A Beginner’s Guide to Betting on Super Rugby

New to the world of Super Rugby? Welcome to a thrilling competition featuring New Zealand’s and Australia’s top teams alongside other notable Pacific clubs. Each week offers open opportunities for punters to have some fun and win a few bets. Regardless of who you support, participating in Super Rugby is one way to improve your confidence in placing bets. If you need a bit of help, this guide covers the basics, including odds calculation, popular betting markets, and essential strategies for maintaining discipline and consistency when punting. 

How do odds work?

Bookmakers present odds in decimal format, indicating the amount you’ll receive for every dollar you wager, including your initial stake. For instance, if you place a $50 bet on the Brumbies to defeat the Highlanders at odds of 2.40, your total payout would be $120 if they win. This total encompasses your original stake as well.

These odds also reflect the bookmaker’s assessment of the likelihood of an outcome. To determine the implied probability, you can simply divide 1 by the decimal odds. In this case, one divided by 2.40 gives you approximately 0.42, or 42 per cent. If you think the Brumbies have a better chance than 42 per cent of winning, the odds may actually represent good value. 

Value betting is essential for long-term success; it’s not just about selecting winners every time but rather about spotting odds that underestimate a team’s true potential.

What are the most popular bets in Super Rugby?

There are plenty of bets you can place on Super Rugby matches, but not all are as lucrative as others. In fact, some types of bets are extremely risky, so as a beginner, before you really get into betting on the sport, it’s important to know which bets are the most popular and why:

1. Match results

If you’re looking to place what could be considered the most straightforward bet, you’ve got to bet on match results. You pick the result of the match: either Team A wins, Team B wins, or it ends in a draw. While draws are rare in rugby, they do happen on the odd occasion, so it’s best not to rule them out because the odds can often be generous because of it. However, in the finals, draws don’t apply since extra time or tiebreak rules come into play. 

With this type of bet, you can easily spot a win. While there’s never a guarantee that one team will definitely come out victorious, the chances are that certain teams, based on previous performances and current statistics, are more likely to win compared to others. In these cases, it’s also important to note that when there is a very obvious favourite, your return on a game like this wouldn’t be too high. However, if you placed your bet on the underdog and they came out on top, then you would get a pretty decent return. 

2. Half-time results

Another popular option is to place a bet on who will be leading the game in the first half. The best course of action is to use performance trends to inform this decision. Some teams, like the Hurricanes, are known for having a very explosive start, racking up a few points early in the game. While this doesn’t mean they will win the overall game, it could be a winning bet for half-time results if you can spot the trend early. 

3. Handicap

There’s a good chance you’ve heard of handicap betting, also called line betting. It’s one of the most popular ways to wager on rugby! It levels the playing field between two uneven teams. 

For example, if the Waratahs are priced at minus 5.5, they need to win by six points or more for your bet to succeed. If you take their opponent at plus 5.5, they can lose by five points or fewer, and your bet still wins, so if you can see that the strength of two teams is vastly different, placing this type of bet can even the playing field if you want. 

4. Winning Margins

As the name suggests, winning margin bets allow you to predict the margins between the scores for the winning and losing team. Bookmakers typically offer a few-point ranges, such as 1 to 5 points, 6 to 10, or 11 to 15. Because of how rugby scoring works, tries are worth five, conversions two, and penalties or drop goals three; margins can shift quickly. 

Teams that have a bigger or stronger forward pack generally tend to dominate in the scrums and rucks, while those that have a faster style of play and a decent front line run away with the game. Again, by checking the past performance of these teams and examining performance trends, you can somewhat predict the margins. 

5. Total points

If you prefer to focus on how open or tight a match might be, total points is your market. Here, you’ll predict whether the combined score of both teams will go over or under a number set by the bookmaker. Let’s say the line is 48.5. You’re deciding whether the match total will finish above or below that figure. 

Dry conditions and running rugby usually push games over the line, while wet weather, heavy pitches, or tactical kicking contests tend to keep totals lower. So, keep an eye on how the game progresses. If you see both teams playing a running game with a lot of off-loading and contact, the scores could skyrocket. 

Where can you go to find the best odds?

Rugby is fast-paced, and it can be challenging to pin down the results of a game. But practice makes perfect. The more you spend time looking at the odds, watching games, and betting, the sooner you’ll pick up trends in the game that can lead to winning bets. For the latest Super Rugby odds, go to TAB’s website. Here you’ll find the best Super Rugby odds and see what they are predicting for the upcoming games. 

Final thoughts

Betting on Super Rugby involves more than just picking winners; it’s about understanding the game and managing your bankroll wisely. Done responsibly, punting can totally up the experience of each match by adding an element of exhilaration, but don’t go big too soon. Start simply, stay disciplined, and learn from your experiences. With time, you’ll notice trends in teams that consistently cover the line or excel in specific conditions. By combining smart betting with your passion for the game, you can enjoy each season more and increase your chances of turning a profit.