champions Cup: Saracens vs Clermont (Sunday, May 14, 12-midnight HKT)
Defending champions Saracens have not lost a Champions Cup match since the semifinal of the 2015 competition, some 18 games ago. That defeat was at St Etienne in France, against their opponents this weekend in Edinburgh. The Premiership side are looking to join the elite ranks of Leicester Tigers, Leinster and Toulon as the only teams to win back-to-back European titles – but they face a Clermont side equally determined not to become the first in history to lose three European finals.
