SUPER RUGBY

The Super Rugby season begins with a pair of games in South Africa in the early hours of Sunday morning and it should come as no surprise that New Zealand sides dominate the premiership betting market with Ladbrokes.

The Crusaders and Hurricanes are locked in a battle for favouritism at a quote of $4.50, while the Lions ($6) are the only non-New Zealand side on the first six lines of betting.

It is almost impossible for the Australian sides to do any worse than they did last year and both the Waratahs and the Brumbies are $17 to claim another Super Rugby title. Brad Thorn may be one of the most decorated footballers in history, but punters aren’t expecting him to be a miracle worker in his first season at the Reds, and they are $67 with Ladbrokes to replicate the heights of 2011.