We're nearing the halfway point of the season and still there's plenty of debate between the TVNZ rugby buffs when it comes to Kiwi derbies. Who wins tonight's clash in Dunedin? And can the Blues make it four straight? Check out their picks below.
How it works: TVNZ sports buffs will chip in their picks for matches involving New Zealand sides each round with some adding a little insight into their thinking. A correct result will give them two points and a correct margin a bonus point.
Round 8
Highlanders v Hurricanes
Crusaders v Brumbies
Blues v Waratahs
Matt Hall-Smith - 1 NEWS Sport Reporter, LEADER
Highlanders v Hurricanes: Hurricanes 13+ - "No Aaron Smith for the 'Landers and Jordie Barrett could prove a handful at centre."
Crusaders v Brumbies: Crusaders 13+ - "Self-explanatory."
Blues v Waratahs: Blues 1-12 - "They’ve done enough for me over the last three weeks."
Guy Heveldt - 1 NEWS Sport Reporter
Highlanders v Hurricanes: Hurricanes 1-12
Crusaders v Brumbies: Crusaders 13+
Blues v Waratahs: Blues 1-12
Brodyn Knuckey - 1 NEWS NOW Sport Producer
Highlanders v Hurricanes: Hurricanes 1-12 - "Aaron Smith's absence along with that Hurricanes backline getting to play without weather issues under the roof could bring the Highlanders' home streak to the end."
Crusaders v Brumbies: Crusaders 13+
Blues v Waratahs: Blues 13+
Maddy Lloyd - Breakfast Reporter
Highlanders v Hurricanes: Hurricanes 1-12
Crusaders v Brumbies: Crusaders 13+ - "If anything can get them up it's the demolition of the 'Canes last week. Forecast is looking great, and a 5.15 game- Ya can't beat early evening footy in the 03!"
Blues v Waratahs: Blues 1-12 - "Please don’t fail me this week blokes, I need a clean sweep."
Faleatua Malili - 1 NEWS NOW Sport Producer
Highlanders v Hurricanes: Hurricanes 1-12
Crusaders v Brumbies: Crusaders 13+
Blues v Waratahs: Blues 1-12
Matt Manukia - 1 NEWS Sport Reporter
Highlanders v Hurricanes: Highlanders 1-12
Crusaders v Brumbies: Crusaders 13+
Blues v Waratahs: Blues 13+
John McKenzie - 1 NEWS Reporter
Highlanders v Hurricanes: Highlanders 1-12 - "On paper, it looks like an easy 'Canes win. However I need to swing for the fence, so picking the under-strength 'Landers to extend their unbeaten home record to 16."
Crusaders v Brumbies: Crusaders 13+
Blues v Waratahs: Blues 13+
Alex Powell - 1 NEWS NOW Sport Producer
Highlanders v Hurricanes: Highlanders 1-12
Crusaders v Brumbies: Crusaders 13+
Blues v Waratahs: Blues 1-12
Dewi Preece - 1 NEWS Sport Reporter
Highlanders v Hurricanes: Hurricanes 1-12 - "Can see this one turning into a gritty one, much like their Round 4 clash. Jordie Barrett to bag a try in a one-score margin."
Crusaders v Brumbies: Crusaders 13+ - "This could blow out early, and stay like that. Only thing that could impact the result will be the weather, and even that should only affect the margin, not the result itself."
Blues v Waratahs: Blues 13+ - "The ball is well and truly rolling for the Blues, and don’t see the Waratahs getting one up at Eden Park."
Michelle Prendiville - 1 NEWS Sport Reporter
Highlanders v Hurricanes: Highlanders 1-12
Crusaders v Brumbies: Crusaders 13+
Blues v Waratahs: Blues 1-12
Josh Reich - 1 NEWS NOW Editor
Highlanders v Hurricanes: Hurricanes 1-12
Crusaders v Brumbies: Crusaders 13+
Blues v Waratahs: Blues 1-12 - "Waratahs beat the Crusaders, then lose the Sunwolves. Talk about Jekyll and Hyde. I’m tipping Mr Hyde to turn up, and the Blues notching their fourth straight victory."
Andrew Saville - 1 NEWS Sport Presenter
Highlanders v Hurricanes: Highlanders 1-12 - "Highlanders will be tough to beat at home as per usual. Despite the loss of Aaron Smith, like the look of their 15, and plenty of power off the bench."
Crusaders v Brumbies: Crusaders 13+ - "Plenty of changes in the Crusaders but still far too strong for their 'homecoming' match."
Blues v Waratahs: Blues 1-12 - "The Blues need to make another firm home statement. Plenty of firepower to fend off the Waratahs, but don’t think it’ll be all one way."
Stephen Stuart - 1 NEWS Sport Reporter
Highlanders v Hurricanes: Highlanders 1-12 - "Should have beaten the Hurricanes earlier this season. If they can’t tonight…it’s going to be a long season."
Crusaders v Brumbies: Crusaders 13+ - "A walk rather the ride in the park."
Blues v Waratahs: Blues - "I've had to retrieve the flags!"
Victor Waters - Breakfast Sport Producer, 2018 Champ
Highlanders v Hurricanes: Hurricanes 1-12
Crusaders v Brumbies: Crusaders 13+
Blues v Waratahs: Blues 1-12
Abby Wilson - 1 NEWS Sport Reporter
Highlanders v Hurricanes: Hurricanes 1-12
Crusaders v Brumbies: Crusaders 13+
Blues v Waratahs: Blues 1-12
Scoreboard: Hall-Smith 52, Reich 48, Heveldt 45, Saville 44, Wilson 43, Stuart 41, Waters 39, Lloyd 39, Knuckey 38, Manukia 37, Preece 35, Prendiville 35, Powell 34, Malili 29, McKenzie 27
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