The Western Force are the $3.50 favourites with online bookmaker sportsbet.com.au to take home the dreaded wooden spoon for the 2012 Super Rugby season.

Second in the market is the ACT Brumbies at $4.50 with South African sides the Lions and Cheetahs at $5.00 and $6.50 respectively while the Hurricanes are the first Kiwi side in the market at $7.50. The Rebels have been priced at $8.00.

The Force have also been installed as $1.07 favourite to miss the playoffs in 2012 as well the $7.00 outsiders to make the playoffs this season.

“We’re anticipating a tough year for the Force and their trial form has reinforced that,” sportsbet.com.au’s Ben Hawes said. “The punters think they’ll be the worst performing Australian side this season.”

The Brumbies and Rebels are both $4.50 chances to make the playoffs in 2012 and also are $1.17 to miss the playoffs.

The Waratahs are at $1.62 and the Reds are at $1.45 to make the finals and have been priced at $2.10 and $2.50 respectively to miss the playoffs.

New Zealand has been installed as the $2.00 favourite in winning nationality betting with Australia ($3.25) and South Africa ($3.50) outsiders.

sportsbet.com.au is celebrating the arrival of the 2012 Super Rugby season by offering a money back special on the highly anticipated clash between the Reds and Waratahs. Punters who place a bet on the head-to-head market and if their team is leading at halftime but loses the match, they’ll get their money back.

Market courtesy of sportsbet.com.au
2012 Super Rugby wooden spoon
$3.50 Force
$4.50 Brumbies

$5.00 Lions

$6.50 Cheetahs

$7.50 Hurricanes

$8.00 Rebels

$21 Highlanders, Bulls

$36 Chiefs

$67 Sharks

$81 Waratahs

$101 Reds, Stormers

$151 Blues

$176 Crusaders

To make 2012 Super Rugby playoffs
$1.22 Crusaders

$1.32 Blues

$1.45 Reds, Stormers

$1.62 Sharks, Waratahs

$2.00 Chiefs

$2.50 Bulls

$3.00 Highlanders

$4.50 Brumbies, Rebels

$5.00 Cheetahs

$6.00 Hurricanes, Lions

$7.00 Force

To miss 2012 Super Rugby playoffs
$1.07 Force
$1.11 Cheetahs, Lions, Hurricanes

$1.17 Rebels, Brumbies

$1.33 Highlanders

$1.50 Bulls

$1.73 Chiefs

$2.10 Waratahs, Sharks

$2.50 Reds, Stormers

$2.87 Blues

$4.00 Crusaders

2012 Super Rugby winning nationality

$2.00 New Zealand

$3.25 Australia

$3.50 South Africa