Best Bets & Value Bets for Rainbow Cup, Super Rugby Aotearoa & AU

Our punter Neal Hoogwerf is back this weekend and has his eyes set on a full house. We preview every match from Super Rugby Aotearoa and AU as well as the Rainbow Cup.

Crusaders v Chiefs

Saturday 8 May – 09:05

Saturday’s final registers the fourth time that the Crusaders and Chiefs have met in knockout rugby. The Crusaders finished the regular season at the summit of the table and richly deserve their home final. The only two hiccups in the season saw them narrowly lose out to the Chiefs before being blown away by a second-string Highlanders outfit. The Chiefs are in prolific form, having won five straight fixtures excluding last Saturday’s dead rubber against the Blues.

The Crusaders are the epitome of a professional side in finals rugby and rarely lose out as home favourites. The Chiefs have been resurgent in 2021, having covered five of their last six fixtures. Whenever I get presented with a double-digit handicap in an all New Zealand derby, backing the underdogs is the way to go. Expect the Chiefs to keep it close in Christchurch.

Reds v Brumbies

Saturday 8 May – 11:45

The Reds return to fortress Suncorp having been the shining light of Super Rugby AU. Despite their final game blunder against a spirited Force side, the Reds have all the momentum heading into Saturday’s decider. The Brumbies have had an indifferent season, having conceded defeat to the Reds twice in the regular season.

The Reds have been pushing for Australian supremacy for the last couple of seasons and Saturday’s fixture presents the ideal showcase. The Brumbies head into the fixture missing a couple of few individuals and will have to nullify the 40 thousand strong contingent at Suncorp. The Reds have won their last five fixtures against the Brumbies at home and I can’t see any other result taking place. Bet on the passing of the champions batten this weekend.

Sharks v Lions

Saturday 8 May – 16:00

The high-flying Sharks get to capitalise on home field advantage as they face the bottom dwelling Lions in Round 2. The Sharks managed to defy the books and recorded an away victory against the Springbok laden Stormers. Combinations are beginning to stick as the Durban franchise continue to push the title heavyweights. The Lions continue their building phase, however, there is little room for optimism as inconsistency persists. They are struggling for an identity where their previously flamboyant style of play struggles for rhythm.

The Sharks have been handed a somewhat generous two try headstart in what is traditionally a tight affair between these two sides. The Lions are due a performance, and while an away victory seems unlikely, I believe that they have enough to keep it close. The Sharks tend to switch off when commanding a significant lead and I’ll be hoping that is the case this weekend. Take the Lions to keep it tidy in Durban.

Stormers v Bulls

Saturday 6 May – 18:15

The Stormers will be looking to make amends after coughing up a nine point half time lead to go down to coastal rivals, Sharks at Cape Town Stadium. Discipline was the name of the game as two red cards ultimately dented the home sides chances of kicking off their Rainbow Cup campaign in style. Coach Dobson will have a selection headache, after learning that he will be without four first team players for this weekend’s fixture. The Bulls marked business as usual after putting away city neighbours in a dull affair at Loftus. Jake White has brought a completely different synergy to the team, with winning become a culture in Pretoria. History indicates that there isn’t too much to separate between these two sides, with the home side having a slight edge in the fixture.

The match promises to deliver a contest between two set-piece oriented sides with accuracy at the breakdown a big topic of conversation. The Bulls head into the fixture as slight underdogs and it’s tough to understand based on their form. I’ll happily take the value on offer for the Bulls to cover the handicap.