Round 1 of the 2019 Super Rugby season starts this Friday and we have you covered with our Super Rugby betting tips for every match. After a great 2018 which saw the Crusaders take out the title, 2019 promises to be an exciting year of Super Rubgy action!
Super Rugby Round 1 Betting Tips
Chiefs vs Highlanders (Friday, Feb 15 5:35pm AEST)
The Chiefs host the Highlanders at FMG Stadium Waikato on Friday night to kick off the season. Despite playing at home, the Chiefs are underdogs and they could be good value. They were really strong at this venue in 2018, recording 6 wins from 8 and they just missed out on a home final. So I think this is going to be a close affair, which was the case in the last meeting at this venue. In Round 7 last season, the Chiefs just beat the Highlanders 27-22. Hopefully, it's a similar type of game and either team wins by under 8.5 points.
Either Team By Under 8.5 points
$2.00
Brumbies vs Rebels (Friday, Feb 15 7:45pm AEST)
In the Friday night doubleheader, the Brumbies are playing host to their foe the Rebels at GIO Stadium in Canberra. Both sides finished with a 7-9 record last season and just missed the finals as a result. So a first-up win in Round 1 will be huge. The Rebels enjoyed their time against the Brumbies in 2018, winning both clashes including a 27-24 victory at this venue. So I like the chances of the Rebels covering the line here. ACT wasn't overly great at home in 2018 (4-4) and Melbourne should be confident after winning here in May.
Blues vs Crusaders (Saturday, Feb 16 6:35pm AEST)
The Blues and Crusaders New Zealand rivalry continues this Saturday at Eden Park. It was another successful Super Rugby campaign for the mighty Crusaders as they claimed the 2018 title. After a 14-2 regular season record, they dominated the finals series and beat the Lions 37-18 in the final. The Blues will be looking for a fresh start after a hugely disappointing 2018 where they won just 4 of 16. The bad news is that the Crusaders have owned the Blues in Super Rugby since 2010 with a 13-3 record. In fact, the Blues have lost 8 straight against them. Until the Blues find a way to stop their attack, the champs at the line here.
Waratahs vs Hurricanes (Saturday, Feb 16 8:45pm AEDT)
In this clash, the Waratahs and Hurricanes face off at Brookvale Oval on Saturday. This should be an interesting battle considering both sides finished within the top 4 best sides last year. They also both fell short in the semi-finals. NSW has added Adam Ashley-Cooper and Hunt in the offseason which should see them stay near the top of Super Rugby for points scored once again. So I think they should be able to keep this one close at home and possibly cause an upset. The Hurricanes weren't great travellers in 2018 (3-6) and they have lost Julian Savea in the offseason.
Sunwolves vs Sharks (Saturday, Feb 16 10:55pm AEDT)
On Saturday night, the Sunwolves and Sharks meet at Singapore National Stadium. The Sharks are coming off a quarter-finals exit against the Crusaders and will look to improve on a 1-8 away record from last season. While for the home side, despite a 3-13 record, they did win all 3 games at home. But in the end, this is a hard matchup to bet on. The Sharks have won all 3 games against the Sunwolves in Super Rugby, including a 50-22 victory last season. However, their away record is a concern. But so is the Sunwolves defence (41.5 points allowed in 2018). When the total points are up, the Over would be the best play here.
No Bet
Bulls vs Stormers (Sunday, Feb 17 3:15am AEDT)
Moving onto South Africa, the Bulls and Stormers kick off their campaigns in Pretoria. Both sides held a 6-10 record in 2018 and they'll be desperate to start 2019 with a win. The difference in the two sides should be home field advantage for the Bulls. Last season, the Stormers couldn't manage a win away from home and they also lost 33-23 in the last matchup at this venue. The Bulls had similar troubles on the road (1-7) but they were much stronger at home with a 5-3 record. They have more scoring potential in attack and that should see them win this.
Jaguares vs Lions (Sunday, Feb 17 9:40am AEDT)
Round 1 action concludes on Sunday morning as the Jaguares host the Lions in Argentina. The Lions are coming off a disappointing Grand Final loss against the Crusaders and this could be a tricky trip first up. Last season in Round 6 at this venue, the Jaguares got hold of their defence as they racked up 49 points in a 49-35 victory. The Argentian side was arguably the story of the 2018 season, finishing strong with a 9-7 record. They've also won 3 straight at home and they look to be building a nice home-field advantage. So there could be a GF hangover for the Lions and that should see the Jaguares take advantage in attack.
