Super Rugby Pacific Round 10 Selections

The Chiefs won well against a Moana Pasifika team who was fatigued following their second game in five days. The Chiefs have been clinical in their set plays and discipline but it was indeed their work at the breakdown that was the worrying sign. They lost a massive eight rucks throughout the contest and it is an area that they will need to clean up, especially facing the flanker duo of Michael Hooper and Charlie Gamble. The Waratahs were fresh off a week off and it showed as they were able to put on 24 points in the first 15 minutes of play. They were defensively strong, making almost three times the amount of tackles than their opposition whilst keeping their line strong and their work in set plays and the breakdown were an improvement. Discipline let them down as they conceded two yellow cards late in the game and 12 penalties overall.

Chiefs to win this by 10 points or less.

Predictions:

Tip: Chiefs ($1.08)

Line: Waratahs +17.5 ($1.90)

Margin: Chiefs 1-12 (Price to come)

*Prices via Ladbrokes as of 19/04/22

Bet: I think the market isn’t being fair to the Waratahs here and I think the start is massive. Both teams are coming off good wins and the Waratahs have looked exceptionally good since the return of captain Michael Hooper. I still think the Chiefs win here but not by the margin they have portrayed. Waratahs +17.5 – 3u @ $1.90

This is a game that could go either way and could really shape how the end of the year goes for either of these teams. Moana Pasifika is coming off that grueling schedule of two games within five days where they were unfortunately uncompetitive. They were actually pretty good in multiple facets of the game but the fatigue set in pretty early in game two and it was over before they could blink. The Force were blown off the park early by the Waratahs and they never really recovered. They played well enough throughout but they couldn’t break the Waratahs when they really needed to, whether it was the Waratahs’ defence or the Force’s attack crumbling to pieces.

I think Moana Pasifika can stamp their second win of the season here to continue the Force’s misery.

Predictions:

Tip: Moana Pasifika ($1.90)

Line: Pick and Market to come (not released)

Margin: Moana Pasifika 1-12 (price to come)

*Prices via Ladbrokes as of 19/4/2022

This could be a bloodbath for the Fijian Drua. They are coming off a well-earned break following their 21-point defeat at the hands of the Brumbies. I have no doubt they would have been watching their opposition closely in their battle of titans match against the Crusaders. The Blues were masterful in their win over the Crusaders which saw them match them all over the park and winning five crucial turnovers. They shot out of the gates early which put them in prime position before the Crusaders conceded a yellow card followed by a red card not long after, which simply delayed their comeback. By the time they were back to full, the game was pretty much gone. The Blues were all over their discipline which in turn sealed the fate of the Crusaders.

Blues to win in a canter.

Predictions:

Tip: Blues ($1.01)

Line: Blues -30.5 ($1.90)

Margin: Blues 13+ (Price to come)

*Prices via Ladbrokes as of 19/04/2022

This has the potential to be a cracking game and it’s going to be a real test for the Reds. The Hurricanes won both of their games that were played within five days, which started off with the annihilation of the Moana Pasifika team. They then faced the Highlanders where they started well but really fell apart throughout the game before pinching it late with a solid try. They would have been happy to have come away with two wins and will head to Australia to look to continue the momentum. The Reds should have put the Rebels away but a lack of discipline and poor set plays led to this game being a tight finish. It will be interesting to see which Reds team turns up this weekend because I have no doubt they wouldn’t have been happy with their performance last weekend.

I think the Hurricanes are really going to give the Reds a wake-up call here.

Predictions:

Tip: Hurricanes ($1.30)

Line: Hurricanes -8.5 ($1.90)

Margin: Hurricanes 13+ (Price to come)

*Prices via Ladbrokes as of 19/04/2022

The Highlanders are a team that seems to get so close and work so hard but never come away with the victories. They had the fatigued Hurricanes on the ropes on the weekend, only to concede a late try and go down by a point. The red card they conceded early in the game didn’t help them but as the match went on, you could see the momentum rise in this Highlanders team only for the win to be taken away late. They will face a Brumbies team who is fresh off a break and ready to prove why they are the number one Australian team.

The Brumbies get to face probably the weakest of the New Zealand teams and they will be looking to make a statement to the other teams that they aren’t to be messed with. I think they can win in a tight game.

Predictions:

Tip: ACT Brumbies ($2.60)

Line: ACT Brumbies +5.5 ($1.90)

Margin: ACT Brumbies 1-12 (Price to come)

*Prices via Ladbrokes as of 19/04/2022

Bet: A fresh Brumbies outfit look likely to get the only win for an Australian franchise this weekend. I thought playing the line will just cover us incase of a late surge by the Highlanders. Brumbies +5.5 – 3u @ $1.90.

This looks like the other blood bath of the weekend. The Crusaders will be looking for revenge after their loss to the Blues and they will be looking to show the rest of the competition that their loss didn’t rock them, it merely put them into gear. Their main area of concern from the weekend was their discipline but you would think they still should be able to put this Rebels team away regardless. The Rebels are producing better football than what they started the year off with but this is going to be a tough task and introduction to the New Zealand teams for 2022.

Crusaders by a margin.

Predictions:

Tip: Crusaders ($1.01)

Line: Crusaders -28.5 ($1.90)

Margin: Crusaders 13+ (Price to come)

*Prices via Ladbrokes as of 19/04/22