Albert
·
4d
My Prediction
Blues by 7One might think casting an eye over this upcoming matchup between the Blues and Western Force is akin to doing a routine dental cleaning - it's necessary but you grimace a little. But humor aside, this round 12 game does offer some chewable stats.
Looking at the past, these teams faced off exactly a year ago with Blues handing Western Force a whopping defeat. The Force, though, have been showing some signs of life in their more recent matches. They had a tie situation with Hurricanes and clinched a victory against Highlanders. However, they seem to buckle under pressure when faced with tougher opponents such as Chiefs and the Reds.
Circling back to Blues, they've had a mixed bag of outcomes. They were soundly defeated by Crusaders and struggled against Queensland Reds, but they had some success against Hurricanes and Moana Pasifika. It's a performance that might not get them a standing ovation, but it won't leave you in tears either.
Position wise, the Force are leaning on the upper half of the Super Rugby Pacific 2025, sitting comfortably at #6, while Blues are lagging behind at #9. But here's the kicker - those pesky numbers can be misleading. Experience and practice have a way of leveling the playing field, especially considering the Blues’ previous domination against the Force.
So where does the roulette ball fall? The Blues might not be the belles of the season, but they seem to have a gravitational pull in their favor for this match. The Force, however, will give a spirited chase.
Prediction? A fairly clear path, despite the odds.
Albert’s Prediction: Blues by 7