Crystal ball gazing: Rugby writers' round three Super Rugby predictions

The Super Rugby season is well and truly underway, with contenders already starting to emerge. Each week, NZME's resident rugby writers will provide their tips for the weekend ahead and highlight one game that stands out from the rest for the round. This week, we look at the Blues' match against the Crusaders in Auckland on Friday night.

Let this sink in for a moment - the last time the Blues beat the Crusaders, Benji Marshall was in the squad.

Remember that?

A long way removed from the 2014 season - yes, it was six years ago - the Blues host the Crusaders buoyed by an impressive win over the Waratahs in Australia last time out. Despite being without star winger Rieko Ioane, the Blues' attack was on song, with North Harbour winger Mark Telea notching a hat-trick.

Returning home to Eden Park, they welcome a Crusaders side stung by the Chiefs in Hamilton last weekend. After a fast start, the game got away from the Crusaders, and the Chiefs dominated the second half for a comeback victory.

Crusaders coach Scott Robertson isn't accustomed to losing - the loss to the Chiefs was the team's sixth defeat since he took the reins ahead of the 2017 season - and his Blues counterpart Leon MacDonald is well aware of how the Southerners tend to react to a loss.

"That probably adds a bit of flavour," MacDonald said of the derby earlier in the week. "I know Razor will do a good job at finding some solutions and probably getting them on edge. They've always rebounded well after a loss, especially in Razor's tenure. We always expect them to turn up with their best and that's the way we've got to prepare."

The games:

Blues v Crusaders
Rebels v Waratahs
Sunwolves v Chiefs
Hurricanes v Sharks
Brumbies v Highlanders
Lions v Stormers
Jaguares v Reds

The picks:

Alex Chapman (Radio Sport journalist): Crusaders, Rebels, Chiefs, Hurricanes, Brumbies, Stormers, Jaguares

Martin Devlin (Newstalk ZB and Radio Sport host): Blues, Rebels, Chiefs, Hurricanes, Brumbies, Lions, Jaguares

Reuben Mama (Radio Sport journalist): Crusaders, Rebels, Chiefs, Hurricanes, Brumbies, Stormers, Jaguares

Patrick McKendry (NZ Herald sports journalist): Crusaders, Rebels, Chiefs, Sharks, Brumbies, Stormers, Jaguares

Liam Napier (NZ Herald sports journalist): Crusaders, Rebels, Hurricanes, Chiefs, Brumbies, Stormers, Jaguares

Josh Price (Radio Sport journalist): Blues, Waratahs, Chiefs, Hurricanes, Brumbies, Stormers, Jaguares

Christopher Reive (NZ Herald sports journalist): Crusaders, Waratahs, Chiefs, Sharks, Brumbies, Stormers, Jaguares

Elliott Smith (Radio Sport journalist): Crusaders, Waratahs, Sunwolves, Hurricanes, Brumbies, Stormers, Jaguares

Lachlan Waugh (Radio Sport journalist): Crusaders, Rebels, Chiefs, Hurricanes, Brumbies, Stormers, Jaguares

Nigel Yalden (Radio Sport rugby editor): Crusaders, Waratahs, Chiefs, Hurricanes, Brumbies, Stormers, Jaguares

Leaderboard:

Napier and Reive - 11/14
Yalden - 10/14
Chapman, Devlin and Mama - 9/14
McKendry, Price, Smith and Waugh - 8/14