After last season’s Super Rugby reorganisation, this year’s competition offers more continuity as the tournament retains the same fifteen-team, three-conference format. But the non-New Zealand teams in Super Rugby will be hoping that this year’s edition doesn’t see a continuation of their dominance, after the Crusaders picked up their second consecutive title last year.
Super Rugby Betting Predictions and Betting Tips
Super Rugby Favourites
It’s no surprise to see the Crusaders leading the way in the betting markets. The 11/4 favourites in the tournament winners markets are aiming for a hat-trick of Super Rugby wins, and with coach Scott Robertson reportedly heading north after this tournament, a third win would be an impressive parting gift. The Crusaders have retained almost the entirety of the squad that rolled over all opposition last year, including a pack full of All Blacks starters. Still, Robertson will once again have to juggle his international stars, and will be without Sam Whitelock and Kieran Read in the early stages.
According to the betting markets, the Hurricanes are the main threat to the Crusaders’ dominance and can be backed at 4/1. They were pretty impressive last season, powered by their big, mobile pack, but they came unstuck against the Crusaders at the semi-final stage. John Plumtree has the task of returning them to the top of the Super Rugby pile, but they will be without Brad Shields and Julian Savea this time round, which will make it harder for Plumtree to instil the ability to grind out tough wins in unfavourable conditions that has made the Crusaders so hard to beat.
Super Rugby Contenders
There is no sign of the New Zealand Super Rugby dominance ending, but if there is one team capable of breaking their stranglehold, it is the Lions. They once again led the way in South Africa last season, and it’s hard to argue with odds of 8/11 about the Lions winning the South African Conference again this year. Coach Swys de Bruin has been engaged with the Springboks, but with no Tests taking place until after Super Rugby, that shouldn’t be a significant distraction, and with stars like Malcom Marx and Aphiwe Dyantyi available, the Lions look a good bet at 8/1.
The Chiefs are available at a shorter price than the Lions, after an impressive run of performances last year, but this time round, though, they will be without Sam Cane early on, and, like the Crusaders, will have to manage without a number of All Black stars for two rest weeks during the season. They’ve also got a tough start to the tournament, so odds of 7/1 don’t particularly appeal. And at 8/1, the Highlanders also look too short. Despite having the fourth best overall record last season, they were weak at the line-out and the departure of Lima Sopoaga leaves them short on creativity.
Super Rugby Outsiders
The Waratahs were the top Australian team last season, though the weakness of their Conference was underlined by the fact that just nine wins was enough to take them to the top of the table. Bernard Foley will once again be their main man, and they will have plenty of experience with Karmichael Hunt and Adam Ashley-Cooper at centre. But they are still some way off competing with the top New Zealand teams, and there are other options in the Australian Conference at bigger prices.
One of those options is the Brumbies. They had a nightmare start to last season’s campaign, losing eight of the first eleven, but they found their form towards the end of the campaign, winning four out of five, and eventually showing improvement in terms of line breaks and tries scored on their 2017 showing. Break through stars Tom Banks and Rory Arnold, together with David Pocock and new signing Pete Samu are the stand-outs in a solid squad, and they could lead the way in Australia.
In only their third year in the competition, the Jaguares had a superb season in 2018, winning nine times and coming close to topping the South African Conference. But the replacement of coach Mario Ledesma by Gonzalo Quesada and the departure of Nicolas Sanchez makes them unreliable betting propositions this year, even at 10/1 to win the Conference. And the Blues are an equally unattractive option in the New Zealand conference despite being available at 25/1. A record of 12 defeats in 16 games was a poor return in what was supposed to be a season of improvement, and Leon MacDonald will have his work cut out to make the team competitive in 2019.
Betting Tips For Super Rugby
- Back Lions to win Super Rugby at 8/1
- Back Lions to win South African Conference at 8/11
- Back Brumbies to win Australian Conference at 9/4
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Please note betting odds quoted are subject to change. View the latest super rugby betting odds
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Super Rugby is just about to begin the much awaited new season. Here we highlight the latest Super Rugby betting odds and rugby betting information.
2018 Super Rugby Betting Predictions and Betting Tips
Super Rugby returns to a 15 team format this year, having cut three franchises, but the absence of the Cheetahs, Kings and Force is unlikely to lead to a dilution in tournament quality, as most of their better players have been picked up by other franchises, and let’s face it, none of the three had made much of an impact during their Super Rugby history.
The Outsiders
The same can be said for Super Rugby’s newest sides, the Sunwolves from Japan and the Jaguares of Argentina. The Argentines have managed eleven wins in two tournaments, and while the arrival of legendary hooker Mario Ledesma should help to curb the disciplinary problems of a team that conceded an average of ten points a game last season, the Jaguares don’t have the strength in depth to get into contention for the play-offs this time round.
The Sunwolves are starting from an even lower base. They’ve won just three games in their two campaigns to date. Japanese coach Jamie Joseph can improve that record but they won’t find things easy now that they’ve shifted to the Australian conference and away assignments against the Chiefs, Hurricanes and Crusaders make for a tough schedule.
Crusaders and Hurricanes to dominate
At the other end of the market, the Crusaders are the early favourites, with the Hurricanes close behind. The Hurricanes and will be desperate to reassert their superiority, but while they have arguably the strongest backs division in the tournament, and the world’s most dynamic half-back pairing in Beauden Barrett and Peranara, they will need some monster performances from their young pack if they are wrestle the title back.
The Crusaders’ success last year, their first in nine years, looked like the beginning of an era. Scott Robertson’s side have developed ahead of schedule and will surely only be stronger in his second season. With Super Rugby’s most formidable pack, a depth of experience and a sprinkling of star quality including New Zealand’s next big star Richie Mo’unga, the Crusaders look a solid bet to retain their title at 3.35 with Betxchange.com
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Other New Zealand options
The other New Zealand sides look less appealing in the tournament winners market. The Chiefs are likely to enter a period of transition following the departure of Dave Rennie and a clutch of champions including Aaron Cruden, Hika Elliot and James Lowe. They’re also set to lose Super Rugby’s best attacking full back in Damian McKenzie, who is likely to step into the number 10 role. They remain a force up front but the exhilarating rugby that has been their trademark in recent years may be less potent this time round.
At 6.25 we can put a line through the Chiefs in the Tournament Winners market, and the same goes for the Blues at 12.5. They have made progress under Tana Umaga but while they have an abundance of pace among the backs, they lack strength in depth and could once again be struggling to make the play-offs.
Read more: Super Rugby Betting Odds
If there is value to be found outside the top two in New Zealand, it is probably with the Highlanders. They are light on big names and will likely miss Malakai Fekitoa’s drive, but few sides work harder, they have a wealth of experience and a kind run of early fixtures should enable them to get off to a good start. The 2015 winners, they look underestimated in the market, and while they are unlikely to top the New Zealand conference, they look an intriguing option to reach the Final at 3.33.
Can the Lions challenge again?
The main, indeed only, challengers to the New Zealand dominance, that has seen four different Kiwi sides win Super Rugby in six years, have been the Lions and the Waratahs, but neither look capable of mounting a challenge this time. The Lions have been unsettled by the departure of coach Johann Ackermann and a host of players, and they lack depth, particularly in the half-back positions. At 0.55 they look poor value to win the South African conference.
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The South African Challenge
Can a South African side emerge from the pack to challenge the mighty Kiwis? Well, perhaps not this year, but of the four remaining home franchises, we fancy the Sharks to eclipse the Lions and claim the South African conference title at odds of 4.00. They have an abundance of attacking talent on the wings in Makazole Mapimpi, Kobus van Wyk, Leolin Zas, Lwazi Mvovo and S’bu Nkosi, depth in the centre, and an embarrassment of riches at fly half with Robert du Preez joining Curwin Bosch and Garth April. The Sharks look capable of some big performances this season, and at 0.8 to make the play-offs they look a solid bet.
The Stormers are a shorter price than the Sharks, but an injury crisis that has left them perilously short of depth at tighthead prop and fly half, among other positions, combined with a nightmare run of fixtures in Australasia makes them an unappealing betting proposition, as are the Bulls. John Mitchell is trying to get his charges to adopt a more expansive approach, but it remains a work in progress and while his young team may be capable of the occasional brilliant performance, they are unlikely to be consistent enough to challenge.
Australian Conference all to play for
The Waratahs might be in better shape. Although they recorded their worst ever performance last season, they have recruited well. The signing of Force star Curtis Rona will also be a boost, while the return of Kurtley Beale will allow Israel Folau to drop to full back, to complete the best backs line-up in Australia.
The Waratahs look an interesting bet to win the Australian conference at 1.9, but at bigger odds, I prefer the Melbourne Rebels. After a nightmare 2017 season, they’ve been boosted by the arrival of eleven players from the disbanded Force franchise, as well as Force head coach David Wessels. Will Genia will add experience among the backs and Adam Coleman is a great addition to the front five, and if the Western Australia contingent can bring the same spirit they showed for their previous team, they can cause a minor shock. I’d be keen to back them at 3.0 to win the Australian conference ahead of the Reds, who’ve had a nightmare off season, and the stubborn Brumbies, who look short at 1.6 to win an open looking section.
Best Betting Options:
- Back Crusaders to win the tournament at 3.35
- Back Rebels to win Australian Conference at 3.0
- Back Sharks to win South African Conference at 4.0
- Back Sharks to reach play-offs at 0.80
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For specialized and comprehensive local and international online rugby betting as well as the best rugby betting odds visit Keith Ho BetXchange.
Please note betting odds quoted are subject to change. View the latest super rugby betting odds
