Super Rugby marks its return this coming weekend with two Round 1 fixtures going down on Friday the 15th of February.
Chiefs v Highlanders
15 February 08h30
FMG Stadium Waikato
To Win (80 mins)
Chiefs 7/10
Draw 25/1
Highlanders 23/20
Handicap
Chiefs (-2.5) 9/10
Highlanders (+2.5) 9/10
The Chiefs and Highlanders will kick-off the 2019 Super Rugby season when they clash in Hamilton on Friday.
The hosts, who beat this week’s opponents both home and away last year, will be confident playing in front of their home support. They may have gotten their pre-season campaign off to the worst possible start with a 43-10 loss to the Blues a fortnight ago, but they did well to bounce back and secure a narrow 21-19 win over the Reds in Brisbane last week.
With co-captain Sam Cane still expected to be out for some time, the onus will fall on his fellow lieutenant Brodie Retallick as well as star squad members like Damian McKenzie and Anton Lienert-Brown to get their side over the line. The news this week that 35-year-old Stephen “Beaver” Donald has returned to the Chiefs will also give them an added degree of experience as they embark on yet another tricky Super Rugby campaign.
The Highlanders, meanwhile, head into Friday’s encounter having conceded two tries in the last three minutes of their pre-season fixture with the Crusaders to eventually go down 43-38. The inexperience of the side showed, but they should be much tougher opposition this week with their All Blacks set to front up.
It will be interesting to see how well the 2015 champions cope without the services of first-five Lima Sopoaga after his move to Wasps. Replacement Bryn Gatland has plenty of potential, but the 23-year-old will need to stand and deliver if he is to get the best out of his talented squad.
Verdict: Chiefs (-2.5) 9/10
As always with New Zealand derby matches, this is a tough one to call, not least because it’s the very first game of the season. Still though, the Chiefs should battle to a win of between seven and 10-points.
Brumbies v Rebels
15 February 10h45
GIO Stadium
To Win (80 mins)
Brumbies 13/20
Draw 25/1
Rebels 5/4
Handicap
Brumbies (-3.5) 9/10
Rebels (+3.5) 9/10
The Brumbies will need to put in a big shift if they are to halt a resurgent Rebels side when the two clash at the GIO Stadium on Friday.
The men from Canberra are fresh off a solid 34-28 pre-season win over the Waratahs and will look to build on that platform as they test the waters for the first time this Super Rugby season. Having finished 2018 in third place on the Australia conference and 10th overall, Dan McKellar’s charges will be licking their chops at an opportunity to put one over their fellow Aussie rivals as early as Round One.
The two-time champions didn’t come out of that ‘Tahs game completely unscathed, however, as both prop James Slipper and winger Lausii Taliauli seemed to pick up knocks. McKellar is set to make an announcement of their availability later in the week.
Likewise, the Rebels are set to be without Australia international Reece Hodge with the 24-year-old unlikely to take to the pitch this Friday.
Nevertheless, the Rebels boast a side full of quality with new signing Quade Cooper linking up with his former Reds teammate Will Genia to form a formidable halfback pairing.
Having started last season so brightly before eventually fading off, the challenge for Dave Wessels and is men will be to maintain a solid level of performance right through their 2019 campaign.
Verdict: Rebels 5/4
The Melbournians are looking very good ahead of the new season so don’t be surprised if they effect one or two big upsets along the way. Friday’s game will go their way by five or more.
Written by Shaun Goosen for Hollywoodbets
