Winning Nationality – New Zealand $1.90 @bet365
Call me a biased Kiwi but since the conception of Super
Rugby, New Zealand teams have accounted for 12 championships compared to just 3
each for Australia and South Africa and New Zealand Rugby showed little sign of
slowing down throughout the 2013 year. The back to back champion Chiefs come in
favourites once again and with good reason with several core players still
young and developing despite having already achieved such great success.
Players like Aaron Cruden (25) Ben Afeaki (25) Ben Tameifuna (22) Tawera
Kerr-Barlow (23) Sam Cane (21) are already world class talents who still have
plenty of room to grow. It’s scary to think that this Chiefs outfit that has
already won two titles in a row could still just be scratching the surface, but
they account for a significant portion of what is looked to be the future of
the All Black side. But you aren’t just betting on the Chiefs, you’re betting
on the always threatening Crusaders and with the talent at the Blues,
Hurricanes and Highlanders there’s always a chance they put all the pieces
together as well.
Top Australian Team – Reds $3.50 @bet365
In an up and down year for the Wallabies, it came as no
surprise to me that when the Australian side once again opened their arms to
Quade Cooper that things started to head in a better direction. One of the most
polarising players in the Southern Hemisphere, there’s little debate that when
he puts it together he’s a world beating talent, and combined with Will Genia
in the halves they have the potential to be as good as any halfback/first five
combinations out there. It was only 2011 that we saw this tandem help lead the
Reds to a Super Rugby title with an exhilarating brand of Rugby that left
defences clueless and fans out of their seats. Well supported by the likes of
Mike Harris, James Horwill and the Fainga’as if Cooper and Genia continue their
march back into form then there’s no reason why they couldn’t once again set
Super Rugby alight.
To make the top 6 – Cheetahs $3.50 @bet365
Since their return to the competition in 2006, the Cheetahs
had failed to finish any higher than 10th on the ladder, until last
year when they dashed in to 6th place and earned themselves their
first post season appearance. While they were lost in that qualifier, it was a
huge accomplishment for a team that for so long had been one of the running
jokes of the competition. Despite a 10 win 6 loss record, many pundits failed
to acknowledge the improved play of this young Cheetahs outfit after being
acclimatised to seeing them as the easy beats for so long. The Cheetahs
represent an exciting outlook for the future of South African Rugby, determined
to move away from the confined, 10 man style game that the South Africans have
grown accustomed to. The Cheetahs, led by dynamic young five eight Johan
Goosen, have plenty of flair and love to toss the ball around, an exciting
attacking game that countless Super Rugby teams have proven can be very
successful at this level. After an injury riddled 2013 campaign, Goosen, who at
21 has already notched 4 caps for the Springboks, will be desperate to stamp
his authority quickly in his quest to make the South African number 10 jersey
his own. The Cheetahs play in such a positive fashion and have proven they’re
capable of being amongst the top of this competition, this year the pressure is
on for them to show they can do that consistently and I expect them to rise to
the challenge.
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