2020 Super Rugby Aotearoa – Blues vs Chiefs Preview & Prediction

THE FACTS

When is Blues vs Chiefs taking place? Sunday 26^th July, 2020 – 04:35 (UK)

Where is Blues vs Chiefs taking place? Eden Park

What channel is Blues vs Chiefs on? Sky Sports Action

Where can I stream Blues vs Chiefs? Sky Sports subscribers can stream the match via Sky Go

Where can I get tickets for Blues vs Chiefs? Visit this link for ticket information on Super Rugby games

THE TEAM NEWS

BLUES

• Blues lost for the second game in a row last week and their hopes of winning Super Rugby Aotearoa hang in the balance with a positive outcome needed in this contest after their narrow defeat against the Hurricanes.
• In a closely-fought encounter that saw the teams head into the half-time break locked at 15 points apiece, the Blues thought they had won it when leading by five until they conceded late on as they succumbed to a two-point defeat.
• Beauden Barrett will don the number 10 jersey for the first time in almost a year with the All Blacks star switching from fullback while Otere Black faces a race against time to prove his fitness to take a spot on the bench with Emoni Narawa waiting in the wings if he fails to make it.

CHIEFS

• Chiefs’ winless start to Super Rugby Aotearoa continued as they were defeated by Highlanders last week and they will be desperate to end their drought as they take on the Blues.
• The Chiefs will be rueing their inability to hold on to the lead after blowing a 24-point advantage early in the second half of last week’s clash as the Highlanders ran in 26 unanswered points to seal an unlikely comeback.
• With any faint hope of lifting the title now gone, the Chiefs will just be eager to earn their first win of the campaign with three changes made to last week’s 23 as Reuben O’Neill starts in the front row while Ollie Norris and Lisati Milo-Harris join the bench.

THE PREDICTION

The Chiefs are 0-5 ahead of this contest with the Blues and they will be desperate to end their losing streak in this clash. The Blues can still win the competition but their late defeat was harmful last week and they must claim the win in this contest. The manner of the Chiefs’ defeat from last week may be difficult for the visitors to overcome after blowing such a big lead and with the Blues making a key tactical switch with Beauden Barrett switching to fly-half, that could be the catalyst for the hosts to win by at least seven points.