2015 Super Rugby - Round 7 Preview and Betting Tips
Super Rugby continues this weekend with a few interesting match ups as a lot of teams are still in the finals hunt. At this stage it is looking as if the Australian conference will turn into a two horse race between the Brumbies and Waratahs, whilst the New Zealand and South African conferences are a lot more open. It will be an interesting round, so read on for our Round 7 predictions and betting tips.
---
Hurricanes vs Rebels (Friday 5.35pm AEDT)
The undefeated Hurricanes take on the Rebels who suffered a disappointing loss last week to the Lions. The match was there to be won for the Rebels as they scored two early tries to lead early on but couldn’t have the killer instinct as the Lions came back in the match and deserved their victory. The Hurricanes have improved throughout the season and have been convincing in all of their victories. The Rebels did win early in the year in New Zealand against the Crusaders but I can’t see them causing another upset.
TIP: Hurricanes -12.5 @ $1.90 at Sportsbet
Reds vs Lions (Friday 8pm AEDT)
The Reds welcome back their start fly half Quade Cooper from injury and he couldn’t have returned at a better time with their season on the line. James O’Connor is also in the line-up and I am surprised to see him on the wing as the Reds have opted to keep Lachie Turner at fullback. The Lions will be buzzing after a win against the Rebels but the Reds should improve on their past performances with Cooper back controlling the game. The Reds have a 13-4 record over the Lions but surprisingly are 1-2 at Suncorp stadium. I expect them to even up the slate this weekend.
TIP: Reds -6.5 @ $1.92 at Palmerbet
Chiefs vs Cheetahs (Saturday 2.30pm AEDT)
The Chiefs had an impressive win against the Stormers, fighting back from a deficit but then lost in a brutal contest against the Sharks last week. They return home and have another South African opponent in the Cheetahs. The Cheetahs have struggled as of late losing their last three matches. They need to turn things around to get back to playing for the finals but they will be playing at a venue where they have never won and against a strong Chiefs side looking to bounce back.
TIP: Chiefs 13+ @ $1.43 at Luxbet
Highlanders vs Stormers (Saturday 5.35pm AEDT)
The Stormers suffered their first loss of the season against the Chiefs before entering a bye last weekend. They will be fresh and ready for this match. The Highlanders lost last week to the Hurricanes but went down fighting. They are a strong side and this could be one of the matches of the round. It will likely come down to penalties and with the Stormers scrum looking the goods this season I am sticking with them.
TIP: Stormers @ $2.30 at Sportsbet
Waratahs vs Blues (Saturday 7.40pm AEDT)
The Waratahs had a great win last weekend as they came from 13-6 down to win 28-13. The Blues are coming off of a bye but they still haven’t registered a win this season. The Blues actually have a favourable record against the NSW side as they have won 12 of the 19 matches played. However, the Waratahs have won 6 of the 9 matches played at Allianz Stadium. The Waratahs should be hitting their form now and they will run away with it against the Blues.
TIP: Waratahs -12 @ $1.92 at Luxbet
Sharks vs Force (Sunday 2.05am AEDT)
The Sharks are starting to hit their straps after an unexpected start to the season. The team is starting to find their form in attack and more importantly in defence as they held the Chiefs to 11 points last week. They lose captain Bismarck Du Plessis after his brain snap of kicking a Michael Leitch in the head. The Force missed out on having a massive victory last week against the Bulls and that would be disappointing for the side to swallow. The Force has only beaten the Sharks once and never in South Africa.
TIP: Sharks -12 @ $1.91 at Ladbrokes
Bulls vs Crusaders (Sunday 4.05am AEDT)
The round ends with a block buster match with the Bulls up against the Crusaders. The Bulls escaped with a narrow one point victory last week against the struggling Force but they stay at home as the Crusaders make the trip across the ocean. The New Zealand side has won their last two matches against the Lions and the Cheetahs by big margins but they face a hard contest against the Bulls. Overall the Crusaders have the advantage winning 14 and losing 9 but they have only beaten the Bulls four times in South Africa. This is a hard one to pick but I am going to go with the Crusaders.
TIP: Crusaders 1-12 @ $2.80 at Sportsbet
Take note: Any of the tips in this article are simply the author’s opinion, so bet at your own risk and always gamble responsibly. Also be sure to check out the Before You Bet Twitter Page for all our thoughts in the lead up to bets! Happy punting!
