Six weeks into the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season and every team has now suffered at least one defeat with the Waratahs going down to the Reds in Round 5.

The Sydney-based side will not have a whole lot of time to lick their wounds however, as they face another tough Aussie derby this weekend when they take on the Brumbies.

Across the ditch the heavyweight bout between the reeling Blues and surging Crusaders will set up for a big Saturday of action.

Check out our previews and best bets for every Super Rugby game below.

Initially set to take place in Tonga, Friday’s lone clash instead will take place at the home of Counties Manukau from the New Zealand NPC tournament.

The nominal home side will be coming off their bye week and a full fortnight to celebrate their first win of the season, a 40-31 victory against the Hurricanes.

However the Chiefs have been perfect in New Zealand so far, with their only loss coming on the road against the Drua, a spot where plenty of other good teams have come unstuck.

This has been a very one sided rivalry between these two teams with the Chiefs winning all five meetings by an average margin of 39 points.

Even with the improvement in Moana Pasifika’s play, it’s tough to see them keeping this final margin under 20 points as the Chiefs look to build on last week’s win over the Blues.

Chiefs to Cover -15.5 @ $1.87

We know the Reds are a good side that will be competitive just about every week this season, but this weekend will give us a real insight into how good they will be this season.

There are any number of factors working against them here, which is why they are outsiders in the market at publish, but there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about their chances.

For starters, it has been 12 years since they have won in Dunedin but they went very close in their last outing in 2023, going down to a late try and this is a much better Reds team from that match.

Then there is the recent memory of the Reds getting thoroughly outclassed by the Crusaders in Christchurch two weeks ago, however that also does come with an asterisk given the general disruption to their preparation for that game with the cyclone threat at home.

It may be a bit more of a gut feel pick than anything based in logic and reason, but the Reds are good enough to break their Dunedin hoodoo and are worth a play at over even money.

Reds to Win @ $2.10

So which trend will break in this game, the team that can’t win at home or the team that can’t win on the road?

Home ground advantage has been the deciding factor in the Crusaders last eight games dating back to 2024, with their one away game this season ending 49-24 in favour of the Chiefs in Waikato.

Meanwhile, the Blues are 0-2 at home this season, although their away record isn’t much better with one win from three.

What should be the most concerning for the Blues is the fact they are yet to keep an opponent under 20 points this season and the Crusaders have played some scintillating rugby with the ball in hand.

They have scored 40 points in three of their four wins and if they can keep that going, the Blues don’t look like they will be capable of keeping pace.

Crusaders to Win @ $1.90

Super Rugby’s most one-sided rivalry at the moment may well be Brumbies-Waratahs, with the Canberra based side claiming the last 13 head to head encounters.

The Waratahs were brought back to earth last week as their perfect start was undone by the Reds in Brisbane, however coming back to Sydney should set the stage for a bounce back performance.

Despite starting 3-2, we have not seen the best version of the Brumbies to date and if they are still stuck in second gear they may be caught out by this improved Waratahs side.

History is the main reason the visitors head into this game as favourites but the Tahs have the talent to keep this close, if not win outright.

Waratahs to Cover +4.5 @ $1.92

Back to back defeats by 24 and 22 points did not make for a happy road trip for the Force, but we should see a far more representative effort back home in Perth.

Especially against a Drua side that still takes a massive step back when playing away from home.

Perhaps it is an overly simplistic strategy for betting on Drua games but whenever they are on the road, you have to take them on.

Especially when the line is less than a converted try.

Force to Cover -3.5 @ $1.87

2024

One third of the way through the 2024 Super Rugby season, we have seen plenty of drama and plenty of surprising performances.

As we approach the byes, the unbeaten Hurricanes lead the way, four points clear of the Chiefs and Brumbies, with the Waikato side kicking off this Easter weekend with a huge clash in Christchurch.

There is a massive game on Saturday night between the two Australian pacesetters with the Reds desperate to bounce back from a disappointing loss last week as they host the Brumbies.

It’s shaping up to be a busy two days of rugby across three countries so read on and see who we are backing below!

A nightmare season for the Crusaders kicked off with a four point loss to the Chiefs in Round 1 and they are now the lone winless side as we head into Round 6.

It just has not clicked for them this season and while we all believe they are going to put it together and go on some ridiculous run, it probably isn’t going to start here.

For starters, they have lost three of their last four head to head games against the Chiefs and they really did not have much to offer in the rain against the Blues last week.

Even playing at home has not provided the boost it usually does, with the team already losing to the Waratahs and Hurricanes this season.

Such is the Crusaders fall, that the Chiefs have opted to rest star player Damian McKenzie for this game, they should still be able to handle this out of sorts opponent.

It just might be a bit lower scoring than their February matchup.

SGM: Chiefs to Win and Under 60.5 Points @ $1.96

Speaking of desperation, the Waratahs head into this game with coach Darren Coleman remaining under a mountain of pressure after last week’s loss in Fiji.

They fought back well after trailing 26-10 through 40 minutes to get the game into extra time but could not finish the job.

That left them stuck in tenth place, although thanks to the eight team finals system, they are just two points out of the playoff picture.

One of the teams they are trying to run down are the Rebels who have won two games this season, which is more than some expected due all year to the off-field turmoil with the team.

Having given up over 50 points in each of their last two games, there are real concerns over where the Rebels are at from a concentration perspective, but can you really have any confidence in the Waratahs suddenly discovering a ruthless edge and putting them to the sword?

This has all the makings of a mistake-filled grind as both teams stumble to the finish line.

Under 60.5 Points @ $1.85

Fresh off one of their best performances in a long time, the Force now have to undergo the longest road trip in Super Rugby, heading to Viti Levu’s north-west coast for this clash.

Just last week Churchill Park played host to one of the Drua’s most dramatic wins in their short history, with an overtime victory over the Waratahs.

We say it every time they play there, but the Drua are a different team on home soil and with the packed out and vocal crowd at their back, it is a massive advantage as it’s not something you see all that often in Super Rugby anymore.

They are yet to defeat the Force in this competition, losing both games since their introduction but there is no time like the present and with the added boost of the venue, they are primed to build on that performance.

Drua to Cover -11.5 @ $1.87

Some teams just happen to catch a lucky break every so often.

The Blues will be playing this game at their normal home ground, despite being the visitors with the nomadic Moana Pasifika opting to host this game at Auckland’s marquee venue.

Not that it will really help the “home” team here with them looking thoroughly overmatched against the 4-1 Blues.

Fresh off holding the Crusaders to just six points at Eden Park last week, the Blues enter this game as heavy favourites and a line of three converted tries is not enough to scare me off backing them.

Blues to Cover -21.5 @ $1.87

Spare a thought for the Highlanders, each of their last three games have been decided by seven points or less with two of those ending in defeat.

It seems awfully unlikely that they will find a way to end that run against the Hurricanes who have take out each of the last five head to head matches.

Not to mention the visitors are looking to make it six from six this season and they looked pretty good against the Rebels last week, never really getting threatened in their 54-28 win.

However they have struggled a bit more against New Zealand based opponents this season, defeating the Blues by eight and the Crusaders by just four.

While they should win this game, I’m fully expecting this one to go down to the wire.

Hurricanes to Win by 1-12 @ $2.70

They’ve saved the best until last in Round 6 with this all-Australian blockbuster at Suncorp Stadium.

We’ll get a good idea about the impact Les Kiss has had at the Reds as they try and rebound from a nightmare trip to Perth that saw them drop to 3-2 on the season.

It will not be an easy bounce back though, the Brumbies just put 60 on Moana Pasifika and sit at 4-1 this season, looking like proper title contenders once again.

Since the revamp of the competition in mid-2020, home ground advantage has been huge in this rivalry, with the designated home team winning nine of the 11 head-to-head meetings.

There have been some proper classics in that time, none better than the 2021 Super Rugby Australia Grand Final and that home field advantage should be enough to see the Reds home.

Reds to Cover -2.5 @ $1.87

2023

In a week where the off field contractual moves of Australian rugby (and the subsequent outrage from rugby league circles) stole the headlines, it is time to return to the on-field action ahead of Super Rugby Round 6.

Saturday’s triple header once again takes centre stage with the action getting underway in front of a packed house in Suva before the Chiefs take on the Blues, with the day wrapping up in Canberra as the Brumbies host the Waratahs.

We’ve got you covered with previews and best bets for all six games below so read on and see who we are backing.

After back to back home victories over the Force and Drua, the Highlanders will be eager to keep it rolling when they head up to Mt Smart Stadium.

While the level of competition might not be the highest, you can only beat what is in front of you and they have comfortably accounted for their last two opponents.

That has helped offset a rough start to the season where they were summarily beaten by the Blues, Crusaders and Chiefs while simultaneously generating some positive momentum.

Moana Pasifika’s rough start to the season has continued with the still winless franchise on the wrong end of some big scorelines already.

In their match last season, the Highlanders came away with a 20 point win and after a couple of confidence boosting wins, they should be able to take care of business here.

Back the Highlanders to Cover -16.5 @ $1.91

What was once the marquee trans-Tasman matchup is now shaping up as a comfortable third win in a row for the Crusaders.

Nobody is going to accuse the Reds of being a bad team, far from it, and they should find a way to be competitive given their tendency to play to the level of their opponents for better or worse.

However they just seem to make too many mistakes to be backing them with any confidence, especially against a side that will punish even the miniscule errors.

History is not on the Reds side either having lost every Super Rugby match against the Crusaders since that win in the 2011 Grand Final, a run of 11 games.

Most of those games have been decided by a double digit margin, including a 63-28 win for the Crusaders on their last visit to Suncorp.

It might be close for a while, but not at full time.

Back the Crusaders to Cover -10.5 @ $1.91

It’s rare to see the Drua as favourites against anyone not named Moana Pasifika but in front of what is likely to be a packed out stadium in Suva, they have earned that tag.

Especially after their stirring win over the Crusaders in their last match at home three weeks ago.

That crowd is going to be a factor in the game and it should be enough to get them over the line.

Even with the Rebels coming off a massive confidence boosting win over the Reds, it should go down to the wire and I’ll back the home side that has something to prove.

Back the Drua to Win @ $1.73

Only one team remains unbeaten in the entire Super Rugby Pacific competition and it’s the home side in this contest.

The market has the Chiefs as a slight favourite against a Blues side that will provide their toughest test so far.

Every question that has been asked of the Waikato based team has been answered, most recently with a 24-14 win against the Waratahs in Sydney.

In that game they had to repel a determined opponent at home before putting the result to bed four minutes from time with an insurance try.

The Blues have fallen at the hands of the Brumbies and Crusaders already this season and while there is no doubt they will be in the mix in June, they just haven’t quite clicked consistently yet.

If there is one contest to sit down and watch from start to finish, this is it and the Chiefs are going to be the play.

Back the Chiefs to Win @ $1.80

We’ve got a rematch of a Round 1 battle that went to the wire before the Brumbies prevailed with a 31-25 victory.

The last three games between these sides have been decided by a converted try or less and this one should be no different.

The Tahs will be carrying plenty of motivation into this one as they try to arrest a three game slide.

It has been a rough season for the boys from Sydney but if they are going to find a way to get motivated for any game, it will be this one.

They might not get over the line but they should find a way to keep it close and earn at least a bonus point.

Back the Waratahs to Cover +8.5 @ $1.91

Sometimes there is not a lot to say about a game so there is no need to try and overcomplicate the tip.

The Force have not won in New Zealand since their Super Rugby rebirth and it is almost certainly not going to come against a very strong Hurricanes team.

In their last outing the Canes put a 59-0 belting on Moana Pasifika and it seems very unlikely that they are going to want to show any mercy towards the Force here.

This line could and probably should be covered by halftime.

Back the Hurricanes to Cover -19.5 @ $1.83

2022

The well-rested Hurricanes have opened odds-on favourites in search of their third straight win.

The ‘Canes put their opening loss to the Crusaders behind them with a pair of wins over the Blues and Highlanders before back-to-back postponements, and they should prove way too strong for the competition newcomers if this one goes ahead.

Moana Pasifika has managed a combined 24 points in two games so far, while they also gave up 59 to the Chiefs last week.

There has been some positive signs from Aaron Mauger’s side, but against a well-rested Hurricanes outfit itching to get back on the field, this one should get ugly.

Tip: Back the Hurricanes to Cover the Line (-29.5 Points) @ $1.83

Plenty of value on offer here between the hapless Rebels and Drua on Friday night.

Melbourne is in the midst of a serious 10-game losing streak that dates back to last season, while they’ll also have revenge on their mind after losing a shocker to Drua in the opening round.

Fiji proved that performance was no fluke when they pushed the Reds to the brink a fortnight ago, while they were equally impressive in their 20-18 loss to the Force last week.

Although they give up a stack of points, this Drua side clearly has plenty of talent on the attacking side of the ball, but it’s hard to ignore the fact they trailed 14-0 against the Rebels in Round 1.

This one could really go either way, but if Melbourne can keep its composure, they might finally be able to get a win on the board.

Tip: Back the Rebels to Win @ $1.70

No surprise to find the Brumbies favoured heavily ahead of Friday’s clash in Perth.

Dan McKellar’s side has enjoyed a winning start to the season with five consecutive victories, the first coming back in Round 1 over this same Force outfit.

To be fair, Perth pushed the home side to the brink in their 23-29 loss, but it’s become clear in weeks since that the Force don’t have the class or the depth to match some of the competition favourites.

The Brumbies have covered the line in five of their last six games as the away favourite at the line against the Force, and I’m happy to back that trend to continue.

Tip: Back the Brumbies to Cover the Line (-8.5 Points) @ $1.83

This shapes as a fairly important game between two sides that are desperate to make up ground on the ladder.

The Blues improved to 2-1 a few weeks ago with a double-digit win over the Highlanders, but neither side has managed to play a game since.

The Blues have now won four of their last five over the Highlanders dating back to the 2020 season, and they should be adding to that number if they can reel off big plays and chunks of metres again.

The Blues’ turnover numbers were a worry in that game, but given the Highlanders’ struggle for points, it’s hard to fade the favourites.

Tip: Back the Blues to Cover the Line (-8.5 Points) @ $1.83

The Crusaders have had a week off to reflect on what went wrong against the Chiefs in Christchurch back in Round 4.

The Crusaders lost a 24-21 thriller as they spent most of the game defending after committing some costly penalties.

The Chiefs have since gone on to win 59-12 over Moana Pasifika last week, but I do like the Crusaders in this spot given their impressive 2-0 record on the back of loss over the last 12 months.

The Crusaders have won three of their last five games against the Chiefs, and if they can take advantage of their turnovers this time around, they might be able to level up the score.

Tip: Back the Crusaders to Win @ $1.80

The Reds suffered their first loss of the season last week to the Brumbies in a game they’d probably like to have back.

Brad Thorn’s side had the bulk share of possession for most of the game, only to fall agonizingly short in the final minute on a late kick that would have won the game.

The Waratahs, meanwhile, have won back-to-back games over the Force and Rebels to help turn their season around.

NSW lost 20-16 when they met the Reds last month at home, a game they’d also like to have back.

The Waratahs threw the game away in wet conditions but have clearly learned a lot from it if their recent performances are anything to go by.

This is probably the toughest game of the round to tip, but the Reds should be able to bounce back if they control possession and find themselves on the right side of lady luck.

The Waratahs haven’t beaten the Reds at Suncorp since 2019, while they’ve also gone 3-2 on the back of a loss over the last 12 months.

Tip: Back the Reds 1-12 @ $2.80

2021

We are at the halfway point of the domestic Super Rugby season as the Super Rugby Australia sides prepare for their return fixtures while the New Zealand teams will reach their midway mark this weekend.

Australian rugby’s oldest rivalry between the NSW Waratahs and Queensland Reds adds another chapter on Saturday night after Queensland’s opening round 41-7 demolition job.

Over in New Zealand the conference leading Crusaders have the weekend off and will be hoping for a pair of upsets to preserve their massive advantage.

We’re previewing all four games below so read on and see who we are backing here!

SUPER RUGBY AU ROUND 6

The Brumbies return to action after their last start defeat against the Reds two weeks ago while the Force will be feeling like they let an upset slip away in Brisbane last week.

Despite going down by seven points, there was a lot to like about the grit and determination the Force showed against a side many expected to blow out comfortably.

They will need to find a way to win at least two of their remaining four games to have a chance of sneaking by the Rebels for a spot in the Qualifying Final but the Brumbies look like they will be able to take care of business here.

If the Force do settle for four penalty goals last week instead of pushing for tries, they will be forced to accept another “honourable loss” in Canberra.

That being said I don’t see this one being all that close as the visitors may find themselves spent after a draining game last week.

If the line moves above the number it is at the time of writing I may consider switching over to the Force but I have plenty of confidence in the Brumbies at -14.5.

Back the Brumbies to Cover -14.5 @ $1.91

Anyone who has watched the Queensland Reds in the Brad Thorn era might be a little bit nervous heading into this clash with the winless Waratahs.

Despite being heavy favourites the Super Rugby AU leaders have made life tough for themselves since their opening round win over their Sydney based rivals.

On the plus side they have won all three of those games against the Rebels, Brumbies and Force, but they have come by a combined margin of 11 points.

Meanwhile that 41-7 defeat in Brisbane last month was a sign of things to come with the Waratahs continuing their awful form with three more defeats.

Settling on a play at the line in this fixture comes down to putting more faith in the “back against the Waratahs at all costs” strategy or following the theory that if they are going to play well, it will be in their biggest game of the season hosting the Reds,

I’ll back against the Waratahs this weekend, they have been that bad all season.

Back the Reds to Cover -14.5 @ $1.91

SUPER RUGBY AOTEAROA ROUND 5

There was a feeling last week that if the Hurricanes could not beat the Chiefs in Wellington, they would not be able to defeat anybody in the Super Rugby Aotearoa competition.

Well, they blew a 26-7 halftime lead against the lowly Chiefs, a side that had not won a match since March 6, 2020.

As for the Highlanders, they did manage to defeat the Chiefs when they faced off at the start of March but it seems like the market is holding their 1-2 record against them.

It does not seem likely that the Highlanders will be competing with the Blues and Crusaders but they are still a step ahead of where the last placed Hurricanes are at.

Back the Highlanders to Cover -4.5 @ $1.91

There is every chance the Chiefs will get some form of confidence boost from their first win in over a calendar year, but it may not count for much with the Blues up next.

While last season’s runners up fell short of upsetting the Crusaders last weekend, it’s a nice reminder that you can only read so much into a team’s last up performance.

Even after dropping their match with the Crusaders, the Blues remain a significantly better side than the Chiefs and should have no troubles taking care of business.

Back the Blues to Cover -5.5 @ $1.91

2020

There are a number of short-priced favourites in Super Rugby this weekend and it is another interesting round from a betting perspective.

Each weekend of the 2020 Super Rugby season has produced its share of upsets and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the same this weekend.

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

Things have not gone well for the Sunwolves since their shock round one victory over the Rebels.

They have lost their past three games by big margins and it doesn’t get any easier for them this weekend against the Brumbies.

The fact that this clash has been moved to WIN Stadium due to Coronavirus concerns does not help them either and it is tough to see this being a positive fixture for the Sunwolves.

The Brumbies went into the bye on the back of a big upset win over the Chiefs and they are unlucky not to be unbeaten this season.

They have won nine of their past 11 games as favourites and they are an impressive 8-3 against the line in this scenario.

A big win for the Brumbies looks the safe betting play here and the line of 29.5 points will not be enough.

Back Brumbies To Cover The Line (-29.5 Points) @ $1.90

The Crusaders are another very short-priced favourite in Super Rugby this weekend.

They went into the bye on the back of a comfortable win over the Highlanders and their record against the Reds is nothing short of outstanding.

The Crusaders have won their past seven meetings and the Reds have not beaten their rivals since their memorable victory in the 2013 Super Rugby Grand Final.

Scott Robertson’s men have won 11 of their past 12 matches as home favourites and they have been a profitable betting play against the line in this scenario.

The Reds showed some positive signs against the Sharks, but they were once again unable to finish the match off.

Their recent record in New Zealand has been nothing short of dismal and the Crusaders do represent their toughest assignment of the season to date.

It could get ugly for Brad Thorn and the Reds in this one.

Back Crusaders To Cover The Line (-22.5 Points) @ $1.90

The Waratahs were finally able to claim their first win of the Super Rugby season last weekend, but they will go into this clash with the Chiefs as clear outsiders.

The home team has won six of the past seven games played between these two sides, but home ground advantage has not been profitable for the Waratahs over the past 12 months.

They have won only four of their past nine games in front of their home fans.

It will be interesting to see how the Chiefs bounce back from their surprise loss at the hands of the Brumbies.

The Chiefs have won their past four matches as away favourites and, most impressively, they have covered the line in each of their wins.

There is no doubt that the Waratahs are a fragile defensive unit and the Chiefs have the weapons to take advantage of these.

Back Chiefs To Cover The Line (-8.5 Points) @ $1.90

This New Zealand Derby will be one of the most interesting games of the weekend.

The Hurricanes have an outstanding record against the Blues and it is no surprise that they will go into this clash as clear favourites.

They have won the past nine matches played between the two sides and they are always tough to beat in front of their home fans.

Although they have won seven of their past eight games as home favourites, they are only 3-5 against the line in this scenario.

There is no doubt that the Blues have been one of the big improvers in Super Rugby this season.

A trip to South Africa is always a daunting one, but the Blues came away with two wins from as many starts and they were nothing short of dominant against a previously unbeaten Stormers outfit.

The Blues have now won three of their past seven games as away underdogs and they are an impressive 5-2 against the line in this scenario.

I have been very taken with what I’ve seen from the Blues this season and I think they are more than capable of giving the Hurricanes a scare.

Back Blues To Cover The Line (+5.5 Points) @ $1.90

The Rebels stunned the Highlanders in New Zealand and are the favourites to string together back-to-back wins for the first time this season.

This is not necessarily a position that they have thrived in over the past 12 months.

The Rebels have won four of their past seven games as home favourites for a betting loss and they are only 2-5 against the line in this scenario.

It is fair to say that the Lions have been one of the biggest disappointments in Super Rugby this season.

Their only win came against the Reds in South Africa and they were particularly poor against the Waratahs last weekend.

Winning away from home continues to be a serious issue.

They have now won only one of their past seven games as away underdogs and their record against the line in this scenario is no better.

It is tough to have faith in either of these sides from a betting perspective and I am more than happy to stay out.

No Bet

This might be the most interesting game of the round from a betting perspective.

The Sharks return from Australia with two wins over the Rebels and the Reds and they will go into this clash as clear favourites.

The market may have overreacted to their form in Australia.

The Sharks have won only three of their past six games as home favourites and their recent record against the Jaguares is poor.

Consistency has been an issue for the Jaguares this season to date, but they seem to finally click into gear with a big win over the Bulls.

The Jaguares have won four of their past nine games as away underdogs for a clear profit and their record against the line in this scenario is strong.

I can’t get the Sharks anywhere near as short as their current price and the Jaguares are a great bet to win this contest.

Back Jaguares To Win @ $2.35

The Bulls are chasing their first win of the Super Rugby season, but they will still go into this clash with the Highlanders as favourites.

There have been very few positives to take away from any of the Bulls’ efforts this season and it really is tough to back them with any real confidence.

In saying that, the Highlanders’ start to the season hasn’t been much better.

Their only win came against the Brumbies and they were particularly poor against the Rebels at home last weekend.

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

2019

Another weekend of Super Rugby set to take place this weekend and we have seven games to look forward to.

A quintuple header on Saturday starting with the Hurricanes and Stormers all the way through to the Sharks and Rebels will take you through the day before a bonus Sunday afternoon treat between the Reds and Brumbies.

Read on for our previews and predictions for every Super Rugby game taking place right here.

Both sides were out of action last week, as the Blues were on their bye and the Highlanders game was cancelled in the wake of the Christchurch attack.

Last time the Blues took to the field they picked up their first win since June 2018 defeating the Sunwolves 28-20.

The Highlanders come into this game on a two game losing streak, going down to the Rebels and Hurricanes by a combined total of eight points.

A win here would keep them in touch with the Hurricanes in the chasing pack in New Zealand and they do enter this game with the confidence of beating the Blues in each of the last four meetings with a bigger margin every time.

The Highlanders against the line has not been a good play lately, going 6-12 against the spread but with such a small line you can add that in as a value play.

Back the Highlanders to Cover the Line (-3.5) @ $1.91

Every week there’s a game you struggle to get a read on and for Round 6 of Super Rugby, this is that game.

The Stormers have won three in a row including a crushing victory over the Jaguares last weekend but they will have a massive trip to recover from this week.

Because of their opening round loss, the Stormers are still technically in the negative in terms of points difference but sitting level on points with the Bulls and Lions they probably won’t mind that anomaly.

Because of that form, the line of over two tries looks way too high, especially considering three of the last four meetings between these teams have been decided by five points or less.

Back the Stormers to Cover the Line (+15.5) @ $1.91

There really is no delicate way to put it, but the Crusaders have to get back to work this week as they travel to Sydney.

After last week’s no-match was declared a draw, they will try to extend their unbeaten run against the Waratahs to four in a row.

Last year’s clash went down to the wire, with the Crusaders winning 31-29 but the prior two were much more one sided.

Away from home the Crusaders have been involved in two tighter than expected clashes but one thing that has really stood out about this squad is their professionalism and ability to go on with the job.

The Waratahs just won’t have the creativity to keep pace with an opponent looking to put on a show.

Back the Crusaders to Cover the Line (-12.5) @ $1.91

It’s looking like it’ll be a nightmare week for the Sunwolves with media reports suggesting that the Sunwolves are on borrowed time in the competition.

They will travel to Singapore to host the Lions, a side they have lost all three meetings against including a 94-7 drubbing two years ago.

After being a bit slow off the mark this season, the Lions attack looks like its clicking prowess is starting to come through, putting up 47 points against the Jaguares and 36 when they scraped past the Rebels last weekend.

The Lions have not travelled all that well lately, winning just three of their last ten away games but you go against a side with nine losses by 13 or more you can back against that side with confidence.

Back the Lions to Win by 13+ @ $2.30

Safe to say the Chiefs are Super Rugby’s most disappointing side with just one draw so far this season against the Hurricanes last week.

It’s hard to have any confidence in them as they head over to South Africa to take on the co-leaders in the Bulls, who could not have looked more impressive in their 37-14 win over the Sharks.

This fixture has been dominated by the Chiefs with the Bulls last win coming in 2011 but with the way they New Zealand side has been playing this season, back against them.

Back the Bulls to Cover (-6.5) @ $1.80

The Rebels did everything needed to beat the Lions last week, at least in the first half.

They build a 33-5 lead early in the second half before being held scoreless and on the wrong end of a 20-1 penalty count going down 36-33 in the end.

You can bank on them looking to make amends for last weekend here, and their recent history against the Sharks with less talented sides suggest an upset could be in the making here.

Last time they travelled to Durban in 2017 the game finished in a 9-9 draw for the Rebels first ever result points against the Sharks.

They backed that up with a comprehensive 46-10 win in Melbourne last year and if they can stay disciplined for the whole 80 minutes, they should be able to hand the Sharks their third straight loss.

Back the Rebels to Win @ $2.88

It really doesn’t get much better in the rugby world than with Sunday afternoon rugby at Suncorp Stadium.

An Australian derby that has the potential for plenty of points based on this season’s numbers but has delivered some defensive battles in recent times, particularly at this venue.

The Reds have won the last two games at Suncorp in games that would make Reds coach Brad Thorn very happy.

In fact, the highest points total in the last five Reds-Brumbies games at Suncorp has been 43 back in 2014.

There is no doubt the Reds will have a confidence boost from picking up their first win of the season in Japan and you have to like their underdog value against a Brumbies team that has lost its last two away from home.

Back the Reds to Win @ $2.30

2018

There are only six games in Super Rugby this weekend, but there are still plenty of interesting betting fixtures.

The biggest name of the weekend is on Saturday when the Hurricanes host the Hurricanes – with top-spot in the New Zealand Conference on the line – while the Reds have the chance to record their fourth win on the trot when they face the Stormers on Sunday morning.

We have analysed every game set to take place this weekend and our complete 2018 Super Rugby Round 6 tips can be found below!

The Crusaders have lost two games on the trot, but they are still dominant favourites to win this clash with the Bulls.

Losing games is a rarity for the Crusaders, let alone two in a row, and they have the chance to get their season back on track against the Bulls.

The Crusaders have won their past 15 games as favourites and they are 12-3 against the line as the punter’s elect.

The Bulls woes outside of South Africa continued when they were beaten the Chiefs last weekend and they could struggle at the end of what has been a long tour.

They have won only one of their past six games as away underdogs and they are a middling 3-3 against the line in this scenario.

The line of 20.5 points does seem excessive, but the Crusaders should be able to return to form with an emphatic win.

Back Crusaders To Beat The Line (-20.5 Points)

The Rebels had their winning run ended by the Waratahs, but they will still go into this clash as clear favourites.

It is fair to say that the Rebels were disappointing against the Waratahs and they need to bounce back against the Sharks to maintain their place at the top of the Australian Conference.

The Rebels have won their two games as home favourites this season and they are 2-0 against the line in this scenario.

The Sharks went down to the Brumbies last weekend and they have only recorded the one race win from their four games so far this season.

They have won only one of their past four games as away underdogs, but they are 4-0 against the line in this scenario.

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

The Sunwolves put up a big fight against the Lions last weekend, but they will still start this clash as clear underdogs.

They may not have been able to get the job done, but the Sunwolves produced one of their best performances in history against the Lions and there is no doubt that they have taken a step forward this season.

The Sunwolves have won two of their past seven games as home underdogs for a profit and they are 4-3 against the line in that scenario.

The Chiefs got the job done against the Bulls last Friday night, but they were not overly impressive and the jury is still out over just how good they are this season.

They have won three of their past five games as away favourites, but they are a very poor 1-4 against the line in this scenario.

It would not surprise if the Sunwolves are able to give the Chiefs a scare and they can cover the line with a big start of 24.5 points.

Back Sunwolves To Cover The Line (+24.5 Points)

This is easily the biggest game of the weekend and the Hurricanes and the Highlanders have played some outstanding games in recent seasons.

Both these teams head into this clash on the back of wins over the Crusaders and it is the Hurricanes that will start as clear favourites.

The Hurricanes have won six of their past seven games as home favourites for a clear profit and they are 4-3 against the line in this scenario.

The Highlanders have made a very impressive start to the Super Rugby season and they currently sit three points clear of the Hurricanes on top of the New Zealand Conference.

Winning away from home hasn’t been an issue for the Highlanders, but they have lost their past two games as away underdogs and haven’t beaten the Hurricanes at Westpac Stadium since their famous win in the 2015 Super Rugby Final.

The Hurricanes have improved following their flat start to the season and they can go to the top of the New Zealand Conference with a comfortable win.

Back Highlanders To Beat The Line (+5 Points)

It has been a far from ideal preparation for this match for the Reds.

The Reds recorded an upset win over the Jaguares in Argentina on Sunday morning, but things have not gone to plan since – they were barred from boarding their flight to South Africa as they hadn’t been vaccinated for yellow fever and they were forced to detour to London before finally landing in South Africa.

After all that travel, it is no surprise that the Stormers will start this clash as clear favourites.

The Stormers recorded a comfortable win over the Blues last weekend and they are always a tough side to beat in front of their home fans.

They have won three of their past four games as home favourites and they have covered the line in each of these wins.

The Reds showed plenty of fight to beat the Jaguares last weekend and there is no doubt that there is a new culture in the team under the leadership of new coach Brad Thorn.

This is still a very tough challenge for the Reds – especially after such a disrupted preparation – and it should not be forgotten that they have won only one of their past six games as away underdogs.

The Stormers can end the winning streak of the Reds and cover the line in the process.

Back Stormers To Cover The Line (-11.5 Points)

The Lions survived a scare against the Sunwolves last weekend and they will start this clash with the Jaguares as clear favourites.

Defence continues to be an issue for the Lions this season and the fact that they conceded 38 points against the Sunwolves is a genuine concern – they won’t be able to get away with that against the better teams in Super Rugby.

The Lions have won their past five games as away favourites and they are 4-1 against the line in that scenario.

The Jaguares continue to be the worst team in Super Rugby to follow from a betting perspective and they lost another game as favourites against the Reds last weekend.

They have won only two of their past eight games as home favourites and they are 1-7 against the line in this scenario.

The Lions can return to their best form and the line of 8.5 points will not be enough.

Back Lions To Cover The Line (-8.5 Points)

2017

The Super Rugby season has been overshadowed by speculation about the future of the competition, but there is still plenty of exciting rugby set to be played this weekend.

Australian sides continue to struggle and there is every chance that all four Australian sides in action this weekend will lose.

There are a number of short-priced favourites in Super Rugby betting this weekend, which has made it tough to find betting opportunities, but we are confident that we have still found some winners.

The Highlanders returned to winning form with a fighting victory over the Brumbies and they will go into this clash with the Rebels as dominant favourites.

It has been a slightly scratchy start to the season for the Highlanders and they have been a tough team to trust from a betting standpoint over the past 12 months.

The Highlanders have won four of their past seven games as home favourites for a loss and they are 3-4 against the line in this scenario.

The Rebels flew out of the gates early against the Waratahs and looked the winners at half-time, but once again fell to pieces in the final stages of the game.

They have won two of their past six games as away underdogs for a narrow loss, but they are only a middling 3-3 against the line.

The Highlanders really should be able to record a narrow victory, but their is no value at their current price.

NO BET

The Blues have never lost a game to the Western Force and the market suggests that won’t change this weekend.

The Blues were far too good against the Bulls last weekend and they have now won five of their past six games as home favourites, but they are only 2-4 against the line in this scenario.

It has been a tough week for the Western Force as there have been numerous reports released that suggest they will be eliminated from the Super Rugby competition next season.

The Force were no match for the Crusaders last weekend, but they have produced some credible performances this season.

They have not won a game as away underdogs for over 12 months, but their record against the line in this scenario is faie.

The Blues should win this game, but the Force are capable of covering the line with a start of 17.5 points.

Back The Force To Beat The Line (+17.5 Points)

The Chiefs are yet to lose a game in the Super Rugby season and they go into this clash with the Bulls as dominant favourites.

The Chiefs will head into this clash fresh following their bye week and they have not lost to the Bulls since 2011.

They have won four of their past five games as home favourites, but they are only 2-3 against the line in this scenario.

It has been a tough start to the Super Rugby season for the Bulls and they struggled against the Blues last weekend.

They have failed to win a single game as away underdogs over the past 12 months and even more damming is the fact that they are 0-5 against the line in this scenario.

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

No Bet

The Reds return to Australia after a disappointing tour of South Africa and the Hurricanes will start this clash as dominant favourites.

The Reds have generally saved their best form for Suncorp Stadium and they have won one of their past three games as home underdogs, while they narrowly went down to the Crusaders earlier this season.

It is rare to see the Reds flogged in front of their home fans.

The Hurricanes went into the bye on the back of a solid victory over the Highlanders and they are deserving of their status as clear favourites.

They have won three of their past five games as away favourites for a narrow loss, but they are 3-2 against the line in this scenario.

The line for this clash has been set at 17.5 points and the Hurricanes have not beaten the Reds by more than that margin since 2010.

Back The Reds To Beat The Line (+17.5 Points)

The Stormers survived a scare to beat the Sunwolves last weekend and they will go into this clash with the Cheetahs as clear favourites.

The Stormers are very tough to beat in front of their home fans and they have won six of their past seven games as home favourites, but they are only 2-5 against the line in this scenario.

The Cheetahs were far from disgraced in their defeat at the hands of the Sharks last weekend, but winning games away from home has proven to be an issue for the Cheetahs.

They have not won away from home for over 12 months and they are 1-5 against the line when they are on the road.

The Stormers should win this game comfortably, but this is another fixture where there is no betting value.

No Bet

The Lions made it back-to-back wins last weekend and they are clear favourites to continue their winning run against the Sharks.

The Lions have developed into one of the most reliable betting teams in all of Super Rugby and they have won their past nine games as home favourites, while they are 8-1 against the line in this scenario.

The Sharks made it four wins on the trot with a fighting victory over the Cheetahs, but this is the toughest test that they have faced this season.

They have won three of their past eight games as away underdogs for a narrow profit and they are 6-2 against the line in this scenario.

The Lions have had the upper hand over the Sharks in recent seasons and they are a good bet to maintain that dominance this weekend.

Back The Lions To Beat The Line (-9.5 Points)

The Waratahs have the home-ground advantage for this clash, but it is still the Crusaders that will go into this game as dominant favourites.

The Crusaders maintained their unbeaten start to the season with professional display against the Force, but they have still been a tough team to trust away from home.

They have won three of their past four games as home favourites, but they have failed to beat the line in any of these games.

The Waratahs got out of jail late against the Rebels last weekend and they need to improve to have any chance whatsoever against the Crusaders.

They have won one of their past two games as home underdogs for a narrow profit and there probably is not as much between these two sides as the current betting market suggests.

Back The Waratahs To Beat The Line (+8.5 Points)

2016

We are now well over a month into the 2016 Super Rugby season and a number of teams are already starting to show their superiority in their respective divisions.

The Stormers and Sharks have both opened up handy leads in the two Africa divisions, while the Brumbies are four points clear in the Australian division.

It should come as no surprise that the New Zealand conference is the most competitive and there are just five points separating the Chiefs, Highlanders, Hurricanes and Crusaders.

The Highlanders started their Super Rugby season with a loss, but since then they have recorded four victories on the trot and they were clinical against the Rebels last weekend.

The Force have just the one victory over the hapless Reds on their record this season and they produced simply awful performances against the Hurricanes and the Chiefs in the past fortnight.

It should come as no surprise that the Highlanders are clear favourites here and this is a position in which they have thrived in recent seasons – they are yet to lose a game as home favourites in the past 12 months and they are 4-2 against the line.

On the other hand, the Force are 4-7 against the line as underdogs and in recent weeks they have shown an inability to match it with more talented rivals.

The Highlanders are really on a roll here and the line of 18.5 points will not be enough.

Recommended Bet: Back The Highlanders To Beat The Line (-18.5 Points)

The Lions have lost just a single game this year and they go into this clash against the Crusaders as very favourites for the first time in recent memory.

The Crusaders have not won three games on the trot, but they continue to be underestimated by bookmakers despite their tough win over the Sharks last weekend.

The Canterbury-based side have won their past five games against the Lions and they have also won four out of their past six games as underdogs.

Favoritism does not come around very often for the Lions, but they are 4-0 in this scenario in the past 12 months and a credible 2-2 against the line.

The data comes up as inconclusive here, but from a pure rugby standpoint I have to lean to the Crusaders as they continue to produce polished performances despite the absence of a number of big names that have carried the side for the better part of a decade.

Recommended Bet: Back The Crusaders To Win @ $1.91

Both these teams head into this fixture without a victory for the better part of a month.

The Blues are fresh off the bye, while the Jaguares suffered yet another narrow defeat at the hands of the Stormers last weekend.

There is no doubt that the Jaguares have plenty of talent, but their inability to finish off games is a real concern and punters have clearly become frustrated at their poor record as favourites during their brief time in Super Rugby.

However, the Blues have not been that much better and their record as favourites in the past 12 months is very poor.

Getting away from the pressure in Argentina may be exactly what the Jaguares  need and they are a very safe bet to beat the line with a start of 5.5 points.

Recommended Bet: Back The Jaguares To Beat The Line (+5.5 points)

This is arguably the match of the round and it is set to be an absolute ripper.

The Brumbies were not overly impressive against the Cheetahs, but they were still able to return to Australia with a win, while the Chiefs were far too good for the struggling Force.

The Stephen Larkham-coached side have been a narrow losing side from a betting perspective as favourites in the past 12 months and they do appear on the short side against a Chiefs outfit that is packed full of talent.

The Chiefs have won three of their past six games as underdogs and they are 4-2 against the line in this scenario.

I am more than happy to back the Chiefs with the very valuable start of 5.5 points.

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

The Sunwolves are yet to win a Super Rugby game, but they may never receive a better chance against the Kings at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium this weekend.

The Japanese side were extremely gallant in defeat against the Bulls last weekend a similar performance against the Kings would be more than enough to win.

The Kings produced arguably their best performance of the season against the Hurricanes last weekend, but that is not saying a great deal as they were still beaten by over 20 points.

This will be the first time this season that the Kings have started as favourites and while the Sunwolves are yet to win a game they do have a strong record against the line in their limited history.

The Sunwolves have shown far more grit and determination in Super Rugby this season than their rivals and they are a good bet to finally record a maiden win.

Recommended Bet: Back The Sunwolves To Win @ $2

The Bulls survived a big scare against the Sunwolves last weekend to extend their unbeaten streak to three, while the Cheetahs put up a gallant performance against the Brumbies.

It is no surprise that the Bulls have opened as short-priced favourites here, but the Cheetahs did win the last game played between the two sides last year.

The Bulls have basically broken even as favourites in the past 12 months in head-to-head betting, while they are only 3-5 against the line as favourites in the same time period.

The Cheetahs have also been a poor team from a betting perspective this season and they are only 6-7 against the line as underdogs this season as well as a flat 3-3 as away underdogs.

The Bulls should win this game comfortably, but there really isn’t any value at their current price and I’m happy to stay out of this game from a betting perspective.

Recommended Bet: No Bet

They were far from convincing, but the Waratahs were able to return to winning form with a narrow victory over the Reds last weekend.

The Rebels had the chance to record rare third straight won on the trot, but they were nothing short of horrendous against the Highlanders and they suffered a big defeat.

The Waratahs are set to start this game as clear favourites and they are a poor 5-7 against the line as favourites in the past 12 months, but that record does improve to 4-4 as home favourites.

It is tough to see the Rebels winning this game as they are 0-5 against the Waratahs at Allianz Stadium, but they are 5-3 against the line as underdogs and that record is just as good on the road.

I expect this to be a scrappy affair and I am very keen to back the Rebels with a start of 9.5 points.

Recommended Bet: Back The Rebels To Beat The Line (+9.5 Points)