Super Rugby Round 9 Best Bets - Chiefs and Crusaders to secure comfortable Super Rugby wins

Moana Pasifika could not end their long six-game losing run in round seven as they were beaten 39-19 by the Highlanders on their own patch. They then had to sit out round eight of the tournament ahead of their clash with the Chiefs on April 11. Six successive defeats in Super Rugby have come on the back of an excellent 40-26 win over Fijian Drua in round one. Since then, they have struggled for any kind of momentum, with the side now propping up the ladder with four points from seven outings. 

The Chiefs hammered the Waratahs 42-14 in their last game as they made it consecutive victories in the competition. A total of five wins from a possible seven along with two bonus points has seen the side secure 22 points. They currently sit three points short of the Hurricanes at the summit having played a game more. 

In their head to head, the Chiefs have been too good, winning all eight of their previous meetings. Their last three wins against their opponents have been with score of 50-35, 85-7 and 57-24. I predict another big win for the Chiefs this week as they continue to gather momentum. 

The Reds were consigned to a second humbling defeat in a matter of one game week as they followed up their 52-14 loss to the Hurricanes with a 42-19 defeat to the Force at home. While the Reds have managed to win four of their seven this season, they have lost three times, with two of these defeats coming in their last two outings. While they are very much in the conversation to secure an off-season spot, they cannot afford to let their losing run extend. 

The Crusaders continue to build momentum, with the outfit arriving for their latest Super Rugby game on the back of a stunning 69-26 win over Fijian Drua. This victory followed on from a 29-18 win over the Highlanders and a 50-21 win over Moana Pasifika. While they beat the bottom two sides in their last two outings, no win in Super Rugby is particularly easy to come by, meaning the Crusaders should not underestimate the power of a winning run, regardless of which sides they have beaten. 

In their last 10 meetings, the Crusaders have won nine times with the Reds winning once back in 2024. Each of the last six times the Crusaders have beaten the Reds, the winning margin has been by 13 points or more, and I am backing more of the same in this one as they edge to a fourth consecutive triumph in the competition.