Round 4 of Super Rugby Australia is underway in Sydney on Friday night, when the Waratahs host the Rebels.
We stay in Sydney on Saturday, for the Western Force’s first ‘home’ game of the season against the Reds.
Round 3 of Super Rugby Australia provided two more quality contests and at this point of the season, it really does remain anyone’s Championship.
The Waratahs were unlucky to suffer a single-point defeat to the Brumbies in Round 3, and they will be eager to respond with a big win over the Rebels at home on Friday.
There is no doubt that the Waratahs will be lamenting their 1-2 record leading into Round 4 – they have been in the contest for the full eighty in each, but have had the result fall their way just once.
The Rebels meanwhile enter Round 4 refreshed off the bye, and will also be eager to win after their Round 2 draw with the Reds in Sydney.
They blew plenty of chances to put that game to rest and have surely used the week off to tune up, patch holes and analyse the Waratahs’ gameplay.
There is a genuine case to be built for both teams and for that reason, I’m happy to take the value around the Waratahs as outsiders.
Back Waratahs to Win ($2)
Leichardt Oval is famously the home of the Balmain Tigers but instead, it will be the scene of the Super Rugby and home of the Western Force on Saturday night.
They had the Waratahs on the ropes in their return to the competition in Round 2, before another gutsy effort that saw them finish seven points behind the Reds last weekend – covering the 15.5-point line that we had taken, in the process.
They’ll only improve for that hit-out and while it’s understandable to see them as the outsiders again, they do look a touch of overs at $5.50.
The Brumbies snuck away with another single-point win over the Waratahs last weekend and with that result, consolidated second on the ladder.
While I am confident that the Force will stay in the contest for a long way, I think that the Brumbies are two converted tries stronger.
Back Brumbies To Cover The Line (-13.5)