Cheetahs v Blues Super Rugby Preview

Out of the last five Super Rugby matches between the Cheetahs and the Blues the Auckland based Blues have won three and the Cheetahs two.

Overall the Cheetahs have played the Blues eight times since they joined Super Rugby 10 years ago in 2006 and they have won 2 matches and lost 6.

That gives the Cheetahs a record of beating the Blues in 25% of their matches with an average score of : Cheetahs 25 Blues 34.

This weekend the match will be played in Bloemfontein where the teams have met four times and both teams have won two matches each.

The average score when the Cheetahs play the Blues in Bloemfontein is : Cheetahs 25 Blues 34 .

In Bloemfontein the Blues won the first two matches and then the most recent two matches have both been won by the Cheetahs. The last time the Blues won in Bloemfontein was in 2008.

The Cheetahs have made two changes to the side that beat the Sharks in Round 1. Springbok winger Cornal Hendricks has been promoted to the starting line up and Carl Wegner replaces Lood de Jager who is injured.

The Blues have named Jerome Kaino to win his 100th Super Rugby cap this weekend and he is joined by All Blacks Charlie Faumuina and Patrick Tuipulotu who get their first starts.

Last week the Blues lost a player to a red card fairly early in the match but still managed to keep the Stormers under pressure. A late try snuffed out a late Blues comeback but before that a possible Blues upset looked like it might be possible.

The Cheetahs are something of a mystery as they played extremely well in the opening round but with a bye last week they could have lost all momentum.

The Bookies have given the Blues a 3 point start for this Match – with an offer of a FREE $150 BET. We think the Blues will be desperate not to return home without a victory and will edge the Cheetahs on this one. The Blues should win by 2.

This Match will be shown on TV in NZ, Aus, SA and in the UK on Sky Sports 4.

Average score: Cheetahs 25 Blues 34

Last five results
22 Mar 2014 Cheetahs v Blues 30-40 Auckland
06 Jul 2013 Cheetahs v Blues 34-13 Bloemfontein
02 Apr 2011 Cheetahs v Blues 22-29 Auckland
01 May 2010 Cheetahs v Blues 36-32 Bloemfontein
13 Mar 2009 Cheetahs v Blues 12-46 North Harbour

Cheetahs overall record against the Blues
Played 8 , Wins 2 , Losses 6 , Draws 0

Match No.17:Cheetahs v Blues
Date : Friday 27 February 2015
Venue : Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Kick Off local: 19:10 local, 04:10* AEDT, 06:10* NZDT
Referee: Rohan Hoffmann
Assistant Ref 1:Andrew Lees
Assistant Ref 2:Lourens van der Merwe
TMO :Johan Greeff

Teams

Cheetahs

Willie le Roux, Cornal Hendricks, Francois Venter, Michael van der Spuy, Raymond Rhule, Joe Petersen, Sarel Pretorius, Willie Britz, Oupa Mohoje, Jean Cook, Francois Uys (captain), Carl Wegner, Coenie Oosthuizen, Torsten van Jaarsveld, Danie Mienie.

Replacements: Stephan Coetzee, BG Uys, Maks van Dyk, Tienie Burger, Boom Prinsloo, Tian Meyer, Willie du Plessis, Johann Sadie.

Blues

Tony Woodcock , James Parsons , Charlie Faumuina , Josh Bekhuis , Patrick Tuipulotu , Luke Braid , Brendon O’Connor , Jerome Kaino , Jimmy Cowan , Ihaia West , Tevita Li , Hamish Northcott , Charles Piutau , Melani Nanai , Lolagi Visinia

Replacements : , Matt Moulds , Ofa Tu’ungafasi , Angus Ta’avao , Steven Luatua , Akira Ioane , Jamison Gibson-Park , Simon Hickey , Francis Saili