Super Rugby 2020: Predictions and expected winners - Round 3

The 2020 Super Rugby season continues with seven round three fixtures this weekend, spread across five countries in the Southern Hemisphere and with derbies in New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.

Friday sees the Blues take on reigning champions the Crusaders at 8:05 SAST, with both Kiwi franchises having won one and lost one of their opening two Super Rugby fixtures.

The action then moves to the Australian conference where the Rebels host the Waratahs at AAMI Park (10:15) with neither side yet off the mark in 2020.

Ellis Park is the venue on Saturday for the South African rival clash between the Lions and Stormers with kick off at 15:05 in Johannesburg.

The visitors from the Cape top the overall log after the opening fortnight following a pair of home wins at Newlands, while the home side recorded their first success of the campaign last weekend on their return from a fruitless opening round trip to Argentina.

Another unbeaten SA side are the new-look Sharks, who continue their tour of New Zealand away to the Hurricanes at the Westpac Stadium (8:05).

Sean Everitt’s men kicked off their trip in fine style last weekend with a booming win over the Highlanders.

The Dunedin side need to dust themselves down quickly as they hop across the Tasman to play the Brumbies on Saturday at GIO Stadium (10:15).

Australia’s leading franchise are at the sharp end of the early standings thanks to their unbeaten start over the opening two rounds.

The Chiefs are the fourth team to boast a perfect record so far under new coach Warren Gatland, as they travel to play the Sunwolves at the Chichibunomiya Stadium in Tokyo with kick off at 5:45.

Wrapping up the round three action are 2019 finalists the Jaguares, who welcome the touring Reds to Estadio Jose Amalfitani at 1:00 on Sunday morning.

What do the results hold this weekend? Let’s gaze into your crystal balls.

Prediction methodology explained

The expected win percentage is based off publicly available odds. For example, if a team’s odds are 2.30, the expected chance of winning is 43%. If the odds are 1.62 the expected chance of winning is 62% and so on.

The predicted points margin draws on calculations from by a New Zealand statistician.