Highlanders vs Waratahs Predictions - Highlanders are backed to win at home in a Super Rugby clash

Nigel Williams

Editor

Last updated: 06 May 2026

Nigel Williams 06 May 2026

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Highlanders have home advantage and better recent form.
Waratahs have lost 4 of last 5 away games.
Tip: Back Highlanders to cover the -6.5 handicap.

Expired

Highlanders are backed to win at home in a Super Rugby clash (Getty Images)

Highlanders vs Waratahs Predictions

Highlanders are slight favourites against a Waratahs side that has struggled on the road. My best bet is the Highlanders to cover the -8.5 handicap at home.

Highlanders vs Waratahs Predictions
Head to Head
Highlanders Form
Highlanders Injuries & Team News
Waratahs Form
Waratahs Injuries & Team News

Highlanders have won two of the last 5 home matches.
Highlanders have had mixed results against the Waratahs, winning 2 of the last 5 meetings.
Highlanders come into this match on the back of a 27-17 win against Moana Pasifika.
Waratahs have lost 4 of the last 5 away matches.
Waratahs come into this match on the back of a 35-20 loss at the Crusaders.

Head to Head

Highlanders have won two of the last five meetings against the Waratahs.

Highlanders Form

Highlanders have had a mixed run of form at home, winning two of their last five home matches in all competitions. They come into this match on the back of a 27-17 win against Moana Pasifika.

Their previous home results include a loss against the Chiefs (26-23), a win against the Force (39-31), followed by losses against the Hurricanes (50-7) and the Brumbies (14-10).

Highlanders are currently eighth in Super Rugby, with 20 points after 11 matches.

Home advantage could give the Highlanders the edge in what looks a fairly even matchup.

Highlanders Injuries & Team News

Starting line-up:

1 Ethan de Groot (co-c), 2 Jack Taylor, 3 Angus Ta'avao, 4 Tomas Lavanini, 5 Mitch Dunshea, 6 Te Kamaka Howden, 7 Lucas Casey, 8 Nikora Broughton, 9 Adam Lennox, 10 Cameron Millar, 11 Jonah Lowe, 12 Timoci Tavatavanawai (co-c), 13 Jona Nareki, 14 Caleb Tangitau, 15 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens.

Replacements:

16 Soane Vikena, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Saula Ma'u, 19 Oliver Haig, 20 Sean Withy, 21 Nic Shearer, 22 Taine Robinson, 23 Xavier Tito-Harris.

Waratahs Form

Waratahs have struggled on the road, losing four of their last five matches in all competitions. The Waratahs head into this match on the back of a 35-20 loss at the Crusaders.

Their previous away results include losses at the Blues (46-6) and the Reds (26-17), a win at the Brumbies (30-28), and a loss at the Chiefs (42-14).

Waratahs are currently seventh in Super Rugby, with 20 points after 10 matches.

Waratahs Injuries & Team News

Starting line-up:

1 Isaac Kailea, 2 Ethan Dobbins, 3 Dan Botha, 4 Miles Amatosero, 5 Angus Blyth, 6 Angus Scott-Young, 7 Charlie Gamble, 8 Pete Samu, 9 Jake Gordon (c), 10 Jack Debreczeni, 11 Sid Harvey, 12 Lawson Creighton, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 15 Max Jorgensen.

Replacements: 16 Folau Fainga'a, 17 Jack Barrett, 18 Apolosi Ranawai, 19 Clem Halaholo, 20 Leafi Talataina, 21 Teddy Wilson, 22 Jack Bowen, 23 Harry Potter.

Verdict

Highlanders v Waratahs

Highlanders are backed to cover the -8.5 handicap at home.

Highlanders -8.5

Handicap

@1,91 - 3 Units

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Nigel combines a love of business and sport as one of the leading experts on South African sport.

Since a young age, he played football, cricket, golf, tennis and squash, and is an avid Arsenal supporter.

His initial foray into the business world was in the financial industry, completing various diploma’s including financial and investment management and credit management, and held various positions in banking.

He subsequently worked on the Leadership media publication and the Global Africa Network Media Trade and Investment platforms, before switching to sport.