Blink and you miss it. In a season that is barely three months old, the Super Rugby Pacific 2023 playoffs are here this weekend. With four quarterfinals being played across Friday and Saturday, before semi-finals and the final over the next two weekends, it’s crunch time in the world’s best rugby competition.
Can the Chiefs continue their dominant season by winning three more matches to lift the trophy? Or will the Crusaders do what they do best and claim their fifth consecutive title? What about the dangerous Hurricanes or the talented Blues? Throw in a couple of Australian teams as well as playoff debutants, the Fijian Drua, and we have an excellent few weeks of rugby ahead.
We break down all the best bets to place on the Super Rugby Pacific 2023 playoffs with the latest odds from bookmaker William Hill.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: June 8th, 2:45 A.M. (GMT)
Looking at the outright winner odds ahead of the quarterfinals this weekend, it’s no surprise that the Chiefs are clear favourites at 2.10 to win the competition. Behind them on 3.25 are the Crusaders with the Blues next at 5.00. These three are the real contenders in terms of William Hill’s numbers with the Hurricanes and Brumbies longer shots at 11.00 and 13.00. After these five, the odds become astronomical for the Waratahs, Reds and Drua to win, sitting between 101.00 and 201.00.
In terms of match-ups this weekend in the quarterfinals, the Blues, Chiefs and Crusaders are all overwhelming favourites against the Waratahs, Reds and Drua respectively. The only tight match in the odds is the Brumbies vs. Hurricanes, where the Kiwi side has a slight edge at 1.73 to 2.10.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: June 8th, 2:45 A.M. (GMT)
There are some excellent bets to be made over the next three weeks.
To start, this weekend the Hurricanes should beat the Brumbies. This is essentially the only match worth betting on considering how skewed the odds are in the other three quarterfinals. However, at 1.73 for a Hurricanes’ win, a solid return can still be generated from wagering on the men in yellow.
Last time they squared off against the Brumbies, the Hurricanes came away victorious. This Saturday night, there’s no reason to believe they won’t do so again—particularly with a fresh win over the Crusaders in their pocket, revenge for last season on their minds, and a semi-final spot on the line.
When it comes to betting on the overall winner of Super Rugby Pacific 2023, the Hurricanes are also offering the best value. On balance, the Chiefs may well be the most likely team to win given their record this season. However, we’d take a 11.00 bet on the Hurricanes over a 2.10 bet on the Chiefs any day of the week, with the reward outweighing the risk if the Wellingtonians manage to pull off a heist.
Admittedly, the Hurricanes have been somewhat mercurial this season. Recent back-to-back losses to the Chiefs and Blues were a tough pill to swallow for Canes fans, as was an away loss to the Drua. Thankfully, the team seems to have peaked at the right time with a compelling win over the Crusaders last weekend.
Beat the Brumbies in Canberra this weekend and the Hurricanes will most likely head to Hamilton for a semi-final against the Chiefs. Yes, the Mooloos have beaten them twice this year, but the most recent game was tighter than it should have been in many respects. The Hurricanes were without their three strike men—Tyrell Lomax, Ardie Savea and Jordie Barrett—plus the conditions were atrocious. And yet, they were in the match right up until the last five.
With the weight of overwhelming expectation on the Chiefs’ shoulders from a stadium full of fans who haven’t seen a title in a decade, a stronger, more fluid Hurricanes team could well pull off an upset. That would mean a Hurricanes vs. Crusaders final in all likelihood and we know how that match went recently.
