The free flowing rugby continued in Round 2 with plenty of tries, plenty of hard hits and plenty of exciting action on the field.

Heading into Round 3, only the Blues are yet to pick up a point but they will fancy their chances of picking up a win over the Hurricanes.

Early pace setters the Chiefs will take on a Brumbies team reeling from a shock loss to the Force last week in the headline clash, and we’ve got our Super Rugby previews and best bets for each game below.

After starting out west and working their way back to Auckland, Moana Pasifika will play their first home game of the season on Friday.

As both the Reds and Force found out, Moana Pasifika are more than capable of piling on the points even if it came in defeat both weeks.

Meanwhile, the Highlanders stunned the Blues last weekend in Dunedin, but their away form is not exactly what you would call encouraging.

They have won three of their last 15 away games, although that does include two wins as the away side against Moana Pasifika.

If they can find a way to get into the 30’s like they did against the Tahs in Round 1, they should be able to hold off the free flowing hosts.

SGM: Highlanders to Win and Over 63.5 Points @ $2.36

It was a bit closer than expected, but the Drua once again lost on the road last week.

Even when the Waratahs were struggling over the last couple of years, they still managed to account for the Drua in Sydney, winning the first meeting 40-10 in 2022 and the second one 32-18 in 2023.

Despite entering this match without Joseph Sua’ali’i, the home side should still have the attacking firepower to get past the Drua whose road struggles remain a concern.

Waratahs to Cover -9.5 @ $1.87

In a surprise to very few people, the Chiefs are going to be a really good team in 2025 and the fact they are one of the few teams to record a pair of double digit wins to date.

They were at their ruthless best running away from the Crusaders last week and now they have to like their chances against the Brumbies.

Nobody is quite sure how but the Brumbies backups looked better in Fiji in Round 1 than their full strength team did against the Force in Canberra.

So which version of the team will turn up for this game?

Nobody can be quite sure, but you have to think the coaching staff will have them working hard to fix up the mistakes that cost them against the Force.

It might not be enough to win the game but they should be able to keep it close.

Brumbies to Cover +12.5 @ $1.85

It’s fair to say that neither team will have been overly happy with how their seasons have begun.

The Hurricanes did pick up a win over the Drua last week, but they would have preferred for it to be by a bigger margin than it was.

Meanwhile, the Blues could have been forgiven for their first up defeat in Auckland against the Chiefs, but the loss to the Highlanders will have some feeling rather uneasy.

Despite those two games, the Blues still enter this one as favourites at publish and they have had some problems with the Highlanders in the past.

They have split the last four games in Wellington and the Canes look like better value as outsiders at the line.

Hurricanes to Cover +4.5 @ $1.87

The big question for punters in the lead up to this game is how high is the total points line going to have to be before the over stops being appealing?

For many, the answer should be a lot higher than the 60.5 it is currently at based on how the two teams have played so far.

The Force have won both of their opening two matches, the first 45-44 and the second 45-42, so they can score for fun even if defence is apparently optional.

As for the Reds, they put up 56 on Moana Pasifika last week in Brisbane, but some poor discipline meant the visitors had more attacking opportunities than expected and they also conceded 36 in that game.

The Reds should win this game but the value is backing another high scoring affair.

Over 60.5 Points @ $1.87

2024

It has been an electric start to the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season with every team getting in on the free scoring fun.

Last weekend in Melbourne produced a try bonanza with an average of just under 69 points per game and through 12 games we have seen an average of over 60 points per game.

That has been music to the ears of overs backers in the Super Rugby markets and it also sets up for an exciting Round 3 with a number of big games on the cards.

There is particular intrigue over the games involving the Reds and Waratahs with the two Aussie sides looking quite good last weekend.

Read on to find out who we are backing in the Super Rugby this weekend.

Prior to the season, it was not a stretch to suggest that these two teams would struggle to win many if any games and wind up at or near the bottom of the Super Rugby Pacific ladder.

Well two weeks into the season and they have at least provided some hope that they will be competitive at times this season, even if they are not always good.

After getting demolished in Round 1 by the Brumbies and falling into an early hole against the Force, you could have forgiven the Rebels for giving up but instead they rattled off 29 unanswered points to win 48-34.

Meanwhile, Moana Pasifika picked up a much needed win over the Fijian Drua, overcoming a second half red card and a late Drua rally.

It’s hard to tell which version of these teams will show up, which makes backing either team with any confidence a bit of a challenge, but considering the fact both teams have given up 30 points in each of their games so far, the over looks like it might be the way to go.

Over 61.5 Points @ $1.88

It turns out there is some life in the Waratahs and they showed they have some fight with a dominant 13 point win over the Crusaders last week.

Even though the Crusaders are a shell of their normally dominant selves as they break in some new players, that is still a very impressive win.

Now the question shifts to how the under siege Darren Coleman can turn the page and get his team focused for a game that is very winnable.

The Highlanders are easily the weakest of the five New Zealand based sides and the market is not giving them any extra respect just because of the country they are based in.

A week is a long time in sport and plenty can change, but I like the value available backing the Tahs in this game.

Waratahs to Cover -2.5 @ $1.87

52 weeks ago, the Crusaders went to Lautoka as a heavy favourite and were stunned by the Drua with the home side coming away with a dramatic 25-24 victory.

In the Quarter Finals, the Crusaders exacted their revenge with a dominant 49-8 win in Christchurch.

As for this season, both teams have been pretty disappointing in the way they have begun their campaigns with two defeats each.

It’s all set up for one of these teams to kick start their season with a win here and while the Crusaders are easily the better team on paper, the Drua’s form on home soil is worth some weight.

They might not be able to pull off another upset but with the Crusaders struggles so far this season, taking them with any handicap, especially in Fiji seems like a rather big leap of faith.

Drua to Cover +8.5 @ $1.83

It’s fair to say that neither of these teams will have enjoyed their weekend in Melbourne for Super Round, with the Brumbies getting trounced by the Chiefs and the Force blowing a very winnable game against the Rebels.

While it was far from encouraging to see the Brumbies get dismantled by a side many expected them to be at least in the same vicinity of on the ladder, that can be put down to a bad day at the office rather than a sign things are coming unstuck.

As for the Force, their performance came on the back of getting dismantled by the Hurricanes, in Perth as well.

If that was not enough to swing your pick in favour of the Brumbies, then it might be worth considering the Force have lost their last eight away games and won just five total on the road since their 2020 re-introduction to Super Rugby.

I’m backing a Brumbies bounce back.

Brumbies to Cover -18.5 @ $1.88

Two of the three unbeaten teams will face off in this game as they look to continue their respective strong starts to 2024.

The Blues knocked off the Drua first up before getting by the Highlanders, while the Canes have defeated a pair of Aussie sides and will be happy to play their first proper home game of the season.

Working against them however is Jordie Barrett’s three game suspension for his high tackle last weekend with the Canes now forced to find cover for one of their most influential players.

There have been plenty of tight finishes between these two teams with the last four games getting decided by 11 points or less and that history also favours the Blues, who have won four of the last five meetings between these teams.

It won’t be a blowout but I like the value on the visitors here.

Blues to Win by 1-12 @ $2.50

Les Kiss has the Reds looking very sharp in the early stages of this season, and the Queenslanders will have spent the week ruing a number of missed opportunities last week to knock off the Hurricanes.

Despite returning home this week, it does not get any easier as they host a Chiefs side that ended their 2023 season in the Quarter Finals.

If there were any thoughts of the Reds being able to capitalise on an out of sorts opponent, the same way they did when these sides met in the regular season last year, they would have been extinguished when the reigning minor premiers recorded a 34 point win over the Brumbies last week.

Despite a few potentially damaging absences for the home side, I do like their chances of keeping this one competitive and a 12 point head start should be enough for them to cover.

Reds to Cover +12.5 @ $1.88

2023

After Super Round certainly lived up to its moniker, producing a whopping 69 points per game average in Melbourne last weekend, teams return to their preferred home grounds in Round 3.

The Fijian Drua will take their home game against the Crusaders to Churchill Park in front of what should be a vocal crowd to kick off a massive Saturday of action.

Following that contest we have a pair of blockbuster battles with the Hurricanes hosting the Blues, then the Reds travelling to Canberra to take on the Brumbies.

We’ve got you covered below with our Super Rugby Pacific Round 3 previews and best bets so read on and see who we are backing.

Through two weeks the Chiefs have been far and away the most impressive side in the Super Rugby competition, recording big wins against the Crusaders in Christchurch and Moana Pasifika in Melbourne.

Now they prepare for the bottom of the table Highlanders who have given up 112 points across their first two defeats against the Blues and Crusaders.

If that doesn’t explain the logic behind the $1.02 head to head price on the Chiefs and -22.5 line the nothing will.

That is a huge handicap to put on the Chiefs but the Highlanders have been nothing short of atrocious thus far and I am happy to take them on again, especially if they continue to give up 56 points per game.

Back the Chiefs to Cover -22.5 @ $1.83

Despite starting their season with back to back losses, the Rebels have shown enough in those two games to not be completely scared off their prospects this year.

They went down by seven points in the west in Round 1 before a stirring comeback fell just short against the Hurricanes at AAMI Park last Friday.

As for the Waratahs, they got off to a slow start against the Drua, going into the break with scores level at 10-10 before cruising home for a 46-17 in their first victory of the season.

Recent history actually favours the Rebels, who have won four of the last six meetings between the teams, but through two weeks the Waratahs have looked like the better side.

It will not be a blowout and this is the game that is worth dipping into the winning margin market, backing the visitors to eke out a hard fought victory.

Back the Waratahs by 1-12 Points @ $2.88

As good of an occasion as it will be, seeing the Drua playing their first home game of the season in Fiji, it’s tough to see the final scoreline being all that friendly to the hosts.

So long as the version of the Crusaders that belted the Highlanders 52-15 last year makes the trip over the Pacific, the margin of victory could blow out.

Even if the Drua can bring the intensity to rattle their Kiwi opponents, as we saw them do against the last Waratahs last week, they just cannot maintain it over 80 minutes.

It might be close early on but the Crusaders class will eventually show and they should win this game by a lot more than the -23.5 point line.

Back the Crusaders to Cover -23.5 @ $1.91

If this Hurricanes side is for real, a home game against a Blues team desperate for a response is the perfect opportunity to prove that they are a legitimate contender in 2023.

They will have to play this game without the suspended Ardie Savea after his brain fade against the Rebels earned him a week off.

He is going to be a big absence for the Hurricanes and the Blues will be eager to show that their 20-25 loss to the Brumbies last week as an aberration and they were closer to the team that put up 60 on the Highlanders in Round 1.

The market is clearly expecting the Blues to be closer to that opening round team, with the visitors a slight favourite and that’s what I am going to back as well.

Back the Blues to Cover -3.5 @ $1.91

It might have come against an out of sorts Force team, but any time a Super Rugby side puts up 71 points you have to stand up and take notice.

As bad as the Reds were closing out their first game, they were utterly ruthless in Melbourne and Brad Thorn will be hoping that is a sign of progress for his team.

They have won four of their last five against the Brumbies, but the home team will be brimming with confidence following a determined win over the Blues last weekend to continue their perfect start to the season.

Since the start of the 2020 Super Rugby season, seven of the nine games between these teams have been decided by a margin of four points or less and there is every reason to expect a similar outcome here.

The Brumbies have looked like a slightly better team through two games and if they can keep the game tight, they have the closers to get a hard fought win.

Back the Brumbies to Win by 1-12 Points @ $3.10

Moana Pasifika will have their moments in Super Rugby Pacific this season, but one of those moments won’t come in Round 3 when they take the long flight to Perth.

At home in front of their supporters, the Force are a very different side to the one that had no answers against the Reds in Melbourne.

Last May they took care of Moana Pasifika by 20 points when they met in Auckland and the Force were chasing a finals spot.

Now in Perth, it’s tough to imagine the visitors will travel that strongly and this line should be more than comfortable for the Force.

Back Western Force to Cover -5.5 @ $1.80

2022

Round 3 of the Super Rugby season has arrived with six huge matches set to kick off.

It’s been a dream start to the season for the Reds, and they can continue their unbeaten run when they take on the Force in Perth on Friday night.

The Blues will be hoping to build on last week’s crushing loss when they face the Chiefs at Eden Park on Saturday, followed by a crucial game for the Waratahs when they take on the ladder leading Brumbies in Canberra.

We’ve analysed every game, and our best bets for Round 3 are available below.

It’s been a less than ideal start to the season for Moana Pasifika following back-to-back postponements, and things aren’t about to get any easier on Friday night against the defending Aotearoa champs.

The Crusaders have rattled off double-digit victories over the Hurricanes and Highlanders to begin their season, and as the mammoth -46.5 point line suggests, it’s almost impossible to imagine them losing in Dunedin.

During preseason, the home side were handed a 61-7 defeat at the hands of the Chiefs as their inexperience was on full display, and it’s likely we see a similar story unfold here.

Even if the Crusaders choose to rest several of their top stars, they should humble the newcomers in what might go down as one of the biggest margins of victory in Super Rugby history.

Tip: Back the Crusaders to Cover the Line (-46.5 Points) @ $1.90

Fijian Drua will host their first home game on the Sunshine Coast this week due to the flooding at Suncorp.

The Drua have endured a tough start to their debut season surrendering a combined 82 points to the Waratahs and Brumbies, and they could be in for another long night against a Rebels team looking to prove a point.

David Wessels side has been disappointing in both games so far, managing only five points against the Reds in the opener and just three against the Force in last week’s frustrating blowout.

The absence of the suspended Reece Hodge – who now joins Rob Leota and Andrew Kellaway on the sideline – only complicates matters for the Rebels, but with the Drua defence struggling mightily in both games so far, this does look the perfect matchup for Melbourne to get its season back on track.

Tip: Back the Rebels to Cover the Line (-10.5 Points) @ $1.90

The undefeated Reds take a trip to Perth this week in what is arguably the game of the round.

After a scrappy Round 1 win over the Rebels, Queensland turned in a gutsy performance to stave off the Waratahs in last week’s 20-16 victory, but the win did come at a cost with injuries beginning to mount.

The Force, meanwhile, got their season back on track with a blowout win over the Rebels after suffering an opening defeat to the Brumbies.

The Reds remain firm favourites heading into this clash, but there is a case to be made for Perth.

The Force won their meeting against the Reds 30-27 last season, while this has also been a disrupted week for Queensland after they were forced to train away from Ballymore due to the floods in Brisbane.

The Reds have played to a 1-3 record in their last four away games as favourites against the Force, making the current line seem a little on the generous side.

Tip: Back the Force to Cover the Line (+6.5 Points) @ $1.90

The Chiefs head to Eden Park well rested after last week’s game against Moana was canceled.

Last year’s runner-ups opened the season with a 10-point victory over the Highlanders at home, but they look to have their work cut out this week against a Blues team that beat them by 20 when they met last season.

The Blues have also played the one game to date, losing by a single point to the Hurricanes last week in what can only be described as an honourable performance.

Leon MacDonald’s side controlled possession and led for most of the match, only to allow two tries inside the final minutes.

The Blues can definitely improve on that performance, and they’ve typically been a strong side at home against the Chiefs winning four of their last six games.

If they can tighten up defensively and see out the full 80 minutes, the Blues should bounce back here.

Tip: Back the Blues 1-12

The Hurricanes got their season back on track last week with a nail-biting win over the Blues, and it is no surprise to find them as firm favourites heading into Saturday’s clash with the Highlanders.

After a disappointing season last year, the Highlanders have opened their account 0-2 with a pair of double-digit losses to the Chiefs and the Crusaders.

Many had the Highlanders pegged to struggle this season, and that has so far been the case on attack with the side scoring less than 20 points in each outing.

The Hurricanes made short work of the Highlanders in both meetings last year, and unlike their opponents, have shown no trouble finding points.

This game should be relatively close at half time, but based on the way the Hurricanes came storming home last week against the Blues, a sneaky backdoor cover looks to be in store.

Tip: Back the Hurricanes to Cover the Line (-6.5 Points) @ $1.90

The Brumbies will play their third straight game in Canberra this week against the visiting Waratahs.

Dan McKellar likely found last week’s 42-3 win over Drua a much easier watch than the last-minute win over the Force in Round 1, but he’ll also be stressing the importance of not underestimating a hungry Waratahs side on Saturday night.

New South Wales lost a heartbreaker to the Reds last week, their 11th defeat from their last 12 games.

There were encouraging signs throughout that performance, and while there is a good chance the ‘Tahs keep this tight early on, their record against the Brumbies, and the weather, make them tough to back.

The Waratahs have lost eight in a row to the Brumbies dating back to 2018, while the rain in Canberra will likely turn this into a scrappy contest.

Tip: Back the Brumbies to Cover the Line (-6.5 Points)

2021

Super Rugby rolls on for another weekend with four huge matches in store.

It’s been a nightmare beginning to 2021 for the Waratahs and they host the Western Force in an early season desperation derby.

In New Zealand they have a battle of the battlers of their own on the cards with the Chiefs and Highlanders kicking off the weekend’s action.

We’re previewing all four matches below so check out who we are backing.

SUPER RUGBY AU ROUND 3

It seems like it’s a fairly safe proclamation to make: The Waratahs are the worst team in Super Rugby AU.

Through two matches this season, they have been outscored 102-17 by the two competition heavyweights, the Reds and Brumbies.

While the Force may be a slightly easier out, this could be the perfect chance for the boys from Perth to win their first Super Rugby match since they were unceremoniously kicked out of the competition in 2017.

Even though it feels very odd to see the Force favoured in anything, the Waratahs have looked that hopeless so far I’ll happily back them to win and cover the very small line.

Back the Force to Cover -1.5 @ $1.91

The Brumbies have flown through the first two weeks dispatching the Force and Waratahs to sit on top of the Super Rugby AU table.

They can kick clear of the Reds if they take care of business against the Rebels on Saturday night however the Rebels acquitted themselves quite well in their season debut last Friday night.

In tough conditions they ran the Reds right to the wire and had a chance to win the game, only to miss a late penalty.

Being back in Melbourne for the first time in almost exactly a year should give the Rebels a real boost and help spur them on.

I’m not quite sure they can get over the top of the Brumbies outright but with a line of almost two converted tries, it seems like a number far too high for this fixture.

Back the Rebels to Cover +13.5 @ $1.91

SUPER RUGBY AOTEAROA ROUND 2

Both of these sides suffered first up defeats in Super Rugby Aotearoa and this an early contest between two sides who will probably be looking to avoid the wooden spoon.

The Highlanders ran the Crusaders close before fading away while the Chiefs suffered their ninth straight defeat at the hands of the Hurricanes.

Despite a long losing streak, the Chiefs have been installed as favourites for this one but that should be taken as encouragement to back the visitors here.

Of the last four meetings between these teams, three have been won by the Hurricanes and the fourth finished as a 31-31 tie.

I’ll happily take on the Chiefs here.

Back the Highlanders to Win @ $2.30

After much movement, this game has finally settled on a Sunday evening kick off in Canterbury to allow crowds to attend (assuming New Zealand’s restrictions ease as scheduled).

While their season might not have begun in the smoothest fashion they were still too good for the Highlanders, coming away with a 13 point victory down in Dunedin.

The Hurricanes blew an 11-7 halftime lead, going down 31-16 to the Blues last weekend and those sorts of fade outs are not what you want against the Crusaders.

There is a chance that the disrupted scheduling of this match might throw off the Crusaders but there is no good reason to back against them with the line under two converted tries.

Back the Crusaders to Cover -10.5 @ $1.91

2020

The upsets continued in the second weekend of the 2020 Super Rugby season and there is evidence to suggest that we could be in for the closest season in recent memory.

There are a number of key games set to take place this weekend and there is betting interest in every single one of them.

We have analysed every single game set to take place this weekend and our complete 2020 Super Rugby Round 3 tips can be found below.

The Crusaders suffered a very rare loss at the hands of the Chiefs, but they will still go into this clash with the Blues as clear favourites.

The Crusaders have won their past ten matches against the Blues and they have not lost to the Blues since 2014.

In saying that, the Crusaders have won only four of their past eight matches as away favourites and they are a poor 2-6 against the line in this scenario.

The Blues were finally able to end their losing streak on the road when they beat the Waratahs comfortably last weekend and they have played some excellent rugby during the season to date.

This is a much stiffer challenge though.

The Crusaders very rarely lose two games on the trot and the Blues have won only two of their past 11 games as underdogs.

This is a game that the market looks to have just about right and I am happy to stay out from a betting perspective.

No Bet

This is a huge game for both the Rebels and the Waratahs.

Both sides have started the season 0-2 and another loss will make their chances of making the Super Rugby Finals extremely slim.

It is the Rebels that will start this clash as favourites and it is very tough to get them as short as their current price.

The Rebels have won only four of their past seven games as home favourites, for a clear betting loss, and they have won only two of their past 12 matches against the Waratahs.

It has been a poor start to the season for the Waratahs and they were very disappointing against the Blues in the second half.

The Waratahs have won only one of their past six games as away underdogs, but their record against the Rebels is excellent and they are 5-1 against the line in this scenario.

The Rebels are false favourites and the Waratahs are a good bet to claim their first win of the season.

Back Waratahs To Win @ $2.10

The Chiefs are the shortest-priced favourites of the weekend in Super Rugby and they are deserving of that status.

They were excellent against the Crusaders and, on the back of that performance, it is tough to see them having any issues with the Sunwolves.

The Chiefs have now won three of their past four games away favourites and they have covered the line in each of these wins.

In saying that, the Sunwolves will take confidence from the fact that they were able to beat the Chiefs, in one of the biggest upsets in Super Rugby history, last season.

The Sunwolves do take an unbeaten record into that game, following their opening round win over the Rebels, but consistency has been an issue for them throughout their history.

This is a game that the Chiefs should win very comfortably and I don’t think that the line of 20.5 points will be anywhere near enough.

Back Chiefs To Cover The Line (-20.5 Points) @ $1.90

This is arguably the most interesting game of the round in Super Rugby.

The Hurricanes bounced back from their opening round disaster against the Stormers to upset the Jaguares and they will start this clash with the Sharks as clear favourites.

The home side has won seven of the past eight games played between these two sides and the Hurricanes have six of their past seven matches as home favourites, but they are only 2-5 against the line in this scenario.

Outside of the Chiefs, the Sharks have arguably been the most impressive side in the first two rounds of the Super Rugby season.

They take a 2-0 record into this clash and they were particularly strong against the Highlanders in New Zealand last week.

The Sharks have won four of their past nine games as away underdogs and they do look as though they could be the big improvers in Super Rugby this season.

I don’t think that there is as much between these two sides as the current market suggests and the Sharks are a great bet to cover the line.

Back Sharks To Cover The Line (+6.5 Points) @ $1.90

The Brumbies are the only Australian side to win a game in Super Rugby this season and they are favourites to take their record to 3-0 when they host the Highlanders on Saturday night.

GIO Stadium has once again become a fortress for the Brumbies.

They have won their past ten games at the venue and they have covered the line in nine of these victories.

However, they will have to overcome a poor record against the Highlanders.

The Highlanders have won the past four games played between these sides and have done so in fairly comfortable fashion.

In saying that, I haven’t been impressed with what I’ve seen from the Highlanders this season and their recent record away from home is dreadful.

The Highlanders have won only one of their past eight games on the road and their record against the line isn’t much better.

The Brumbies are one of the best bets in Super Rugby this weekend and can cover the line comfortably.

Back Brumbies To Cover The Line (-4.5 Points) @ $1.67

The Stormers have looked the goods during the Super Rugby season to date and, amazingly, they have not conceded a single point in their two games to date.

The question is whether they can replicate that form away from home?

The Stormers have won only two of their past seven games on the road and they have not beaten the Lions away from home since 2015.

The Lions didn’t look overly impressive in their win over the Reds and there is no doubt that the Stormers represent a tougher challenge.

On top of that, they have won only one of their past seven games as underdogs and their record against the line is no better.

This is another clash that the market looks to have just about right.

No Bet

A tough start to the season doesn’t get any easier for the Reds.

They weren’t disgraced against the Lions last weekend, but the Jaguares are a tougher challenge.

Winning away from home continues to be tough for the Reds; they have won only two of their past ten games as away underdogs, but are 6-4 against the line in this scenario.

The Jaguares suffered a surprise loss at the hands of the Hurricanes last weekend and they are a side that rarely suffers back-to-back defeats.

They have still won eight of their nine games as home favourites and they are an impressive 7-2 against the line in this scenario.

The Jaguares should win this clash and it is the Total Points market that holds the interest for this clash.

No Bet

2019

As Super Rugby moves into Round 3 there are three sides with a perfect record of two wins from two games but no side has been as impressive as the Sharks.

Not only have they won both games so far, but they are the only side to pick up back to back bonus points for outscoring their opponents by three tries or more.

This weekend they have the Stormers coming to town fresh off a win over the Lions in what should be a very good game to take in.

We have previewed every Super Rugby Round 3 game right here!

Don’t look now but the Brumbies are the free-flowing entertainers of Super Rugby in the opening fortnight.

With 81 points in their first two games, they are the highest scoring team in the competition and face a Hurricanes side fresh off a massive defeat at the hands of the Crusaders.

This one might be a little big closer than the games both sides were involved in last weekend with the Brumbies showing they are more than capable of running with just about anyone.

Recent history between these sides has been one extreme or the other with last June’s 24-12 win the closest game in the last five years but this might just beat that one.

It’s been a long time since the Brumbies won in New Zealand but at +13.5 they are worth backing to keep it close.

Back the Brumbies to Cover +13.5 @ $1.91

We’ve had a full fortnight to digest the Rebels Round 1 win over the Brumbies and how you view this game really comes down to how much you want to take from that first game.

The Highlanders are yet to really break out this season with close victories over the Chiefs and Reds so far but there is plenty of cause for concern with a defence that has given up 58 points so far.

Scoring against the Rebels has not been a problem in the past with 30 or more points in six of the seven meetings and just one loss back in 2013.

This game has the potential for plenty of points and the Rebels are just too talented to let this get out of hand so back a tight contest once again.

Back the Highlanders to Win by 1-12 @ $2.63

The Sunwolves gave the Waratahs a proper scare last week and will be out to cause more trouble for the winless Chiefs.

Neither side has really played inspiring defence with the Chiefs giving up 84 and the Sunwolves 76 points this season, or to put it more simply, the two worst totals so far.

Last year the Chiefs cruised to a 61-10 win away to the Sunwolves but their 2017 clash in Waikato was much closer, finishing 27-20.

With a line in the 20’s, it’s a lot to ask of a Chiefs side to cover here, especially with their struggles so far.

A counter argument however is that the Sunwolves have lost their last eight away games, six of which have come by 13 or more points and they tend to really struggle outside of Japan.

With the injuries slowly decimating the Sunwolves side, that just swings the pendulum the way of the Chiefs and the points here.

Back the Chiefs to Cover -26.5 @ $1.91

It was hard not to be impressed by the Reds gallant effort in their defeat last weekend giving the Highlanders a real run for their money.

Of course as impressive as the Reds were, the Crusaders looked nothing short of exceptional in their demolition of the Hurricanes and any confidence in Queensland would have quickly eroded at the sight of that performance.

Last time these teams met in 2017, the Crusaders only just snuck home 22-20 at Suncorp for what was their sixth straight win over the Queenslanders, the Reds last win over the Christchurch side was the 2011 Super Rugby Final.

When the Crusaders win they tend to win big with a couple of huge victories over Queensland in the last few years and while the Reds will try, anything less that 20 is exceptional value for the Crusaders.

Back the Crusaders to Cover -13.5 @ $1.91

You could be forgiven for not seeing the Lions upset loss to the Stormers coming last week, although the Bulls losing in Argentina was a bit less surprising.

The Lions finally get a home game after trips to face the Jaguares and Stormers and return to their fortress looking to extend a five game winning run at Ellis Park.

Over the last three seasons this has been a fairly one-sided affair with the Lions winning all four meetings by an average of 28.25 points per game.

The tide might be turning however with the Bulls crushing the Stormers in week one and almost looking like a competitive side.

If you can write off the Bulls loss in Argentina as a rough road trip, they will be happy to be back on South African soil and are at good value for the upset of the round.

Back the Bulls to Win @ $2.90

Out of all the teams in Super Rugby, the Sharks might just be off to the best start.

Back to back double digit wins over the Sunwolves and Blues has them with far and away the best points differential in the competition.

With 71 points scored and a meagre 17 against, the South African side will be a tough out for the Stormers who come into this game full of confidence.

After knocking off one conference powerhouse last week, the Stormers would love to do it again here and help move on from their opening round debacle.

The Sharks have been strong at home, with three straight covers at Kings Park and with a line hovering around a try, it’s a good play to back them to make it four in a row.

Back the Sharks to Cover -7.5 @ $1.91

For some reason, the Jaguares continue to be steady unders in the early market but that’s good news for punters trying to get some early week value.

The Blues do appear to be getting the “Kiwi Boost” where you automatically assume that because a side is from New Zealand, they are just better than an opponent.

Unfortunately the Auckland based side are making their first trip to the Buenos Aires cauldron and have lost their last three on the road.

Head to head is fine to back in here but with a line as small as 2.5 points, why not take a little bit of extra value?

Back the Jaguares to Cover -2.5 @ $1.91

2018

We have already been treated to a number of excellent games during the 2018 Super Rugby season and there are a number of highly-anticipated fixtures set to take place this weekend.

The action gets underway with a big clash between the Blues and the Chiefs before the Reds host the Brumbies in the only Australian Derby of the weekend.

We have gotten off to a flying start to the season and our complete 2018 Super Rugby round 3 tips can be found below!

The market can’t separate the Blues and the Chiefs ahead of this Friday Night Blockbuster.

These two sides played out a draw in May last year, but before that the Chiefs had won their previous 11 games against the Blues and have a simply outstanding record against their rivals.

Winning away from home was not an issue for the Chiefs last season and they are a better side than what they were made to look like against the Crusaders last weekend.

The Blues played some excellent Rugby at times against the Highlanders last Friday, but the defence continues to be an issue and their horrible record against the Chiefs should not be ignored.

It is a surprise that the Chiefs are not clear favourites for this clash and they are excellent value at their current price of $1.91.

Back Chiefs To Win @ $1.91

The Brumbies will start the only Australian Derby this weekend as clear favourites.

It was hardly a stellar showing for the Brumbies, but they still managed to come away from their clash with the Sunwolves with the win.

Winning away from home has been something of an issue for the Brumbies and they have won only two of their four games as away favourites, while they are 1-3 against the line in this scenario.

The season could not have gotten off to a worse start for the Reds – not only did they get flogged by the Rebels, but captain Scott Higginbotham was sent off for a high shoulder charge and has been suspended for three weeks.

The Reds have won only one of their past three games as home underdogs and their record against the Brumbies this season has been nothing short of woeful.

This is a game that the market does look to have just about right and I am happy to stay out from a betting perspective.

No Bet

The Rebels were the most impressive Australian Super Rugby outfit last weekend and they will start this clash with the Sunwolves as clear favourites.

The Rebels have not won a game away from home since they beat the Sunwolves in 2016 and that is a record they need to improve if they are going to be genuine contenders in the Australian Conference this season.

They didn’t come away with the win, but there was plenty to like about the performance of the Sunwolves against the Brumbies last weekend and if they can continue to play at that level, they will be more than competitive this season.

The Sunwolves have won two of their past six games as away underdogs and they are 4-2 against the line in this scenario for a clear profit.

It would not surprise to see another strong effort from the Sunwolves and they can cover the line with a start of 7.5 points.

Back Sunwolves To Beat The Line (-7.5 Points)

The Crusaders will start this clash with the Stormers as dominant favourites.

They started last season where they left off, with a big win over the Chiefs, and there is no doubt that they are the team to beat once again.

The Crusaders have won their past 17 games as favourites and they are a most impressive 13-3 against the line in this scenario.

The Stormers were unlucky not to start the season with a win over the Waratahs and they could rue that narrow defeat at the end of the season.

This is a franchise that generally perform to market expectations – they win when they are favourites and lose when they are now.

The Stormers have lost their past five games as away underdogs and they have covered the line in only one of these defeats.

The line may be big, but the Crusaders are more than capable of covering it.

Back Crusaders To Beat The Line (-16.5 Points)

It is the Sharks that will start this clash with the Waratahs as clear favourites.

The Sharks were able to give the Lions a genuine scare in their opening Super Rugby fixture and the fact that this game is being played at Kings Park Stadium gives them a big advantage – the home team has won the past six games played between these two sides.

The Sharks have won five of their past seven games as home favourites, but they are only 3-4 against the line in this scenario.

It definitely wasn’t pretty and luck was on their side, but the Waratahs showed plenty of fight to start their season with a last-minute win over the Stormers.

While the Waratahs were only able to win one of their five games as away underdogs last season, they were 4-1 against the line in this scenario.

This should be a fairly tight game and I am keen to back the Waratahs against the line with a 5.5 points start.

Back The Waratahs To Beat The Line (+5.5 Points)

The Bulls started their season with an upset win over the Lions, but they will still start this clash as clear underdogs.

It has been a winning start to the season for the Lions and they continue to be the best side in the South African Conference.

The Lions have won their past five games as away favourites for a clear profit and they are 3-2 against the line in this scenario.

It could not have been a better start to the season for the Bulls and they could prove to be one of the big improvers in Super Rugby this season.

The win over the Hurricanes was their first as home underdogs for well over a year, but they are 3-2 against the line in this scenario.

The real value in this clash is the Under in Total Points betting.

Backing the Under in games involving either of these sides has been a highly profitable play – the Under has saluted in ten of the past 14 games played by the Lions.

Back Under

It was a poor start to the Super Rugby season for the Hurricanes, but they are clear favourites to bounce back against the Jaguares.

The Hurricanes did not look their usual classy selves against the Bulls and they will need to improve on that performance to beat the Jaguares.

Away from has been a slight question mark for the Hurricanes over the past 12 months and they have been a losing betting play as away favourites in both head-to-head betting and against the line.

The Jaguares have started their season with a pair of losses and they continue to be a tough team to trust from a betting perspective.

Amazingly, this is the first time that the Jaguares have started a game at home as underdogs for over a season, but they have still won only four of their past eight games in this scenario and they are a woeful 2-6 against the line.

The Hurricanes should be able to return to winning form, but there is no value at their current price.

No Bet

2017

It has been a tough start to the Super Rugby season for all five Australian franchises and it doesn’t get any easier this weekend.

The Brumbies host the Western Force in an Australian Derby, while the Reds and Waratahs face tough tasks against the Crusaders and Sharks respectively.

The action starts with a blockbuster between the Chiefs and the Hurricanes before the Blues take on the Highlanders in another New Zealand Derby.

This could be a preview of the Super Rugby Final and the market is unable to split these two sides.

The Chiefs have had a tough start to the season and they have stamped themselves as genuine title contenders with impressive wins over both the Highlanders and the Blues.

They have the home ground advantage in this clash and they have lost just one of their past seven games in front of their home fans.

The Hurricanes put up massive scores against both the Sunwolves and the Rebels, but this is easily the toughest test that they have faced this season to date.

Winning has simply become a formality for the Hurricanes and they have won six of their past seven games away from home.

It really is tough to separate these two sides, but the Hurricanes have won three of the past four games played by these sides and they got the job done the last time that they played at FMG Stadium Waikato.

Back The Hurricanes To Win @ $2.05

The Brumbies go into Round 3 of the 2017 Super Rugby without a win, but they will still start this clash with the Western Force as clear favourites.

The Brumbies were far from disgraced in their season opener against the Brumbies and they suffered a heart-breaking defeat at the hands of the Sharks last weekend.

This is their chance to win and they have won their past six games against the Force, but they won only four of their seven games as home favourites last season and were 3-4 against the line in this scenario.

The Force showed plenty of toughness to claim their first win at home for almost two years when they beat the Reds last week, but it has been a long time since they claimed back-to-back wins.

They have lost their past seven games as away underdogs, but they are 5-2 against the line in this scenario and they are yet to produce a poor performance this season.

There is not as much between these teams as the current market suggests and I am keen to back the Force to beat the line with a start.

Back The Force To Beat The Line (+5.5 Points)

This is the second New Zealand Derby of the weekend and it should also be an excellent contest.

The Blues have the home-ground advantage and they will go into this clash as narrow favourites, despite going down to the Chiefs last weekend.

Home favourtism has been a position that has suited the Blues and they have won their past four games in this scenario, but they are 1-3 against the line.

The Highlanders are yet to win a game in Super Rugby this season, but they were far from disgraced against the Crusaders last weekend.

They have not had any trouble winning away from home in recent seasons and they won two of their three games as away underdogs for a profit.

There really is nothing between these two teams and that means that the $2 currently on offer for a Highlanders win stands out as genuine value.

Back The Highlanders To Win @ $2

It is no surprise that the Crusaders will go into this clash as dominant favourites.

The Reds have the chance to make a 2-0 start to the season, but they instead produced a truly woeful performance to go down to the Force.

Discipline has been an issue for the Reds in both their games this season and it could be another very long season if they do not improve.

The Reds have generally saved their best performances for Suncorp Stadium and they are 3-1 against the line as home underdogs.

The Crusaders made it two fighting wins on the trot with their effort against the Highlanders and they have not lost to the Reds since the 2011 Super Rugby Grand Final.

They have won three of their past four games as away favourites for a narrow profit, but they are only 1-3 against the line in this scenario.

The market looks to have got this clash just about right and I am happy to stay out from a betting standpoint.

No Bet

The Stormers are the shortest-priced favourites of the weekend and they have an excellent opportunity to continue their flawless start to the Super Rugby season.

Away favourtism has not been a position that the Stormers have thrived in over the past 12 months and they have won just two of their past four games in this scenario for a clear loss.

The Kings look to be one of the big improvers in Super Rugby this season.

They were far from disgraced in their opening game of the season against the Jaguares and they got the job done against the Sunwolves fairly comfortably.

The Kings were a profitable betting play as home underdogs last season and they are a better team than their current price suggests.

Back The Kings To Beat The Line (+18.5 Points)

The Cheetahs have made a promising start to the Super Rugby season and they will go into this clash with the Sunwolves as dominant favourites.

The Cheetahs showed plenty of toughness to claim victory against the Bulls last weekend and they are sure to have taken plenty of confidence from that win.

They have won their past three games as home favourites, but they are 1-2 against the line in that scenario.

The Sunwolves improved on their opening round performance against the Hurricanes, but they were still no match for the Kings last weekend.

They are yet to win a game away from home and their record against the line as away underdogs is a poor 3-4.

The Cheetahs should be able to get the job done, but their is absolutely no value whatsoever at their current price.

No Bet

The Sharks returned from Australia with one win and one loss and they will go into this clash with the Waratahs as favourites.

The Sharks stole victory after the siren against the Brumbies and a repeat of that performance would make them very tough to beat this weekend.

Winning at home was easier said than done for the Sharks last season and they won just three of their five games as home favourites for a clear loss, while they were 2-3 against the line.

The Waratahs were no match for the Lions last weekend and they will need to improve significantly to have any chance against the Sharks.

They have won just one of their past four games as away underdogs and they have the same record against the line, while they have not beaten the Sharks in South Africa since 2009.

This is another game that the market has got right and I am happy to stay out from a betting standpoint.

No Bet

This is set to be one of the most interesting games of the weekend.

The Lions improved their record to 2-0 with their win over the Waratahs last weekend and they will start this clash as narrow favourites.

Winning away from home was not an issue for the Lions last season and they won both their games as home favourites, while they were 1-1 against the line.

The Jaguares were unable to turn Estadio Jose Amalfitani into a fortress last season and they finished the season with just three wins from their seven games in front of their home fans.

Backing the Lions continues to be a profitable play in Super Rugby and they should be able to cover what is a fairly small line with ease.

Back The Lions To Beat The Line (-2.5 Points)

2016

We have another Friday afternoon blockbuster in Super Rugby this weekend as the Blues host the Hurricanes in the opening game of the weekend.

The Sunwolves and Kings return to action after their week off for the bye, with the Sunwolves set to host their very first home game at Singapore National Stadium.

The round concludes with one of the biggest games of the week as South African rivals the Stormers and Sharks do battle in what could be a key fixture.

The Blues started their season with an upset victory over the Highlanders before they went down to the Crusaders last weekend, while the Hurricanes are already at a crossroads after starting the season with two straight losses.

The Blues are set to start this game as favourites, which is a unique position as they have been favourites just once in the past 12 months, while the Hurricanes have been underdogs just three times in the same period.

This is a tricky game to analyse as both sides are filled with completely new faces in 2016 and I am happy to stay out of this game from a betting standpoint

Recommended Bet: No Bet

The Force put the final nail into the coffin of Reds coach Richard Graham when they scored an upset win in the Australian Derby last weekend, but they face a much tougher assignment against a Brumbies sides that has started the season with two straight wins.

The Brumbies are dominant and deserving favourites, but they also look like a good bet against the line in this fixture

They are 3-1 against the line as away favourites, while the Force have a very poor record in front of their home fans and have beaten the line just once in their past eight games at NIB Stadium.

Recommended Bet: Back The Brumbies To Beat The Line (-9.5 points)

The Lions have been the early suprise packets in Super Rugby this season and they produced an outstanding performance to upset the Chiefs away from home last season.

They face a tough challenge to go back-to-back against the Highlanders – who scored a narrow win over the Hurricanes – last weekend and they are clearly outsiders in betting again.

This is another tough game to analyse as both teams have been excellent against the line in the past 12 months – the Highlanders are unbeaten as home favourites and 4-2 against the line, while the Lions are 7-2 as underdogs and 5-1 as away underdogs.

The line of 9.5 points seems just about right based on the two sides performances so far this season and there simply is no value on offer in any of these betting markets.

Recommended Bet: No Bet

The post-Richard Graham era begins for the Reds with a road trip to Melbourne for a clash with the Rebels, who return to Australia after suffering a 20 point defeat against the Bulls in South Africa.

The Reds have been truly horrid this season and their betting stats for the past 12 months are absolutely shocking – they are 3-11 against the line in the past 12 months – although that record isn’t as bad away from home.

The Rebels have not been the best betting side in the past 12 months either and they are 2-4 against the line as favourites, but they simply have far more talent than the Reds and are deserving favourites.

The betting market that does standout in this fixture is the over/under points betting market as the under has saluted in 19 of the 28 games played by the two sides in the past 12 months.

The Sunwolves return to Super Rugby action following their second week bye, while the Cheetahs are still chasing their first win of the season after suffering narrow losses at the hands of both the Jaguares and the Cheetahs.

The Sunwolves were very impressive without winning against the Lions in their first Super Rugby encounter and that performance looks even stronger after the Lions upstaged the Chiefs last week.

This will be just the second game that the Cheetahs have started as favourites in the past 12 months and it is tough to have any trust in a team that has won just three of their past 15 games.

This a tough road trip for the Cheetahs and you couldn’t possibly back them as favourites, while the Sunwolves still have the hunger in them to claim their maiden Super Rugby victory and are capable of recording an upset win.

Recommended Bet: Back The Sunwolves To Win @ $2.80

The Southern Kings were the most disappointing of the three new Super Rugby franchises in the opening round of the season and they face a very tough  challenge against a Lions side that will be smarting after their shock loss to the Lions last weekend.

The Chiefs have been far from a profitable betting side in the past 12 months and they are an extremely poor 2-6 against the line as favourites, while they are just 5-3 in straight-up betting.

In saying that, the Southern Kings lack quality right across the park and if the Chiefs turn up it is very hard to see them not putting a very big score on their South African rivals.

Recommended Bet: Back The Chiefs To Beat The Line (+16.5 points)

This is one of the games of the round as both these teams are 2-0 and are on top of the two separate divisions in the South African Conference.

The Stormers have played some outstanding during the season to date, while the Sharks have been more businesslike in their approach and only just got the job done against the Jaguares.

Betting wise, The Stormers have been somewhat of a disappointment in the past 12 months and they are a poor 3-5 against the lions as home favourites, but the Sharks have won just one of their past six games as underdogs and are basically even against the line.

This is another game where the odds appear to be just right and at this stage I couldn’t recommend any betting plays in good faith.

Recommended Bet: No Bet