The 2015 Super Rugby season kicks off this weekend and Before You Bet will have you covered with weekly round previews and Super Rugby betting tips. Here's our preview of the first three games of Round 1 of the season.
Super Rugby Round 1 Match Previews
Crusaders vs Rebels
Friday February 13th, 5:35pm AEDST - Ami Stadium, Christchurch
The Melbourne Rebels are entering their fifth season in the Super Rugby competition and they can no longer use the “new kid on the blocks” status as an excuse for their struggles. Their line-up has enough international and experienced players to rival the best teams in the competition.
The Crusaders will be out for vengeance after losing the Super Rugby final last year in the final minute. The Crusaders are by far the best and most consistent team in the competition having made the finals every year since 2001. The side has superstars in the majority of the positions and they will be hard to beat, especially at home.
Last met
Week 5, 2014 - Melbourne
Rebels 19 - Crusaders 25
Key Match-up
Flankers - Richie McCaw will be looking to put pressure on rising star Sean McMahon. McMahon ended last year being rewarded for his consistency with a Wallabies Test debut at the young age of 20 years old. McCaw will be using all of his tricks to get the upper hand against the youngster and the winner of that battle could determine the outcome of the match.
Where it will be won
If McMahon is able to earn his side turnovers or penalties then the Rebels could stand a chance. However, with the Crusaders being one of the best sides at cleaning out and getting quick ball to the backs it will be a hard area to exploit.
Tip
The Crusaders lost their opening two games of the 2014 Super Rugby season and it ended up costing them a home final and possibly the title. It will be fresh in their memories and the Crusaders will come out firing to start the season strongly, especially in front of their home fans.
The Rebels struggle to win matches as they still can’t manage to put 80-minute performances together, especially on the road. They will be unable to match it with the strong Crusaders outfit.
Bet On: Crusaders -13.5 @ $1.90 at Sportsbet
Brumbies vs Reds
Friday February 13th ,7:40pm AEDST - GIO Stadium, Canberra
The Brumbies will be starting the 2015 season hoping to go one better after losing to the Waratahs in the preliminary final last year. Despite other Australian teams recruiting big names to their sides, the Brumbies have stuck with their side and put a lot of faith in young players to shine and contribute throughout the year.
The Reds have signed former AFL and NRL start Karmichael Hunt and former Wallabies star James O’Connor. O’Connor returns after continuous indiscretions left him out of favour with Australian Rugby Union and he opted to take his talents overseas. Hunt has impressed in trial matches with the Reds as he has played in the fly half position due to the injury of Quade Cooper and they recorded a win against the Crusaders.
Last met
Week 9, 2014 - Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Reds 20 - Brumbies 23
Key Match-up
If the Reds play Hunt at fly half he will have a tough opponent in Wallaby representative Matt Toomua. Although Toomua’s form dropped at the end of last year, there is no denying his ability when his confidence is high. This could come down to which player is able to make the right decision at a crucial time in the match.
Where it will be won
The forwards - The side that manages to consistently get over the advantage line, win their scrums and line outs will be able to take control of the match and give their star backlines the ball in good field position and with momentum. The Reds could struggle with their loose forwards not known for running with the ball and able to bust tackles.
The return of David Pocock, who is coming off the back of two knee reconstructions, is vital to the Brumbies success. If he is able to return to the form where he was considered one of the best Rugby players in the World and captain of Australia, they will be in good position to win against any opponent.
Tip
The Brumbies have 14 Wallabies in their 32-man squad and despite losing Ben Mowen, Clyde Rathbone and Pat McCabe they have rookie players that will be desperate to make an impact when given the opportunity. The match will be close, and the Brumbies forwards might get them the win, however the best bet will be the Reds with a seven point start.
Bet On: Reds +7 @ $1.91 at Ladbrokes
Lions vs Hurricanes
Saturday February 14th, 6:10am AEDST - Emirates Airlines Park, Johannesburg
The Hurricanes narrowly missed the finals last year and will be out to improve on their seventh place finish. They are a strong side playing in the strongest conference in the competition with no easy opponents. They struggled on the road last year and lost their opening two matches against South African opponents. They can’t afford to do it again and especially against a weaker side in the Lions.
The Lions had their most successful season in Super Rugby last year, however it wasn’t too much to celebrate as they had seven wins and nine loses and were second last in the South African conference. The Lions managed to recruit some of South Africa’s rising talent including young centre Rohan Janse Van Rensburg and he will be the key contributor to the Lions attacking prowess.
Last met
Week 2, 2012 - Ellis Park
Lions 28 - Hurricanes 30
Key Match-up
The backlines - The Hurricanes had arguably the best backs in Super Rugby last season, however they failed to perform. If they are going to be title contenders this season, they need to be firing and live up to their high standards. The young Lions players will need to step up and match it against the experienced Hurricanes players.
Where it will be won
Line-outs and Scrums - Last year the Lions used the scrum as their biggest weapon and they will need to dominate that area again if they are going to overcome the Hurricanes and other opponents throughout the season. If the South Africans are unable to win this area, the match could easily become a blowout in the Hurricanes favour.
Tip
The Hurricanes experience in the forwards and backs should propel them forward in this match up, however their poor performance away from home last season is worrying. The Hurricanes will want to start their season strongly and will win this one.
Bet On: Hurricanes 1-12 @ $2.75 at Sportingbet
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!
