The Super Rugby continues this weekend with round 12 kicking off on Friday night. The weekend will see the blockbuster match between the Brumbies and Waratahs which will go a long way to deciding who will finish on the top of the Australian conference as it has become a two horse race. Continue reading for this week’s Super Rugby Round 12 betting tips, preview and predictions.
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Highlanders vs Sharks (Friday 5.35pm AEDT)
The Highlanders were disappointing last week as they let the Brumbies reach a big early lead, which they were never able to chase. A positive is they didn’t give up and fought to the final whistle and narrowly missed out on a bonus point. The Sharks travel to New Zealand fresh off of a bye and are on a four game road trip that will determine their season. Sitting seven points outside the finals, they can’t afford to lose more than one game on the road. However, the Highlanders have been strong this season and should win this one.
TIP: Highlanders 1-12 @ $2.70 with Sportsbet
Brumbies vs Waratahs (Friday 7.45pm AEDT)
The Brumbies came back to form on the weekend as they broke a two game losing streak with an impressive win over the Highlanders at home. The game was highlighted by a hat trick to outside flanker David Pocock who finally could have a big smile on his face after a couple of years of big injuries. The Waratahs are also starting to hit their straps as they defeated the previously undefeated Hurricanes in New Zealand before backing it up with a gutsy win over the Rebels at home. This match will be close with the Waratahs coming out on top.
TIP: Waratahs @ $2.10 with Ladbrokes
Blues vs Force (Saturday 3.30pm AEDT)
This match has the bottom of the New Zealand conference against the bottom of the Australian conference in a match that will be played only for pride. Both sides are out of finals contention and will be looking forward to the season coming to its conclusion. The Blues and Force both lacked in attack last week as they were unable to take advantage of the opportunities they were presented with, this has largely been the story for both sides throughout the season. However, the Blues have been the better side overall and they have never lost to the Force at home.
TIP: Blues -7.5 @ $1.92 with Palmerbet
Hurricanes vs Crusaders (Saturday 5.35pm AEDT)
This match should be massive. The Crusaders have everything to play for with their season on the line whilst the Hurricanes will be looking to stretch their lead at the top of the table. The Hurricanes bounced back well after suffering their first loss of the season as they defeated the Reds in Brisbane last week. They return home to face a side they struggle against. They have only won 8 of a total of 24 matches played against the Crusaders and also have a 4 wins and 5 losses record at home. This is the first time these two sides will play each other this year and it is a tough one to call.
TIP: No bet
Rebels vs Chiefs (Saturday 7.40pm AEDT)
The Rebels have competed well all season and they suffered a narrow away loss to the defending champions last week and they could take a lot of positives out of the game. The Chiefs are still coming to terms with not having Aaron Cruden for the rest of the season and will need other players to step up in order to salvage their season. They still managed to score a lot of points against the Force last week, but a late fight back gave them a bit of a scare. It won’t be as easy for them this week and I expect the Rebels to give them a good run.
TIP: Rebels +6.5 @ $1.92 with Palmerbet
Cheetahs vs Stormers (Sunday 1.05am AEDT)
The Cheetahs season is over whilst the Stormers are reviving theirs after a midseason slump. They have won their last three matches in a row and will be looking to continue that against the bottom of the South African conference Cheetahs. The cats have fought in every match they have played but their execution at the breakdown has constantly let them down. The Stormers moved back onto the top of their conference after their impressive win against the Bulls last weekend and I can’t see them slipping up here.
TIP: Stormers -5.5 @ $1.92 with Luxbet
Bulls vs Lions (Sunday 3.05am AEDT)
This is another big match that will contribute to the placing’s as we move closer to the finals. The Lions win last week closed the gap for the South African conference as the top three teams are now within 4 points of each other. The Lions have been giving their all throughout the season and have turned up to play in almost every match. However, when the Bulls play at their best they are still a class above the Lions.
TIP: Bulls 1-12 @ $2.70 with Sportsbet
