Round 5 of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season is complete and in this blog we list the results and look at how they have impacted the standings before turning our attention to Round 6 from a betting angle.
Round 6 Fixtures and handicap projections
Posted 15 March 22h36
Below are the round 6 fixtures with my handicap projections which will be compared to the bookmakers early lines on Monday
Friday 20 March 2026
Highlanders +5.5 v Hurricanes (08:05)
Brumbies +2.5 v Chiefs (10:35)
Saturday 21 March 2026
Drua -3.5 v Reds (05:35) - played in Lautoka
Moana Pasifika +26.5 v Crusaders (08:05) - played in Auckland
Waratahs +6.5 v Blues (10:35)
ROUND 5 RESULTS
Posted 15 March
Hurricanes 31–23 Western Force – the Force comfortably beat the handicap of +21.5 and more important for me the half time handicap of +8.5 which was the blog selection
Fijian Drua 42–27 ACT Brumbies – The Drua claimed another big scalp and having priced them as slight favourites I took the early 23/10 they would win the match
Crusaders 29–18 Highlanders – I thought the handicap of Crusaders -10.5 looked about right and went for a speculative Crusaders by 8-14 play at 3/1 and it arrived on the back of a Crusaders comeback. The Codie Taylor 1st Crusaders Try Score was the only play of the weekend to miss.
Queensland Reds 26–17 NSW Waratahs – The Reds scored twice late to land another 8-14 pick at 3/1 – they started the game -10.5.
Blues 43–7 Moana Pasifika – I left this game alone as could not watch and did not want to give anything back from a much needed profitable Super Rugby weekend.
LEAGUE TABLE UPDATE
The Hurricanes currently sit in first place on 15 points from four matches, their strong points differential giving them a narrow edge despite having played one game fewer than most of the competition.
The Blues and ACT Brumbies are also on 15 points after five matches and remain firmly in the hunt near the summit of the standings.
Just behind them are the Chiefs and Queensland Reds, both on 13 points from four matches, while the NSW Waratahs complete the top six with 10 points from their opening four fixtures.
Outside the playoff positions sit the Highlanders and Crusaders on nine points each after five matches, while the Fijian Drua moved to eight points with their win in Round 5.
At the lower end of the table Western Force and Moana Pasifika are both on four points after five rounds and their playoff hopes are hanging by a thread.
I will be back later today with my handicap projections for Round 6.
