We take a look at the Saturday Super Rugby Trans-Tasman matches from a betting angle.
BLUES v WARATAHS
The Blues may have disappointed in Super Rugby Aotearoa where they missed out on the playoffs, but they were far too strong for the Rebels in Melbourne last week, winning 50-3 to ensure a bonus point victory and a spot on top of the log.
They are now at home where their last action was a 39-16 win over a much changed Chiefs side a few weeks back.
The Waratahs were involved in a massively high scoring encounter against the Hurricanes in Sydney last week. They went down 64-48 and as good as they were on attack they just leaked far too much on defence and that has been their story all season.
Travelling to New Zealand will be a massive ask for them although the last time they were there back in 2019 they lost 32-29 to the Blues.
BETTING - Click here to bet
Blues 1/50
Draw 80/1
Waratahs 18/1
Handicap: Blues (-33.5) at 9/10, Waratahs (+33.5) at 9/10
Suggested Bet: Handicap, Waratahs (+33.5) at 9/10
I think the Blues will win this comfortably, but there is every chance they step off the gas and unlike the Rebels the Waratahs know how to score tries and I think they can beat this handicap.
CHIEFS v BRUMBIES
The Chiefs narrowly escaped defeat last week in Perth winning 20-19 against the Force and that came on the back of a final defeat to the Crusaders 24-13 in Christchurch in Super Rugby Aotearoa.
The Brumbies defied the odds last week by almost beating the Crusaders, going down by 2 points in Christchurch, a game where they started 19 point underdogs.
The week before they had the heartbreak of a final loss to the Reds after the hooter in Brisbane.
BETTING – Click here to bet
Chiefs 1/3
Draw 30/1
Brumbies 28/10
Handicap: Chiefs (-8.5) at 9/10, Brumbies (+8.5) at 9/10
Suggested Bet: Handicap, Chiefs (-8.5) at 9/10.
I make this my Best Bet on the card as I think the Chiefs are going to be up for this one, having now recovered from their Final loss and I think the Brumbies will struggle to replicate the form they showed last week against the Crusaders.
REDS v CRUSADERS
Super Rugby AU Champions, the Reds host Super Rugby Aotearoa Champions, the Crusaders and it should be a cracking match.
The Reds were a bit disappointing going down 40-19 to the Highlanders last week, but they started the game well and could be forgiven for still being slightly hungover from their title winning celebrations.
The same can perhaps be said for the Crusaders who were pushed a lot closer by the Brumbies than many expected, eventually getting up 31-29 in Christchurch.
The last 2 matches these sides have played in Brisbane was in 2019 and 2017 where the Crusaders won by 10 and 2 points respectively in low scoring encounters.
BETTING – Click here to bet
Reds 7/2
Draw 30/1
Crusaders 1/4
Handicap: Reds (+8.5) at 9/10, Crusaders (-8.5) at 9/10
Suggested Bet: Handicap, Reds (+8.5) at 9/10
First up let me say I think this could be quite a high scoring match which goes against previous head-to-heads between the sides in Brisbane. The Reds these days play a very different game to what they did back then and I also think they can beat the handicap against a Crusader side which just hasn’t put teams away this season.
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
