Super 15

Preview from world sports betting's blog


It’s been a mammoth old slog so far but we’re finally into the final round of the regular Super Rugby season this weekend. The teams who’ll be featuring in the play-off stage has already been decided but it’s still not entirely confirmed who’ll have crucial home advantage and who will be playing who in the wildcard play-offs. As is the norm we take a quick look at all 7 matches and put up our best bet in each:



FRIDAY

The Blues host the Highlanders in Auckland and after a bitterly disappointing year the home fans will be hoping for something to smile about to end the season, but they shouldn’t get their hopes up. The Highlanders have a great opportunity to put some pressure on the Chiefs if they can secure a bonus point win over the Blues, as the highest wild-card ranked team will get a home fixture in next week’s play-off round. The Blues team are suffering from a host of injuries and there appears to be a lack of motivation under John Kirwin. The Highlanders to cover the -9.5 handicap here gets the nod to get us hopefully off to a winning start.

There’s just pride at stake for the Rebels and Force in Melbourne in Friday’s other match, with both sides seasons ending in very tame fashion, although the Rebels did sneak home against the Bulls last week to end their losing streak. The Force have a terrible record against the Melbournites, losing 7 from 9 super rugby clashes, and they get a 9.5 handicap start as a result. But i’ve seen the Force show some spirit on the road this season – they seem to play with a little less pressure than in Perth – and i like them to keep with this respectable and the +9.5 @ 9/10 is where my money will be.



SATURDAY

The Brumbies welcome the Crusaders to Canberra knowing they probably need to go all out for a bonus point win in the hope that the Waratahs won’t be able to match that result later on, which would give the Brumbies the Australian Conference. The Crusaders left their charge for the playoffs too late and will be annoyed to have missed out, and they remain an extremely dangerous side who will be able to play with freedom on Saturday. It could an entertaining game this one but i’ll take the Brumbies to edge it and the -3.5 handicap looks in range.



The Chiefs versus Hurricanes match will be affected by what’s taken place in Auckland a day earlier, so if the Highlanders get the maximum, expect the Chiefs to go all out against the Canes. Team news will be a huge factor as well – the Canes could rest a number of players, and I believe that will be the case. The Chiefs are without Sam Cane who must take a mandatory rest, and the All Black flanker will be much missed. But i’ll punt this one early on the hunch the visitors will field a weakened side and the Chiefs/Chiefs HT/FT at 11/10 gets the nod.



Like the game above, the Waratahs need to keep an eye on how another side do. If the Brumbies to get 5 points against the Crusaders, the Waratahs have to go for the same against their local rivals the Reds. The Reds themselves were very poor last week at home, but they seldom lie down when it comes to the Tah’s and i’m expecting a fiercely contested match, despite the Waratahs being strong favourites. Throw in the travel back from SA for the Tah’s and I’m leaning towards the Reds to stay within the 13.5 handicap at 9/10, something they’ve managed on 4 of their last 6 visits to Sydney.



Over to SA where the Bulls host the Cheetahs in what could be a game full of attacking rugby. Both sides will want to give their fans something to cheer for and this fixture averages 7 tries per game, with the Bulls winning a perfect 6 from 6 in super rugby meetings in Pretoria. The Bulls had a shocking tour and a return home for a single game does give them the chance to end on a high, while the Cheetahs will want to improve on a first game under Franco Smith after being run ragged by the Waratahs last week. It’s a match for the total points lines i feel, but for now I like the Cheetahs on the plus 15.5 @ 9/10 – they’ve lost by more than that just once in those 6 away games to the Bulls.



Last up sees the Stormers travel up to Durban and this game could see Alistair Coetzee field a second-string line-up against the Sharks, given the result makes no difference to the Stormers as it’s unlikely the Waratahs and Brumbies will both slip up in their respective games. The Stormers therefore will have to go the long-route to get to a possible final and resting a few players and avoiding any new injuries might be a wise call from Coetzee, should he make it. The Sharks have hardly been playing good rugby of late but with a point to prove after a tough season I’m all over the home win here at 8/10.



So to sum up my best bets for this weekend’s super rugby action are:



Highlanders -9.5 @ 9/10

Force +9.5 @ 9/10

Brumbies -3.5 @ 9/10

Chiefs/Chiefs HT/FT @ 11/10

Reds +13.5 @ 9/10

Cheetahs +15.5 @ 9/10

Sharks win 8/10 (best bet)



Click here to bet on this weekend’s super rugby matches

6/10 the double the friday hotpots...

Highlanders - 10.5 looks about right against the Blues - small bet Highlanders on handicap
Rebels -9.5 against the Force the same as above - no bet for me
Brumbies - 3.5 against Crusaders, Crusaders will win, Outright Crusaders for me -best bet
Chiefs - 5.5 appears too low but have been burnt by them on handicap in the past - small bet
Waratahs -12.5 against Reds appears close - no bet for me
Bulls - 16.5 against Cheetahs, Cheetahs on handicap is the bet for me
Sharks -7.5 against Stormers will be a thrashing, go high on handicap :woohoo:

Blues vs Highlanders
Expect a high scoring game, +48 points.
First away try before 15 minutes
On the hcap highlanders -8.5

Highlanders where impressive but the Blues really need to look at themselves, really are looking very average in most departments, well done Greg great start to weekend :woohoo:

Anyone watching this match? pretty boring

Took Crusaders -7 in running at HT...needed that 4th try late in the game...

All profit from above onto Chiefs / Hurricanes less than 50 points...watching with interest...

34 total points with 23 minutes to go...still uncertain which side of 50 total points the end result will be...

Covered the bet...if exactly 48 points, profit but either side of that pretty much break-even...

Sharks thrash the Stormers 34-12 what a great result, go you good things

Craig Pienaar wrote: Sharks thrash the Stormers 34-12 what a great result, go you good things

woop woop, did the stormers have a few sent off?

Bob Brogan wrote:

Craig Pienaar wrote: Sharks thrash the Stormers 34-12 what a great result, go you good things

woop woop, did the stormers have a few sent off?

A good few of the 1st team players didn't play...rested for play-off against Brumbies next week...