Three days of Super Rugby action await as Round 4 brings us some fascinating matches from start to finish.

The action will kick off in Auckland with the Blues and Brumbies in a game that neither one can really afford to lose.

Saturday brings us an all-Aussie derby as the resurgent Force will try to knock off the Waratahs before the round closes out in Christchurch on Sunday with the Crusaders hosting the Reds.

Find our weekly Super Rugby previews and best bets for every game below.

It’s fair to say that neither team will be overly please with their 1-2 record to start the season, although it is far too early to press the panic button on either side.

This will be the Blues first game against a non New Zealand based opponent and they have been in every contest, but have failed to complete a full 80 minute showing.

Meanwhile, the Brumbies have had no problems scoring points but have been torn to shreds defensively, conceding 32, 45 and 49 points in their games so far.

History is not on the Brumbies side, with four of the last five meetings in Auckland being won by the Blues, with three of those by double digit margins.

Until the Brumbies can show some defensive resolve, it is hard to have any sort of confidence in their ability to stop any opponent from scoring in the mid 30’s.

Blues to Cover -12.5 @ $1.90

Another game, another close loss for the Drua last week and it doesn’t get easier this weekend even with a return to their Fijian fortress.

The Chiefs have been nothing short of dominant in their three outings so far, winning by 11, 25 and 15 points over some tough opposition.

All three head to head meetings have gone the way of the Chiefs, although only one has been in Lautoka and that was a 35-34 epic in May 2022.

That one was made a lot closer than it might have needed to be with the Drua scoring three converted tries in the final ten minutes to bring the margin to a solitary point, but we have a lot more evidence about how much better they are on home soil.

An upset win is almost certainly asking too much of this side but there is no reason to think that they cannot at least keep this one within the margins.

Drua to Cover +9.5 @ $1.90

Since becoming the first team to lose to Moana Pasifika, the Hurricanes have gone to great lengths to atone for that ignominy.

They have won the last four matches by an average of 39.25 points and will head into this one as heavy favourites despite their 1-2 record.

Moana Pasifika’s matches have at least been entertaining affairs with last week’s 31-29 loss in Auckland against the Highlanders their lowest scoring game of 2025.

With the way both are playing at the moment, the Hurricanes should win this one but the better bet is to take the over with both sides more than capable of hitting the 30-point mark.

Over 64.5 Points @ $1.85

All signs are pointing towards a hard fought, close encounter between two sides that have begun their seasons in impressive fashion.

The Tahs have managed to record a 37-36 win over the Highlanders and a 29-24 victory over the Drua either side of the bye.

While the Force lose their first game of the season last weekend in heartbreaking fashion to the Reds, 28-24 but that should not detract from their 45-44 win over Moana Pasifka and 45-42 win in Canberra.

Neither of these teams seem to be capable of winning (or losing) games by big margins and with there really is not a lot between them on paper.

Don’t be surprised if this one goes down to the wire.

Force to Cover +9.5 @ $1.87

Having had a week to stew over a subpar performance against the Chiefs, the Crusaders will be out to make amends against the Reds this weekend.

Last season they met in a tense contest that the Reds just held on to win 33-28, but the visitors will be at a significant rest and travel disadvantage.

Not only did the Crusaders have the bye last week, the Reds will be coming off a Saturday night game in Perth and the lengthy commute first back to Brisbane and then to Christchurch (with a cyclone at home to deal with), they may not be at full capacity for this game.

While the Crusaders are far from the force they once were, it seems like they are catching the Reds in a bad spot and they should be able to take advantage of a fatigued opponent.

Crusaders to Cover -9.5 @ $1.90

2024

Super Rugby is off to its most competitive start in a very long time with a number of close finishes and quite a few upsets.

Nobody would have predicted that the Crusaders would be off to such a poor start with the dynastic side stuck in 11^th place with three defeats and one bonus point to date.

At the other end of the table, the Hurricanes are the lone undefeated team and they will travel to the South Island to take on the Crusaders in the opening game of Round 4.

Read on for our Super Rugby best bets and previews!

Is it time to turn on the Crusaders or is this the game where they get their season back on track.

We all know at some stage they are going to hit the accelerator and surge up the Super Rugby standings, but there are some legitimate questions to be asked about their performance this season.

History is pointing towards this being a Crusaders bounce back performance with the defending champions winning eight of the last ten head to head meetings.

But at some point you have to start discounting history when the more recent evidence suggests this is not the same team.

It’s time to give the Hurricanes their due after a strong start, especially last week’s win without Jordie Barrett with the rest of the team stepping up in a big way.

SGM: Hurricanes to Win and Over 53.5 Points @ $3.23

After recording back to back wins for the first time in nearly two years, the Rebels face a massive challenge on Friday.

While beating the Force and Moana Pasifika warrants some praise, the Melbourne based side has to beat a good team to show that they are going to be competitive this season and this is their next opportunity to do just that.

The Reds are coming off a huge win at home against the Chiefs and look like they are going to be for real this season

But coming off that and an overtime loss to the Hurricanes a week prior, you have to wonder if a crash back to earth is coming soon.

The last two meetings between these teams have been shootouts with the Reds winning 36-32 in 2022, while the Rebels took last season’s lone match 40-34 in Melbourne.

With the momentum they have and the likely return of Jordan Petaia, the Reds should be able to see off a Rebels team that features plenty of one-time Queensland players, but they will have to find a way to score at least 30 points to do so.

SGM: Reds to Win and Over 56.5 Points @ $2.33

We’re going to round out Friday’s triple header with a clash in the wild west.

Moana Pasifika have definitely improved in the offseason, but have they done enough to defeat struggling teams like the Force in their building?

The trip out to Perth is going to add another degree of difficulty to this task, not to mention the Force are still chasing their first win of the new season.

Having pushed the Brumbies to the edge last week before falling three points short, they have to build on that to get the win.

But right now neither of these teams has offered enough to back with any confidence.

The totals did start to come back to earth last week and this might turn into a much lower scoring game than the market suggests with both teams likely ending up in the 20’s.

With the number set at 63.5 at the time of publish, the under looks to be the best bet in this market.

Under 63.5 Points @ $1.88

Over the last two seasons, the Brumbies have had the edge on the Highlanders with a 28-17 win in Dunedin back in 2022, before a 48-32 victory in Canberra last May.

With both teams entering the game with nine points and a 2-1 record, it is no surprise then that the market has this projected as a tightly fought contest.

Through three games both of these teams have been very inconsistent, showing flashes of skill mixed in with baffling errors that have to be held against them.

If the good version of both teams show up (or the bad version), the Brumbies are the better side and they should win this game and the confidence of last week’s win at home should help spur them to a victory here.

Brumbies to Win @ $1.80

The Chiefs have lost three Super Rugby games since the start of the 2023 season, two of which have come against the Reds.

Following their shock loss to the Queenslanders last season, they responded with a disciplined 11 point win at home over the Hurricanes.

If the Drua can keep this margin to anything under 20 that is going to be a moral victory for the Fijian side who were blasted 50-17 at this stadium last season.

I’m not expecting this to be a close one as the Chiefs make a statement with a dominant victory.

Chiefs to Cover -18.5 @ $1.88

Preseason rumours surrounding the status of Waratahs coach Darren Coleman had this match circled as a potential last hurrah, but it would be a surprise to see him cut loose after their last two performances.

They have played pretty well in the last two weeks, defeating the Crusaders (which may not be as impressive if they keep losing) and falling just short against the Highlanders.

If this game was in Auckland I’d be leaning towards a Blues blowout but the Tahs have the talent to keep this one close.

It might not be enough to get them the win, but they should be in contention for a bonus point loss.

Waratahs to Cover +9.5 @ $1.88

2023

We’ve got another busy weekend of Trans-Tasman action in the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific competition with six games over three days.

It all kicks off on Friday with the Hurricanes hosting the Waratahs in Wellington before Saturday’s triple header is headlined by the battle between the Blues and Crusaders.

Sunday provides us with a pair of fascinating games as the Highlanders chase their first win of the new season when they host the Force.

Read on for our previews and best bets for every Super Rugby Pacific game!

It has been a less than ideal start to the season for the Waratahs, with an expected big win over the Drua bookended by frustratingly close defeats against the Brumbies and Rebels.

There were plenty of reasons for concern in that loss to the Rebels and you have to wonder if they will be able to sort it out in time for their trip to Wellington.

Scoring has not been an issue for the Canes this season against Australian sides, putting up 86 points in wins over the Reds and Rebels and they should be able to outscore the Tahs here.

It’s a big line to ask them to cover but they have had no problems punishing opposing teams mistakes and they did manage to push a very strong Blues team last week.

I’m expecting them to get the job done at home in a high scoring game and Ardie Savea to come back from suspension with a try for good measure.

SGM: Hurricanes to Cover -15.5, Over 53.5 Poitns, Ardie Savea Anytime Try Scorer @ $8.62

The Chiefs are out to extend their perfect start to the season when they host the Rebels and it’s easy to see why they are such heavy favourites.

While there is no shortage of positives to take from their fast start, the most impressive note is that they have won all of their games by at least 21 points and that includes a Round 1 belting of the Crusaders.

Even though the Rebels are coming off their first win of the season against a tough Waratahs side, right now you have to back the hosts to come out and take care of business at home.

There is a pretty hefty gap between these teams and the final scoreboard should reflect that.

Back the Chiefs to Cover -24.5 @ $2.50

No doubting that this is the marquee matchup of the weekend with the suddenly reeling Crusaders desperate for a win to level out their record.

It was a fantastic moment in Fiji last week for the Drua but for the Crusaders they were left stunned as they suffered their second defeat of the season, and it does not get any easier here.

One minor mark against the Blues ascension to the elite of New Zealand rugby over the last few seasons is the fact they have struggled against the Crusaders.

Their lone win came in the 2022 regular season in Christchurch, but the Crusaders got the better of them in the Super Rugby Grand Final a few months later.

While the Crusaders have not been themselves in 2023, they have earned the benefit of the doubt and are worth a shot as underdogs.

Back the Crusaders to Win @ $2.00

Moana Pasifika will be very pleased to be heading to Canberra in March rather than May with much more palatable conditions for their brand of rugby.

Despite going 0-3 thus far they have picked up two bonus points and scored plenty of phenomenal tries already this season and they cause some problems for the Brumbies.

Stephen Larkham’s side have enjoyed a perfect start, winning a trio of close games over the Waratahs, Blues and Reds by a combined margin of 17 points.

However they will need to score some points to keep the Pasifika side at bay because we know they will attack at all costs regardless of the final score.

When you play unstructured rugby however, it does result in mistakes and the good teams have the ability to punish those mistakes.

While it might be close at halftime, the Brumbies should find a way to kick on in the second half and record their biggest win of the season.

Back the Brumbies to Cover -18.5 @ $1.91

It looks like a pretty simple approach for both of these teams heading into their Round 4 clash.

The Force are a good team at home and will struggle on the road, while the Highlanders are just going to struggle wherever they play.

Last season the Highlanders belted the living daylights out of the Force 61-10 but this has the makings of a much tighter game considering the home side’s performances thus far.

We won’t see much champagne rugby but we might just be treated to a close finish.

Back the Western Force to Cover +15.5 @ $1.91

Remarkably, the Drua will head into this game with a better record than the Reds and the visitor’s confidence will be sky high after knocking off the Crusaders.

However the Reds gave the Brumbies all they could handle last week and the return to health of James O’Connor does significantly improve their prospects going forward.

Last season the Drua gave the Reds all they could handle at Suncorp in a 33-28 win for the Queenslanders and this one should be no different, at least early on.

However what is a bit concerning is the letdown potential for the Drua coming off their biggest win ever and their second half fade out against the Waratahs a week prior to that.

It should be close early on before the Reds find a way to run away with it.

Back the Reds to Win by 13+ @ $1.95

2022

We’re officially one month into the new-look Super Rugby season and there has been no shortage of storylines to follow.

Round 4 kicks off on Friday afternoon with a crucial clash between the struggling Blues and Highlanders, followed by a big game for the Rebels when they take on the Brumbies in Melbourne.

The Crusaders and the Chiefs headline Saturday’s slate from Christchurch, followed by what is arguably the game of the round on Sunday between the Waratahs and Force from Leichhardt Oval.

We’ve analysed all six games, and our best bets can be found below.

Now staring down the barrel of an 0-4 start to the season, the Highlanders will likely be treating this week’s game in Auckland as a must-win.

Tony Brown’s side put a scare into the Hurricanes last week, but ultimately lacked the poise in the final stages on their way to a 21-14 loss.

The Blues, on the other hand, picked up their first win of the season in a 24-22 thriller over the Chiefs, but it wasn’t pretty as the home side committed a high number of missed tackles and turnovers.

The Blues have dominated the Highlanders over the last two years with four wins from their last five meetings, while they’ve also played to an outstanding 7-1 record as the home team.

The defensive efforts of both sides suggest this will be a high-scoring contest, but with the Highlanders down on confidence and on-field chemistry, the Blues should sneak home.

Tip: Back the Blues 1-12

The undefeated Brumbies will be looking to add further misery to the Rebels’ season this Friday night in Melbourne.

David Wessells side officially hit rock-bottom last week with a 31-26 loss to newcomers Fijian Drua, a game that saw the Rebels blow a healthy 14-0 lead with a man advantage.

The Brumbies, meanwhile, prevailed 27-20 over the Waratahs in what can only be described as a clutch performance from Dan McKellar’s men.

Both meetings between these two sides last year were decided by three points or less, but given Melbourne’s inability to play a full 80 minutes, this one should be much more one-sided.

Tip: Back the Brumbies to Cover the Line (-17.5 Points) @ $1.90

The Hurricanes improved to 2-1 last week with a strong second half performance against the Highlanders, but coach John Plumtree will likely be stressing the importance of not overlooking newcomers Moana Pasifika on Saturday.

The competition debutants were far from disgraced against the ladder leading Crusaders last week, scoring the first try of the game on their way to a 33-12 loss.

It’s still early days, but there’s obvious talent on this Pasifika side in the form of Lincoln McClutchie, Solomone Funaki, and Levin Aumua.

All three had their moments last week, and with the Hurricanes having failed to play at their best in all three games so far, there’s a chance Pasifika at least keeps this game respectable.

Tip: Back Moana Pasifika to Cover the Line (+23.5 Points) @ $1.90

The Chiefs face another tough assignment this week after coming up agonisingly short to the Blues in Round 3.

A rematch of last year’s final against the Crusaders awaits on Saturday, an opponent that gave them plenty of trouble in three meetings last season.

The Crusaders won two of their three games against the Chiefs, and the defending Aoteora champs might be looking to make a statement after surrendering 12 points to newcomers Moana Pasifika last week.

The Chiefs were the last side to beat the Crusaders, but their lapse of concentration in the second half of games might be their undoing.

Just like last year’s final, this game should be tight and very scrappy early on, but given the Crusaders’ exceptional 6-1 record as the home favourite over the last calendar year, it’s hard to back against them.

Tip: Back the Crusaders 1-12

The Reds answered some of their critics last week with a convincing come-from-behind victory over the Force in Perth.

Still unbeaten, Queensland now returns to Suncorp to face newcomers Fijian Drua on Saturday night, a feisty side that just pulled off one of the upsets of the early season over the Rebels.

The Reds will be hoping to avoid a similar slow start that saw them trail 16-15 with just over 15 minutes to go, but there’s still plenty of improvement to come from this side as they continue to grow with confidence.

Drua showed last week they can score in a hurry, but this is still a big task against a Reds team that has surrendered less than 16 points in all three games so far.

Behind a strong 4-0 record in their last four home games, the Reds should continue on their ways.

Tip: Back the Reds to Cover the Line (-23.5 Points) @ $1.90

Super Rugby has saved the best for last this week with the Waratahs hosting the Force at Leichhardt on Sunday.

This is a crucial game given their respective positions on the ladder, and if it turns out anything like their most recent showdown in WA, we should be in for a real treat.

The Force prevailed 31-30 when they played the Waratahs last April, but it wouldn’t be surprising if this game is much more low scoring.

Both sides have played the Reds over the last fortnight and put up only 16 points, while it’s worth noting the last four Waratah home games against the Force have all gone Under the Total.

Tip: Under the Points Total

2021

The fourth weekend of Super Rugby action is headlined by a huge clash in Canberra as the Reds face the Brumbies for the first time since their Grand Final meeting last year.

Over in New Zealand the weekend kicks off with a massive mismatch between the Crusaders and Chiefs.

We are previewing every Super Rugby clash so read on and find out who we are backing!

SUPER RUGBY AU ROUND 4

This will be the perfect opportunity for the Force to stamp themselves as a legitimate finals contender in Super Rugby AU.

Last weekend they came away with their first win of the season over the Waratahs, and will look to make it two in a row here.

Despite their winless start to the season, the Rebels have been far from disgraced in their two matches to date.

Having put up a gallant fight in Canberra last weekend, the defending Super Rugby AU champion Brumbies needed a long range penalty on the full time whistle to get home.

When they met last season, both matches were close affairs with the Rebels winning in extra time in their first meeting before escaping with a 34-30 victory in September.

I’m still seeing a bit of a gap between these two sides and the Force are just a bit too far behind the Rebels to come away with a win.

Back the Rebels to Cover -3.5 @ $1.91

We are ready for a clash between the two participants in the 2020 Super Rugby AU Grand Final.

In that fixture, the Brumbies and Reds played out a back and forth encounter before the men from Canberra were crowned champions with a 28-23 victory.

That was the third time the Brumbies and Reds faced off in Canberra and all three clashes last season followed a very similar pattern.

The Brumbies got off to a fast start, the Reds eventually found their footing and came home with a wet sail before ultimately falling short.

Chances are this will be the first of at least three meetings between the two sides as the two title favourites prepare for a run at the Grand Final.

I’ll back the Brumbies to get home in a close encounter once again.

Back the Brumbies by 1-12 @ $3.00

SUPER RUGBY AOTEAROA ROUND 3

Get ready for the safest bet of the entire Super Rugby season, at least until the Crusaders face the Waratahs.

We are still waiting for the Crusaders to really hit top gear but they have won both of their matches so far by comfortable double digit margins.

On the other side the Chiefs losing streak reached 10 matches with their last victory coming against the Waratahs over a calendar year ago.

There is no line that will be too big for me to take the Crusaders at.

Back the Crusaders to Cover -15.5 @ $1.91

After an early bye week, the Blues return to action with their first home game of the new campaign.

Having defeated the Highlanders in both meetings last year, they have been installed as clear favourites for this encounter but there was a lot to like about the way the visitors acquitted themselves against the Chiefs last weekend.

While they fell into an early hole, trailing 20-6, they responded with plenty of verve and vigour to storm home 39-23.

I’m expecting a very tight encounter and cannot rule out the Highlanders picking up a win outright.

With that in mind I’ll play it a bit safe and back the underdogs to cover the 6.5 point line.

Back the Highlanders to Cover +6.5 @ $1.91

2020

The 2020 Super Rugby season continues to produce the goods and we were treated to a number of entertaining games last weekend.

Once again, there is a stack of value to be found in Super Rugby betting this week and there are plenty of fascinating games from a betting perspective.

We have analysed every single game and our complete 2020 Super Rugby round four tips can be found below.

The Crusaders are one of a number of short-priced favourites in Super Rugby this weekend.

The defending champions were able to return to winning form with a comfortable victory over the Blues and they really should prove too strong for the Highlanders.

The home side has won the past six matches between these two sides and the Crusaders are always tough to beat at Orangetheory Stadium.

They are now 11-1 as home favourites over the past 12 months and backing them against the line in this scenario is also a profitable betting play.

The Highlanders were able to steal a rare win on the road against the Brumbies last weekend, but this is a much tougher assignment.

They have covered the line in only two of their past seven games as away underdogs and their recent record against the Crusaders is poor.

A comfortable Crusaders win looks on the cards.

Back Crusaders To Cover The Line (-15.5 Points) @ $1.90

This is one of the most interesting games of the weekend from a betting perspective.

The Rebels have the home ground advantage, but it is the Sharks that will go into this clash as clear favourite.

The Sharks have won in Melbourne in the past and their recent record away from home is strong after beating the Highlanders in New Zealand earlier this season.

The Rebels were able to claim their first win of the season over a hapless Waratahs outfit, but the Sharks do represent a stiffer challenge.

David Wessels’ side have lost their past seven games as underdogs and their record against the line in this scenario isn’t much better.

The Sharks should be able to get the job done and they represent value at their current quote.

Back Sharks To Win @ $1.73

Home ground advantage has proven key in the rivalry between the Chiefs and the Brumbies, which is one reason that the Chiefs are dominant favourites for this meeting.

The home side has won 11 of the past 12 games played between these two sides and it has been over a decade since the Brumbies were able to beat the Chiefs in New Zealand.

The Chiefs have not looked like losing a game this season and they were, unsurprisingly, too strong for the Sunwolves last weekend.

While they have won three of their five games as home favourites, they are a poor 1-4 against the line in this scenario.

The Brumbies really should have gotten the job done against the Highlanders and that last-minute lost could come back to bite them at the end of the season.

While their record in New Zealand is poor, the Brumbies have covered the line in five of their past seven games as away underdogs and there isn’t as much between these two sides as the current market suggests.

Back Brumbies To Cover The Line (+13.5 Points) @ $1.90

The Reds may never have a better chance to record their maiden win of the Super Rugby season.

The Reds took a comfortable lead into half-time of their clash with the Jaguares, but they failed to see out the contest and fell apart in the second half.

Although the Reds have won four of their five previous meetings with the Sunwolves, the majority of these games have been close and it really is tough to have any confidence backing the Reds.

The Sunwolves already have a win on their record this season and they weren’t completely disgraced when they took on the Chiefs last weekend.

They have won two of their past eight games as away underdogs for a big profit and they are 5-2 against the line in this scenario.

It really would not surprise to see the Sunwolves give the Reds a scare and they are a great bet to cover the line.

Back Sunwolves To Cover The Line (+14.5 Points) @ $1.90

The Stormers are one of the only unbeaten sides left in Super Rugby this season and they will go into this clash with the Jaguares as clear favourites.

The Stormers survived a scare against the Lions last week to come away with the victory and there is no doubt that they have gone to another level this campaign.

The home side has won five of the six games played between these two sides and the Stormers have won six of their past eight games as home favourites, but they are only 4-4 against the line in this scenario.

The Jaguares came from behind to beat the Reds last weekend and they look like a side that is yet to click this season.

They improved their record away from home significantly last season and they have won four of their past eight games as away underdogs for a big profit.

There isn’t as much between these two teams as the current market suggests and the Stormers are a great bet to cover the line with a start of 5.5 points.

Back Jaguares To Cover The Line (+5.5 Points) @ $1.91

This is close to a must-win game for both these sides.

The Blues were expected to be one of the big improvers in Super Rugby this season, but they head into this contest with a 1-2 record and are quickly falling out of contention in the New Zealand Conference.

In saying that, they have had a tough draw and the market does expect them to get the job done.

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

The Bulls have lost both their games this season and their effort against the Stormers before they went on the bye was particularly poor.

It is impossible to have any faith in them from a betting perspective and they could be in for a long season.

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

2019

It’s a double dose of Aussie derbies this weekend with the Rebels looking to continue their fast start against the Brumbies on Friday.

The big feature of the weekend is the renewal of one of the oldest rivalries in Australian sport with the Waratahs hosting the Reds at the SCG in a game that is sure to have plenty of feeling to it.

Overseas there is plenty to look forward to as well right from the outset with the Hurricanes and Highlanders kicking off the weekend while the early pacesetters in South Africa also take each other on.

Read on for our previews and predictions for every Super Rugby Round 4 game.

The early season numbers suggest this might be a very close game with both teams on nine points thanks to two wins from their opening three games.

Both teams have also scored 85 points so far although the Highlanders defence has been slightly more open, conceding 82 points to the Hurricanes 70.

Over the last three years playing at home has been a big help with five straight wins for the home team and the Hurricanes are favoured to make it six here.

Having played themselves into good form with a 30 point win over the Brumbies last week you can back the Hurricanes to win in the head to head market, but for a real value play, look for a close game as both sides are more than capable of scoring plenty of points.

Back the Hurricanes by 1-12

If this game seems kind of familiar, it’s probably because these sides faced off in Canberra three weeks ago.

In that instance, the Rebels beat the Brumbies 34-27 and have since come off their bye with an impressive home win over the Highlanders last weekend.

One question that needs to be answered though, is which Brumbies side will turn up for this game, will it be the one that blasted the Chiefs off the park or the one that couldn’t match the Hurricanes last week?

For some reason the Brumbies have not been able to have much success over the Rebels lately losing three in a row and four of their last five against the team from Melbourne.

It’s a good sign of progress for the Rebels that finally they don’t offer a lot of value as a head to head favourite so take what should stay as a pretty short line.

Back the Rebels to Cover -3.5 @ $1.83

Despite only beating the Reds by 10 points last weekend, the Crusaders never really felt like they were threatened by a gallant Queensland team.

Up next is a chance to put down a statement of intent as they host a Chiefs side off to a concerning 0-3 start and has given up 30 or more points in every game this season.

In the Crusaders lone home game so far, a 38-22 demolition of the Chiefs, they started off incredibly fast and will look to do the same again.

Even with a handful of players enjoying an extended preseason break, the sad reality for opponents is the Crusaders can just pick up another future All Blacks star off their production line.

With four straight wins over the Chiefs including three straight by 14 or more, the Crusaders should be able to win and cover here.

Back the Crusaders to Cover -15.5 @ $1.91

Every so often you just have to put your hands up and say, “I did not see that coming!”

Well very few people would have backed the Sunwolves to not only beat the Chiefs last week but do so quite comfortably.

That ended a four game losing run and now they travel to Auckland to face a Blues team that has lost their last five and six of their last seven at home.

The Japanese based side has not travelled all that well but they have looked good in the last two weeks, scoring 30 both times while the Blues have travelled to South Africa and Argentina in that time.

It’s a big call backing the Sunwolves to win on the road against a New Zealand side but all the warning signs are there for an upset.

A fatigued team coming of a draining road trip with the weight of expectation on their shoulders, the Blues just don’t offer any real value here head to head or against the spread.

Back the Sunwolves to Win @ $4.33

This will be a sight to behold as the Waratahs host the Reds at the SCG in what should be one of the more visually scenic encounters for the weekend.

The Reds rough start to the season continues as they are the lone Australian side still searching for their first win.

Last time these teams met it was a game with optional defending as the Waratahs won 52-41 at Suncorp Stadium in June to make it nine straight against their oldest rivals.

The Reds have not been disgraced in either loss as the Thorn rebuilding project moves into its second season.

The last few trips to Sydney have not been great with four straight losses there and a grand total of 36 points in those games.

Even so the Reds have found their gamebreakers here and the Waratahs have not looked all that convincing in their two games so far so expect the Waratahs to win but the Reds to keep it close.

Back the Waratahs by 1-12

Who would have backed the Lions to be stuck at the bottom of the South African conference after three rounds?

Every other side in the South African Conference, including the Jaguares, sits on two wins and a loss so the Lions could make up some ground with a big showing here.

They already have the confidence of beating the Jaguares three weeks ago in Argentina so coming back to Ellis Park can only give them confidence.

Especially when the Jaguares have not won an away game since early May including a 40-23 loss in last season’s quarter final.

The normally flying Lions attack has not quite clicked this season having only topped 20 points once this season but this could be a get right opportunity against a side travelling for the first time this season.

Back the Lions to Cover -7.5 @ $1.91

After flying out to the competition’s best start, the Sharks got a wake up call last week going down to the Stormers in a slugfest.

There’s a lot to worry about here with history not on their side, their last win over the Bulls came in February 2014 with six losses and a draw since that day.

Despite the loss the Sharks were able to pick up a bonus point thanks to the five point margin and they have been able to maintain the competitions best defensive record with an average of just 11 points per game conceded.

The Bulls on the other have had no problems scoring against the Sharks putting up 30, 40 and 39 in their last three meetings and scoring 40 and 30 in their two wins this season.

It may seem like an oversimplification but the team that is able to dicate the terms of this game will be the ones to win it.

In a game like this you have to like the defensive side to find a way to stifle the attack and as such, the Sharks are the value play here.

Back the Sharks to Win @ $2.25

2018

There are a host of big games in Super Rugby this weekend.

The highlight will be the Saturday Night Blockbuster between the Hurricanes and the Crusaders, while the Rebels host the Brumbies in a crucial Australian Derby.

We have analysed every game set to take place this weekend and our complete 2018 Super Rugby Round 4 tips can be found below.

The Highlanders started their Super Rugby season with a win over the Blues and they will start this clash with the Stormers as clear favourites.

Forsyth Barr Stadium has been a genuine fortress for the Highlanders in recent seasons and they have won their past seven games as home favourites, while they are 4-3 against the line in this scenario.

The Stormers have an awful record against New Zealand Super Rugby franchises and they were no match for the Crusaders last weekend.

They have lost their past six games as away underdogs and their record against the line isn’t much better.

It is tough to see the Stormers improving their records in New Zealand and the Highlanders should be able to record a comfortable win.

Back Highlanders To Cover The Line (-14.5 Points)

This is a big opportunity to the Rebels to start the season with three straight wins.

The Rebels have recorded big wins over the Reds and the Sunwolves and they will go into this clash with the Brumbies as clear favourites.

Winning at home has been something of an issue for the Rebels, but they did win their only game as home favourites last season.

The Brumbies produced a truly awful performance against the Reds last weekend and they will need to improve significantly to have any chance of beating the Rebels.

They have won two of their past four games as away underdogs for a profit, but it really is tough to back them off their effort against the Reds.

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

No Bet

This is easily the biggest game of the weekend in Super Rugby and the market can’t split the two sides.

The Hurricanes started their Super Rugby season with a shock loss at the hands of the Bulls, but they bounced back to beat the Jaguares last weekend.

They have won six of their past seven games at home and they did beat the Crusaders in Wellington last season.

The Crusaders have looked nothing short of outstanding in their two wins over the Chiefs and the Stormers, but winning in Wellington has proven to be an issue for them.

They have lost the past four games they have played against the Hurricanes away from home and they have not beaten them at Westpac Stadium since 2012.

In saying that, it has been hard not to be impressed by the style of rugby that the Crusaders have produced in recent weeks and they may never have a better chance to win at Westpac Stadium.

Back Crusaders To Win @ $1.91

The Reds scored a very tough win over the Brumbies last weekend and they will go into this clash with the Bulls as clear favourites.

There was plenty to like about the character that the Reds showed in that win and there are a number of positive signs for the future – even though they failed to score a try.

The Reds have won only one of their past three games as home favourites and have failed to cover the line in any of these fixtures, but their record against the Bulls in Australia is a good one.

The Bulls were not disgraced against the Lions last weekend and they have made a fairly promising start to the Super Rugby season following their win over the Hurricanes.

Winning away from home has been an issue for the Bulls and the home side has won the past six games played between these two sides.

I can’t get the Reds as short as their current price, but I can’t back the Bulls on the road with any confidence.

No Bet

The Sharks are the shortest-priced favourites of the weekend in Super Rugby.

They are still chasing their first win of the Super Rugby season following their draw with the Waratahs and the side will go into full crisis mode if they fail to win this clash.

The Sharks have won four of their past seven games as home favourites, but they are a poor 2-5 against the line in this situation.

The Sunwolves ran out of steam late against the Rebels last weekend, but they were in the game for a long way and there is no doubt that they have improved this season.

A win on the road continues to elude the Sunwolves, but they are 4-3 against the line as away underdogs.

The Sunwolves are capable of giving the Sharks a scare and they can cover the line with a healthy start.

Back Sunwolves To Beat The Line (+17.5 Points)

This is one of the most interesting games of the weekend in Super Rugby.

The Lions continued on their winning ways with a comfortable victory over the Bulls and it should come as no surprise that they will start this clash as clear favourites.

They have proven to be just about impossible to beat as favourites and they are now 5-4 against the line as home favourites.

The Blues have played well in both their games in the Super Rugby season to date, but they were unable to come away with wins against both the Highlanders and Blues.

They have now their past three games as away underdogs and they have not beaten the Lions in South Africa since 2011.

Backing the Lions continues to be a profitable betting play and there is no reason to drop off them this weekend.

Back Lions To Cover The Line (-8.5 Points)

The Jaguares may have the home ground advantage, but it is the Waratahs that will start this clash as clear favourites.

The Waratahs played some solid rugby to draw with the Sharks last weekend and they will take confidence from the fact that they performed well on the road.

They only played one game as away favourites last season and they were able to win, while they are 6-1 against the line when playing away from home.

The Jaguares were no match for the Hurricanes last weekend and it looks set to be another long season for the Argentine side.

They have won only three of their past eight games at home and they are an awful 1-7 against the line in this scenario.

I am always happy to oppose the Jaguares and the Waratahs can continue what has been a decent start to the season.

Back The Waratahs To Cover The Line (-4.5 Points)

2017

It is another big weekend of action in Super Rugby and there are a number of interesting games spread right across the weekend.

The round starts with a New Zealand Derby between the Crusaders and the Blues on Friday before the Rebels host the Chiefs.

The Waratahs and Brumbies meet for the inaugural edition of the Dan Vickerman Cup, while the Reds face a tough assignment against the Lions in South Africa.

The Crusaders only scrapped home against the Reds last weekend, but they will still go into this clash as clear favourites.

They weren’t at anywhere near their best against the Reds, but their will to win and composure in the final stages got them home.

The Crusaders have won six of their past seven games as home favourites, while they are 4-3 against the line in this scenario.

The Blues are yet to beat a New Zealand Super Rugby team this season after going down to the Chiefs and the Highlanders in back-to-back weeks.

Winning as away underdogs has been an issue for the Blues and they have lost their past four games in this scenario, while they are 2-2 against the line.

The Crusaders should prove far too strong for the Blues and the line of 4.5 points will not be anywhere near enough.

Back The Crusaders To Beat The Line (-4.5 Points)

The Rebels have been extremely poor during the Super Rugby season to date and it is no surprise that they will go into this clash as clear underdogs.

The Rebels have been beaten by a combined total of over 100 points in their two games this season and they have failed to cover the line in their past five games as home underdogs.

The Chiefs made it three wins on the trot with a fighting victory over the Hurricanes and they should prove far too strong for the Rebels.

They have covered the line in six of their past nine games away from home and it would not surprise to see them put up a very big strong.

The line of 17.5 points will not be anywhere near enough.

Back The Chiefs To Beat The Line (-17.5 Points)

The Bulls have lost two games on the trot, but they are still the shortest-priced favourites of the weekend.

The Bulls have won three of their past four games as home favourites for a narrow loss and they are only 2-2 against the line.

It was an improved performance from the Sunwolves last weekend and they only went down to the Cheetahs by seven points.

The Sunwolves are yet to win a Super Rugby game away from home and they are 4-4 against the line as away underdogs.

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

No Bet

This is the game of the weekend and should be a highly entertaining clash.

The Hurricanes went down to the Chiefs last weekend, but they will still go into this clash as clear favourites.

Winning at home has now been a problem for the Hurricanes and they have won eight of their past nine games as home favourites, while they are 5-4 against the line in this scenario.

The Highlanders scored a fighting victory over the Blues last weekend and their early-season form has been better than what their position on the ladder suggests.

They have won two of their past three games as away underdogs for a clear profit and they are 2-1 against the line in this scenario.

There is not as much between these teams as the current betting market suggests and I am keen to back the Highlanders with a start of 9.5 points.

Back The Highlanders To Beat The Line (+9.5 Points)

This is a crucial game for both the Waratahs and the Brumbies.

The Brumbies claimed their first win of the season when they beat the Force last Friday night, while the Waratahs return from South Africa winless.

It is the Waratahs that will start this clash as home favourites and this is a position in which they have struggled – they have won just three of their past five games in this scenario and they are 2-3 against the line.

The Brumbies are definitely lacking depth this season and they are not the same team they have been in recent seasons.

They have lost their past two games as away underdogs and their record against the line away from home does not inspire confidence.

Both these teams are tough to trust from a betting standpoint and this is another clash that I am happy to stay out of.

No Bet

The Lions suffered their first defeat of the season at the hands of the Jaguares last weekend, but they will still go into this clash with the Reds as clear favourites.

The Lions have been flawless at home as favourites over the past 12 months – they have won their past eight games in this scenario and they are 7-1 against the line.

The Reds suffered a heart-breaking loss at the hands of the Crusaders last weekend and it will be interesting to see how they bounce back mentally.

They showed plenty of positive signs against the Crusaders, but stringing together positive performances has been an issue.

The Reds have not won a game away from home over the past 12 months and they are 104 against the line as away underdogs.

There is no doubt that the Lions are one of the safest betting plays of the weekend and they should be able to cover the line comfortably.

Back The Lions To Beat The Line (-12.5 Points)

The Sharks are the shortest-priced favourites of the weekend and the line has been set at a massive 30.5 points.

The Sharks face a non-Australian team for the first time this season and they really should get the job done, but their is no value at their current price.

They have won only four of their past six games as home favourites for a clear loss and they are an unconvincing 3-3 against the line in this scenario.

The Kings were no match for the Stormers last weekend and they have now won only one of their past seven games as away underdogs, but they are 5-2 against the line in this scenario.

The line does seem excessive in this clash and I am happy to back the Kings with a start of 29.5 points.

Back The Kings To Beat The Line (+29.5 Points)

The Jaguares beat the Lions in impressive fashion last weekend and they will go into this clash with the Cheetahs as clear favourites.

Winning as home favourites has proven to be somewhat of an issue for the Jaguares since they entered Super Rugby and they have improved that record to 4-2 in terms of head-to-head betting, but they are still 3-3 against the line.

The Cheetahs were far from impressive against the Sunwolves, but they still came away with the victory and they have two two of their three games this season.

The Cheetahs are generally an easy team to predict from a betting standpoint – they win when they are favourites and lose when they are underdogs.

They have not won a game as away underdogs over the past 12 months and they are only 2-4 against the line in this scenario.

Both these teams are tough to trust from a betting standpoint and I am happy to stay out of this clash.

No Bet

2016

Round 4 of the Super Rugby season begins on Friday afternoon when the Hurricanes take on the Force and the game of the round follows when the Waratahs host the Highlanders at Allianz Stadium.

The Bulls take on the Sharks in the South African Derby in the pick of Saturday’s games before the Jaguares play in Argentina for the first time when they host the Chiefs on Sunday morning.

The Hurricanes finally scored their first win of the season with a solid performance against the Blues last weekend, while the Force were no match for a rampant Brumbies.

The Force have never beaten the Hurricanes in Super Rugby and based on betting they won’t be ending that losing streak this weekend.

The Hurricanes are 7-2 as favourites in front of their home fans in the past 12 months and it is no doubt that they will prove very tough to beat on Friday afternoon, but there really isn’t a great deal of valye in their current price and their record against the line as favourites is only a fair 7-6.

The New Zealand-based side have struggled with their execution in 2016 to date and the line of 15.5 points is simply too great.

Recommended Bet: No Bet

This is one of the highlights of the round as these two teams met in the Super Rugby Semi-Finals last season, with the Highlanders prevailing before they beat the Hurricanes in the Final.

The Waratahs are fresh off the bye and they are set to start this game as favourites, despite the fact that the Highlanders have won their past two games against quality opposition.

The Sydney-based side have an excellent record against the line as favourites in the past 12 months, while the Highlanders are not a winning betting proposition as underdogs.

This will be a hard-fought game, but the Waratahs quality should get their home in the end and they are a good bet to cover the line of 1.5 points.

Recommended Bet: Back The Waratahs To Beat The Line (-1.5 points)

This is an intriguing South African Derby, with the Sharks set to start favourites following their upset win over the Stormers last weekend.

The Bulls were badly beaten by the Stormers in the opening round of the season and they bounced to beat the Rebels in round 2, but that does not look like the strongest form line.

The Sharks have won six of their past seven games as favourites, but their record against the line is not great in this scenario, while the Bulls are 4-2 as underdogs.

The Bulls have a simply outstanding record in front of their home fans at Loftus Versfeld and they are a great chance to get the job done this weekend, but I am keen to take the 1.5 points start for some insurance in what is set to be a very close affair.

Recommended Bet: Back The Sharks To Beat The Line (+1.5 points)

The Sunwolves looked set to record their first every Super Rugby victory when they opened up a big lead against the Cheetahs last weekend, but they were run over the top of late and suffered a heart-breaking defeat.

The Rebels were able to improve their record to 2-1 with a narrow win over the Reds, but it was far from a convincing performance and they will need to improve to win this weekend.

As we saw last weekend, the Rebels don’t have a great record as favourites and they are 2-5 against the line in this situation.

On the other hand, the Sunwolves have beaten the line in both of their games this season to date and their is no reason they can’t do the same again this weekend – especially with the juicy start of 5.5 points.

Recommended Bet: Back The Sunwolves To Beat The Line (+5.5 Points)

The Kings started strongly against the Chiefs last weekend, but they quickly gave up the fight and they suffered their second big defeat from as many games to date this season.

It doesn’t get any easier for the struggling South African side this weekend as they face a Crusaders side that will be refreshed after a week off for the bye.

It would be the biggest upset in Super Rugby history if the Kings were to beat the Crusaders and that is simply not going to happen, so line betting is the only way you can think about playing this fixtures.

The Crusaders are 5-4 against the line as favourites in the past 12 months, but at this stage of the season a line of 32.5 points is extremely large and the Crusaders will not cover unless they play aggressively throughout – something that may not happen if they kick away to an early lead.

Recommended Bet: No Bet

The Reds had their chance to score their first win of the Super Rugby season against the Rebels last weekend, but they were unable to get the job done and they face a much tougher assignment this weekend.

The Blues have suffered narrow losses to the Crusaders and the Hurricanes in their past two games, but they have played some good rugby in the process and this is the easiest challenge they have faced during this season to date.

The Reds are a shocking 1-5 against the line in front of their home fans over the past 12 months and while the Blues do have have a great record over this same period, they have far more quality in their side than their opposition and the line of 5.5 points will not be anywhere near enough.

Recommended Bet: Back The Blues To Beat The Line (-5.5 points)

The Lions came crashing back to earth with their loss to the Hurricanes last weekend, while the Cheetahs were able to record their first win of the season with a come from behind victory over the Sunwolves.

Although the Lions were beaten last weekend, they will still consider it a successful trip to New Zealand following their win over the Chiefs and they are deserving of their status as short-priced favourites here.

The Lions have won their past five games as favourites, but their record against the line in this scenario is not as strong – although the sample size is fairly small.

It is hard to get excited about this Cheetahs side and they are basically a losing betting proposition in every scenario.

The Lions should be able to return to winning form, but their is no edge at their price and I am willing to sit out of this game betting wise.

Recommended Bet: No Bet

This is one of the games of the row and is set to be one of the most interesting games from a betting perspective.

The Brumbies have been the form team in Super Rugby this season, but the trip to South Africa is always a tough one and the Stormers are no slouches, despite their upset loss to the Sharks last weekend.

Stephen Larkham’s men have a great record as favourites and they are 3-1 against the line as away favourites, while the Stormers don’t have a great deal of experience as home underdogs.

The market appears to have got the line exactly right, but there is value in the Over/Under betting market.

The Stormers and the Brumbies are both traditionally Unders teams and this looks as though it will be a tough low-scoring affair.

Recommended Bet: Back The Under In The Overs/Unders Betting Market

The Jaguares have only played two Super Rugby games, but they have both been thrillers and they have shown that they will be more than competitive this season.

The Chiefs suffered a shock defeat to the Lions in round 2 of the Super Rugby season and they returned to winning form against the Kings, but it is fair to say that their performance was not particularly impressive.

It is still very early days of the Jaguares, but the market is still keen to throw their support behind the Argentinean side and they have come up as clear favourites here,

This is a bit of a knock on the Chiefs as I really feel they have been underrated here and they are 4-2 against the line as away underdogs.

Recommended Bet: Back The Chiefs To Beat The Line (+3.5 Points)