A sackful of intriguing Super Rugby games greet us this weekend as we head into Round 2 of the Aotearoa Super Rugby and Round 3 of the Australian Super Rugby seasons.
Time to convert our best bets!
Highlanders v Crusaders
march 5th 5:05pm
The Chiefs play their season opener on Friday evening when they welcome the Highlanders to FMG Stadium.
All eyes will be on interim head coach Clayton McMillan to see how he goes, with Warren Gatland committed to the British and Irish Lions.
Having not won a game in Sky Super Rugby Aotearoa last year, the Chiefs can only go up in 2021, but it will be a great test for McMillan’s coaching credentials in the absence of Gaitland.
Like the other four teams in round one, he’ll have all his All Blacks available for their season-opener, including skipper Sam Cane who’s starting against the Highlanders. It’s a strong Chiefs outfit, and if McMillan can get them off to a solid start, they’ll go a long way in this competition.
Former teammates Bryn Gayland and Josh Ioane will go head to head, with both players handed the starting pivot role for their respective sides.
Gayland made the move to the Chiefs at the end of last season, in a bid to seek more game time. Having come off the bench against the Crusaders last weekend, Ioane will be looking to make the Highlanders 10 jersey his own. It promises to be a great battle between two young and exciting first five-eighths.
Chiefs will be hard to beat in this game and should be able start its season off with a win.
Suggested Bet: Chiefs head to head at $1.66
nsw waratahs v western force
march 5th 7:45pm
After a horrific 51-point loss to the ACT Brumbies last weekend, the rebuilding NSW Waratahs play host to the Western Force at Bankwest Stadium on Friday night.
The 61-10 defeat to the Brumbies made it two losses from its opening two games after being belted 41-7 by Queensland in Round 1.
Despite those woeful performances, they now take on Western Force who have lost all nine of their Super Rugby AU matches over the last two campaigns so this is the perfect chance for them to respond.
After a tight first half, the Force could not match the Brumbies in the second half of last week’s contest but they will smell blood here and they can capitalise on the home team’s woes to earn a maiden victory in this competition.
Would take a brave punter to back the Waratahs after their putrid performances to open the season.
The Force showed good signs in the match against the Brumbies and that is enough to have us in their corner.
Suggested Bet: Western Force head to head at $1.68
