Western Force vs Highlanders Predictions - Force backed to win tight contest

Simon Lewis

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Last updated: 04 Apr 2025

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Simon Lewis 04 Apr 2025

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Western Force and Highlanders have similar form this season.
Western Force are favored to cover the -3.5 handicap at home.
Highlanders have won 7 of their last 8 encounters against Western Force.

Western Force vs Highlanders Super Rugby

Highlanders have won 7 of their last 8 matches against the Western Force. (Getty Images)

Western Force vs Highlanders Predictions

Both sides are in similar form this season but at HBF Park, the Force are a different side. I am backing them to cover the -3.5 handicap.

Western Force vs Highlanders Predictions
Head to Head
Western Force Form
Western Force Injuries & Team News
Highlanders Form
Highlanders Injuries & Team News

Western Force have won 2 of their 3 home matches this season.
Western Force have lost 4 of their last 5 matches.
Highlanders have lost their last 3 matches.
Highlanders have won 7 of their last 8 matches against the Western Force.

Head to Head

Highlanders have won seven of their last eight matches against the Western Force.

Western Force Form

The Western Force are sixth on the table with three wins and four defeats in seven games. They began the season with two straight wins but their form has dropped somewhat since.

The Force won their first two fixtures against Moana by a point before beating the Brumbies in a high-scoring thriller. That was followed by losses to the Reds, Waratahs and Crusaders.

The losing streak was broken with an impressive 52-15 win at home against Fijian Drua but last week, the Force fell 28-24 to the Reds.

Western Force Injuries & Team News

15 Mac Grealy, 14 Harry Potter, 13 Sio Tomkinson, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 Dylan Pietch, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Nic White, 8 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Will Harris, 5 Darcy Swain, 4 Jeremy Williams (captain), 3 Tom Robertson, 2 Nic Dolly, 1 Marley Pearce.

Replacements: 16 Tom Horton, 17 Ryan Coxon, 18 Atu Moli, 19 Vaiolini Ekuasi, 20 Reed Prinsep, 21 Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 22 Max Burey, 23 Reesjan Pasitoa.

Highlanders Form

The Highlanders have won two and lost four of their six games to date. They are currently eighth on the table with 12 points.

In the opening three rounds, the Highlanders won twice against the Blues and Moana but lost one game to the Waratahs away. Since then, they have lost three in a row.

First the Dunedin-based side went down 20-18 at home to the Hurricanes before losing 29-23 at home to the Reds. Last weekend, the Highlanders put up a fight in Canberra but ended up losing 34-27 to the Brumbies.

Highlanders Injuries & Team News

15 Sam Gilbert, 14 Caleb Tangitau, 13 Thomas Umaga-Jensen, 12 Timoci Tavatavanawai (captain), 11 Jona Nareki, 10 Taine Robinson, 9 Nathan Hastie; 8 Sean Withy, 7 Veveni Lasaqa, 6 Te Kamaka Howden, 5 Mitch Dunshea, 4 Fabian Holland, 3 Saula Ma’u, 2 Soane Vikena, 1 Ethan de Groot.

Replacements: 16 Jack Taylor, 17 Josh Bartlett, 18 Sefo Kautai, 19 Will Stodart, 20 Michael Loft, 21 Adam Lennox, 22 Tanielu Tele’a, 23 Michael Manson.

Verdict

Western Force v Highlanders

Western Force are backed to win by more than 3.5 points at home.

Western Force -3.5

Handicap

@-109.89 - 3 Units

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