Super Rugby Aotearoa round 3: Blues v Highlanders betting tips, odds

Welcome to our Blues v Highlanders free betting predictions for the week-three clash of the Super Rugby Aotearoa season at Eden Park, Auckland, on Sunday, March 14. 

This is the second of the Super Rugby Aotearoa matches for the weekend, with the match on Saturday pitting title favourites Crusaders against the Chiefs at Orangetheory Stadium.

The Blues loom as the team most likely to upset the Crusaders’ plans of another title and they have won their only match so far this season, 31-16 against the Hurricanes in week one.

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But there has never been much between these teams, with the overall record standing at 19-16 in favour of the Blues from their 35 previous meetings. In their most recent encounter, the Blues prevailed 32-21 against the Highlanders in Dunedin in 2020.

The good news is that fans will be allowed for this match and given the Highlanders’ impressive display last week this seems certain to be a cracking, competitive match. Young winger Jona Nareki was electric for the South Island side last week and his clash with All Blacks winger Caleb Clarke makes this a must match contest for all lovers of quality rugby.

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How does Super Rugby work this season?

With South Africa out of the equation, the Super Rugby season has three components: Super Rugby AU (Australian regional tournament), Super Rugby Aotearoa (New Zealand regional tournament), then the combined Super Rugby Trans-Tasman (starting May 14).

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Blues v Highlanders teams

Blues team

Stephen Perofeta, Mark Telea, Rieko Ioane, Harry Plummer, Caleb Clarke, Otere Black, Jonathan Ruru; Hoskins Sotutu, Dalton Papalii, Akira Ioane, Sam Darry, Patrick Tuipulotu (c), Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Luteru Tolai, Karl Tu’inukuafe. Reserves: Kurt Eklund, James Lay, Nepo Laulala, Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, Tom Robinson, Sam Nock, Tanielu Tele’a, Emoni Narawa.

Highlanders team

Connor Garden-Bachop, Ngatugnane Punivai, Michael Collins, Patelesio Tomkinson, Jona Nareki, Josh Ioane, Aaron Smith (c); Hugh Renton, James Lentjes, Shannon Frizell, Manaaki Selby-Rickit, Josh Dickson, Siate Tokolahi, Liam Coltman, Ethan de Groot. Reserves: Ash Dixon, Josh Hohneck, Jeff Thwaites, Bryn Evans, Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, Folau Fakatava, Mitch Hunt, Billy Harmon.

Continue reading for our free Blues v Highlanders tips for the Super Rugby Aotearoa match in Auckland on Sunday, March 14. 

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Blues v Highlandersodds

Head to head odds: Blues $1.35, Highlanders $3.20
Handicap betting: Blues (-7.5 points) $1.85, Highlanders (+7.5 points) $1.95
Super Rugby Aotearoa title betting: Crusaders $1.62, Blues $3.50, Highlanders $11, Hurricanes $13, Chiefs $15.

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Blues v Highlanders betting tips

Our rugby tipster has examined the odds and found several Blues v Highlanders tips for the round 3 Super Rugby Aotearoa clash.

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Blues v Highlanders prediction 14/3/2021

This clash will be a good measure of what chance the Blues have of upstaging the Crusaders this season. They need to improve again of a good season in 2020 but that appears to have happened. They should have enough firepower to get the job done and with a clear day forecast for Auckland this should be a really entertaining contest. Our final Blues v Highlanders prediction? Blues by seven points.

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Blues v Highlanders Super Rugby Aotearoa details

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