Super Rugby 2013 - Week 2

Highlanders (5/6) v Chiefs (6/5)

Arguably the game of the weekend comes here in an early morning cracker, with last year’s Champions travelling to a side that many have tipped for big things following some eyecatching appointments over the winter, including World Cup winners Ma'a Nonu, Tony Woodcock and Brad Thorn. With the Chiefs a little light on backline players – Sonny Bill Williams, Jackson Williamson, and Robbie Robson are all absent from the last meeting – and the Highlanders having home advantage, the hosts get the call, with a narrow winning margin making far more appeal at double the price of the straight win; Last season they won 5 matches at home and only one by more than 12 points and a winning margin of more than 12 points over the Champions would be a shock; Consider the 1-5 winning margin.

Advice: 2 pts Highlanders to win by 1-12 points (7/4 Ladbrokes)

Rebels (5/2) v Brumbies (4/9) 

Wallaby watchers with this summer’s Lions tour in mind should enjoy this matchup of last week’s Australian derby winners with several potential starters facing off against eachother. While the Rebels were at times very unconvincing against the Force in week one, especially in the opening half, the Brumbies stopped the talented Reds backline in their tracks on their way to a comprehensive, if not unflattering, win, in week one. If as disciplined in defence, they should be able to take a fairly convicting win and cover a 5 point start.

Advice: 1 pt Brumbies -5 (10/11 general)

Bulls (6/5) v Stormers (4/5)

The first taste of Super Rugby for South Africa is a real heavyweight clash at Loftus Versfield, with two of last season’s Top 6 in the Bulls and the Stormers facing off against eachother. Both should expect to be fighting for the title at the end of the season and are very tough to split, but the Stormers topped the table in regular season time last year and have beaten the Bulls at home on the last two occasions, so get the vote to make it three, with the 1-5 point winning margin also suggested.

Advice: 2 pts Stormers to win by 1-12 points (15/8 Coral)

Hurricanes (1/2) v Blues (9/4)

Home advantage should see the Hurricanes, who have won three of their last four against the Blues, overcome the absence of Adrdie Savea and Cory Jane, both of whom provided the impetus of everything good at the club last season. This trends to be a high scoring game - 5 out of the last 6 matches between the sides have seen 48 points or more – and Bet 365’s mark of 50.5 can be beaten if both teams are in full flow.

Advice: 1 pt Over 50.5 points (91/100 Bet365)

Reds (4/5) v Waratahs (4/3)

The Reds were very disappointing in defeat at the Brumbies last week but they’re a better team than that effort shows and can edge their local showdown with the neighboring Waratahs on home soil. The likes of Quade Cooper, Ben Lucas, Will Genia, Ben Tapuai and Digby Ioane were all shut down from early on last weekend but things should be different and having tht effort under their belt could be a massive advantage given that the Tahs didn’t play last weekend.

Advice: 2 pts Reds to win by 1-12 points (15/8 Coral)

Cheeaths (9/4) v Sharks (1/2)

The Cheetahs are 6 point underdogs for this game and that line looks difficult to argue with, given that the Sharks reached the final last year. For all that the home side have more depth at 9-15 than last year, they are too reliant upon Johan Goosen at 10 and look vulnerable to a visiting side who have a great record here and should be smarting from losing last year’s final.

Advice: 1 pt Sharks -5 (10/11 Ladbrokes)

Southern Kings (6/1) v W Force (1/9)

The Southern Kings are hot wooden spoon favourites and may go home winless throughought the whole of Super Rugby, but should be best first time up infront of their fans at the Nelson Mandela stadium. With the forecast also not perfect  - high winds are expected – the handicap of upto 12 points looks potentially stiff even in light of the Force’s impressive display against the Rebels in week one. An away win by upto 12 points looks the best option.

Advice: 1 pt Force to win by 1-12 points (15/8 Paddy Power)