Super Rugby is fully back this weekend after only having three games over the long weekend, meaning the majority of these sides should be well rested and ready to go, which will certainly be critical in some of our selections for this weekend’s best bets.
The Brumbies and Highlanders clash to open the weekend in what should be a quality bout between two talented teams that may feel they haven’t offered the level of performance expected to this point of the season.
Heading into this one, I can see points galore, with both sides more than willing to take chances and throw the ball around to get it into the hands of their most dangerous playmakers.
Some of the big-time names this season include the Highlanders’ budding star winger Caleb Tangitau, who is constantly finding himself over the line in wins and losses. For the Brumbies, their biggest threat has been loose forward Charlie Cale, who this year has had a Carlo Tizzano-esque season in regard to try scoring and could find himself over the line again.
Best: Over 56.5 Total Points @ $1.85
Next: Highlanders To Win @ $2.05
Tryscorer: Caleb Tangitau @ $1.85
SGM: Over 56.5 Total Points/Caleb Tangitau Anytime Tryscorer/Charlie Cale Anytime Tryscorer @ $6.54
Unfortunately, without Ardie Savea in the side, Moana Pasifika have become a shell of what they were last year and will certainly need to offer plenty more if they are to start putting up better performances. The trouble with that endeavour this week is they are playing a full-strength Chiefs side.
The Chiefs are one of the six teams that played last week and cruised to victory on Saturday evening in a game where they essentially put it in cruise control and piled on the points. Adding more salt to the wounds for Moana this week is that the Chiefs are bringing back their key talisman, Damian McKenzie, who should bring an extra level of potency to their attack and help cover the line.
In regard to try scorers, I would expect the visitors to be lining up to score a meat pie, and a couple of the names I have landed on are starting hooker Tyrone Thompson and one of the form players in the competition, Quinn Tupaea, to power over the chalk at some stage.
Best: Chiefs -31.5 @ $1.90
Next: Quinn Tupaea Anytime Tryscorer @ $1.95
Tryscorer: Tyrone Thompson @ $1.70
SGM: Chiefs -31.5/Quinn Tupaea Anytime Tryscorer/Tyrone Thompson Anytime Tryscorer @ $5.19
A battle between two of the bottom sides in this year’s competition. However, when the Drua are at home, excluding a few exceptions, they turn into a powerhouse outfit, winning games against the likes of the Hurricanes and Brumbies this season.
For me, looking at what the Force can offer, I am not sure they can be one of those so-called exceptions to beat the Drua at home. Instead, I see the game closely aligning with the script of what we saw against the Brumbies, when the Drua blew them away.
In regard to try scorers, I have gone for two of the more prolific operators when it comes to having the ball in hand. The first name is the Drua’s fullback/winger, Ilaisa Droasese, who tends to be at the centre of everything good for the Drua and, against a Force side that should offer more parity across the park, he could certainly get over for a five-pointer. For the Force, one of their most consistent players all year has been former All Blacks winger George Bridge, who will line up on the right touchline this weekend and could certainly find his way over.
Best: Fijian Drua -4.5 @ $1.90
Next: Drua 1-12 @ $2.80
Tryscorer: laisa Droasese @ $1.98
SGM: Fijian Drua -4.5/laisa Droasese Anytime Tryscorer/George Bridge Anytime Tryscorer @ $7.74
Game of the year so far for me, as the two best outfits through eight rounds of Super Rugby face off in the capital this weekend, with the blistering hot Hurricanes hosting the Blues, led by former Canes legend Beauden Barrett.
For the Hurricanes, they have been nothing short of a buzzsaw this season, shredding any defence they have come up against so far this year, and it’s down to their talent and play style, which is a throwback to the mid-2010s. For the Blues, they have been a consistent unit that once again has relied on slowing the pace down and using their dominant forward pack to get front-foot ball for their dangerous backline.
With this clash of styles, it will be interesting to see how it plays out, but I do lean towards the Canes based on seemingly nothing being able to slow them down other than themselves. Until that’s proven wrong, I will continue to back them.
For the try scorers, a couple of names who are no strangers to dotting down this season are Hurricanes world-class halfback Cam Roigard and the Blues’ mercurial young talent on the wing, Cody Vai, who have both scored in their last three outings and will look to continue that trend.
Best: Hurricanes 1 – 12 @ $2.90
Next: Over 55.5 Total Points @ $1.87
Tryscorer: Cam Roigard @ $2.10
SGM: Hurricanes 1 – 12/Cam Roigard Anytime Tryscorer/Cody Vai Anytime Tryscorer @ $12.10
The nightcap of Saturday will see an old-school clash that used to dominate Super Rugby over a decade ago, when Quade Cooper and Dan Carter used to battle it out in a major trans-Tasman rivalry.
In this one, even though they have had their ups and downs, it feels like the Crusaders are starting to figure it out and should carry plenty of confidence into this clash with their old foe in the Reds. For the home side, they were one of the form teams in the competition until they ran into the Hurricanes, who put 50 points on them in what was a humbling experience. Both sides can use this game as a launching pad into the second half of the season, and I think the Crusaders will be the team to take that chance.
Why not finish off with a couple of try scorers, starting with my best for the game in Leicester Fainga’anuku, who seems like he is all the way back to his dominant self and has been a major threat whenever near the try line, which is something I would expect to continue. As more of an outside shot, I am riding with one of Australia’s best in Reds No. 8 Harry Wilson, who certainly isn’t afraid of taking on some big collisions in the red zone to help his team run up the score.
Best: Crusaders 1 – 12 @ $2.80
Next: Crusaders To Win @ $1.50
Tryscorer: Leicester Fainga’anuku @ $2.15
SGM: Crusaders 1 – 12/Leicester Fainga’anuku Anytime Tryscorer/Harry Wilson Anytime Tryscorer @ $15.20