CRUSADERSThe Force host the Crusaders in Round 12 of Super Rugby Pacific in Perth on Saturday and the visitors are firm favourites to bounce back from a shock defeat in Australia last week.

 

 

 

Force v Crusaders, Saturday 7th May, Perth, KO 11:45 (South African time)

 

Referee: Jordan Way
Assistants: Damon Murphy, Matt Kellahan

Weather Forecast – HBF Park, Perth

 

Force:

 

The Force were 23.5 point underdogs for last week's week's home clash against the Blues in Perth but they made their opponents work hard for victory in the later stages of the game. Trailing 22-8 at half time they fought their way back but came up just short in a 22-18 defeat.

 

That was their first match against NZ opposition for the Force who have been involved in a number of real nail-biters, losing 22-21 to the Reds, they also lost to the Brumbies by a single point (39-38) and they edged out Fijian Drua (20-18)

 

The Force come into the round with a record of 2 wins and 7 defeats and they have 14 log points.

 

Crusaders:

 

The Crusaders came unstuck in Sydney last week when they went down 24-21 to the Waratahs. They were 17-0 down at half time and picked up a yellow and a red in the second half but still launched a fightback which eventually proved in vain.

 

In one earlier clash against Australian opposition the Crusaders put the Rebels away 42-17 in Melbourne, scoring 6 tries to 2 to pick up a bonus point.

Prior to that an 18 year unbeaten run against the Blues in Christchurch came to an end for the Crusaders who went down 27-23. The Crusaders only other defeat so far came at home to the Chiefs (24-21) in Round 4.

 

With a record of 7 wins and 3 defeats the Saders come into the weekend third in the standings with 34 log points, 5 points shy of the Brumbies and 6 behind the Blues.

 

The Crusaders are currently trading at around 7/4 favourites in the outright betting to win the tournament, now joint favourites with the Blues.

 

Team News (subject to change)

 

Force: Tom Robertson, Feleti Kaitu'u (c), Santiago Medrano, Ryan McCauley, Izack Rodda, Fergus Lee-Warner, Ollie Callan, Tim Anstee, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Reesjan Pasitoa, Manasa Mataele, Bayley Kuenzle, Kyle Godwin, Byron Ralston, Jake Strachan

 

Reserves: Andrew Ready, Angus Wagner, Bo Abra, Jeremy Thrush, Alex Masibaka, Ian Prior, Jake McIntyre, Richard Kahui

 

Crusaders: Tamaiti Williams, Ricky Jackson, Olie Jager, Zach Gallagher, Sam Whitelock, Pablo Matera, Ethan Blackadder, Cullen Grace, Mitchell Drummond, Richie Mo'unga, Leicester Fainga'anuku, David Havili (c), Braydon Ennor, George Bridge, Will Jordan

 

Reserves: George Bell, Finlay Brewis, Fletcher Newell, Dominic Gardiner, Sione Havili Talitui, Bryn Hall, Fergus Burke, Chay Fihaki

 

 

The Betting Need to open an account? Claim your 1st deposit bonus of up to R2,000 here

 

Force +20.5 points at 9/10

Crusaders -18.5 points at 9/10

 

Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.

 

Betting Angle

 

The money has come for the Crusaders with the handicap moving out 2 or 3 points since we recorded Thursday nights The Handicap Rugby Betting show. If pressed I would back the Crusaders on the handicap, but I prefer the total points market and I am backing Crusaders to score 36 points or more. They would have been stung by last week’s defeat to the Waratahs and are putting out a stronger side quite capable of tearing this Force side to shreds.

 

Click here for the video preview of Force v Crusaders for the views of @TheCroweTips and @Goonchie05

Click here to access our forum where other punters will share their views and I will post any points bets

 

BET: 4 Units Crusaders over 35.5 points at 0.88/1 @Sunbet

 

Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.

 

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