The Tight Five: This Week's Biggest Matches on Rugby Pass

We preview the five best matches to catch on Rugby Pass this week.

NRL: Rabbitohs vs Bulldogs (Friday March 25, 1:00pm HKT)
The NRL’s Good Friday double-header kicks off with this classic Sydney grudge match, before heading north for a replay of the 2015 Grand Final with the Broncos hosting the Cowboys. The Rabbitohs had a tough Sunday afternoon at the SCG, going down 6-8 to the Dragons in torrential rain and losing star forward Sam Burgess with a scary neck injury. The Bulldogs also come in off a loss after the Eels’ Semi Radradra tore them to pieces on Saturday night. Not a lot in it, but the extra day of recovery might give the Bulldogs a slight advantage.

Super League: Warrington vs Widnes (Friday March 25, 11:00pm HKT)
The Widnes bandwagon is gathering momentum after the Vikings’ sensational come-from-behind win at Wigan last week, but their position atop the Super League table comes under threat again this weekend when they travel to meet the unbeaten Warrington Wolves. Two of the league’s most attacking sides – Wolves put 56 points past Castleford last weekend – slugging it out for top spot, this has got all the marks of a high-scoring thriller.

Super Rugby: Sharks vs Crusaders (Saturday March 26, 11:05pm HKT)
Super Rugby was super weird last weekend. The Sharks looked to have sunk the Bulls in Pretoria – all Joe Pietersen needed to do was slot an easy penalty and the game was theirs, but he missed and it ended 16-16. The Sharks remain the only unbeaten team in Super Rugby, but the traveling Crusaders – fresh from a confidence-boosting drubbing of the Kings – should ask some much tougher questions of the Sharks’ defence.

Aviva Premiership: Saracens vs Chiefs (Saturday March 26, 11:15pm HKT)
Defending champs Saracens were knocked from the top of the Aviva Premiership table last weekend after losing a tight tussle at Leicester. The team that took their place at the top? Exeter Chiefs, who they host this weekend, and who come in off a win over Saints last week. When they hosted Saracens earlier in the season they were pipped 14-11, and while this game shapes to be equally low-scoring it will be a huge indicator of where the two teams stand as they get closer to the playoffs in May.

Top 14: Racing 92 vs Toulon (Sunday March 27, 1:30am HKT)
With a heavy schedule in the coming weeks, and perhaps with one eye to this weekend’s heavyweight clash, Racing 92 rested a handful of their best players last weekend and were humiliated 60-7 by Montpellier. That result has left their position in the top two of the table looking very vulnerable, and a loss to Toulon – the competition favourites – could see them fall as low as fourth. Toulon come in off a bye last week, so their whole squad is rested for what will be a defining match in the Top 14 season.