Highlanders vs Chiefs Prediction: Chiefs to dominate in Dunedin

It’s the final round of the Super Rugby Pacific regular season this week, and on Friday morning (08:05, Sky Sports Action), the Chiefs will be looking to secure top spot in the standings when they head to Forsyth Barr Stadium to face the rock-bottom Highlanders.

Below is my Highlanders vs Chiefs prediction piece, as well as all the essential team news and match odds for the all-Kiwi clash in Dunedin.

Team News

Starting with the hosts, the Highlanders go with a front row of skipper Ethan de Groot, Jack Taylor and Saula Ma’u, while locks Fabian Holland and Tai Cribb also get the nod.

Veveni Lasaqa, Te Kamaka Howden and Sean Withy star in the back row, with Polau Fakatava and Cam Millar pairing in the half backs.

Tomoci Tavatavanawai and Tanielu Tele’a start in the centres, while the Highlanders go with a back three of Taniela Filimone, Jonah Lowe and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens.

Rugby Union Odds

As for the Chiefs, the visitors go with a front row of Jared Proffit, Bradley Slater and Reuben O’Neill.

Josh Lord and Tupou Vaa’i start in the engine room, with Samipeni Finau, skipper Like Jacobson and Wallace Sititi making up the back row.

Xavier Roe and Damian McKenzie start in the half-backs, with Quinn Tupaea and Daniel Rona in the centres.

The Chiefs go with a back three of Etene Nanai-Seturo, Leroy Carter and Shaun Stevenson.

Highlanders vs Chiefs Odds

The Highlanders are 9/2 underdogs to finish their season on a high with a victory, implying an 18.2% chance of success, while the Chiefs are 1/6 to head back to Hamilton with a win.

A draw is available at 25/1, while over 56.5 points to be scored in the game is currently 20/21.

Chiefs -16 handicap @ 5/4

The Highlanders have been no match for the Chiefs in recent years, and there is little to suggest that Friday’s game will be any different, in a match that sees the two teams who book-end the Super Rugby Pacific table go head to head.

Winning all of their last six games against the Highlanders, this has been an all-Kiwi rivalry dominated by the Chiefs.

With the Hamilton outfit winning their last meeting 46-10 in April at FMG Stadium Waikato, the Chiefs to cover the -16 handicap in Dunedin gets the nod here.

Damian McKenzie (CHI) Anytime Tryscorer @ 9/5

Having scored tries in the Chiefs’ last two games, against Crusaders and Moana Pasifika, it’s hard to look past the 9/5 on offer for Damian McKenzie to bag another try on Friday morning.

Completely settled into his role at fly-half after previous spells at full-back, the All Blacks star has been in great form of late.

A player who can find a pocket of space in the backline, or get himself on the end of a break with his intelligent support lines, McKenzie to add to his try collection on Friday appeals here.

Find more Rugby Union Betting Tips here at Betfred Insights