Weekend predictions

Just two SA games this weekend … One to decide the wooden spoon, the other to decide the conference winner. Tank Lanning previews the Super rugby weekend.

It’s actually too damn easy this weekend … Not even Vaughan who keeps suggesting that his wife wear looser tops to cover the muffin top could stuff this one up! Saders vs Tahs on Friday morning is worth a little “Prostate check”, then it is Friday evening free for dinner at the old age home with aunty Maizy, and that should render you free as a bird on Saturday arvie. Luke vs Siya and Deon with an ice cold beer in hand while the fire burns down is going to make that game fun, as is Demitri vs Elton. Throw down a rare rump steak sliced up on the board right next to the fire in between games, then settle in for the Serfontein vs Ebersohn extravaganza with your feet on the coolerbox. Special.

Just keep a little in the tank so you have enough energy to throw your empty beer can at the TV when Heyneke picks Zane instead of Wille at 21h00 …

Friday 31 May

09:35 Crusaders vs Waratahs, AMI, Christchurch
Referee: Glen Jackson (NZL)

So which two sides are going to pitch up? Both off horrible losses last week, the Saders to the Chiefs, which is not too bad, but they were pretty flat, with Dan Carter almost a passenger, while the Tahs basically gave up their title hopes against the Rebels! The Bookies and the Brus both have the Saders at a relative canter, and at AMI they should be too strong. But if the Crusaders cannot find a solution at tighthead,where Franks is missing again this weekend, then they will take a proper beating up front …

My prediction: Crusaders by 4

Crusaders: Israel Dagg, Tom Marshall, Ryan Crotty, Tom Taylor, Zac Guildford, Dan Carter, Willie Heinz, Kieran Read, Matt Todd, George Whitelock, Dominic Bird, Luke Romano, Nepo Laulala, Corey Flynn, Wyatt Crockett.
Bench: Ben Funnell, Joe Moody, Luke Whitelock, Andy Ellis, Robbie Fruean, Adam Whitelock.

Waratahs: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Cam Crawford, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Rob Horne, 11 Peter Betham, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Brendan McKibbin, 8 Dave Dennis (captain), 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Pat McCutcheon, 5 Kane Douglas, 4 Sitaleki Timani, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 John Ulugia, 1 Benn Robinson
Bench: 16 Luke Holmes, 17 Paddy Ryan, 18 Will Skelton, 19 Jed Holloway, 20 Matt Lucas, 21 Berrick Barnes, 22 Drew Mitchell

11:40 Brumbies vs Hurricanes, Canberra
Referee: Jaco Peyper (SA)

Smith back for the Canes is big for them, and coming off a bye, they will be feeling pretty sharp flying into the Canberra, even after going down to the Chiefs the week before. But Jake’s boys were more than solid against the Blues, and did well to keep them in check when they woke up in the second half … I see some frustration for the bumble bees against a good defence.

My prediction: Brumbies by 7

Brumbies: 15. Jesse Mogg, 14. Henry Speight, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 12. Christian Lealiifano, 11. Joseph Tomane, 10. Matt Toomua, 9. Nic White, 8. Ben Mowen (captain), 7. Colby Faingaa, 6. Peter Kimlin, 5. Sam Carter, 4. Scott Fardy, 3. Ben Alexander, 2. Stephen Moore, 1. Scott Sio
Bench: 16. Siliva Siliva, 17. Ruan-Henry Smith, 18. Fotu Auelua, 19. Jordan Smiler, 20. Ian Prior, 21. Robbie Coleman, 22. Clyde Rathbone

Hurricanes: 15 Andre Taylor, 14 Alapati Leiua, 13 Conrad Smith (captain) 12 Reynold Lee-Lo, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Jack Lam, 6 Brad Shields, 5 James Broadhurst, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Ben May, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Ben Franks
Bench: 16 Ash Dixon, 17 Reggie Goodes, 18 Mark Reddish, 19 Faifili Levave, 20 Chris Smylie, 21 Tusi Pisi, 22 James Marshall

Saturday 01 Jun

09:35 Highlanders vs Blues, Forsyth Barr, Dunedin
Referee: Jonathon White (NZL)

Both teams off losses last week, which is no surprise for the Highlanders given that they have only managed 1 win in 12 outings this year! On paper, not a bad side, but between the white lines, they are quite a few sandwiches short of the old picnic. The Blues have been terribly inconsistent, but there is no shame in losing to the Brumbies, even at home. But that first half of theirs last week was abysmal, and in Otago, they are going to need more of the gummy berry juice they seemed to take at half time last week. Either that, or the good old fashioned hairdryer treatment from coach John Kirwin from the get go. The Blues are still in with a shout of making the playoffs, while the Highlanders are playing for the jersey. It should be one way traffic, but it is a Kiwi derby, and one never knows when those Highlanders will fire.

My prediction: Blues by 7

Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Trent Renata, 13 Tamati Ellison, 12 Shaun Treeby, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Colin Slade, 9 Fumiaki Tanaka, 8 Mose Tuiali’i, 7 John Hardie, 6 Jarrad Hoeata, 5 Josh Bekhuis, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Ma’afu Fia, 2 Andrew Hore (captain), 1 Jamie Mackintosh
Bench: 16 Liam Coltman, 17 Bronson Murray, 18 Elliot Dixon, 19 TJ Ioane, 20 Aaron Smith, 21 Hayden Parker, 22 Ma’a Nonu

Blues: Charles Piutau; Frank Halai, Rene Ranger, Francis Saili, Waisake Naholo; Baden Kerr, Piri Weepu; Peter Saili, Luke Braid, Steven Luatua; Ali Williams, Anthony Boric; Angus Ta’avao, James Parsons, Tim Perry.
Bench: Keven Mealamu, Sam Prattley, Culum Retallick, Brendon O’Connor, Jamison Gibson-Park, Marty McKenzie, Jackson Willison.

11:40 Reds vs Rebels, Suncorp, Brisbane
Referee: James Leckie (AUS)

Reds off a truly horrific tour of South Africa where they went down to both the Cheetahs and the Stormers while putting in fairly flat performances. This while the Rebels – who were also complete rabble when touring South Africa – have beaten both the Stormers and the high riding Waratahs at home in recent weeks. So recent form suggest easy pickings for the Melbourne side. But the Reds, still in with a shout of making the playoffs, unlike the Rebels, will be a lot better against a side without the defence of the Stormers, and both Will Genia and Quade Cooper, controversially left out of the Wallaby squad to face the Lions, will be itching to impress.

My prediction: Reds by 9

Reds: 15. Ben Lucas, 14. Rod Davies, 13. Ben Tapuai, 12. Anthony Faingaa, 11. Luke Morahan, 10. Quade Cooper, 9. Will Genia, 8. Jake Schatz, 7. Beau Robinson, 6. Ed Quirk, 5. James Horwill (captain), 4. Rob Simmons, 3. James Slipper, 2. James Hanson, 1. Greg Holmes
Bench: 16. Saia Faingaa, 17. Ben Daley, 18. Ed O’Donoghue, 19. Radike Samo, 20. Liam Gill, 21. Nicholas Frisby, 22. Mike Harris

Rebels: Jason Woodward; Tom English, Mitch Inman, Rory Sidey, Lachlan Mitchell; James O’Connor, Nick Phipps; Scott Higginbotham (captain), Scott Fuglistaller, Jarrod Saffy; Luke Jones, Hugh Pyle; Laurie Weeks, Ged Robinson, Nic Henderson.
Bench: Shota Horie, Paul Alo-Emile, Cadeyrn Neville, Gareth Delve, Nic Stirzaker, Bryce Hegarty, Kimami Sitauti.

17:05 Stormers vs Kings, Newlands, Cape Town
Referee: Craig Joubert (SA)
AR’s: Jonathan Kaplan (SA), Linston Manuels (SA)
T.M.O: Deon van Blommestein (SA)

The Stormers had a horrible tour, and after topping the South African conference last year, now find themselves in the unfamiliar position of being mere spectators – which will be hurting them like no words can describe – while making sure they remain clear of the all new promotion/relegation game against the Lions. A match seemingly earmarked for their opposition on Saturday. And while the Kings have impressed hugely in their first year in the tournament, winning three games thus far, beating the Stormers, who gutssed out a win against the Reds last week using their Fort Knox like defence to frustrate Mr Cooper, at Newlands, just seems a tad fairytale like. Luke Watson, not shy of a fairytale himself, is MIA with flu, and while the Kings will miss him as a player, it might mean one less sideshow, allowing them to focus on the game. Demetri Katrakilis vs Elton Jantjies – the latter brought in to replace the former, who was deemed surplus to company requirements, is a pretty spicy side show in itself …

My prediction: Stormers by 18

Stormers: 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Jean de Villiers (captain), 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Deon Fourie, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 De Kock Steenkamp, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Bench: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Chris Heiberg, 18 Gerbrandt Grobler, 19 Don Armand, 20 Dewaldt Duvenage, 21 Gary van Aswegen, 22 Gerhard van den Heever.

Kings: SP Marais, Siviwe Soyizwapi, Ronnie Cooke, Andries Strauss (captain), Marcello Sampson, Demetri Catrakilis, Nicolas Vergallo, Jacques Engelbrecht, Wimpie van der Walt, Cornell du Preez, David Bulbring, Darron Nell, Kevin Buys, Bandise Maku, Schalk Ferreira.
Bench: Hannes Franklin, Grant Kemp, Rynier Bernardo, Devin Oosthuizen, Shaun Venter, Shane Gates, George Whitehead.

19:10 Cheetahs vs Bulls, Bloemfontein
Referee: Jason Jaftha (SA)
AR’s: Jaco Peyper (SA), Francois de Bruin (SA)
T.M.O: Gerrie Coetzee (SA)

And so we get to this weekend’s pudding game in Bloemfontein, and it is monumental given that it is more than likely the game that will decide the SA conference. Raymond Rhule is back for Cheetahs, while Arno Botha, seemingly the lovechild of Bok coach Heyneke Meyer, is back for the Bulls. But it is the Jan Serfontein and JJ Engelbrecht vs Robert Ebersohn and Johann Sadie clash that will get the hearts pumping … and the coolerboxes emptied. That is a Bok trial right there. Not to mention Pierre Spies vs Phillip van der Walt and Deon Stegmann vs Heinrich Brussow! The Bulls have never lost the the Cheetahs in 10 games of Super Rugby though, and I have a feeling that Morne Steyn’s experience will prevail over Elgar Watts …

My prediction: Bulls by 3

Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Raymond Rhule, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Robert Ebersohn, 11 Willie le Roux, 10 Elgar Watts, 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Philip van der Walt, 7 Lappies Labuschagne, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Francois Uys, 4 Lodewyk de Jager, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.
Bench: 16 Ryno Barnes, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Ligtoring Landman, 19 Boom Prinsloo, 20 Sarel Pretorius, 21 Riaan Smit, 22 Rayno Benjamin

Bulls (with Super Caps): Jürgen Visser (8), Lionel Mapoe (39), JJ Engelbrecht (28), Jan Serfontein (8), Bjorn Basson (50), Morné Steyn (118), Francois Hougaard (52), Pierre Spies (101, c), Arno Botha (21), Deon Stegmann (70), Juandré Kruger (29), Flip van der Merwe (58), Werner Kruger (87), Chiliboy Ralepelle (64), Dean Greyling (33).
Bench: Callie Visagie (19), Frik Kirsten (26), Grant Hattingh (18), Dewald Potgieter (62), Jano Vermaak (100), Louis Fouché (20), Zane Kirchner (77).