CRAIG LEWIS looks ahead to the first three Super Rugby matches of round eight, including the game between the Hurricanes and Sharks.

HURRICANES vs SHARKS (Napier, Friday 09:35)

The Sharks returned to winning ways in some style as they powered to a 60-43 victory over the Blues last weekend. In one fell swoop, it’s changed the complexion of a campaign that had previously appeared to be on a steadfast downward spiral.

For one, it’s brought the Durban-based side back to within seven log points of the South African conference-leading Lions, while enabling them to head into Friday’s clash against the Hurricanes with renewed confidence.

This encounter should provide a far clearer picture of just what this Sharks side is made of, particularly considering the Hurricanes have quickly emerged as the team to beat this season after rising to the top of the Kiwi conference with a 50-19 thrashing of the Rebels last weekend.

Boasting a solid set piece, strong kicking game and plenty of ball-carrying threats, the Canes have established themselves as one of the most well-rounded teams in the competition, with coach Chris Boyd making just two changes for this clash.

The Sharks have understandably stuck with the same side that battered the Blues, and they will need the likes of Beast Mtawarira, Jean-Luc du Preez and André Esterhuizen to once again impose their physical presence.

What the Sharks also did so well against the Blues was to play with a sense of fearless freedom as they backed their abilities with ball in hand, but this will need to be matched with accuracy and execution if they are to have any hope of competing with the Canes.

The visitors have also identified defence and discipline as the key factors to improve upon if they are to somehow cause a massive upset in Napier, but there is little doubt that the classy Canes remain firm favourites for this one.

Stats and facts

• The Hurricanes have won three of their last five games against the Sharks, and will be looking for back-to-back wins against them for the first time since 2005-06.
• Each of the most recent six games between these teams has been won by the home side.
• The Hurricanes have lost consecutive games against South African sides; the last time they lost more on the trot was from March 2010 to April 2011 (lost five).
• The Sharks are the only side to make fewer than 100 carries per match this season (97).
• Ben Lam is the top try-scorer this season, scoring eight in five appearances, after scoring just two in his first 12 games in the competition.

Hurricanes – 15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Julian Savea, 13 Vince Aso, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Ben Lam, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Gareth Evans, 7 Sam Henwood, 6 Brad Shields (c), 5 Sam Lousi, 4 Michael Fatialofa, 3 Jeff Toomaga-Allen, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Chris Eves.
Subs: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Fraser Armstrong, 18 Ben May, 19 Vaea Fifita, 20 Reed Prinsep, 21 Jamie Booth, 22 Ihaia West, 23 Wes Goosen.

Sharks – 15 Curwin Bosch, 14 Sbu Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 André Esterhuizen, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Tera Mtembu, 7 Jean-Luc du Preez, 6 Philip van der Walt, 5 Stephan Lewies, 4 Ruan Botha (c), 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Beast Mtawarira.
Subs: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 John-Hubert Meyer, 19 Hyron Andrews, 20 Tyler Paul, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Marius Louw, 23 Kobus van Wyk

SUNWOLVES vs WARATAHS (Tokyo, Saturday 07:15)

Before the start of the season, the Sunwolves set the overly ambitious target of achieving a top-five finish, but the folly of that has become clear as they’ve slipped to five successive defeats.

However, the Sunwolves can quite often spring a surprise when playing at their Tokyo base, and this should be one of those games that they view as an opportunity to at least produce a competitive performance.

The Waratahs do come into this clash following an important win over the Brumbies, and while they haven’t made many changes for this match, it’s notable that flank Will Miller has been selected as a second fetcher in anticipation of a high-intensity encounter.

Yet even without injured star Israel Folau, anything besides a bonus-point win will be seen as an underperformance by the Aussies.

Stats and facts

• The Waratahs blazed to a 57-12 win against the Sunwolves in the 15th round in 2016, the only previous meeting between these teams. At the time, it was the Japanese side’s biggest ever home loss (now third biggest).
• The Sunwolves have lost seven out of seven games against Australian opposition in Super Rugby, conceding at least 30 and an average of 43 points per game in those matches.
• The Waratahs have won back to back matches and are looking to win a third on the bounce for the first time since April-May 2016 (won four). That was also the last time they won consecutive away games, which is on the cards here too.
• The Sunwolves have conceded a competition high 44 points and 6.6 tries per match this season.
• Hosea Saumaki has the best average gain per carry of any of the 112 players to make 30-plus carries this season (11.4m).

Sunwolves – 15 Kotaro Matsushima, 14 Lomano Lemeki, 13 Timothy Lafaele, 12 Michael Little, 11 Semisi Masirewa, 10 Yu Tamura, 9 Yutaka Nagare, 8 Kazuki Himeno , 7 Lappies Labuschagne, 6 Yoshitaka Tokunaga, 5 Sam Wykes, 4 James Moore, 3 Jiwon Koo, 2 Shota Horie, 1 Craig Millar.
Subs:16 Jaba Bregvadse, 17 Keita Inagaki, 18 Nikoloz Khatiashvili, 19 Wimpie van der Walt, 20 Edward Quirk, 21 Fumiaki Tanaka, 22 Hayden Parker, 23 Hosea Saumaki.

Waratahs – 15 Bryce Hegarty, 14 Alex Newsome, 13 Curtis Rona, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Taqele Naiyaravoro, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Michael Wells, 7 Michael Hooper (c), 6 Will Miller, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Ned Hanigan, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Damien Fitzpatrick, 1 Tom Robertson
Subs: 16 Hugh Roach, 17 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 18 Paddy Ryan, 19 Tom Staniforth, 20 Jed Holloway, 21 Mitchell Short, 22 Lalakai Foketi, 23 Cameron Clark

CHIEFS vs BLUES (Hamilton, Saturday 09:35)

There have already been a number of high-quality New Zealand derbies this season, and this is the sort of contest that won’t be short of entertainment.

According to Sanzaar’s per-game averages, both teams are ranked among the top three in the tournament for carries (Chiefs 121.8, Blues 131.8), metres made (Chiefs 525.6, Blues 531.6), clean breaks (Chiefs 18.8, Blues 14.4), defenders beaten (Chiefs 28.8, Blues 31.2) and offloads (Chiefs 12, Blues 15.2).

It’s the Chiefs, though, who remain handily placed, just a couple of points off the top of the New Zealand conference, while the Blues dwell down in fifth spot after managing just one win from five games.

The Blues are a team currently playing without any real confidence, and that will hardly be helped by the fact that the Chiefs have gone unbeaten in their last 13 games against the Auckland-based side.

On the basis of what’s been seen this season, it’s a record that will remain intact for the hosts on Saturday.

Stats and facts

• The Chiefs are undefeated in their last 13 games against the Blues (won 12, drawn one), the longest unbeaten streak of any team against another in Super Rugby history.
• Though the Blues have not won away to the Chiefs since 2011, they’ve picked up three losing bonus points in their last five visits.
• The Blues have lost 23 of their last 24 away games against New Zealand sides, the only win in that time coming back in 2013 against the Hurricanes.
• The Blues have averaged the most possession of any side this season, despite picking up just that single victory, also averaging over 30 points and four tries per game.
• Damian McKenzie has beaten 34 defenders in 2018, the second most of any player, despite playing just five games.

Chiefs – 15 Solomon Alaimalo, 14 Toni Pulu, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Johnny Faauli, 11 Sean Wainui, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 8 Pita Gus Sowakula, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Lachlan Boshier, 5 Tyler Ardron, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Angus Ta’avao, 2 Nathan Harris, 1 Aidan Ross.
Subs: 16 Liam Polwart, 17 Karl Tu’inukuafe, 18 Jeff Thwaites, 19 Luke Jacobson, 20 Liam Messam, 21 Jonathan Taumateine, 22 Charlie Ngatai, 23 Marty McKenzie.

Blues – 15 Michael Collins, 14 Matt Duffie/Jordan Hyland, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 TJ Faiane, 11 George Moala, 10 Stephen Perofeta, 9 Jonathan Ruru, 8 Akira Ioane, 7 Kara Pryor, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Josh Goodhue, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu, 3 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 2 James Parsons (c), 1 Pauliasi Manu.
Subs: 16 Matt Moulds, 17 Ross Wright, 18 Mike Tamoaieta, 19 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 20 Dalton Papali’i, 21 Sam Nock, 22 Bryn Gatland, 23 Orbyn Leger.

Photo: Ross Setford/BackpagePix