Rugby Union - 2021

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Super Rugby

Hurricanes vs Highlanders

Regardless of the result in this match, the Hurricanes will end the tournament with the wooden spoon. They come into the final round with a poor record of just 1 win and 6 defeats, but they came close to victory in each of their last 2 matches.

In Round 9 the Canes visited the Chiefs who were closing in on a place in the final. It was a nip and tuck game but the Hurricanes held the lead going into the closing stages only for the Chiefs to land the decisive penalty right at the death to come out on top 26-24.

Prior to that the Canes pushed the Crusaders hard before losing to a golden time drop goal (27-27 full time) in a home fixture.
The Highlanders were on a bye last week and the results confirmed they are no longer in contention for a place in the final. The Landers have a record of 3 wins and 4 defeats and they are fourth best.
The Highlanders have had a wretched run of injuries with Fetuli Paea, Ngatungane Punivai, Freedom Vahaakolo, Thomas Umaga-Jensen and Connor Garden-Bachop all currently side-lined.
With Josh Ioane also ruled out at the last minute due to an injury at training, I'll take the Hurricanes to get another win, after coming agonizingly close two times before.

Bet 1: Hurricanes -2.0 @1.79
Bet 2: Team Total Tries - Hurricanes Over 3.5 @1.70

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Challenge Cup

Leicester Tigers vs Ulster

Ulster have only been beaten twice away from home all season in all competitions, to all-conquering Leinster in the PRO14 and against Gloucester in the Heineken Champions Cup, when they threw away a 10-point lead in the closing 10 minutes or so.

Ulster was impressive in their 35-27 win away against Northampton Saints in the quarter-finals was particularly impressive, as they had to come from behind to win, while Leicester lost to the same opponents in the Premiership last week, at home, 18-23.

Comparing the two sides, the Tigers are a very good team on paper, but doesn't always deliver.
Ulster certainly have the more dangerous forward pack and they will be too strong for the Tigers.

Bet 1: Ulster -2.5 @1.90
Bet 2: Team Total points - Ulster Over 26.5 @1.80

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Super Rugby

Blues vs Chiefs

Chiefs resting everyone and playing a reserve team. Bench is also very inexperienced.

There has been massive movement in the handicap this week. The Blues opened -5.5 but that went out to -11.5 when punters climbed in expecting a rotational Chiefs lineup. They got one and the line is now out to -17.5.
The Blues may take the foot off the pedal later on, so I'm going with the half time handicap.

Bet 1: HT Blues -7.0 @1.80
Bet 2: Team Total Points Chiefs Under 21.5 @1.91

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Super Rugby


Brumbies vs Western Force

This is the first of the play-off matches.
The Force have been much improved this season but I have a feeling they "played their final" last week, and I think the Brumbies will win this one comfortably. The Brumbies have had the measure of the Force this season, having beaten them home and away, and because I am a bit concerned they could step off the gas at some point, I'm going for the half time handicap.
Other key factors to the Brumbies advantage are coaching, home field with own fans, finals experience (current champions), they are coming off a bye last week and therefore are well rested.

Bet: HT Brumbies -6.5 @1.82

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Champions Cup

La Rochelle vs Leinster

Leinster are playing very well in knock-out rugby, and this season they are fully focused on this competition.
They smashed the other French team in Champions Cup, Toulon, 30-0, and they showed no mercy to the English champions beating them away 34-22.
La Rochelle had their own impressive wins too, but Leinster looked more clinical, and their win away at Exeter showed us their ability to win when it really matters.
The conditions look perfect and I also took Leinster over 25.5 points.

Bet 1: Leinster -4.5 @1.87
Bet 2: Team Total Leinster Over 25.5 [email protected]

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Major League

NOLA Gold vs Toronto Arrows

The team from Toronto has won two in a row and are coming from a big win away in New York, 53-12.
They have several Argentinian internationals in their squad, which makes a big difference in their league. NOLA doesn't have players of similar calibre, so Toronto should win this comfortably.
Two weeks ago Toronto beat Seattle 52-7. They have scored the biggest number of points in their conference.

Bet 1: Toronto -4.5 @1.81
Bet 2: Team Total points - Toronto over 32.5 @1.80

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Pro 14 Rainbow Cup

Cardiff Blues vs Dragons

Both teams have Welsh internationals returning.
The matches between these two sides have been very tight recently.

Bet: Dragons +6.5 @1.84

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Premiership

Harlequins vs Wasps

The Wasps were eliminated from Champions Cup by Clermont in injury time, when they were one man down, after having led for most of the game.
Their impressive win against Bath a fortnight ago, in which Umaga set up three of their tries, has restored confidence in the Wasps squad, ahead of what should be a game full of attacking intent.

Wasps still have a very good chance of finishing in the top eight to guarantee themselves another shot at top-tier European rugby next season, and the squad are desperate to end the season on a high.

The Harlequins have been very good this season, they are 4th on the ladder, and the Wasps have been a bit inconsistent, but the Wasps can take a lot from their last match and can frustrate the Harlequins. The Harlequins give up points and both teams have high scoring matches in general.
With the weather ok for rugby, I think we will have a big score and the Wasps should stay close.

Bet 1: Wasps +8.0 @1.83
Bet 2: Double Alt Lines - Dragons +11.5 @1.45 + Wasps +11.5 @1.45 - Total odds @2.10
Bet 3: Total points Over 52.5 @1.75

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Major League Rugby

New York vs LA Giltinis

New York are 4th in the Eastern Conference, 4W - 2L, while Giltinis are topping the Western Conference with 6 wins in 6 matches. They scored more than 42 points in every match and they have destroyed their opposition so far.
Among their players are internationals Dave Dennis, Adam Ashe, Matt Giteau, Adam Ashley-Cooper.

Bet 1: FT Giltinis -12.5 @1.90
Bet 2: HT Giltinis -6.5 @1.83

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Super Rugby

Highlanders vs Reds

The Reds are the Australian champions and they're coming off their big win in the Super Rugby Australia final last week.

The Highlanders are from New Zealand and didn't make it to the play-offs in New Zealand Super Rugby competition.
Now this is the Trans-Tasman Super Rugby competition which takes advantage of the travel bubble created between the two countries.

Both teams are a bit changed from their regular line-ups, with some fresh faces.
However both the Highlanders and the Reds play a positive game and with perfect conditions under the roof I am looking at 55 points or more.

Reds have a strong bench and the Highlanders are more impacted by their missing players than the Reds, e.g. Frizell will be big loss for them.
Also, the Reds coach, Thorn, is from Otago, the region where this match is played, home of the Highlanders, so he will be extra motivated.

Bet 1: Over 54.5 points @1.80
Bet 2: Reds +10.0 @1.83

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Super Rugby

Waratahs vs Hurricanes

The Waratahs started the Australian season very poorly, but after the change of coach they improved their showing, and although they still didn't win a game, they came close in their last three matches of the season.

The Hurricanes missed out on the play-offs in New Zealand too, but they are a much better outfit.
The Waratahs may well get a hiding here but I fancy them to get in there and score some points.
This is a bet which gives you 2 bites of the cherry as if they are competitive it should arrive and if they get a beating they can hopefully grab some consolation tries when the opponents step off the gas in the last part of the game.

Bet: Team Total points Waratahs over 16.5 points @1.79

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Crusaders vs Brumbies

The Champions (Crusaders) are straight back into action a week after lifting the New Zealand Aotearoa trophy.

The Brumbies have to bounce back from the disappointment of losing the Australian domestic title when they lost 19-16 to the Reds in Brisbane in last week's final.
The Crusaders have not really put teams away this season and I think the Brumbies can stay within the cap.
I don**8217;t see them being blown away here as they will be desperate to show they can mix it with the mighty men from across the ditch.

Bet: Brumbies +19.5 @1.95

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Rebels vs Blues

The Rebels had a disappointing Super Rugby Australia tournament, missing out on a play off place as they finished fourth on the ladder with 3W-5L.
Whilst they never looked like troubling the top 2 positions they did own third place for much of the tournament before being overtaken by the Force in the end.
The Rebels only win in the second half of that tournament came at home to the Waratahs in the final round and with two blank weekends they have had more time than most to prepare for this tournament under new coach Kevin Foote.

The Blues finished third in Super Rugby New Zealand, 8 points behind the top, but level with the second spot. However the number of wins was the criteria that comes into play when teams finish level on points and the Blues missed out on contesting the final.

There has been some money for the Rebels and I agree with that. They generally take the 3 points when on offer (kicking penalties instead of attempting to go for tries), and I think they can give the Blues a good game.

Bet: Rebels +16.5 @1.75

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Pro 14 Rainbow Cup
Lions vs Stormers

Both teams have lost their first two games so far, against the same opposition. While the Lions were beaten at bigger differences, the Stormers kept close in both their losses.
The Stormers have a powerful scrum and I think they bounce back here.

Bet: Stormers -2.5 @1.72

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Pro 14 Rainbow Cup

Dragons vs Ospreys

After some bad weather this weekend the surface is still very damp from the downpours they've had and that will make the ball slippery.
Also, both teams are fairly even with a number of Wales internationals in each team, so in such conditions I'm going with the underdog to at least stay close.

Bet 1: Total Tries Under 5.5 @1.78
Bet 2: Total Points Under 43.5 @1.87
Bet 3: Dragons +2.5 @1.80