Another week, another round of Super Rugby action coming up! Saturday night sees Round 9 get underway with an intriguing clash between between the Western Force and NSW Waratahs and continues on Sunday with the Rebels taking on the Brumbies.
Super Rugby Preview Round 9 Betting Tips
Western Force vs NSW Waratahs
Sat, April 17, HBF Park, Perth 7:45pm (AEST)
We got all warm and fuzzy about how close the Waratahs got to knocking off the Brumbies at 24-22. Well, the Force actually did knock off the Rebels when underdogs last round. This is an intriguing match-up. The Waratahs did get a “Dead Coach Bounce” with a far more committed and desperate showing against the Brumbies last start. The bye arrived at a good time to embed some of the tweaked messages from new co-coaches Jason Gilmore and Chris Whitaker. It’s Gilmore’s call to give the No.10 jersey to Ben Donaldson in place of the injured Will Harrison. Donaldson played in Gilmore’s excellent Australian Under-20s team in 2019 so they have a connection. Just one club game this season may mean Donaldson is a little rusty. The return of flanker Lachie Swinton adds a little mongrel to a Waratahs pack that was well served last match by No.8 Will Harris and prop Angus Bell, who made 11 ball-carries in the first half alone. Halfback Jake Gordon means everything to the coherent play of the ‘Tahs.
The 16-15 win over the Rebels was guts all the way from the Force. Backrower Tim Anstee wasn’t even supposed to be the man who mauled it over for the winning lineout-drive try but, hey, he’s X-factor the Force have rarely had. New Argentinian No.10 Domingo Miotti was nothing flash for the Force but he’s 1-0 as a starter so go with it. More grit and a home town win. The Force will rely heavily on the experience of guys like Thrush, Robertson, Timani, Kahui, Stander, Cubelli, Holmes and Godwin. If you look at the Force that way they have a very stable core and the drive to win over a NSW team that starts favourite for no good reason.
Melbourne Rebels vs ACT Brumbies
Sun, April 18, AAMI Park, Melbourne 2pm (AEST)
The Rebels are frustrating chameleons who switch from sharp to fumblers game-to-game. You are guaranteed quality from the Brumbies every start. This is an interesting match-up. The Brumbies can’t improve their ladder position for the finals and have a bunch of players returning from Wallabies camp this week. If they are a bit distracted and at 95 per cent, they may be vulnerable against a Rebels side desperate to win to grab a finals spot. The class difference between these two sides is just too vast. Even if the Brumbies are a bit off the boil, they can score three mauling tries off lineouts and escape. Players like Len Ikitau, Tom Banks, Tom Wright and Rob Valetini still have so much to gain in terms of earning Test spots that you must expect them to fire.
Losing utility Reece Hodge (knee) is a major blow for the Rebels’ stability. He'll be replaced at inside centre by Campbell Magnay, hugely talented but injury prone and a far better bet at No.13. There’ll be a Haylett-Petty returning to the bench but lock Ross, not fullback Dane, who is still another week away. Playmaker Matt Toomua threw two wasteful long-balls to the sideline against the Force so the Rebels’ attack is still not clicking precisely. Magnay will straighten the attack which is a good thing. Lock Trevor Hosea is improving every week so there's a Wallaby-in-waiting who needs a big performance. Got to love an afternoon kick-off for better rugby.
