2024

It’s the final short round of the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season this weekend with the Rebels, Chiefs, Waratahs and Moana Pasifika all set to have the weekend off.

While the Hurricanes remain runaway competition leaders, they face a tough task this weekend with a trip to Suva to take on the Drua.

In Brisbane, the Reds will be up against it when they face the Highlanders desperate to end a three game losing streak.

Read on to see who we are backing in this weekend’s action.

Still perfect through seven games, the Hurricanes will be up against it when they travel to Fiji to kick off Round 9.

Despite coming off a big loss to the Rebels in their last outing, the Drua are a much better team at home, winning their last six as the home team and eight of their last nine.

That includes a 27-24 win over the Canes last May and plenty of other teams have come unstuck making this trip.

I’m not brave enough to back the Drua to win outright but they are capable of keeping this one closer than the line.

Drua to Cover +11.5 @ $1.88

It’s all hands on deck for the Reds as they try to arrest their worrying slide with a severely depleted team.

Les Kiss has rung the changes (largely forced) with several key members set to miss this game against the Highlanders and the next few weeks as well through injury and suspension.

Despite going through a rebuild over the last few seasons, the Highlanders have a good record against the Reds, winning their last six meetings including a 35-30 epic in Dunedin last year in somewhat controversial fashion.

However it doesn’t matter how the wins come, just what the final score is and with the Reds so short-staffed, it is a surprise to see them such clear favourites, the value here is on the visitors.

Highlanders to Win @ $2.70

Easily the game of the round comes from Eden Park as the second placed Blues host the third placed Brumbies in a game we may see a repeat of come finals time.

The Blues absolutely plastered the Force 50-3 in their last outing and they have won four on the trot heading into this one.

However the Brumbies have won five in a row and are playing some great rugby themselves.

This really is a toss up and the head to head value is on the Brumbies, but I’m expecting a low scoring, grind of a game and the points total is way too high.

Under 54.5 Points @ $1.87

What better way for the Crusaders to respond to their shock loss to the Waratahs than by belting the Force over in Perth.

For some reason they always seem to get the best out of the Tahs but they do not elicit the same response out of the Force.

All three meetings since the Force’s reintroduction have been won by the Crusaders with the last two coming by over 30 points each.

I’m expecting a version of the Crusaders somewhere closer to the one that beat the Chiefs than what we saw last weekend.

Crusaders to Cover -18.5 @ $2.25

2023

It’s the final round of byes in the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific competition and the tiers are starting to separate in the competition.

With the Brumbies and Hurricanes on a bye, the Chiefs have a chance to open up a lead at the top of the table.

Both the Crusaders and Blues will also be chasing maximum points in their games to give themselves some breathing space on the rest of the chasing pack.

We’ve got your previews and best bets for all four games below so read on and see who we are backing.

Still perfect on the season, the Chiefs are an unbackable $1.03 to make it eight from eight on Friday night.

It simply boils down to how much they are going to win by, and such is the marked improvement of the Drua this season that the 23.5 point line (at publish) looks a bit high.

While the Fijians have been blown out in a couple of their defeats, they have been competitive more often than not.

They won’t spring an upset, but there is every reason to back the visitors to keep the scoreline within three converted tries.

Back the Drua to Cover +23.5 @ $1.80

Like most Australian teams, the Rebels have had their share of struggles with the Crusaders and on recent form that is not going to change this weekend.

While the Crusaders have not really hit their stride with any consistency this season, an out of sorts Rebels side should give them an opportunity to flex their muscle.

History is on their side as well, the Crusaders have won the last six games between the two teams with the smallest margin of victory being 22 points back in 2017.

Considering the Rebels gave up 54 points to the Blues last week, that should tell you all you need to know about their defence.

It’s going to be a blowout.

Back the Crusaders to Cover -18.5 @ $2.00

Fresh off putting up 50 in Melbourne in their last outing, the Blues have had a fortnight to prepare to welcome the Waratahs to Eden Park.

While the Tahs did pick up their second win of the season last weekend in a 36-16 win over the Force, it did come at a cost with lock Lachie Swinton suspended for seven weeks for a high tackle in that game.

Losing their enforcer is going to harm the Waratahs hopes of keeping this game close, especially if the Blues have used their bye to sort out their inconsistent form from the last month.

So long as they get themselves playing close to their potential, the Blues should be able to run away with this game.

Back the Blues to Cover -16.5 @ $1.95

This is far and away the toughest match of the round to pick with the trip out to Perth posing a real challenge for the Highlanders to deal with.

Add in a line of 9.5 points that looks about right and you have to question whether the visitors will be able to handle the trip.

In a neutral venue the Highlanders would be the natural play, however weird things tend to happen out west and this might turn into a closer contest than some might expect.

Back the Force to Cover +9.5 @ $1.83

2022

The final weekend of the split Super Rugby Pacific competition gets underway nice and early this week with a catch up game between the Hurricanes and Moana Pasifika.

It sets up for a Good Friday blockbuster between the Blues and Crusaders with the winner potentially set to overtake the Brumbies on top of the Super Rugby ladder.

Following that is a big game in Melbourne for the Reds as they will be desperate to return to winning ways after last week’s bye.

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

It’s hardly a blockbuster contest between the two win Hurricanes and the one win Pasifika sides, but if the history of the former is anything to go by, it could turn out to be an entertaining battle.

When they faced off on March 25 at Mt Smart Stadium, Moana stunned the Canes with a 24-19 extra time win for their only points of the season.

While the popular narrative will involve the Hurricanes being out for revenge for that major upset, none of their matches so far this season have been blowouts one way or another.

Each of their six matches have been decided by 10 or fewer points with three by three points or less and on a short turnaround, it’s tough to see them mustering the drive to really go on with the job if they take a comfortable lead.

Back Moana Pasifika to Cover +19.5 @ $1.91

It may be going a bit early, but this is far and away the most likely preview of the Super Rugby Pacific Grand Final based on early form (and a bit on reputation).

After a slip up in the opening round, the Blues have become strong and stronger as the season has gone on, culminating with a shutout win over the Chiefs last weekend.

As for the Crusaders, they have had a couple of semi-convincing wins but this would be the perfect time for them to hit top gear, against their greatest challenger.

It’s tough to see either of these sides dropping many points against their Australian rivals, so this could be a huge result in terms of who hosts the Grand Final.

In big games in Super Rugby, the rule remains the same, back the Crusaders.

Back the Crusaders to Cover -3.5 @ $1.90

The Reds head to Melbourne knowing that a bonus point win is all but compulsory against a Rebels side that has been off the pace in 2022.

While they have found some form in the last two weeks with wins over Fiji and the Force, Queensland represents a huge step up on both of those opponents.

Discipline has been an issue for the Reds with ill timed penalties and cards marring what has been a largely impressive run of results on the scoreboard.

You have to think Brad Thorn has read the riot act with the difficulty level of opponents escalating after this week, this is where they not only need to win, but avoid those mistakes.

If they can keep a full contingent of 15 on the park for 80 minutes this week, they should be able to take care of business against a plucky Rebels outfit.

Back the Reds to Cover -9.5 @ $1.90

The Chiefs have had a fortnight to stew over their shutout loss to the Blues in their last outing, while it will be a quick turnaround for Moana Pasifika after their midweek defeat at the hands of the Hurricanes.

When these sides met a month ago it was a 59-12 win for the Chiefs and this match should follow a pretty similar pattern.

With the hosts out for revenge, this should be a game that is over by halftime as they go for a much needed bonus point.

Back the Chiefs to Cover the Line

At home the Highlanders have struggled to produce the necessary results to date, going down to the Crusaders, picking a bonus point in defeat against the Blues and cruising to a 20 point win over Moana Pasifika.

They will need to find a way to get something against a Hurricanes side that is currently eight points clear of them on the Super Rugby ladder.

I’m not quite convinced they have the cattle to get the job done, but they should at least make it interesting and find a way to cover the line.

Back the Highlanders to Cover the Line

While still a step or two behind the Aussie pacesetters in the Reds and Brumbies, the Waratahs have been easily the most improved Super Rugby side compared to their 2021 efforts.

Sitting in fifth place heading into the weekend, they will head into this game on the back of a comfortable 24 point win over the Drua last week, and a 22-17 win over the Force five weeks ago.

After making the Australian finals last year, the Force appear to have plateaued a bit with results just not going their way, including a troubling record at HBF Park of three defeats from three games.

For that reason, I’ll take the Tahs to pick up the points on their western sojourn.

Back the Waratahs to Cover -1.5 @ $1.90

2021

We have four weekends of domestic Super Rugby action remaining before the Trans-Tasman phase of the tournament kicks off.

Round 9 of Super Rugby AU features a pair of huge games as the race for the third spot in the local finals heats up.

Over in New Zealand the sides will be hard pressed to match the drama of last weekend with both matches needing extra time to determine a winner.

We are previewing all four games below so read on to see who we are backing.

SUPER RUGBY AU ROUND 9

Staring down the barrel of an imperfect, winless Super Rugby AU campaign, the Waratahs face possibly their last chance to get off the mark when they head to Perth.

Having had a bye last week, you might have been able to forget just how atrociously they have been playing through the opening rounds of the season.

The return of Jake Gordon gave them a spark of life against the Brumbies in their last outing but they still remain firmly in “back against at all costs” territory.

Having picked up a huge win over the Rebels last week, the Force still remain in contention for a spot in the Preliminary Final if they can win their final two matches.

Needing a bonus point victory from this game to give themselves a fighting chance going into the final round I’ll back the Force to rally with the crowd behind them and pick up a much needed win.

Back the Force to Cover -7.5 @ $1.91

Both teams enter this game coming off tight losses although the stories of their seasons are very different.

After going down to the Reds in a gripping contest in Brisbane last week, the Brumbies will finish second and host the Preliminary Final against either the Rebels or Force.

Things are not lining up well for the home side here with star man Reece Hodge out for the next 10 weeks with a knee injury suffered attempting the winning drop goal in Perth last week.

In this fixture last year the Rebels stunned the Brumbies with a 30-12 win but with the visitors out to rebound from last week’s loss, I’ll back them to get home in a close contest.

Back the Brumbies by 1-12 Points @ $2.80

SUPER RUGBY AOTEAROA ROUND 8

Super Rugby Aotearoa has been thrown into chaos with the past two weeks’ results and the seemingly foregone conclusion of a Crusaders-Blues final is now very much up in the air.

A bonus point win for the Highlanders could vault them onto level pegging with the Blues for second spot.

Their last win over the Blues came in April 2019 with the three meetings since going the way of the Auckland based side.

With the results and form all over the place in New Zealand at the moment, I have to take the value of an upset here.

Back the Highlanders @ $2.40

The Chiefs are flying with three straight victories and have a game in hand on the rest of the competition heading into this weekend.

You have to at least give them an outside chance considering the Crusaders have looked mortal in their previous two outings.

They needed extra time to top the lowly Hurricanes last week after a stunning 21 point home loss to the Highlanders the week before that.

So while you can give the Chiefs an outside chance of springing another upset the Crusaders are the one team you have to give the benefit of the doubt to when it comes to finding form in the back half of the season.

It is very much a pick based on reputation but I’m not going to back against the dynasty until it is proven to be dead and not just a bit below its normal level.

Back the Crusaders to Cover -7.5 @ $1.91

2020

*MATCHES CANCELLED*

2019

Perhaps the only certainty in Super Rugby right now is the uncertainty and unpredictability of the competition from top to bottom…

Actually scrap that, the Crusaders are still on top so make it the unpredictability of the competition from second to bottom.

There’s another big weekend of fixtures ahead starting with the Crusaders and Highlanders facing off in Christchurch and another test of the Rebels credentials on Friday night.

Read on for our previews and predictions for every Super Rugby Round 9 game.

The Crusaders played well for a half last week and still managed to beat the Brumbies by 22 points, good enough to cover the line if you got on early before it jumped to 25.5 points.

This will be their lone game against the Highlanders this season after their March match was cancelled after the terrorist attack.

With the focus of both teams back on the park, the Crusaders will look to extend their lead at the top of the overall ladder and add to the Highlanders struggles.

The visitors have lost four in a row and a leaky defence has been a real cause for concern that won’t be able to be fixed too quickly here.

The Crusaders have scored 30 or more points in each of their last eight home games and should be able to put up a big score over the Highlanders in this game.

Back the Crusaders to Cover -14.5 @ $1.88

It’s time to buy in on the Rebels this season, this is not the same side that has lost five of the last six games against the Stormers, usually by a lot.

Outside of their two defeats in South Africa, no side has been able to slow them down and this has all the makings of a bad spot for the visitors.

They will be playing the final game of a four week road trip having lost the last three and looking impotent in attack against the Reds last Friday night.

You couldn’t blame them for having their minds half on the plane home by the time this game kicks off and the Rebels have shown the ability and maturity to pick up a big win here.

Back the Rebels to Win by 13+

In this topsy-turvy competition the Chiefs two game winning streak and the Blues four game winning streak might actually make this the most in-form game of the weekend.

A draw in May 2017 is as good as it has been for the Blues in this fixture as of late with the Chiefs dominating this head to head.

If you’re looking for entertainment this Saturday evening this might be your best bet as there should be plenty of points in this game with both sides capable of scoring at will here.

The Chiefs have had a week to refresh after a profitable South African trip and are ready to start their run home with a win in this game.

Back the Chiefs to Cover -4.5 @ $1.88

Just when you thought you could have confidence in the Lions, they go ahead and get crushed by the Sharks ending a three game winning run.

Up next is a tour and for a side that doesn’t travel well, it’s not exactly encouraging.

The Brumbies have at least been consistent, losing their last two by the same scoreline of 36-14.

The Lions as the underdog should be a decent value play but given their overall struggles on the road, it’s hard to have too much faith in either team to win and this one can be marked as a stay-away.

NO BET

Are the Sharks rounding into form?

After a huge win over the Lions last week, they have jumped to the top of the South African conference and will need a win here to ensure they stay there for the next week.

Against the spread, the Sharks have gone 6-4 against the spread in their last ten and while the game itself should put points at a premium, the Sharks should be able to take care of business at home.

Back the Sharks to Cover -7.5 @ $1.88

It might not always be pretty but the Reds have found a way to play effective rugby and stay in games, but this has the makings of a bad spot for them.

The home side has won each of the last seven games between these sides and the Bulls will be licking their wounds after losing at home to the Stormers.

The Reds last won in South Africa in 2015 against the now removed Cheetahs side but their overall form in the last five years is not encouraging.

Despite failing to cover in their last two home games, the Bulls still have the quality to take care of a two-try line in this game.

Back the Bulls to Cover -12.5 @ $1.88

2018

Round 9 of the Super Rugby season gets underway with a genuine blockbuster between the Hurricanes and the Chiefs and the interesting games are spread right across the weekend.

All four Australian sides will be in action and the Waratahs will have the chance to go to the top of the Australian Conference when they host the Reds at the SCG on Saturday night.

We have analysed every game set to take place this weekend and our complete Super Rugby Round 9 tips can be found below.

This is the biggest game of the weekend in Super Rugby and it is the Hurricanes that will start this clash as favourites.

The Hurricanes made it five wins on the trot with a narrow win over the Sharks and they have played some outstanding Rugby at times this season.

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

The Chiefs have also won five games on the trot and they survived a scare to beat the Blues last weekend.

They have won the past two games between these two sides and they have won two of their past four games as away underdogs, but they are a poor 4-5 against the line on the road.

This should be an outstanding game and I expect the class of the Hurricanes to prevail late.

Back Hurricanes To Cover The Line (-10.5 Points)

The Blues have lost three games on the trot, but they will still go into this clash with the Sunwolves as dominant favourites.

It is fair to say that the Blues were a touch unlucky against the Blues last weekend and if they are able to play at that level again, they will prove far too strong for the Sunwolves.

In saying that, winning away from home has been an issue for the Blues and they have won only two of their past five games as away favourites.

The Sunwolves have shown some promise so far this season, but consistency has been a big issue and their defence has leaked plenty of points in recent weeks.

They have won only one of their past seven games as home underdogs and they are a poor 2-5 against the line in this scenario.

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

No Bet

The Rebels need to win this game to remain on top of the Australian Conference and they are favourites to do just that.

The Rebels went into the bye on the back of a heavy defeat at the hands of the Jaguares and their defence has let them down at times this season.

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

The Jaguares were poor last weekend against the Crusaders and they are another side in this competition that have struggled for consistency.

They have won only one of their past five games as away underdogs and their record against the line isn’t much better.

The Rebels are a safe bet to return to winning form and they can cover the line of 11.5 points in the process.

Back Rebels To Cover The Line (-11.5 Points)

The Highlanders are dominant favourites to account for the Brumbies in this Saturday afternoon clash.

They may have gone into the bye with a pair of defeats at the hands of the Hurricanes and the Chiefs, but they were not disgraced in either of those defeats.

Forsyth Barr Stadium has been a genuine fortress and they have won their past seven games as home favourites, while they are 5-2 against the line in this scenario.

The Brumbies returned to a semblance of their best form to record a comfortable win over the Reds, but this is obviously a much tougher assignment.

They have won only one of their past four games as away underdogs and their record against the line isn’t much better.

The Highlanders will prove far too classy for the Brumbies and the line of 16.5 points will not be enough.

Back Highlanders To Cover The Line (-16.5 Points)

There is no love lost between these two sides and this does shape as an intriguing fixture.

The Waratahs have won three games on the trot as well as their past seven fixtures against the Reds, so it is no surprise that they will go into this clash as clear favourites.

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

A tough start to the season and plenty of travel took its toll on the Reds last weekend against the Brumbies and it doesn’t get any easier for them against the Waratahs.

The Reds have won only one of their past seven games as away underdogs and they are 3-4 against the line in this scenario.

The Waratahs can extend their winning streak to four games and they can cover the line in the process.

Back Waratahs To Cover The Line (-9.5 Points)

The market suggests that this will be the most competitive match of the weekend.

The Sharks lost no admirers with their narrow defeat at the hands of the Hurricanes last weekend and they will start this clash as favourites.

They have won only three of their past six games as home underdogs for a loss and their recent record against the Bulls is awful – they haven’t beaten their rivals since 2014.

The Bulls ended their losing streak with an impressive win over the Stormers and they are a better side than their current record suggests.

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

There isn’t a great deal between these two sides and I am keen to back the Bulls with a start of 4.5 points.

Back Bulls To Cover The Line (+4.5 Points)

2017

The 2017 Super Rugby Round 9 action gets underway when the Hurricanes host the Brumbies on Friday afternoon before the Waratahs have the chance to return to winning form against the Kings.

The Crusaders take on the Stormers in a crucial clash on Saturday afternoon before the Force face a very tough challenge against the Chiefs.

We have closely analysed every game set to take place this weekend and our Super Rugby round 9 tips can be found below!

The Hurricanes made it four wins on the trot with their victory over the Blues and it is no surprise they will go into this clash with the Brumbies as dominant favourites.

The Brumbies have won five of the past six games played between these two sides, but the Hurricanes have won eight of their past nine games as home favourites and a Australian side is yet to beat a New Zealand side this season.

The worst performance of their season to date saw the Brumbies go down to the Rebels last week and it does not get any easier for them against the Hurricanes.

They have won just one of their past three games as away underdogs, but they are 2-1 against the line in this scenario.

The Hurricanes really should win this clash comfortably, but there is no value at their current price and I am happy to stay out from a betting perspective.

No Bet

The Waratahs have won only two games this season, but they will still start this clash with the Kings as dominant favourites.

It is fair to say that Waratahs weren’t disgraced against the Hurricanes in their final game before the bye, but consistency does continue to be an issue.

They have won only three of their past five games as home favourites and they have been a losing betting play against the line.

The Kings have not won a game during their Australian tour, but they have not been disgraced against either the Force or the Reds.

They have won only one of their past nine games as away underdogs, but they are 7-2 against the line in this scenario and are constantly underrated by the market.

There is no reason that they can’t beat the line once again.

Back The Kings To Beat The Line (+20.5 Points)

The Lions claimed an upset victory over the Stormers last weekend and they will go into this clash with the Jaguares as clear favourites.

The Lions continue to be one of the most consistent betting teams in the entire Super Rugby and they have won their past nine games as home favourites, while they are 7-2 against the line in this scenario.

A promising start to the season has come to a halt for the Jaguares and they were very poor against the Bulls last weekend.

Winning away from home continues to be an issue for the Jaguares and they have not won a game as away underdogs for the past 12 months.

The Lions can continue their unbeaten run and cover the line in the process.

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

The Highlanders are the shortest-priced favourites in Super Rugby this weekend and they are at unbackable odds to account for the struggling Sunwolves.

The Highlanders went into their bye on the back of a fighting victory over the Blues and they have now won five of their past seven games as home favourites, while they are 4-3 against the line in this scenario.

It came as no surprise that the Sunwolves were no match for the Crusaders last weekend and it doesn’t get any easier against the Highlanders.

They are yet to win a game away from home during their Super Rugby existence, but they are 4-3 against the line in this situation.

There is always plenty of variance in games with such a large line and I am keen to avoid this clash from a betting standpoint.

No Bet

The Crusaders are the only unbeaten side left in Super Rugby and they are clear favourites to continue that record this weekend.

They were nothing short of dominant against the Sunwolves last weekend and they have now won seven of their past eight games as home favourites, while they are 6-2 against the line in this scenario.

The Stormers suffered their first loss of the season against the Lions last weekend and their draw really does get tougher from here.

They have lost their past five games against the Crusaders and they really would need to improve on their last start effort to have any chance against their rivals.

The Crusaders are one of the safest bets of the weekend and should be able to cover the line of 14.5 points.

Back the Crusaders To Beat The Line (-14.5 Points)

The Force went into their bye on the back of a win over the Kings, but they go into this clash with the Chiefs as heavy underdogs.

The Force famously upset the Chiefs back in 2014, but a repeat of that looks unlikely this weekend.

They have won only one of their past five games as home underdogs and their record against the line is just as bad.

The Chiefs returned from South Africa with a win over the Cheetahs, but they continue to be a team that is tough to trust from a betting standpoint.

They have won only four of their past six games as away favourites and they are a non-profitable 2-4 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 standpoint.

No Bet

The Bulls ended their losing streak with a win over the Jaguares and they will go into this clash with the Cheetahs as clear favourites.

While the Bulls were excellent last weekend, they have still struggled for consistency so far this season and they have been a losing betting proposition across just about every metric.

The Cheetahs suffered their fourth loss on the trot against the Chiefs last weekend, but they were far from disgraced.

Winning as underdogs has been a huge issue for the Cheetahs – they have lost their past six games as away underdogs – and they are only 1-5 against the line in this scenario.

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

No Bet

The Rebels claimed a much-needed win over the Brumbies last weekend, but it is the Sharks that will start this clash as dominant favourites.

The Sharks have won the four previous meetings between these two sides and they have won their past seven games in front of their home fans for a clear profit.

The Rebels produced their best performance of the season to date to beat the Brumbies, but winning away from home has still been an issue for the underfire franchise.

They have won just one of their past six games as away underdogs and they are 2-4 against the line in this scenario.

The Sharks really should be too strong for the Rebels and can cruise to an easy win.

Back The Sharks To Beat The Line (-15.5 Points)

2016

The Super Rugby weekend action begins with an exciting Friday night fixture between the Highlanders and the Sharks before the Rebels host the Cheetahs at AAMI Park.

The two newest Super Rugby franchises will face-off for the first time in Japan on Saturday before the Hurricanes and Chiefs do battle in a New Zealand Derby.

The round concludes on Sunday afternoon with arguably the pick of the fixtures when the Brumbies and Crusaders face-off in Canberra.

The Highlanders have had a week off following their shock loss to the Reds at Suncorp Stadium, while the Sharks go into this clash on the back of three straight losses at the hands of the Crusaders, Lions and Blues.

The Highlanders had their outstanding run as favourites ended by the Reds, but they are still a perfect 6-0 as home favourites in the past 12 months and they are 4-2 against the line in that scenario.

The Sharks have fallen in a hole in the past three weeks – especially in attack – and they have been a losing betting proposition across just about every metric in the past 12 months, but they are a positive 4-2 against the line as away underdogs.

The Highlanders are a safe bet to get the job done this weekend, but the line of 8.5 points seems just about right and I am happy to stay out of this fixture from a betting perspective.

Recommended Bet: No Bet

The Cheetahs will come into this game full of confidence following their 92-17 drubbing against the Sunwolves last weekend, but they will still go into this clash with the Rebels as underdogs.

They have won only one of their four games as away underdogs in the past 12 months, but they have still been a profitable betting side in this scenario and their big win over the Sunwolves came on the back of much improved performances against the Brumbies and the Bulls.

The Rebels returned from the bye with another uninspiring performance against the Hurricanes and they have really struggled to measure up against the better teams in the competition.

The Cheetahs don’t belong in that category, but they have played some good football in recent weeks and the Rebels are 1-3 against the line as home favourites in the past 12 months.

The Cheetahs are a great chance to record an upset win here and they appear to be a very safe bet with a start of 5.5 points.

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

This will be the first ever meeting between the newest franchises in Super Rugby and it is a great chance for the Jaguares to return to winning form.

The Jaguares have now lost six games on the trot and their record as favourites against the line is a very poor 0-3, but it is very tough to see them not beating a Sunwolves side that leaked 92 points against the Cheetahs last weekend.

The Sunwolves have fallen away in a big way in recent weeks and although they have beaten the line in three of their four games as home underdogs this season it is tough to have any faith in them following their dismal effort against the Cheetahs.

That defeat is sure to have sucked any confidence out of the Japanese side and the Jaguares should be able to record a big victory this weekend.

Recommended Bet: Back The Jaguares To Beat The Line (-14.5 Points)

This is one of the biggest games of the weekend and there is very little between these two sides that are doing battle for the top spot in the New Zealand conference.

The Hurricanes have recorded five wins on the trot and they will go into this game as clear favourites, but this is the toughest assignment that they have faced since they played the Blues over a month ago.

Their record as home favourites is an almost flawless 8-1 over the past 12 months and they have also been a profitable betting side against the line in just about every metric over this time period.

The Chiefs have also recorded five wins on the trot and it is fair to say that they have faced a stiffer challenge in recent weeks, having beaten the Brumbies and Blues in back-to-back weekends.

They have been a profitable betting play as underdogs this season, but their record against the Hurricanes is very poor and they have won just one of the past six games played between the two sides at Westpac Stadium.

The Hurricanes are always a safe betting proposition as favourites and I am confident that they can get the job done against this afternoon.

Recommended Bet: Back The Hurricanes To Win @ $1.80

The Force have been a bogey side for the Waratahs in regular seasons and they have won the past three meetings between the two sides, but the Waratahs will still start this game as clear favourites.

The Waratahs’ chances of qualifying for the finals took a big hit when they suffered back-to-back losses to the Rebels and the Brumbies and their hasn’t been many positives to take from their recent performances.

Their record as favourites in the past 12 months is far from convincing and they are 5-7 against the line as favourites and an even poorer 1-3 as away favourites.

The Force went into the bye on the back of two credible performances against the Highlanders and the Crusaders, but they have still lost five games on the trot and only have a win over the Reds to their name this season.

In head to head betting markets they have not been a profitable betting side and they are 2-3 against the line as home underdogs.

It is tough to have any faith in either of these teams from a betting perspective at this stage of the season and I am happy to stay out of this game from a betting proposition.

Recommended Bet: No Bet

The Stormers are now only one point clear on top of the African Conference following their loss to the Lions last weekend, but they have an excellent chance to return to winning form against the Reds.

The Stormers will start this game as clear favourites and this has been a position in which they have been shaky in the past 12 months, while they are a very poor 3-6 against the line as home favourites.

I have made it clear throughout this season that the Reds have been a horrible side from a betting perspective for a number of seasons and, despite their win over the Highlanders a fortnight, that remains the case.

The Reds have won just one of their past six games as away underdogs and their record against the line in this scenario is only 2-4.

This is another game that the market appears to have got just about right and I will let this game through without having a bet.

Recommended Bet:  No Bet

The Lions trail the Stormers by just two points in the African Conference and they are probably the safest bet of the weekend to walk away with at least four points.

The Lions have recorded two big wins in as many weekends against the Sharks and the Stormers and it would be a major surprise to see them go down to a Kings side that lost by 32 points against the Bulls last weekend.

The Johannesburg-based side has been flawless as favourites in the past 12 months and their record against the line as the punter’s elect is a profitable 4-2.

Defense has proven a very big problem for the Lions throughout this season and this is one of the major reasons they have been such a poor side – both in a rugby and a betting sense – this season.

The Lions are 0-3 against the line as home underdogs this season and the line of 20.5 points does not look as though it will be anywhere near enough.

Recommended Bet: Back The Lions To Beat The Line (-20.5 Points)

This is another big game and could be a preview of what we see during the Super Rugby Finals.

The Brumbies returned to winning form with a professional effort against the Waratahs last weekend and they will start this game as favourites.

This is a position in which they have struggled in over the last 12 months and they are 3-3 as home favourites in head to head betting as well as 2-4 against the line.

The Crusaders do not start many games as underdogs, but when they do they have a very good record and they are a profitable 3-2 as underdogs in the past 12 months.

They have done nothing wrong during their six game winning streak and the $2.12 on offer for them to make it seven wins in a row is a great betting play.

Recommended Bet: Back The Crusaders To Win @ $2.20