After weeks of writing on topics like The Bachelor SA and various types of online Betting Games there has been some big news on the sporting front in the last week.
New Zealand Rugby have announced a domestic tournament featuring their 5 Super Rugby teams that will start on June 13th. Each team will play each other home and away over ten weeks meaning we have two games a weekend to look forward to. It is not exactly Super Rugby in full cry, but hey it is certainly better than nothing and judging by my Twitter feed and WhatsApp groups, South African fans and punters are pretty excited about it.
Other good news is that bookmakers have already priced up on the matches and World Sports Betting wasted no time in getting their odds up. They have priced up on what they are calling the New Zealand Conference with the Crusaders 5/4, the Chiefs 5/2, the Blues 5/1, the Hurricanes 11/2 and the Highlanders, the rank outsiders, at 9/1.
The odds on matches for the opening weekend are also confirmed with the Highlanders at home to the Chiefs and here the home team are underdogs at (+8.5) points meaning if you back the Highlanders on the handicap they can lose the game, win the game or draw the game as long as they don’t lose by more than 8 points.
The second match features the Blues against the Hurricanes and here the Blues are marginal favourites at (-3.5) and if you fancy them on the handicap they need to win by 4 points or more.
While it might seem strange to watch rugby that is being played to empty stadiums those of us who have watched Blue Bulls games of late should not have any problem in adjusting.
One thing I am going to battle to adjust to though is the early starts because New Zealand are playing these games in the afternoon and kickoffs look to range from 05h00 to 07h00 South African time. As someone who is already battling to exercise in the 3 hour window allowed between 06h00 and 09h00 getting up to watch the rugby will be easier said than done.
My motivation levels will be high though and if necessary I will sleep on the couch a move already rubber stamped by the head of the household.
Twitter: @BrentGraham.
This article was written for the CitiGaming supplement of the Citizen Newspaper and was published on the 14 May 2020.
Brent Graham is a blogger on www.goodforthegame.co.za and sends a free weekly e-mail list just CLICK HERE to register