Friday's opening Super Rugby Pacific Round 13 clash comes from Dunedin where the Highlanders clash with the Force and the home side are looking for a third straight win.
Highlanders v Force, Friday 13th May, Dunedin, KO 09:05 (South African time)
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
Assistant Refs: Brendon Pickerill, Angus Mabey
TMO: Shane McDermott
Weather Forecast – Dunedin, N/A indoor stadium
Highlanders:
The Highlanders came away from Brisbane with a 27-19 victory over the Reds in Round 12, by far their best result of the tournament so far. They were 5.5 point underdogs for that game and picked up 2 yellow cards whilst conceding the first 12 points of the match before turning things around to chalk up back to back wins.
The Highlanders only other victories so far came in Round 11 against Fijian Drua, 27-24 in Suva and they opened their account in their seventh outing when they beat Moana Pasifika 37-17 in Dunedin.
With 3 wins (and 4 losing bonus points) the Highlanders have 17 log points against their name and finished Round 12 in eighth place in the overall standings.
Force:
The Force (+19.5 points on the handicap) were thrashed 53-15 by the Crusaders in a home fixture last weekend. A round earlier they were 23.5 point underdogs for another home game against the Blues and they made their opponents work hard for victory when a second half fight back but came up just short in a 22-18 defeat.
The Force have 2 wins (and 8 defeats) against their name, early in the tournament they won 28-3 away to the Rebels and they also edged out Fijian Drua (20-18)
The Force have 14 log points, 3 shy of the Highlanders but with a game in hand.
Team News (subject to change)
Highlanders: Ethan de Groot, Andrew Makalio, Jermaine Ainsley, Bryn Evans, Josh Dickson, James Lentjes (co-c), Billy Harmon, Marino Mikaele-Tu'u, Aaron Smith (co-c), Sam Gilbert, Scott Gregory, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Josh Timu, Fetuli Paea, Connor Garden-Bachop
Reserves: Rhys Marshall, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Saula Mau, Fabian Holland, Hugh Renton, Folau Fakatava, Mitch Hunt, Liam Coombes-Fabling
Force: Tom Robertson, Andrew Ready, Santiago Medrano, Jeremy Thrush, Izack Rodda, Fergus Lee-Warner, Ollie Callan, Tim Anstee, Ian Prior, Reesjan Pasitoa, Manasa Mataele, Bayley Kuenzle, Kyle Godwin, Bryon Ralston, Jake Strachan
Reserves: Feleti Kaitu'u, Angus Wagner, Bo Abra, Ryan McCauley, Brynard Stander, Michael McDonald, Jake McIntyre, Richard Kahui
The Betting Need to open an account? Claim your 1st deposit bonus of up to R2,000 here
Highlanders -16.5 points at 9/10
Force +16.5 points at 9/10
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
Betting Angle
This game is exactly where I handicapped it in the Goodforthegame Forum and I went into Thursday nights #TheHandicap our rugby betting show without a firm view. That changed after listening to the panel though and I am now firmly on board the Force plus against a Highlanders side that has looked vulnerable all season.
Click here for the video preview of the game and the views of @ThoughtsOnSports and @Chad_Reich
BET: 5 units Force +16.5 at 19/20 at WSB
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
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