Marvellous Lions an easy banker

How good do those Lions look? Or was it the moderate opposition? I can’t believe how bad the Bulls are. It’s hard to comprehend how this once proud union has sunk to such low depths.

The Lions have embraced what rugby looks like in this day and age. They are far and away the best team outside NZ – it’s just a question of whether their form and high-tempo game will succeed against far stronger opponents come play-off time.

I thought the Kings were in the game against the Brumbies despite having a poor return on territory and possession, but couldn’t understand their insistence on not taking the points on offer when they should have. It was a very tight game and the Brumbies, despite looking dangerous, were battling to score. I understand the Kings are battling to stay alive, but at the very least they would have been in the lead, and with the Brumbies chasing the game, anything could have happened.

I thought the Stormers were incredibly lucky to beat the Blues. Down on the scoreboard and not looking amazing, they benefited from a poor decision by referee Van Heerden and TMO Veldsman not to red card Treeby for a clear shot to the head which knocked out the Blues pivot. Considering the red card that Steven Luatua got against the Chiefs earlier in the season for something far more innocuous, it defied belief. I will always back a ref if he is unsighted or makes a mistake in motion as a result of the speed of a fixture, but in this instance they could have reviewed it in slo-mo. It’s no surprise the Blues are spitting mad.

This weekend in the Rugby 5, we have a ready-made banker in the Canes. The Bulls have been dreadful and will do well to avoid another heavy defeat. I’m hoping they lift their game and are competitive, but I really can’t see them winning. Conversely, the Canes have some special game breakers in their midst and two sets of brothers who are all able to turn the game around in the space of a few minutes (Barrett and Savea). Betting World odds of -17 seem quite fair.

The Sharks are 8/11 with Betting World to beat the Stormers and although I think homeground advantage tips it in their favour, I wouldn’t be going mad looking for a bet here. Go as wide as possible as it is a local derby.

Similarly the Jaguares would be my pick to beat the travelling Brumbies, but I don’t think it’s worth a big bet. They started the season so promisingly, but have not been able to carry that form into the latter stages of the competition. Still I like them to win and if you agree, then the five-point start (10/11) offered by Betting World is worth taking on.

So with some of the fixtures looking tricky this weekend I would rather be going for this treble: Reds to win (2/5); Jaguares to win (4/9); Lions to burst the Kings bubble and win by more than 23 (10/11).