Bulls vs All Blacks betting tips and predictions: Can New Zealand cover the handicap at Loftus?
The Vodacom Bulls host the All Blacks in Pretoria on Saturday, with New Zealand heavily favoured to win the latest Rugby's Greatest Rivalry clash.
The All Blacks are priced at just 1.04, while the Vodacom Bulls are 10.00 and the draw 50.00 in the 1X2 market.
New Zealand have arrived in Pretoria after dismantling the Sharks 54-0, while the Bulls' most recent competitive outing was a 36-7 defeat to Leinster in the URC final.
The visitors also have considerably more momentum, but the Bulls have home advantage at Loftus Versfeld and possess the set-piece strength to make this more competitive than the outright odds suggest.
New Zealand's selection, meanwhile, contains plenty of Test experience as Dave Rennie prepares his squad for the first Springboks Test next week.
Odds provided per Betway and subject to change.
All Blacks arrive in dominant form
New Zealand could hardly have asked for a better start to the tour.
After a somewhat uneven 38-21 victory over the Stormers, the All Blacks produced a completely different performance against the Sharks, scoring nine tries without conceding a point.
The statistical comparison is equally striking.
New Zealand are averaging 42.6 points and 6.4 tries per game in 2026, compared with 32.5 points and 4.7 tries for the Bulls.
The All Blacks are also making more carries, line breaks and defenders beaten per match.
That attacking form makes the 1.04 outright price completely understandable - but not particularly appealing from a value perspective.
Bulls have strengths to exploit
There are reasons not to expect another 54-0 result.
The Bulls have been stronger than New Zealand in several areas that could matter at altitude, including turnover ball, lineout efficiency and scrum success.
Loftus Versfeld also sits around 1,350 metres above sea level, creating an additional challenge for the visitors.
Marcell Coetzee gives the Bulls considerable experience at the breakdown, while Embrose Papier has been one of their most productive attacking players this season.
However, the Bulls are missing their Springbok contingent, while Johan Ackermann has had limited preparation time with his available squad.
"We would probably only have just returned from the break," Ackermann said this week, explaining that the Bulls had to compress their pre-season because of the timing of the fixture.
That lack of preparation is difficult to ignore against an All Blacks side already operating at full intensity.
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New Zealand have picked a strong team
Rennie has rotated his squad during the opening tour matches, but this selection is significantly more experienced.
Codie Taylor returns from injury to captain New Zealand, while Beauden Barrett, Rieko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown, Patrick Tuipulotu and Tyrel Lomax all bring substantial Test experience. Six players from the 54-0 victory over the Sharks retain their places.
Rennie has also made clear that this is an important final opportunity for players to push their claims before the Springboks series.
"This is also our final hit out before the first Test match against the Springboks, so it is an important game for us," Rennie said.
That should mean plenty of intensity from the visitors despite the fact this is not officially a Test.
The handicap offers more value
Betway have New Zealand -15 at 1.25, -21 at 1.48 and -27 at 1.88 in the three-way handicap market.
The straight handicap prices are slightly different, with New Zealand -31.5 at 2.27, -29.5 at 2.05 and -27.5 at 1.87.
I would avoid chasing the larger margins.
The Bulls' set-piece ability, home advantage and attacking threats through players such as Papier, Harold Vorster and Willie le Roux should make them capable of putting points on the board.
New Zealand's own rotation and the altitude could also prevent this becoming another complete rout.
However, the gap in preparation and current momentum still points towards a comfortable All Blacks victory.
Bulls vs All Blacks prediction
The All Blacks should win, but the 1.04 outright price offers very little value.
The New Zealand -15 handicap at 1.25 is the safer route, while the -21 line at 1.48 provides a more attractive balance between price and the likely margin.
The total-points market is also interesting.
Betway have Over 65.5 at 1.60, with the line rising to 67.5 at 1.70 and 69.5 at 1.92.
Given New Zealand's attacking form and the Bulls' ability to contribute points themselves, a high-scoring contest is plausible.
Prediction: All Blacks to win
Best bet: New Zealand -21 at 1.48
Safer option: New Zealand -15 at 1.25
Goals/points angle: Over 65.5 points at 1.60
Correct winning margin lean: New Zealand by 15+ at 1.17
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