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Highlanders vs Reds Predictions & Tips - Reds can win against the odds in Dunedin
- Highlanders vs Reds predictions for Friday’s Super Rugby fixture
- Match is being played at 08:05 BST at the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin
- The Reds have won 7 of their last 8 matches
- The Reds are backed in the handicap market
- Preview, predictions, stats & team news
The Reds won the Super Rugby AU tournament last week with a last gasp try by James O'Connor (Getty Images)
Highlanders vs Reds Predictions
The Reds are fresh off a Super Rugby AU victory and coming into this clash with plenty of confidence. They have a few injury concerns but their quality is undoubted. They are backed to finish within eight points of their hosts.
- Reds have won 7 of their last 8 matches.
- Reds won the 2021 Super Rugby AU.
- Highlanders have lost 5 of their last 8 matches.
- Highlanders have lost 3 of their last 4 home matches.
Head to Head
The Highlanders have won 10 of their last 11 home matches agains the Reds and their last three overall.
Highlanders Form
The Highlanders were one of the more disappointing sides during Super Rugby Aotearoa this season. Inconsistency plagued the Dunedin side as they just couldn’t manage to put together a run of victories.
They ended up winning three of their eight Super Rugby Aotearoa matches, finishing fourth on the table. There were some magnificent performances as well, the most notable was a 33-12 win over the Crusaders in Christchurch.
In their last match the Highlanders however went down 41-22 at the Hurricanes. It was a poor performance, that of a team that had nothing left to play for.
Highlanders Injuries & Team News
Flanker Shannon Frizell will miss the weekend’s clash with the coaches not willing to risk him after being accused of assault. Otherwise the Highlanders have a full strength squad available.
Reds Form
The Reds come into the Super Rugby Cross-Tasman as champions of Super Rugby AU. They defeated the Brumbies 19-16 with a last minute try in the final last weekend.
During the course of their Super Rugby AU campaign, the Reds managed to win seven of their eight matches. Their only blip came in the final round robin match where the Western Force won 30-27.
Confidence will be high with the Reds after a dominant campaign. Playing in New Zealand will be a different test altogether though, something they have not done since pre-pandemic.
Reds Injuries & Team News
Reds head coach, Brad Thorn has been forced into a couple of changes. Centre Jordan Petaia left the field in the final last week with a thigh injury and will not recover in time.
Loose forward Harry Wilson and hooker Alex Mafi are also injury casualties from their last match. Scrumhalf Tate McDermott has been rested which sees Kalani Thomas start.
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Verdict
The Highlanders have been inconsistent this season and their home form is nothing to write home about. The Reds on the other hand are Super Rugby AU champions and should be full of confidence. I'm backing the Reds to lose by less than eight points with a possible upset on the cards.
