Blues vs Highlanders Super Rugby Final betting tips – 19/6/2021

BettingSite.com.au brings you the best bets on offer for the 2021 Super Rugby Trans Tasman Final between the Blues and Highlanders on Saturday night at Eden Park, Auckland.

These two teams met just two months ago in the Super Rugby Aotearoa competition, where the Highlanders got the better of their more-fancied rivals. Despite that result, rugby union bookies have the Blues as $1.35 favourites in their attempt to win a fourth Super Rugby title. There looks to be plenty of value with the Highlanders ($3.35) following their recent success over the Blues, although they will need to turn around a poor record at Eden Park having lost their past three games at the ground.

Super Rugby Trans Tasman Final match analysis

This Super Rugby Final is a genuine matchup of two elite defences. The Blues have conceded an average of 15.8 points per game (1st), whereas the Highlanders have let in just 19.2 points per game (3rd), meaning that points will be at a premium on Saturday night.

Despite being defensively strong, the Blues were made to work in their final-round win over the Western Force. Having gone into half-time as comfortable 28-0 leaders, the Force gave the Blues plenty of defensive headaches in the second half when bringing the scoreline back to 31-21 by the final whistle. If the Blues are to win this, they cannot afford any second-half lapses against this Highlanders team.

The Highlanders sealed their spot in the Trans Tasman Final with a smart 33-12 bonus-point victory over the Brumbies in Canberra last Saturday night. Both teams went through the season undefeated, and considering the Highlanders toppled the Blues in their most recent fixture, it is remarkable that there is such a market discrepancy heading into the decider.

Blues vs Highlanders predictions & best bets

Highlanders to win

We are going with a bit of an upset in the 2021 Super Rugby Trans Tasman Final, where we expect the Highlanders to secure their first title since 2015. The team from Dunedin warmed up for this in fine style with a comfortable win over the Brumbies, whereas the Blues were made to work hard against the Western Force. There was not much separating these two teams when they met in Super Rugby Aotearoa just two months ago, and we expect it to be a similar situation this weekend with the Highlanders taking home the trophy.