Friday's Super Rugby round nine betting preview, tips & TV details

Rebels v Stormers
Sky Sports Action, 10.45am

The Rebels can continue their charge to top spot in the Australian Conference with a victory by 11 points or more over the Stormers at AAMI Park.

The Melbourne men made it five wins out of seven for the season with a 42-15 home success over the Sunwolves last Saturday and two weeks ago they beat the Reds 32-13 in Brisbane.

Eight games on the spin, including their two weeks in South Africa and the travel back and forth from the Rainbow Nation, would normally be a reason for caution.

However, the Stormers have lost 24-9 to the Blues in Auckland and 24-12 to the Reds at Suncorp since their brave 34-28 defeat to the Hurricanes in Wellington and injuries seem to be affecting their cohesion and morale.

Recommendation
Rebels -10
1pt 10-11 general

Crusaders v Highlanders
Sky Sports Action, 8.35am

The Crusaders are worth a wager to give up 14 points to the Highlanders at Christchurch Stadium in making it seven wins out of eight for the season and a record 24 straight home successes.

The back-to-back champions have responded in style to their round-six defeat in Sydney to the Waratahs, beating the Canes 32-8 in Wellington and then the Brumbies 36-14, after trailing 7-0 at half-time, in their first home game since the Christchurch terror attacks.

The Highlanders started the campaign brightly with a win at the Chiefs and then a home victory over the Reds but have lost four on the spin around the teams' meeting in Dunedin that was not played out of respect for the 50 people killed in the shootings at two mosques.

And while the 'Landers have not been involved in a match with a double-figure winning margin this term, they lost 45-22 in Christchurch last year when also beaten by 13 points or more at the Waratahs, Sharks and Hurricanes in the regular season.

Recommendation
Crusaders -14
1pt 10-11 general

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