We take a look at the two Super Rugby Aotearoa matches taking place in Week 7 and suggest a bet in each.
Outright Betting update, last week’s prices in brackets - Click here to bet
Crusaders 1/14 (2/9)
Blues 9/1 (33/10)
Hurricanes 22/1 (18/1)
Highlanders 100/1 (50/1)
Chiefs 500/1 (125/1)
The Blues defeat to the Hurricanes last week means that the Crusaders are now essentially home and hosed and are into 1/14 to win the Tournament. The Chiefs are actually shorter to finish bottom at 1/16 and the long term markets that maybe of interest at this stage is will Jordan be Top Try Scorer at 8/15. Kobus van Wyk, his closest rival, is 8/1, but is not playing this weekend.
CRUSADERS v HURRICANES – click here to bet
The Crusaders are coming off a bye having won all 4 of their previous matches including a 14 point victory over the Hurricanes in Wellington. Their two home matches have seen them beat the Blues by 11 and the Chiefs by 5 both of which were low scoring affairs.
The Hurricanes made a slow start to the Tournament, but have now won 3 on the trot and they edged the Blues in a thriller in Wellington last week, scoring a converted try to win 29-27. Their two away fixtures have seen them beat the Chiefs in Wellington by 7 and go down by 10 points to the Blues in Auckland.
The Crusaders have won the last 5 head-to-heads in Christchurch, 2 of which were semi-finals.
BETTING
Crusaders 1/5
Draw 33/1
Hurricanes 4/1
Handicap: Crusaders (-11.5) at 9/10, Hurricanes (+11.5) at 9/10
Suggested Bet: Handicap, Crusaders (-11.5) at 9/10
This should be another cracking New Zealand Derby, but in the end a fresh Crusaders team can pull clear and win comfortably.
BLUES v CHIEFS – Click here to bet
The Blues slim title hopes all but evaporated last week when they lost to the Hurricanes in Wellington, but they have won both their home games beating the Hurricanes by 10 and the Highlanders by 3.
The Chiefs were 6 point favourites at home to the Highlanders last week, but despite leading by 19 points at one stage, they somehow lost the match 33-31. That means they are still without a victory in this Tournament and their two away matches have seen them lose by 5 to the Crusaders and by a single point to the Highlanders in Dunedin.
The Blues beat the Chiefs 24-12 in Hamilton earlier in the Tournament, but in the last 4 matches played in Auckland, the Chiefs have won 2, the Blues 1 and there has been a single draw. Only 1 of the last 7 Blues home matches against the Chiefs has had more than 50 points, but that was the last game back in January of this year.
BETTING
Blues 7/20
Draw 25/1
Chiefs 5/2
Handicap: Blues (-7.5) at 9/10, Chiefs (+7.5) at 9/10
Suggested Bet: Half-time result, Blues (-3.5) at 9/10
I like the look of this Blues side and I am backing them to get off to a fast start for the lead of 4 points or more by half-time
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
