Round 10 is Culture Round for Super Rugby Pacific to highlight the diversity within each of the clubs in the competition.
The culture of winning will also be on the mind of clubs jockeying for a top four spot and those teams in a dogfight for positions five-to-eight in the play-off series.
The NSW Waratahs and ACT Brumbies can both do something about Australia’s 2-13 ledger against Kiwi sides this season.
Let’s take a look at our best bets for Round 10 of Super Rugby Pacific.
2023 Super Rugby Pacific: Round 10 Preview & Betting Tips
Hurricanes v ACT Brumbies
Fri, April 28, Sky Stadium, 5.05pm (AEDT)
This is the only match-up in Super Rugby where you’d say the Aussies have the wood on a Kiwi side. The Brumbies have won the last three times they have gone up against the Hurricanes, albeit all have been in Canberra.
Playing in Wellington is a different ball game although the Brumbies are fielding a top-strength side not the Aldi version they sent to Christchurch earlier in the year.
The in-form Hurricanes are super-potent on attack. Per game, they average the most tries (five) and the most offloads and are second for linebreaks.
No team concedes fewer penalties (nine) than the Brumbies which is always a great start because they are not compounding errors with penalty after penalty. They are happy to grind, tackle and cause problems for opponents with their scrum and lineout work plus patiently strike with excellent attacking plays.
No Pete Samu or Len Ikitau does knock the side around a bit.
Hooker Asafo Aumua is a beast running with the ball through the middle and we all now how dynamic Ardie Savea is in the Hurricanes pack.
This should be a great game. Fancy a Brumbies lead and the result being decided on whether they can kick on in the final 30 minutes...or be run down.
Brumbies/Hurricanes Halftime/Fulltime
$6.20 (4 Units)
NSW Waratahs v Highlanders
Fri, April 28, Allianz Stadium, Sydney 7.35pm (AEDT)
The Highlanders are simply an average Kiwi side. If the Waratahs hope to make anything of their season, they have to clinically win this one.
The Highlanders are the poorest defensive team in the competition with the 32 tackles they miss, on average, per game. The Waratahs run and probe and turning those chances into tries can create a good gap by half-time.
The Waratahs’ chances improve with Michael Hooper, Mark Nawaqanitawase and Lalakai Foketi all returning after a game off in Auckland because of the Wallabies’ workload guidelines.
Nawaqanitawase. Back a try for him because he’ll have a good few chances.
The Highlanders will be better than they were when losing to the Force now All Blacks maestro Aaron Smith is back as halfback and captain.
Waratahs -3.5pts
$1.90 (4 Units)
Moana Pasifika v Melbourne Rebels
Sat, April 29, Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland, 2.35pm (AEDT)
The Rebels don’t travel well in terms of results and Moana Pasifika don’t win. It makes for an interesting game in Auckland.
The Rebels have lost 12 of the past 13 times they have travelled outside Victoria even allowing for some good recent performances.
They are 2-6 and considered as big improvers in 2023. They have to get some results on the board and this tricky one against the winless Moana Pasifika is a game they need to win.
The Rebels take risks with their attack. It’s not the way to play the Pacific islanders who love opponents who carelessly rack up sloppy turnovers. They return them for tries.
The Rebels have been “up” for a while now, especially that excellent effort last round when they went toe-to-toe with the champion Crusaders for 70 minutes.
That makes this a danger game for the Rebels, who may be a bit flat. You have to fancy Moana Pasifika are about due after eight losses.
No team beats more defenders on attack or scores fewer points than Moana Pasifika so that cries poor execution and wasting chances.
Centre Levi Aumua is a superb player. He’s made 11 line breaks and beaten 45 would-be tacklers himself, the most in the competition.
It’s time for Moana Pasifika.
Moana Pasifika to Win
$2.65 (4 Units)
Queensland Reds v Western Force
Sat, April 29, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane 7.35pm (AEDT)
The Reds have won five of their past six meetings with the Western Force, including that 71-20 pasting in Round Two at Melbourne’s Super Round.
Force skipper Michael Wells admitted this week that the team’s attitude was off that night, after coming off a win, and promised far better on Saturday night.
The Force are on a little high after the confidence-boosting win over the Highlanders so they will be up for it.
You just fancy the Queenslanders have started to get their act together after a poor start to 2023. James O’Connor is staying on at inside centre. He’s a real steadier there and playing flatter at the line sorted out some of the kinks to the attack when he played strongly last start against Moana Pasifika in Samoa.
O’Connor even picked up the new nickname “Stewie” after that game because his solid style and putting a shoulder into some Samoan ball-runners reminded playful teammates of predecessor Hamish Stewart. Ironically, Stewart is at inside centre for the Force in this one after his club switch during the off-season.
Reds co-captain Tate McDermott has had two ripper games back-to-back and can cause the Force more headaches. Likewise, in-form Jordan Petaia, who always looks like a try-scorer. He has seven for the season.
Reds in this one.
More Round 10 Betting Tips
Fijian Drua v Blues
Sat, April 29, Churchill Park, Lautoka, 12.05pm (AEDT)
TIP: Blues 13+ - $1.73 at Ladbrokes
Chiefs v Crusaders
Sat, April 29, FMG Stadium, Hamilton 5.05pm (AEDT)
TIP: Chiefs Win By 1-7 - $4.20 at Ladbrokes
