Super Rugby round one: match betting previews, where to watch and free tips

The all-conquering Crusaders are 21-10 to win a fourth consecutive Super Rugby final but they have had to absorb some significant player losses, with Kieran Read, Sam Whitelock and Ryan Crotty among the All Blacks to depart.

Fellow New Zealand sides the Chiefs and Hurricanes are next in the betting and we could be in for an exciting race to June's grand final.

Round one kicks off with the Chiefs' trip to face the Blues in Auckland.

Blues v Chiefs

Where to watch

Sky Sports Arena, 6.05am Friday

Best bet

Blues +3
1pt 5-6 Betway

Match preview

The Blues' signing of Beauden Barrett was the biggest headline of the off-season but the All Blacks fly-half does not arrive until April, while first-choice back-up Otere Black picked up an injury in pre-season.

Stephen Perofeta starts at ten for the Blues, while new Chiefs coach Warren Gatland has selected debutant Kaleb Trask to start opposite him.

Big things are expected of the Chiefs under Gatland but they were slow into their stride last season, failing to win their first five games, while they went down 23-8 in Auckland, a first win for the Blues against their Kiwi rivals in 16 meetings.

The Blues were a tough side to dominate at home last year and they can at least keep this close.

Key stat

The Blues suffered just two defeats in eight home matches last year - by two points to the Crusaders and by ten to the Hurricanes.

Brumbies v Reds

Where to watch

Sky Sports Arena, 8.15am Friday

Best bet

Brumbies to win by one to 12 points
1pt 2-1 Betfair

Match preview

The Brumbies have won the last five fixtures against the Reds in Canberra and won all their home matches last year following an opening-round defeat to the Rebels.

The Reds, by contrast, have won only two of their last ten matches against fellow Australian sides and this match looks set to follow a familiar pattern.

However, the Brumbies playmaker Christian Leali'ifano has moved to Japan and academy product Noah Lolesio makes his first start in the number ten shirt.

The Reds proved themselves a resilient side last year and a runaway home victory looks unlikely.

Key stat

Seven of the Reds’ ten defeats last season were by 12 or fewer points.

Sharks v Bulls

Where to watch

Sky Sports Arena, 5.10pm Friday

Best bet

Sharks to win by one to 12 points
1pt 17-10 bet365

Match preview

The Sharks usually come off second-best in this fixture, having lost eight and drawn one of the last nine, but they will be desperate for an opening win as they face four tough overseas tests in the coming weeks.

The Bulls are heavily depleted after a host of players moved on after the World Cup including fly-half Handre Pollard plus locks Lood de Jager and RG Snyman.

The Sharks lost by three points last year and can turn the tables, but they are not a team who score heavily so it could be a close affair.

Key stat

The Sharks’ matches were the lowest-scoring in Super Rugby last year, averaging 42 points per match.

Crusaders v Waratahs

Where to watch

Sky Sports Mix, 6.05am Saturday

Best bet

Waratahs +19
2pts Evs Betway

Match preview

The Crusaders have lost just five matches over their last three seasons as champions and are 18-point favourites at home to the Waratahs in their opening clash.

It's the start of a new era for the champion, who have lost All Blacks Kieran Read, Sam Whitelock, Matt Todd, Owen Franks, Ryan Crotty and Israel Dagg since their triumph over Los Jaguares in last July's final. Coach Scott Robertson has also chosen to rest some of his internationals including Joe Moody and George Bridge, with others on the bench.

The Waratahs are without Wallaby fly-half Bernard Foley, another big name to move to Japan since the World Cup.

With both teams much changed this may not be the most fluent of games and while the hosts should be comfortable, the handicap looks big.

Key stat

Nine of the Waratahs' ten defeats last season were by 12 points or fewer.

Stormers v Hurricanes

Where to watch

Sky Sports Arena, 1.05pm Saturday

Best bet

Stormers -1
1pt 10-11 Coral, Ladbrokes, Sky Bet

Match preview

It's six years since the Canes had to make the trip to Cape Town - their 19-18 defeat to the Stormers in 2014 was the sixth loss they suffered in seven meetings.

Since then it's been three straight wins but all in Wellington, and although they ran in a total of 15 tries in those matches, this will be a tougher test in unfamiliar conditions.

The New Zealand side beat the Lions in Johannesburg and Sharks in Durban last year, both by double-figure margins, and have named a strong team.

But the Stormers' pack includes five players who lined up in the Rugby World Cup final against England, and there is also plenty of physical presence in the backline, bolstered by the arrival of Wales international Jamie Roberts.

Playing an opening match overseas is a tough challenge and the Canes may come up just short.

Key stat

The Stormers have lost four of their 16 matches in Cape Town over the last two seasons.

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