We take a look at the Super Rugby Aotearoa matches taking place this weekend and suggest a bet in each game.

Let’s start with a look at the Outright Betting where the Crusaders have firmed in to 15/20 favourites ahead of the Blues 7/2 and you can get 8/1 about the Hurricanes and the Chiefs and 9/1 the Highlanders.

Click here for Super Rugby Aotearoa Outright Betting

CHIEFS v HIGHLANDERS

Chiefs make their first start of the season and they will be hoping for big improvement from last year where they lost all 8 of their matches. They take on a Highlanders side that was competitive last week against the Crusaders, but in the end went down by 13 points to the defending Champions. In an interesting move which I think could pay dividends, Josh Ioane comes into the team at 10 with Mitch Hunt going to fullback.

Last season, Super Rugby Aotearoa saw the Highlanders narrowly beat the Chiefs by a point in Dunedin and they won by 12 points when they met in Hamilton.

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Chiefs 7/10

Draw 25/1

Highlanders 27/20

Handicap: Chiefs (-2.5) at 9/10, Highlanders (+2.5) at 9/10

Suggested Bet: Handicap, Highlanders (+2.5) at 9/10

I don’t see enough personnel changes for the Chiefs to suggest that this season is going to be any different to last. While I do expect a close game I give the Highlanders every chance of winning this and make them a decent bet on the handicap.

CRUSADERS v HURRICANES

The Crusaders impressed me last week in their 13 point win over the Highlanders in Dunedin. The Highlanders were fancied on the handicap by many punters pre-game, but in the end the Crusaders pulled clear as they so often do to not only to win the match, but also beat the handicap which was set at Crusaders (-6.5).

The Hurricanes were competitive early against the Blues in Wellington, but saw the visitors pull clear to win by 15 points last week. They did beat the Crusaders 34-32 in an absolute thriller in Christchurch last season but the Crusaders having beaten the Hurricanes by 14 points in Wellington.

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Crusaders 1/5

Draw 33/1

Hurricanes 9/2

Handicap: Crusaders (-12.5) at 9/10, (Hurricanes (+12.5) at 9/10

Suggested Bet: Alternative Winning Margin, Crusaders by 11-20 points at 12/5

The handicap has shifted out from an opening call of (-10.5) Crusaders to current (-12.5) and that looks fairly well set.

The Hurricanes while not having a great record in Christchurch (besides from last year’s win) do tend to keep things fairly tight and I am expecting the Crusaders to draw clear late to win by 11-20 points inclusive.

Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change