Chiefs vs Hurricanes prediction: Heavyweights face off in Hamilton

Two teams who have realistic aspirations of winning the Super Rugby Pacific Grand Final this season go head-to-head on Friday morning as the Chiefs host the Hurricanes at FMG Stadium Waikato (08:05 kick-off).

The Hurricanes claimed the points against their fellow New Zealanders with a 36-23 win over the Chiefs in Wellington earlier this season.

With Friday’s game at the home of the Chiefs in Hamilton, the boot might well be on the other foot in this penultimate regular-season clash before the highly-anticipated playoff quarter-finals.

Team news

The Chiefs have named nine All Blacks in their starting XV to take on the Hurricanes, with Aidan Ross, Samisoni Taukei’aho and George Dyer in the front row.

Manaaki Selby-Rickit and Tupou Vaa’i are in the engine room, with Simon Parker, Kaylum Boshier and skipper Luke Jacobson in the back row.

Cortez Ratima and Damian McKenzie continue in the half-backs, with centres Quinn Tupaea and Anton Lienert-Brown outside them.

Etene Nanai-Seturo, Emoji Narawa and Shaun Stevenson are the back three.

As for the Hurricanes, it’s Xavier Numia, Raymond Tuputupu and Pasilio Tosi in the front row, with locks Justin Sangster and Isaia Walker-Leawere in behind.

Devan Flanders will make his 50th appearance for the club in the back row alongside Peter Lakai and Brayden Iose.

Jordie Barrett skippers the side alongside fellow centre Billy Proctor, while the half-backs consist of TJ Perenara and Brett Cameron.

Kini Naholo, Josh Moorby, Ruben Love comprise the back three for the visitors.

Chiefs vs Hurricanes Match Odds

The Chiefs are 8/13 to claim a home win, while the Hurricanes are 6/4 to complete a regular-season double over the Hamilton outfit.

A draw on Friday morning is 18/1, while the Chiefs to win by 6-10 points is available at 9/2.

Chiefs -7 handicap @ 5/4

The Chiefs have been formidable at FMG Stadium Waikato, with 15 wins in their last 16 Super Rugby Pacific matches on their own patch.

The Hurricanes last won at the Chiefs in 2020 and it is hard to see them causing an upset in Hamilton this week.

With a sell-out crowd behind them, and with fly-half McKenzie continuing to shine in the backline, the Chiefs should have enough to triumph and fall on the right side of a -7 handicap.

Under 52.5 total points @ 10/11

An average total of 45 points have been scored in the last five games between the Chiefs and the Hurricanes in Hamilton.

Therefore, in a clash that has plenty riding on it and with both teams looking for home advantage in the playoffs, backing under 52.5 total points is worth considering.