Three wild predictions
01 CRUSADERS TO BE UNBEATEN AT HOME
The Crusaders were formidable at AMI Stadium Christchurch last year and we don’t see that changing.
The best chance opponents have of winning there will be earlier in the season when the ground is harder, the ball drier. By the middle of April, forget about it.
The Crusaders pack is too good, too strong to be beaten on a cold, dank night in Christchurch. And there will be plenty of cold dank nights in Christchurch.
02 CALEB CLARKE TO BE TOP TRY SCORER
This kid is a little bit special. Not quite Rieko Ioane special but not so far off either. He’ll nail down a starting place at the Blues and if Ioane is playing at centre, Clarke should be given the ball in plenty of space.
Not that he needs that much. Just watch how well he finishes.
03 DAMIAN McKENZIE TO BE TOP POINTS SCORER
The little maestro is probably going to play about every minute of every game and own the goalkicking duties. And as we are predicting that the Chiefs are going to push deep into the competition and score plenty of tries along the way, it’s not such a big leap of faith to suggest McKenzie will be the top points scorer.
Especially as we expect him to score plenty of tries as well.