It’s shaping up as a good year for the Aussie sides in the Super Rugby Pacific competition with all four in a finals spot as we approach the midway point of the season.

We have a light weekend of action with just the four games on the cards but plenty of drama set to unfold.

Both the Waratahs and Brumbies face tricky tasks on Friday before the Reds host the Force in the lone Aussie derby for the weekend on Saturday night.

There is also plenty of value on offer in the Ladbrokes markets for Round 7 of the Super Rugby Pacific competition so check out who we are backing.

Friday’s double header gets underway at Sky Stadium as the Waratahs cross the Tasman for the first time this season.

Their lone game against a New Zealand side came back in Round 1 with a tense 37-36 win over the Highlanders.

History is not on their side either, with the Canes winning the last seven games but the Tahs have gone 6-4 against the spread in the last ten meetings.

The bookies look like they have this line spot on with the home side favoured by just over a converted a try, even with the New South Welshmen boasting a better record.

Instead, the value in this game looks like it might come from the total points number, which could be a bit too high based on how things are trending for the visitors.

The last three head to head games have gone under including the last two Canes home games and at 56.5 points, we might see this game be a bit more attritional, especially with the Tahs coming off a couple of draining local derbies.

If either team manages to get to 30 points something will have gone very well for them on the day.

Under 56.5 Points @ $1.87

It’s fair to say that neither side had a great time in Round 6, with both teams suffering frustrating losses.

The Brumbies were outclassed by the Waratahs in Sydney, while the Highlanders had their scrum utterly demolished by the Reds as they fell by six points in Dunedin.

Unless they can somehow solve those front row issues in a week, they could be in for a long night against a side they have had their problems with over the last few years.

The last four head to head games have been won by the Brumbies, three of which were by double digits and all four were covers for the Canberra based side.

Not to mention the Brumbies have covered in six of their last eight home games as Fortress Canberra at the aging GIO Stadium still holds strong.

Brumbies to Cover -9.5 @ $1.85

If you are a rugby fan trying to work out your Saturday plans, you can probably go do some other stuff during this game and catch up on the Crusaders procession of tries.

Even during their down year in 2024, they still plastered Moana Pasifika in Christchurch 43-10 and even with the improvement from the visitors this season, it’s tough to see this one being all that close.

Their biggest losing margin in a game so far this season is 20 points and that will be in danger here.

Best case scenario they play the Crusaders close for a half before getting run over late.

Crusaders to Cover -21.5 @ $1.97

Back in Round 2 we saw these teams play in Perth, it was a tight tussle that went down to the wire with the Reds scoring a late try to get over the line.

That game was pretty much par for the course when they meet out west with the Force able to play the Reds close, even winning on occasion.

It is not the same story when they face off elsewhere though, with some horrifically one-sided affairs over the last few seasons.

Just to name a few, there was a 57-7 demolition in the Covid bubble in 2020, a 71-20 thumping in the Super Round in Melbourne during the 2023 season and last year a 59-13 towelling up at Suncorp Stadium.

Perhaps it is a little bit bullish to expect the Reds to win this one comfortably, but history certainly points towards a big win.

Reds to Cover -12.5 @ $1.90

2024

Six weeks into the Super Rugby season and finally, every team has a win after the Crusaders picked up their first win last week.

Their reward for that is a weekend off with three other sides as the first set of byes take place in Round 7.

It means we are in for a relatively light weekend of rugby action, but there is still plenty to look forward to, including the Brumbies and Waratahs on Saturday night.

Find out who we are backing below in our Super Rugby Round 7 Preview.

In American sports they say defence wins championships and the Blues will be hoping that theory applies in Super Rugby this season.

They have the best defensive record in the competition, conceding just 92 points in their six matches so far, and have allowed just 24 total in their last three wins.

That is not good reading for the Western Force, whose season went from bad to worse in the Fijian deluge last weekend, losing 31-13.

While they don’t have the worst attacking record in Super Rugby, it is still not good with the Force topping 20 points just twice in six starts.

Playing on the road has not been a fun experience for them either, losing their last seven games away from home and covering the line just once in that point.

Blues to Cover -22.5 @ $1.87

In all fairness to the Rebels, they might not have been great last weekend against the Tahs, but they did enough to win the game to move to 3-3 on the season.

Now they enter this clash with the Drua who are not the best of travellers.

They have won just one away game since their return to Super Rugby in 2022, which came in February 2023 against Moana Pasifika.

In their last eight away games they have covered twice, but this line of +2.5 is so small, it kind of negates it as a play on the visitors even if you like the Rebels to win.

I’ll back the Drua’s road struggles to continue and take them with a line of less than a penalty.

Rebels to Cover -2.5 @ $1.90

Right, Chiefs by how much in this one?

While the Waikato based team did lose to the Crusaders last week, they should have no problems getting back in the winners circle here.

It just comes down to how much you like them to win by, and the answer to that should be “by a lot”.

In Moana Pasifika’s last two games, the aggregate score is 107-29 against them and the Chiefs should have a field day.

Chiefs to Cover -29.5 @ $2.05

It’s all coming crashing down around the Waratahs, suffering their fourth consecutive defeat at home to the Rebels last weekend.

The pressure is ramping up on Darren Coleman who began the season under fire and has been let down by an underwhelming effort from his players so far.

Even if you did not want to back against the Tahs, the Brumbies performances in the last month should have you eager to get on their side of the fence.

While it was great to see them blow out Moana Pasifika a fortnight ago, their hard fought win in Brisbane last weekend was arguably more impressive, knocking off their primary Australian rivals in a hard fought game.

Perhaps their only problem here is a potential letdown against a struggling opponent but we know better than to expect the Brumbies to drop off.

Brumbies to Win by 13+ @ $2.25

2023

The middle portion of the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season kicks off with a light weekend of action as the bye weeks commence.

Only eight teams are in action with the Drua, Blues, Rebels and Chiefs receiving the Easter weekend off.

That means there will be an unbeaten team for at least another week while the last remaining winless side Moana Pasifika faces a tough task when they take on the Crusaders on Good Friday.

We’ve got our Super Rugby previews and best bets below so read on and see who we are backing.

Let’s keep this nice and simple, any line below 50 points in favour of the Crusaders will have me backing the home team.

Scott Robertson’s side were well below their best in Brisbane on Friday night, but they still comfortably accounted for an out of sorts Reds team.

If they can improve even in the slightest, this game could be over by halftime.

Moana Pasifika just do not seem to be able to get things together this season, despite playing the Highlanders close in the first half, they fell apart and wound up losing by 28 points.

This is not going to be close and if the Crusaders win by less than 30, then it could be panic stations in the stands of Orangetheory Stadium.

Back the Crusaders to Cover -28.5 @ $1.83

It has been a rough start to the season for the Reds with just two wins through six games and only one convincing performance in that time as well.

Brad Thorn’s side continues to struggle with discipline and execution, however if there is one opponent that will bring the best out of them, it’s the Brumbies.

In this rivalry, the home side has won 16 of the last 17 games between the two teams dating back to 2016, which makes the Reds an intriguing proposition.

Thorn has rung the changes with his side looking for a response and we might just get one here.

Back the Reds to Win @ $2.40

No team has been more entertaining to watch this season than the Hurricanes, who are far and away the best attacking side in the competition.

Across six games, they have scored 243 points, well clear of the Crusaders and Brumbies who are second and third in that category with 199 and 198 points respectively.

While the Highlanders might have found their footing over the last three weeks after a horror start to their campaign, It seems awfully unlikely they are going to have the capacity to keep pace.

Look for the Hurricanes to jump out to a fast start and go on with the job.

Back the Hurricanes to Cover -8.5 @ $1.91

If you just go off the recent form lines, the Blues and Rebels have had the exact same run of results in their last three outings.

However context is very important when you consider the Blues two defeats have come at the hands of the Crusaders and Chiefs, while the Rebels have gone down to the Chiefs and much more concerningly, the Fijian Drua.

Last week the Rebels were never really in that game, scoring two late tries to make the final scoreline a bit more respectable.

It looks like we might be in for some more one-way traffic, however the Blues might not let up the way the Drua did.

Back the Blues to Cover -15.5 @ $1.91

2022

Round 7 of the Super Rugby starts this weekend! Some teams are fairing better than others with the Brumbies looking to stay undefeated and the Highlanders searching for that first Super Rugby W.

We’re coming to the midway point in the season but there is still a heap of blockbuster Rugger to come, especially this weekend.

We’ve come through the gate to clear the breakdown and pilfer you punters some great value tips for Round 7 of the Super Rugby

Friday afternoon we start with a classic rivalry in the Crusaders v Highlanders.

The Crusaders hit an early season speed bump when The Chiefs upset them in round 2.

The Highlanders while winless this season, could trouble their historic rivals but the I believe that The Crusaders will pull through now they have settled into the season.

Back The Crusaders (-14.5) @ $1.91

The second Friday night game sees the 1-5 Fijian Drua play the 3-3 Waratahs.

Don’t let the Drua’s record fool you, they have pushed some very good teams all the way to the final whistle. Going down 18-20 to the Force and 33-28 to the Reds.

I’m a big fan of the flair that the Drua play with and I’m tipping the upset in this one. They’ve been there abouts all season and I think they put it together this week.

Back Fijian Drua to win @ $3.50

Reds v Brumbies is shaping to be the game of the round with their last four meetings being decided in the final minutes by a try or less.

Brumbies got the early ascendancy this year with a close win but the Reds are at home and co captains Tate McDermott and Liam Wright are set to return.

I think it’s going to be another nail biter of a showdown but The Reds will prevail at Fortress Suncorp. Brumbies to finish +3.5

Back The Brumbies (+3.5) @ $1.83

The ‘Canes play The Chiefs this Sunday afternoon in what could be a fairly even contest.

The Hurricanes let in 42 points last game against the Crusaders but I’m backing them to turn it around against the Chiefs this weekend.

This game could go either way but I’m backing the Hurricanes at home.

Back The Hurricanes @ $2.75

2021

Super Rugby continues to deliver plenty of unpredictable excitement every round and we head into the seventh weekend of action here.

The Reds will be up against more than just the Rebels in the headline clash Saturday night while the Brumbies look to inflict more pain on the Waratahs

Over in New Zealand the Crusaders had a bye but still managed to record a victory with upsets in the two Super Rugby Aotearoa matches giving them an even bigger advantage on the table.

They now return to action knowing there is plenty to play for in the second half of their domestic season.

Read on to find out who we are backing this weekend below.

SUPER RUGBY AU ROUND 7

We begin our Super Rugby game previews with the resumption of our weekly game of working out how many points head start the Waratahs will get.

If the first meeting between these two sides is anything to go by, the number should be at least 40 considering their 61-10 demolition job at GIO Stadium in February.

Overall this season has been a rough watch for fans of the Sydney based club and it has not been any better since then, with their 46-14 loss to the Reds last Saturday costing coach Rob Penny his job.

On the list of issues plaguing the Tahs, that was well down the list considering even the best chef can only do so much with an underwhelming supply of groceries.

The Brumbies have to win this match to keep pace with the Reds and give themselves a chance of overtaking them in the closing rounds of the season and I expect them to do so in convincing fashion.

No new coach bounce is coming for the Tahs, just another very long night.

Back the Brumbies to Cover -22.5 @ $1.91

Brad Thorn’s Ballymore rebuild is on its way to claiming its first piece of silverware with the Reds in the box seat to take out the Super Rugby AU minor premiership.

They are a long way off dropping the mission accomplished banner at Ballymore however with the side needing to continue their winning ways over the next three weeks to lock up a home Grand Final.

While they enter this game as deserved favourites over the Melbourne Rebels and you would back them without a second thought in a vacuum, this contest has a whole lot of red flags to it.

To start off with, the Reds have had their entire week thrown off following the Covid outbreak in Brisbane which has forced the club to go “on tour” in preparation for this game.

On top of that, the Rebels might not be at their level in terms of quality, but they can give this Reds team all sorts of trouble for 80 minutes on Saturday night.

Queensland only just escaped with a 23-21 victory in late February and now the Rebels will host them for the first time since a 30-24 win in May 2019.

I’m still expecting the Reds to come out raring to go, but their impacted build up, general struggles with the Rebels and a few injuries creeping in means I’m not quite ready to declare this a blowout in the making.

Back the Reds to Win by 1-12

SUPER RUGBY AOTEAROA ROUND 6

Punters can all rejoice, after a weekend of carnage over the Tasman, the Crusaders are back in action.

The Highlanders were rolled by the then-winless Hurricanes and will (in all likelihood) experience further bruising to their egos this Friday.

If they produce the type of display that saw them go down by 11 points to the previously last placed team, the final margin for this one will be solely dictated by how ruthless the home side wants to be.

Getting anything under 20 points is a gift here and I’ll jump on that number before it inevitably goes up.

Back the Crusaders to Cover -18.5 @ $1.91

As bad as last weekend was for the Highlanders, it was great for the Hurricanes as they pulled themselves off the foot of the Super Rugby Aotearoa table.

The Blues did not exactly cover themselves in glory on Saturday as they essentially conceded the title to the Crusaders with their loss to the Chiefs.

I’m not quite ready to buy into the idea that the Blues bubble has burst just yet and they do still have an edge over this Hurricanes side.

Thanks to last week’s upsets, there is still plenty to play for with four teams still very much in the mix to take on the Crusaders in the Super Rugby Aotearoa Final in just over a month.

With so much to play for in the second half of the season, desperation is going to be the strongest motivator and that will give the edge to the Blues.

It might not be the prettiest game but I’ll back the stronger side at home to get over the line and record a comfortable victory.

Back the Blues to Cover -8.5 @ $1.91

2020

There are plenty of short-priced favourites in Super Rugby round seven, but it still shapes as an interesting round from a betting perspective.

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

This is an outstanding way to start another big round of Super Rugby.

The Chiefs returned to winning form with a dominant victory over the Waratahs and they will go into this clash as clear favourites.

They have won three of their past five games in this scenario, but are a poor 1-4 against the line and their recent record against the Hurricanes isn’t good.

The Hurricanes had their winning run ended by the Blues and there is no doubt that they will need to improve on that performance in order to beat the Chiefs.

This is a side that generally does bounce back from defeats quickly and they have been able to cover the line in six of their past nine games on the road.

There isn’t as much between these two sides as the current market suggests and the Hurricanes are a great bet to cover the line.

Back Hurricanes To Cover The Line (+6.5 Points) @ $1.91

This is one of the biggest mismatches in Super Rugby betting history.

There is no doubt that the Crusaders will win and the only question is how great will the margin be?

The line has been set at 40.5 points and that does seem fair.

The Sunwolves have lost their past four games by big margins and they have covered the line in only two of their past eight matches as home underdogs.

The Crusaders have been getting the job done in recent weeks, without really impressing, and they were probably a touch lucky to come away with the victory against the Reds.

I obviously think that the Crusaders will win, but this isn’t a clash that appeals from a betting perspective.

No Bet

The Blues continue to impress this season and they will go into this clash with the Lions as clear favourites.

The Blues followed up their South African tour with an upset win over the Hurricanes and a repeat of that performance would make them very tough to beat.

They have won three of their past four games as home favourites and have become a team that you can back with confidence.

The same can’t be said about the Lions.

They have won only one game this season and they were particularly poor against the Rebels.

Their record as away underdogs over the past 12 months is 1-7 and their form against the line has been no better.

The Blues are one of the safest betting plays of the weekend.

Back Blues To Cover The Line (-14.5 Points) @ $1.91

The Reds don’t start many games as $1.40 favourites and they have an excellent chance to return to winning from against the Bulls.

They head into this clash on the back of a spirited performance against the Crusaders and there are plenty of factors to suggest that this is a game they should win.

The home side has won the past eight games played between these sides and the Reds have won two of their past three games as home favourites.

In saying that, it is always tough to get the Reds this short.

The Bulls claimed their first win of the season with an emphatic win against the Highlanders and they have performed better this season than their current record suggests.

They have covered the line in six of their past nine games as away underdogs for a profit and it would not surprise to see them give the Reds a genuine scare.

Back Bulls To Cover The Line (+7.5 Points) @ $1.91

This is one of the most interesting games of the weekend.

The Sharks produced their best performance of the season to date to beat the Jaguares and they will go into this clash as clear favourites.

They have won four of their past seven games as home favourites and their record against the line in this scenario is identical.

The Stormers had their unbeaten start to the season ended by the Blues last weekend and they are not a team that lose back-to-back games often.

In saying that, they have won only one of their past five games as away underdogs and their record against the line isn’t much better.

The market appeals in this clash is the Under in Total Points betting.

The Under has saluted in ten of the past 12 games played between these two sides and we look set for another low-scoring clash this weekend.

Back Unders @ $1.91

MATCH POSTPONED

We are treated to a rare Sunday afternoon game of Super Rugby as the Brumbies host the Waratahs at GIO Stadium.

This season continues to go from bad to worse for the Waratahs and it is no surprise that they are clear outsiders.

They produced a truly pitiful performance against the Chiefs and they have now lost six of their past seven games as away underdogs.

The Brumbies continue to produce consistent rugby this season and they are very easy to trust from a betting perspective.

They have won six of their past seven games against the Waratahs and they have now won eight of their past nine games as home favourites.

Their record against the line in this scenario is strong and they should prove far too good for the Waratahs.

Back Brumbies To Cover The Line (-12.5 Points) @ $1.91

2019

Six rounds in and the 2019 Super Rugby competition is looking very competitive.

As expected the New Zealand sides are leading the way and Round 7 kicks off with a top of the table clash between the Hurricanes and Crusaders.

Elsewhere there’s a lot to like about the Australian conference with Quade Cooper’s return to Brisbane one of the must watch games of the weekend.

Read on for our previews and predictions for every Super Rugby clash this weekend.

A top of the table clash as the two pacesetters in the New Zealand Conference and Super Rugby as a whole face off in Wellington.

The Crusaders have won each of the last three meetings, all by double digit margins including a very convincing 38-22 victory in February.

Their streak came to an end in Sydney last week but the return of Richie Mo’unga will give their attack a lot more direction this week.

The Hurricanes have looked good for the most part this season and could run the defending champions close but one loss is not enough to shake my confidence in them.

Back the Crusaders to Cover -2.5 @ $1.90

The Sunwolves have only ever played one game in Sydney… it did not end well.

A 77-25 drubbing last July capped another miserable campaign as the Japan based side is now faced with the problem of playing out games knowing their time in the competition is short lived.

It won’t stop them having a go at the Waratahs, a side they ran very close back in Round 2, losing 31-30 at home.

The Waratahs attack has been pretty stale for the most part but perhaps a trip up to Newcastle might help get things on track.

Finding a play for this game is pretty simple, the Waratahs are a better side and should be able to cover the line, so long as it doesn’t reach 20 points.

Back the Waratahs to Cover -13.5 @ $1.90

After a rough start to the season, the Blues are slowly getting back on track, beating the Sunwolves and Highlanders in the last fortnight.

The Stormers however have had more good weeks than bad and looked pretty strong even in defeat to the Hurricanes last Saturday.

If they play that way against a Blues side that is a step down in quality over the Hurricanes they should be able to spring an upset.

Back the Stormers to Win @ $2.75

All eyes will be on the return of Quade Cooper to Brisbane, as he prepares to take on the coach who exiled him.

His (eventual) successor in Brisbane Bryce Hegarty was instrumental in leading the Reds to a convincing win over the Brumbies last weekend and the two fly halves will no doubt look to put on a show here.

What sways this game in the Reds favour though is their conditioning.

They closed the game out strongly against the Brumbies and will face a Rebels side coming off a draining fortnight in South Africa and that could be the difference in the final 20 minutes.

Back the Reds to Win @ $2.25

Two weeks ago the Sharks looked pretty average going down to the Bulls 37-14 for their fourth straight loss to their conference rivals.

If they want to have any chance of topping the South African conference they will need to beat their rivals and this would be the perfect place to start.

Sitting ahead of the Bulls on bonus points, the Sharks defence will need to come to play once again, they have held every opponent this season, bar the Bulls to under 20 points.

After the 23 point loss last time, they will be out for revenge and with such a short line, back them to cover.

Back the Sharks to Cover -2.5 @ $1.90

You knew the Chiefs wouldn’t be dreadful all season and after drawing with the Hurricanes, they crushed the Bulls in South Africa last week.

Their tour continues with a trip to Argentina and as the side begins to gel, you have to like the value on offer here.

The away side has won both meetings between these teams and after breaking a long losing streak on the road, the Chiefs look like they could spring this one, especially with the Jaguares coming off a bye and perhaps being a bit flat.

Back the Chiefs to Cover -3.5 @ $1.90

2018

We have reached a very interesting stage of the Super Rugby season and there are a host of intriguing games set to take place this weekend.

There is only two points separating the top four teams in the New Zealand Conference, while the Rebels and the Lions have opened up leads in the Australian Conference and South African Conference respectively.

We have analysed all six games set to take place this weekend and our complete 2018 Super Rugby Round 7 tips can be found below.

The market can’t separate the Chiefs and the Highlanders ahead of this Friday Night blockbuster!

The Chiefs head into this clash in the back of three straight wins and they were particularly dominant against the Sunwolves last weekend.

They have won six of their past seven games in front of their home fans, but they have won only one of their past seven games against the Highlanders.

The Highlanders were no match for the Hurricanes last weekend and there is every chance they simply ran out of steam after what had been a very tough start to the season.

They have won three of their past six games on the road and they have had no issues beating the Chiefs in Waikato – they have won their past two games at FMG Stadium.

It is tough to ignore the upper hand that the Highlanders have had over the Chiefs in recent seasons and they have not suffered back-to-back losses for over a year.

Back Highlanders To Win @ $1.91

The Rebels recorded the most impressive win in their history last weekend, but they will still go into this clash with the Hurricanes as clear underdogs.

The Hurricanes stamped themselves as the team to beat in Super Rugby this season with comprehensive wins over the Crusaders and the Highlanders and they have won their past five games against the Rebels.

They have won six of their past eight games as away favourites, but they are only a middling 4-4 against the line in this scenario.

The Rebels could hardly have been more impressive against the Sharks last weekend and they are a side that is playing with plenty of confidence.

Winning as underdogs has been an issue for the Rebels over the past 12 months and they have won only one of their past five games as home underdogs, but they are 3-2 against the scenario.

The Hurricanes go into this clash as deserving favourites, but there is not as much between these two teams as the current betting market suggests and the Rebels are capable of covering the line.

Back Rebels To Cover The Line (+10.5 Points)

It has been a fairly disappointing start to the Super Rugby season for both these sides.

The Blues have won only the one game this season – a big upset victory over the Lions – but they will still start this clash with the Sharks as clear favourites.

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

It has been a tough tour of Australia and New Zealand for the Sharks to date and their only win of the season to date came over the Sunwolves.

The Sharks have won only one of their past five games as away underdogs, but they are an impressive 4-1 against the line in this scenario.

This is another game where the favourite do look to be under the odds and the Sharks are a great bet to beat the line with a start of 13.5 points.

Back Sharks To Cover The Line (+13.5 Points)

This is a big game for both these sides as the Rebels have opened up a fairly big gap at the top of the Australian Conference.

It is the Brumbies that have the home-ground advantage for this clash, but the Waratahs will go into this clash as favourites.

The Waratahs went into their bye on the back of a big win over the Rebels if they can repeat that sort of performance every week, they will be serious players.

Winning away from home has been an issue for the side and they have won only one of their past seven games on the road for a big loss.

The Brumbies returned to winning form with a fighting effort over the Sharks and it should be noted that they have won their past three games against the Waratahs.

They have still won only one of their past four games as home underdogs and their record against the line in that scenario isn’t much better.

It is tough to trust either of these sides from a betting perspective and this is a clash that I am more than happy to stay out of.

No Bet

The Bulls have finally returned to South Africa, but it doesn’t get any easier for them against the Stormers.

The Bulls started their season with a very promising win over the Hurricanes, but they have had a fairly brutal draw since and they failed to win a single game during their tour of Australia and New Zealand.

They have won only one of their past seven games against the Stormers and only one of their past six games as home underdogs.

The Stormers have gotten their season on track with two fighting wins over the Blues and the Reds and they do look like a safe bet to make it three wins on the trot.

They have won their past two games as away favourites and they have covered the line in each of these wins.

The Stormers should prove too good for the Bulls and they can comfortably cover the line of 2.5 points.

Back Stormers To Cover The Line (-2.5 Points)

This is a rematch of the 2017 Super Rugby Grand Final and is set to be a fascinating clash.

The Lions suffered a shock loss at the hands of the Jaguares last weekend and it has been well over a year since they have suffered back-to-back losses.

They have won nine of their past 11 games in front of their home fans, but they have won only one of their past eight games against the Crusaders.

The Crusaders returned to winning form with a comfortable win over the Bulls and winning away from home has not been an issue for the Canterbury-based franchise.

The have won their past six games as away favourites and they are a most impressive 5-1 against the line in this scenario.

This will be a very interesting game, but the class of the Crusaders should prevail in the end – just like it did in the Super Rugby Grand Final last season.

Back Crusaders To Beat The Line (-5.5 Points)

2017

The 2017 Super Rugby season continues to be tough going for Australian teams, but at least one will win this weekend as the Brumbies and Reds do battle on Saturday night.

The Waratahs start the weekend of action with a tough clash against the Hurricanes, while the Western Force host the Kings on Sunday afternoon.

We have closely analysed each game in round 7 of the 2017 Super Rugby and below you can find our thoughts on each clash.

The Hurricanes were far too strong for the Reds last weekend and they will go into this clash with the Waratahs as clear favourites.

It really is tough to see the Hurricanes losing this game – they have won eight of their past nine games as home favourites for a clear profit and they are 6-3 against the line in this scenario.

The Waratahs were no match for the Crusaders last weekend and they face another very tough assignment against the Hurricanes.

They have won just one of their past five games as away underdogs for a clear loss and their record against the line is no better.

The Hurricanes should cruise to victory and the line of 20.5 points is unlikely to be enough.

Back The Hurricanes To Beat The Line (-20.5 Points)

Both these teams have struggled in Super Rugby this season, but it is the Bulls that will go into this clash as dominant favourites.

The Bulls have only won the one game this season, but it did come against the Sunwolves and they have won three of their past four games as home favourites for a profit.

The Sunwolves have been competitive without winning in recent weeks, but they really are a very tough team to trust from a betting perspective.

This is one clash that the market looks to have got just about right and I am more than happy to stay out of this contest.

No Bet

The Highlanders and the Blues both bring winning form into this clash and this looks set to be the most exciting match of the round.

The Highlanders scored a dominant win over the struggling Rebels last weekend and they will go into this match as clear favourites.

They have won only four of their past seven games as home favourites for a loss, but they are 4-3 against the line in this scenario.

The Blues come into this clash on the back of wins over both the Bulls and the Force, but they obviously face a much tougher challenge this weekend.

Winning as away underdogs has been a problem for the Blues – they haven’t done it in 12 months and they are 1-3 against the line in this situation.

The Highlanders should prove too strong for the Blues and they can cover the line comfortably.

Back The Highlanders To Beat The Line (-5.5 Points)

This is a crucial game in the Australian Conference and it is the Brumbies that will go into this clash as clear favourites.

The Brumbies were far from disgraced against the Highlanders last weekend and they still look to be the pick of the Australian teams.

They have won five of their past seven games as home favourites for a narrow loss, but they have been a profitable play against the line in this scenario.

The Reds have now lost five games on the trot and it is set to be another season to forget for the Queensland Rugby faithful.

They have not won a game as away underdogs for over 12 months and they have covered the line in just two of their past seven games in this situation.

The Brumbies have too much composure for the Reds and they can solidify their control of the Australian Conference.

Back The Brumbies To Beat The Line (-6.5 Points)

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

The Sharks have flown under the radar this season, but they have actually played some solid rugby and they have won five of their past six games as home favourites.

The Jaguares have won three games on the trot and they have developed into a serious player in the South African Conference.

Winning away from home continues to be somewhat of an issue and they have lost their past four games as away underdogs, while they are 1-3 against the line in this scenario.

This is another game that the market has just about spot-on and I am more than happy to stay out from a betting perspective.

No Bet

The Stormers have the home-ground advantage, but it is the Chiefs that will start this clash as favourites.

The Chiefs are yet to lose a game this season, but this is the first time that they have played in South Africa in 2017.

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

The Stormers also take an unbeaten record into this clash and they have not lost a Super Rugbt game since they were beaten by the Chiefs at the end of last season.

They very rarely start a game at home as underdogs and they have generally under-performed market expecations in front of their home fans – they are only 3-5 against the line.

The Chiefs have proven that they are capable of winning in South Africa and the line of 2.5 points does not look like anywhere near enough.

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

It is very rare to see the Force start a Super Rugby clash as such short-priced favourites and this is a must-win clash for the under-fire franchise.

The Force have won just the one game this season and this is just the second time that they have started a game as favourites over the past 12 months.

Their record in front of their home fans is poor and they are 1-4 against the line at NIB Stadium.

The Kings were comfortably beaten by the Lions in their final game before the bye, but before that they almost upset the Sharks and they have played some quality rugby this season.

They have won only one of their past seven games as away underdogs, but they are 5-2 against the line when being given a start.

There is not as much between these two teams as the current betting market suggests and the Kings are a great bet to beat the line with a healthy start.

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

2016

The Chiefs have won four games on the trot and they go into this New Zealand Derby with the Blues as clear favourites.

They were outstanding against the Brumbies last weekend, but they still have a poor recent record as favourites and they are 2-3 against the line as home favourites in the past 12 months.

The Blues returned to winning form with a hard-fought victory over the Jaguares, but they face a much tougher challenge against the Chiefs and their record as underdogs in recent times has been very poor.

The Chiefs should win this game fairly comfortably victory, but their is no value at their current price and I am more than happy to stay out of this match from a betting perspective.

Recommended Bet: No Bet

The Force produced a much improved performance against the Highlanders last weekend, but they still slumped to their fourth straight loss and it doesn’t get any easier against the Crusaders this weekend.

The Force have won just one of their last eight games in front of their home fans and they are an awful 1-4 as home underdogs in the past 12 months.

The Crusaders made it four wins on the trot with a narrow victory over the Lions and they are a team that I believe continue to be underrated by the market.

They are 2-0 against the line as away favourites in the past 12 months and the current line of 10.5 points will not be anywhere near big enough if the Crusaders produce anything close to their best.

Recommended Bet: Back The Crusaders To Beat The Line (-10.5 Points)

The Sunwolves missed out on a golden opportunity to record their maiden Super Rugby victory when they lost to the Kings and it is tough to see them breaking through here against the Stormers.

While the Sunwolves are yet to win game they have been a winning betting proposition against the line, but they have had the benefit of playing the majority of their games at home.

Outside of their win over the Brumbies, the Stormers have generally been a low-scoring team this season, but they have only suffered a single defeat and are sitting pretty in the South African conference.

However, they are not really the type of team that comes out and blows away their opponents and they are 3-5 against the line as home favourites in the past 12 months, so I am happy to give the Sunwolves a chance with a start of 23.5 points.

Recommended Bet: Back The Sunwolves To Beat The Line (+23.5 points)

The Jaguares continue to be somewhat of a disappointment in Super Rugby so far this season and they suffered another loss at the hands of the Blues last weekend.

They now have just one win from five Super Rugby games and they have the exact same record against the line.

The Hurricanes will be refreshed after the bye and they will start this game as clear favourites.

The Wellington-based side are a fairly safe bet as favourites, but their record against the line as home favourites is an unremarkable 4-5 and the line of 9.5 points appears to be just about right.

Both these teams have leaned towards being unders teams so far this season and that is really the only betting play that stands out at this stage.

Recommended Bet: No Bet

The Reds remain winless this season following their narrow loss to the Waratahs before the bye and they face a Highlanders side that have won five games on the trot.

The Reds have won just 1 of their past seven games in front of their home fans at Suncorp Stadium and it is tough to see that improving with such an uninspired back line.

The Highlanders have only lost one of their past 12 games as favourites and their record against the line as the punters elect is a highly profitable 8-4 and they are 4-1 as away favourites.

The line of 9.5 points does not look as though it will be anywhere near enough and the Highlanders to beat the line might be the best bet of the week.

Recommended Bet: Back The Highlanders To Beat The Line (-9.5 Points)

The Sharks suffered their first loss of the season to the Crusaders before they went on the bye, but they are clear favourites to return to winning form against the Lions, who are also coming off a loss to the Crusaders.

The Sharks have been a losing betting proposition across the board as favourites in the past 12 months and while they have won the majority of their games this season they have not looked particularly impressive.

The Lions were gallant in defeat against the Crusaders last weekend and their record against the line in the past 12 months is an impressive 3-1.

This match will be closer than the betting market suggests and the Sharks are another good bet to cover the line with a start of 5.5 points.

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

The Kings scored their first win of the Super Rugby season when they beat the Sunwolves last weekend, but they face a far tougher assignment against the Bulls this weekend.

Leaking points has been the biggest issue for the Kings, but they are still 3-2 against the line this season – although they are 0-2 as home underdogs.

The Bulls were not overly impressive against either the Sunwolves or the Cheetahs, but they were still able to get the job done and from a pure rugby sense they should prove too good for the Kings.

However, the Bulls don’t have a great record away from home in the past 12 months and they are only a middling 1-2 against the line as home favourites.

This is another game where their is no real value in current betting markets and I am happy to stay out from a betting perspective.

Recommended Bet: No Bet