The Super Rugby rolls into week five as the season continues to take shape.
Follow our preview of all the matches this weekend for the best bets across Australia and New Zealand.
melbourne rebels vs. nsw waratahs
march 19th 7:45pm
It was far from a vintage display but Melbourne Rebels found a way to win in a narrow contest at the third time of asking in Super Rugby AU.
They edged Western Force last week and will hope to build on it as they host NSW Waratahs, a side who remain without a win to their name after three matches and with a coach under a huge amount of pressure.
They were defeated by Western Force in their latest outing and despite showing more on both sides of the ball in that clash, they will have still had plenty to work on during their bye week.
They know they have more quality than they have shown so far but confidence is still likely to be rock-bottom and the Rebels can capitalise to earn a win but the Waratahs should be able to cover the line in this one.
Suggested Bet: NSW Waratahs to cover +12.5 line at $1.87
Hurricanes vs. chiefs
march 20th 5:05pm
The Hurricanes and Chiefs are set to bash heads at Sky Stadium on Saturday night.
Both sides enter this match with a grand total of 0 points from their opening two matches so somebody (and possibly both of them) will get off the mark in the meeting of the cellar dwellers.
The Hurricanes have lost to the Blues by 15 and Crusaders by 17 thus far and have had a fortnight to prepare for this game.
While that’s a less than ideal start to the season it could be worse, the Chiefs are still yet to win a match in Super Rugby Aotearoa, having lost all 10 matches over the last two seasons.
On top of that, they have not defeated the Hurricanes since 2018, losing five of the six games since, including all three meetings last year.
Perhaps the Chiefs will find a way to steal the return match in Waikato but the Hurricanes should prove victorious in this one.
Suggested Bet: Hurricanes head to head at $1.68
queensland reds vs. western force
march 20th 7:45pm
In Saturday’s showdown, Queensland Reds will be gunning for top spot when they host the Western Force at Suncorp Stadium.
A win would see Brad Thorn’s men leapfrog the Brumbies into top spot and pole position to host the Super AU final in May.
The Reds are unbeaten in 2021 and go the better of the Brumbies in both meetings during Super Rugby AU 2020, including a 57-5 win in Round 8 which was their second-biggest win in Super Rugby history.
Queensland have also won their last six regular season Super Rugby games on the bounce and will equal their all-time consecutive wins record with another victory over the Force.
While the odds are stacked against them, the Force remain a dangerous foe and will take plenty of confidence from a drought-breaking win over NSW and last week’s near miss against the Rebels.
It’s a milestone game for Force prop Greg Holmes, who will bring up his 150th cap against his former club, while teenage halfback Kalani Thomas is tipped to make his Reds debut off the pine.
Market is suggesting this will be a lopsided affair but the Force can cover the handicap here and that looks the way to go.
Suggested Bet: Western Force to cover the +14.5 line at $1.90
