The following are betting tips for selected fixtures in Round 3 of the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season.
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To take advantage of the odds before they possibly shorten, these previews are published before the team sheets are announced. Those who are more risk-averse should wait for the squad lists before wagering.
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Crusaders vs. Hurricanes |
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This game will provide further insight into the Crusaders’ season prospects. They are 0-3 thus far, but have yet to play at their fortress in Christchurch, a venue where they have gone 7-1 over the last twelve months and six of those wins were by 13+ margins. Can they turn things around against the table-topping Hurricanes? Three of their last four meetings were settled by 3 points or less, so another close scoreline wouldn’t surprise. If I had to bet on this game I would rely on this season’s form and take the Hurricanes 1-12 at 2.70 (bet365).
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Highlanders vs. Brumbies |
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This fixture features two of the teams that bookmakers have had the easiest time predicting. Over the last twelve months the Highlanders have gone 6-1 as the favourite and 1-6 as the underdog. At home, their record was 5-0 as the favourite and 0-3 as the underdog. Similarly, over the same period the Brumbies have gone 9-1 as the favourite and 1-5 as the underdog. Looking at the head-to-heads between these two sides, with the data I have at hand, the Brumbies have gone 5-1 as the favourite against the Highlanders and 1-6 as the underdog. In Dunedin the Brumbies record in recent years is 2-0 as the favourite and 0-3 as the underdog. The Brumbies are the favourite in this clash and they have won their last two fixtures against the Highlanders. Last year the Brumbies won this clash by 16 points in Canberra, which was their biggest winning margin over the Highlanders in many years. I would back the Brumbies in the head-to-head at 1.94 (Betfair). Note that they are 1.74-1.80 with most bookmakers at the time of writing.
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Chiefs vs. Fijian Drua |
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The Fijian Drua continue to keep to the script of being terrible away from home and excellent at home. They defeated the Crusaders in Lautoka last week, but they have gone 0-9 in the head-to-head and 2-6 at the line away from home. The Chiefs won this clash 50-17 last year and a similar scoreline wouldn’t surprise given the Drua fell by a 24-point margin against the Blues in Round 1. I would back the Chiefs 13+ at 1.50 (bet365).
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Waratahs vs. Blues |
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The Blues suffered an away defeat to the Hurricanes last week, but they have gone 4-0 on the back of a defeat and 11-2 as the favourite over the last twelve months. The Waratahs, meanwhile, have gone 2-7 as the underdog. The Blues have won nine consecutive games against the Waratahs, but I expect the hosts will be competitive. The Blues’ last four wins in Sydney were all by 3-10 points. I would back the Blues 1-12 at 2.70 (bet365).