ROSEMARY ABBOTT | Sport
FOREGONE CONCLUSION
The TAB has officially scrapped the option to bet on the Crusaders winning the upcoming Super Rugby Pacific final this Saturday — citing the result as “pre-determined” and therefore not a gamble worth taking.
The Crusaders, who face off against the Chiefs in Christchurch, boast a staggering home playoff record: 31 wins from 31 games, which is extremely unlikely to change come the final whistle after 80 minutes.
TAB spokesman Mark Goldstein explained the decision with a mix of amusement and resignation
“We love a good underdog story as much as anyone,” Goldstein said, “but the Crusaders’ home playoff record is basically the sporting equivalent of gravity — you can’t argue with it, you can’t bet against it, and frankly, it’s not really fun for anyone except their fans.”
Goldstein added, “Offering odds on the Crusaders to win at home is like selling insurance on whether the sun will rise tomorrow. It’s a predetermined outcome. We tried to crunch the numbers, ran all the algorithms, and every path led to a Crusaders win. So, for the sake of our sanity — and our wallets — we’ve removed that betting option.”
Chiefs fans, meanwhile, are reportedly considering alternate plans for Saturday night, including accepting defeat gracefully and just hoping their team loses with dignity.
Meanwhile, TAB punters are advised to look elsewhere if they’re after a flutter with genuine uncertainty.
More to come.
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