Couch Critic provides the betting tips for selected matches in Round 3 of Super Rugby including Blues v Crusaders, Hurricanes v Sharks and Lions v Stormers with best bets from @Olimp_SA
After a beautiful start to Super Rugby 2020, Week 2 brought this pundit firmly back down to ground. The Sharks surprised, the Saders slipped up, the Lions survived and the Jags gave it away. Regardless, we are back for more and looking for ways to outsmart the bookies in Week 3.
Blues vs Crusaders (Friday @ 08:05) – Auckland
The Blues were able to chalk up a substantial victory over the Waratahs last week whilst the Crusaders were proven to be very much human by the Chiefs. This should be an entertaining Kiwi derby at Eden Park on Friday!
As I hardly rate the Waratahs much at present (I think there are a few schoolboy sides in SA who would be able to beat them) I don’t give the Blues to much credit for last week. The Saders might have slipped up but there were still some good signs from them and this week they welcome back Richie Mo’unga.
Verdict: Back the Crusaders backlash in this one as they dish out some pain to a Blues side who are still far from the finished product. The bench of the Crusaders also has me convinced that they will finish strong.
BETOLIMP Best Bet: Crusaders to win by over 14 points @ 2.77
Special Bet 1: Crusaders to win both halves @ 2.45
Special Bet 2: Last tryscorer – Will Jordan @15.00
Take our weekend football treble, Spurs to win (at Aston Villa), Sampdoria v Fiorentina over 2.5 goals and Lazio v Inter both teams to score with odds boosted to 8.90
Hurricanes vs Sharks (Saturday @ 08:05) - Wellington
It might sound a touch silly, but I truly believe this could be a season-defining match for both sides. A victory keeps both teams very much at the sharp end of the competition. The Hurricanes already have one defeat against them and should they also drop the ball in their first home game one struggles to see them enjoying home ground advantage later in the tournament come finals time (if they even make it there). The Sharks for their part picked up a moral boosting victory in Dunedin but a win at the Caketin announces them as real contenders to take seriously.
This is one of those games where all indications are that the smart money should be on the visitors to at least stay within the handicap. The Canes have done a lot of traveling in recent times and haven’t looked like their old, lethal selves. The Sharks in the end cruised home last week against another Kiwi team. But, by the same token the Durbanites were flattered by the final score whilst there were glimpses of what the Hurricanes can do when they find their stride toward the end of the game in Buenos Aires.
Verdict: I would proceed with caution here. There could be some value in backing the Sharks on the board but in the same breath I would not be surprised if the Canes clicked and put the Saffas away with a bit of room to spare by the time the hooter sounds. Thus I will look for a few more adventurous options for an interest in this one.
Special Bet 1: HT/FT Winning Margin – Hurricanes 1-8/Hurricanes 13+ @8.50
Special Bet 2: Hurricanes to score first try and win @2.25
Special Bet 3: Last Tryscorer - Dane Coles @ 21.00
Lions vs Stormers (Saturday @ 15:05) – Johannesburg
The Stormers have hardly got the tongues wagging with their attacking flair thus far but they have impressed immensely with their water-tight defense in their two outings to date. The Lions have shown glimpses of remaining true to their ethos of thrilling at all cost with the likes of Tyrone Green excelling with ball in hand.
In Johannesburg last week the Lions showed that they would continue to play their high-paced attacking game, regardless of the weather on that occasion. The Stormers defensive system will be well and truly tested at Ellis park but by the same token they will surely be offered a few counter attacking opportunities which they will look to capitalise on and potentially serve to kick-start their attacking flair and confidence in the process.
Verdict: I believe in different style of rugby either suiting or troubling specific opponents. The Lions are the type of team that could run in a few spectacular tries and come back from the death toward the end of a match, especially when the Highveld’s thin air kicks in. Yet the Stormers should enjoy the high-risk approach of their hosts as it will more than likely offer them the chance to just rely on their solid defense to create counter attacking chances which I see them taking more often than not.
BETOLIMP Value Bet: Stormers to beat the alternative cap of -10.5 @ 2.67
BETOLIMP Best Bet: Stormers to win and beat the handicap of -4.5 @ 1.84 (big play)
Extra Plays
Sunwolves vs. Chiefs
Jaguares vs. Reds
First Tryscorer Agustin Creevy @ 21.00
Last Tryscorer Julian Montoya @ 12.00
Claim your 1st deposit bonus of up to R3,000 here
(Note, all odds quoted are subject to change)
Couch Critic
