Saturday's Super Rugby round 17 match betting previews, TV details & tipping

Waratahs v Brumbies

Sky Sports Arena, 10.45am Saturday

The Waratahs kept alive their slim hopes of reaching the playoffs with a dogged 20-15 win over the Rebels in Melbourne last week but had won just one of their previous five outings.

The Brumbies have won six of their last seven, their only defeat coming by five points in Buenos Aires, and have won five of their last six against their Aussie rivals.

This looks a match the visitors should be targeting and the Brumbies are worth backing at a shade of odds-against.

Recommendation
Brumbies
1pt 23-20 Hills

Crusaders v Rebels

Sky Sports Arena, 8.35am Saturday

The Rebels have refuted suggestions their focus is only on their final-round match against immediate playoff rivals the Chiefs. But the team news from the Melbourne outfit and a 20-point handicap against the table-topping Crusaders suggests they may well be saving their best efforts for the following week.

First-choice fly-half Quade Cooper, who has started every Rebels match, is benched while scrum-half Will Genia is out of the squad.

Matt Toomua is a decent replacement at number ten, but it would be no surprise if the Crusaders, who have a final-round bye, go out on a high.

The Kiwi outfit have put 55, 41 and 85 points on the Rebels in their last three meetings, two of those in Melbourne, and they could run away with it by the end.

Recommendation
Crusaders -19
1pt 10-11 general

The Lions v Hurricanes, Stormers v Sunwolves and Jaguares v Sharks fixtures are being shown in full on Sky Sports Arena from 11.30pm on Saturday

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