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Super 14 betting: Hard man called in for a tough job

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Fit-again All Blacks star Jerry Collins is the man the Hurricanes hope can secure them a home semi-final, says Andy Morris.

It's literally come down to the crunch in the Super 14, with the game's hardest tackler Jerry Collins back to bolster the Hurricanes.
The entire season is on the line for both teams when Collins and his team run out against the Blues at Eden Park.
So Hurricanes coach Colin Cooper has made the tough call and dropped Scott Waldrom, despite the openside flanker having played well.
But when 47-cap All Black Collins says he's fit to return after three weeks out with damaged ribs, you have to find a place for him.
It may be the last time Collins plays on New Zealand soil, depending on results and whether he does, as is strongly rumoured, sign for a European club at the end of the season.
The game looks to be the hardest of the round to call, with a win vital for both teams.
Even though they are second going into the game, the Hurricanes could miss out on the semi-finals if they lose.
On the flip side, the Blues may find that not even a bonus-point win is good enough. They will have to sit tight and wait for other results on the final weekend of the regular season.
Both teams won well last time out, and the Blues - delighted with their 40-15 success against the Highlanders - have left the side untouched, even on the bench.
Apart from Collins' return, Cooper makes only the one enforced change with John Schwalger coming in to replace the suspended Neemia Tialata in the front row.
Collins shouldn't expect an easy ride at Eden Park - his opposite number Jerome Kaino has shown good form this season and that head-to-head clash could go some way to deciding the outcome.
Punters looking for an edge by scouring the statistics may be disappointed. This season the two teams' try count, penalty count and scrum and lineout stats are all fairly equal.
One thing to note is that the Blues have gained maximum points in the two matches since coach David Nucifora switched Isa Nacewa and Nick Evans, with Evans looking more at home at full-back.
One thing is certain, the Hurricanes will travel in confidence born of their second spot in the table and their recent success over the Blues. They have won the last three meetings, two of which have been at Eden Park.
The match is so hard to call, it may pay dividends instead to look at the winning margin market and plump for a Collins-inspired 'Canes win by less than 12.5 points.