After a weekend of Super Rugby Pacific upsets attention now turns to Round 3 which is packed with cracking fixtures including a replay of last year’s final with the Blues and Crusaders locking horns at Eden Park.
Friday 17 March
Hurricanes 1/8 | Draw 33/1 | Waratahs 5/1
Handicap
Hurricanes (-14.5) 9/10 | Waratahs (+14.5) 9/10
We kick things off in Wellington where a Hurricanes side on the up-and-up will take on a Waratahs outfit that has promised so much but delivered so little during the early salvos of the season.
The hosts saw their undefeated start to the campaign, which saw them beat the Reds 13-47 in Round 1 and the Rebels 33-39 in Round 2, came to an abrupt halt this past Saturday as they went down 19-25 to a bang in-form Blues side.
The ‘Canes were desperately unlucky to have snuck a win as they worked hard to fight their way back in the game having gone into the break 5-22 down. They clawed their way back to a 19-25 deficit and were camped on the Blues line for the final few minutes but had the ball turned over with two minutes of extra time having been played.
While the ‘Canes gave a solid account of themselves against a very good Blues side, the Waratahs were extremely below par against a mediocre Rebels outfit with the men from New South Wales going down 34-27 to their domestic rivals. This was their second loss of the campaign having gone down 25-31 to the Brumbies in Round 1.
The ‘Tahs impressed me in Rounds 1 and 2 but that disjointed showing this past weekend shows there’s still work to do until they are a real threat. The ‘Canes, on the other hand, have improved tenfold from 2022 and I’ll reckon they’ll demonstrate the gulf in class between the sides by claiming a big win in Friday’s solitary fixture.
Canes to clear the handicap.
Gamble pays off. Deal done ✍️🤝
— NSW Waratahs (@NSWWaratahs) March 14, 2023
Charlie Gamble locked in until 2024.
More info: https://t.co/nmJojHlzf6
💙🏉 #skysthelimit pic.twitter.com/DsjPCrcmmj
Saturday 18 March
Chiefs 1/25 | Draw 40/1 | Rebels 9/1
Handicap
Chiefs (-21.5) 9/10 | Rebels (+21.5) 9/10
It’s cross-conference action next up with tournament pacesetters the Chiefs taking on a Rebels outfit that will head into this one high on confidence having claimed their first win of season.
The Chiefs continued their flawless start to the campaign by claiming another bonus point win as they beat the 28-7 this past weekend. This was their third bonus point win on the trot and they were once again inspired by Damien McKenzie with the All Black utility back throwing the last pass for the Chiefs opening and closing tries and also kicking solidly off the tee.
While their opponents for Saturday are yet to taste defeat, the Rebels headed into last week’s clash against the ‘Tahs yet to claim a victory. They would end their losing streak, however, with a solid second-half defensive showing and a couple of tries seeing them to a 34-27 victory over their domestic foes.
The hosts are in fine fettle at the minute and I can see them taking this Rebels side to task in Waikato.
Chiefs on the minus.
Celebrating together as one. Looking to keep the momentum going this weekend in NZ. #BeARebel pic.twitter.com/r64CDEvno2
— Melbourne Rebels (@MelbourneRebels) March 14, 2023
Blues 1/1 | Draw 22/1 | Crusaders 17/20
Handicap
Blues (+1.5) 9/10 | Saders (-1.5) 9/10
It’s the headline affair of the weekend next up with a wounded Crusaders side making the trip to Eden Park to take on their traditional rivals, the Auckland Blues.
The Crusaders have been unable to buck their now traditional trend of starting a campaign off extremely slowly. The reigning champions have won only one of their two fixtures beating the hapless Highlanders 52-15 in Round 2, while going down 10-31 to the Chiefs in Round 1 and then having a shock result inflicted upon them this past weekend as they went down 25-24 to a determined Drua side in Suva.
Their big boys did not pitch up last week and were thoroughly outclassed by their Fijian counterparts, who played with far more heart then a Crusaders side loaded with Kiwi all stars.
The Blues had a far more fruitful Round 3 as they bounced back from their 25-20 Round 2 defeat at the hands of the Brumbies to beat the Hurricanes 19-25. They put in an incredible defensive effort in that encounter and were also slick with ball-in-hand at times.
This one should be an absolute cracker with the rivalry between the two sides well documented. I’m backing the Blues on the straight win as I’m not confident of either side on the handicaps.
Get on the Blues at 1/1.
Ice towels required. 💦 pic.twitter.com/2zIoMpbpAp
— Crusaders (@crusadersrugby) March 9, 2023
Brumbies 1/14 | Draw 40/1 | Moana Pasifika 7/1
Handicap
Brumbies (-18.5) 9/10 | Moana Pasifika (+18.5) 9/10
The Brumbies will be looking to keep the good times rolling when they take on Moana Pasifika in Saturday’s final fixture.
The hosts are enjoying an immaculate start to the campaign and have won their opening three fixtures beating the Waratahs 25-31 in the opening round, the Blues 20-25 in Round 2 and then the Reds 23-17 this past weekend. None of their wins have been by more than a converted try, which illustrates the Brumbies are finding ways to win tight fixtures.
Moana Pasfika were desperately close to breaking their 2023 season duck this past weekend as they bounced back from their heavy 29-52 defeat at the hands of the Chiefs by losing by just three points to the Force. It was a heat breaking defeat for the Super Rugby rookies who were set to earn a draw from the fixture but a late penalty in front of the sticks would see them suffer their third successive defeat.
Moana Pasifika have struggled at set piece time and this is an area where the Brumbies are traditionally dominant. I can see the Australian side’s set piece superiority handing them a big win here.
Brumbies on the minus.
🐴👍🏽 What a night Brumbies Family. Let’s build this thing together!
— ACT Brumbies (@BrumbiesRugby) March 14, 2023
See you Saturday night: https://t.co/lGZB7yJktH #ProudToBeABrumby pic.twitter.com/nI3GUckNT4
Sunday 19 March
Highlanders 1/10 | Draw 33/1 | Western Force 6/1
Handicap
Highlanders (-17.5) 9/10 | Force (+17.5) 9/10
The penultimate game of the weekend pits the winless Highlanders up against up against a Force side that has been pretty lucky to take two wins from their opening three games.
The hosts are having a nightmare of a campaign losing their opening two games by mammoth margins as they went down 20-60 to the Blues in Round 1 and 52-15 to the Crusaders in Round 2. They showed some slid improvement last week particularly in the first half as they kept the score line to 0-8 points. They would be blow away in the second stanza, however, and ended up going down 7-28.
The Force fared a lot better in Round 3 as they registered their second win of the season with a late penalty seeing them to a 21-18 win over Moana Pasifika. It was far from a solid performance from the men from Perth and they will need to up their game tenfold if they are to beaten a struggling yet dangerous Highlanders side.
I reckon the Highlanders will grab their first win of the campaign here. They looked improved last week and if they can click on attack they should beat the Force at a canter.
Highlanders to clear the handicap.
We're still thinking about Poolman's killer try from Saturday 🏉
— Western Force (@westernforce) March 13, 2023
Moments that Matter brought to you by @FortescueNews pic.twitter.com/FuG8eV1kDA
Reds 1/6 | Draw 35/1 | Fijian Drua 4/1
Handicap
Reds (-13.5) 9/10 | Drua (+13.5) 9/10
The round comes to a close out in Brisbane where the Fijian Drua will be looking to build on their famous win over the Crusaders when they take on a hit-and-miss Reds outfit.
The hosts have been pretty up and down so far this term, going down 13-47 to the Hurricanes in Round 1 before bouncing back in style with a 20-71 victory over the Force. They gave a handy account of themselves against the Brumbies in Round 3 but but were unable to overturn a 13-0 half-time deficit and eventually went down 23-17 to their rivals.
The Drua fared far better in Round 3 as they registered a famous 25-24 win over the Crusaders which saw crazy scenes at Churchill Park. The victory will stand as one of the biggest upsets in Super Rugby history and will have filled the Drua with confidence as they return to Australian shores.
I reckon the Drua may well take the win here but to be on the safe side, I will be backing the Fijians on the plus.
Drua on the plus.
Incredible scenes in Lautoka 🤯
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) March 11, 2023
The kick that gave @Fijian_Drua a historic win over the Crusaders!
📽 @SuperRugby pic.twitter.com/gpcKwacsfi
