The first round of the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season will take place this weekend with each fixture promising to be action packed. Below we look at the two matches being held on Friday the 14th of February and we offer a bet in each game.
BLUES FANCIED TO DOUBLE UP
Let’s look at the Outright Betting before we commence. The Blues are currently favourites to lift the trophy after their win last season trading at 3.00, the Chiefs trail them priced at 3.75 and the Crusaders are in 3rd overall slightly further back at 7.00. The rest of the teams are priced at odds of 10.00 and higher.
Click here for the Outright Betting Markets.
CRUSADERS vs HURRICANES – click here to bet
The Crusaders had a tough season in 2024 which is very out of character and across the competition they played 14 matches, winning just 4 and losing 10. This resulted in them finishing in 9th on the log and missing out on the playoffs.
Their last 6 matches of the tournament resulted in 3 wins and 3 losses so they found some form in the back-end of the season.
The Hurricanes were superb last year, topping the log with 56 points, just 1 point above the Blues in second. Of their 14 league matches they were able to pick up 12 wins with 2 losses that both came in their last 6 matches.
After the group stages they breezed past the Rebels in the Quarters but unfortunately, they were unable to make the final after a 30-19 loss to the Chiefs in the Semi-Final.
Head-to-Head
These sides have met 3 times since 2022. The first match was won 24-21 by the Crusaders in Wellington, however, the next in 2023 went the way of the Hurricanes who clinched a narrow 27-26 victory at home. Their most recent meeting was last season where the Hurricanes won by 4 points in a low scoring encounter that finished 14-10 in Christchurch.
Handicap: Crusaders -2.5
The total points line is 53.5 and although conditions look decent I think this could be an arm wrestle and I am betting we get 53 points or less a bet that would have arrived in the last 3 head-to-head matches.
Suggested Bet: Under 53.5 points at 1.90
WARATAHS vs HIGHLANDERS – click here to bet
The Waratahs had a terrible campaign last season which resulted in them finishing last overall with just 13 points to their name. Across the 14 rounds of fixtures, they participated in they were only able to pick up 2 wins, losing the remaining 12 matches.
Their form in the latter half of the season showed no signs of improvement and they lost their last 6 matches in a row.
The Highlanders had a reasonable season last year despite being unable to hold onto winning form for extended periods. They finished on 28 points which led to them placing 6th overall with 6 wins and 8 losses after 14 matches.
They were away to the Brumbies in the quarter-finals and lost 32-16.
Head-to-Head
The last three times these sides met occurred over the last 3 years with the Waratahs taking the win in 2022 with a final scoreline of 32-20 in Dunedin. A year later and once again it was the Waratahs who took a tight 21-20 win, this time in Sydney. The third and most recent clash was held in March 2024 where the Highlanders just pipped the Waratahs to take a 23-21 point victory in Sydney.
Handicap: Waratahs -7.5
I like the Waratahs squad this season and as Australia build to RWC 2027 I am expecting a strong season and I think they can beat a Highlanders side and the handicap this week.
Suggested Bet: Waratahs -7.5 at 1.95
Click here for betting on all of this weekend’s Super Rugby action
Note: All prices correct at time of writing but subject to change.
