All 5 SA sides play in a 7 game weekend … Tank Lanning takes a look at the Super Rugby teams, times, venues, refs, odds, SuperBru Community picks and makes his pesky predictions!
Mense … It’s time to use a few of those hard earned pink tickets I am afraid. Saturday is a brute starting at 06h30 in Auckland, and finishing over 12 hours later in Pretoria! Pity the poor couches …
Friday should be fairly doable given that most people will have taken the day off, and those at work will probably be boss free. The Sharks were seemingly thinking about the Rebels game while they were playing the Highlanders last week, so let’s hope that prep time pays off for the Durban boys who have Frans Steyn starting at 10 for the first time this year. Bismarck is back, and that will make a massive difference at the breakdown.
Saders, with McCaw back in the mix, vs Brumbies on a gym bike or with koffie en biskuit in hand? Probably the latter given that Friday is a braai day! Lions getting beaten about the head with a wet fish by the Chiefs on a gym bike for sure though – This to regain a thirst of course. Tahs vs Canes with an embarrassing shandy in hand because you know what’s coming. A fire burning down in the background with proper beer in hand for the Schalk Burger infused Stormers who will be looking to right sooo many wrongs against the Highlanders at Newlands. A quick feed straight from the grid before tucking into the icing on the cake that is the Bulls vs Cheetahs at Loftus … While seated on that coolerbox of course! Will it be run at spaces Bloem boys, or the run at faces Pretoria boys?
02 May 2014
09:35 Blues vs Reds, Eden Park, Auckland
Referee: Nick Briant (NZ)
Assistant referees: Mike Fraser (NZ), Brendon Pickerill (NZ)
TMO: Glenn Newman (NZ)
Prediction: BLUES to beat Reds by 7
BetFlash odds: BLUES (2/5) to beat Reds (12/5)
SuperBru Community picks: BLUES (89%) to beat Reds by 6
Blues: 15 Charles Piutau, 14 Frank Halai, 13 Francis Saili, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Lolagi Visinia, 10 Simon Hickey, 9 Bryn Hall, 8 Jerome Kaino, 7 Brendon O’Connor, 6 Peter Saili, 5 Tom Donnelly, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 Keven Mealamu (c), 1 Tony Woodcock.
Bench: 16 James Parsons, 17 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18 Angus Ta’avao, 19 Hayden Triggs, 20 Piri Weepu, 21 Steven Luatua, 22 Ihaia West, 23 George Moala.
Reds: 15 Mike Harris, 14 Chris Feauai-Sautia, 13 Ben Tapuai, 12 Anthony Fainga’a, 11 Rod Davies, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Jake Schatz, 7 Liam Gill, 6 Eddie Quirk, 5 James Horwill (c), 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Greg Holmes, 2 Saia Fainga’a, 1 James Slipper.
Bench: 16 James Hanson, 17 Ben Daley, 18 Jono Owen, 19 Ed O’Donoghue, 20 Beau Robinson, 21 Nick Frisby, 22 Ben Lucas, 23 Jamie-Jerry Taulagi
11:40 Rebels vs Sharks, AAMI Park, Melbourne
Referee: Andrew Lees (AUS)
Assistant referees: Rohan Hoffmann (AUS), James Leckie (AUS)
TMO: Peter Marshall (AUS)
Prediction: REBELS to beat Sharks by 3
BetFlash odds: SHARKS (11/17) to beat Rebels (6/4)
SuperBru Community picks: SHARKS (78%) to beat Rebels by 5
Rebels: 15 Jason Woodward, 14 Male Sau, 13 Tamati Ellison, 12 Mitch Inman, 11 Tom English, 10 Bryce Hegarty, 9 Luke Burgess, 8 Scott Higginbotham (c), 7 Scott Fuglistaller, 6 Colby Fainga’a, 5 Luke Jones, 4 Cadeyrn Neville, 3 Laurie Weeks, 2 Shota Horie, 1 Cruze Ah-Nau
Bench: 16 Pat Leafa, 17 Max Lahiff, 18 Paul Alo-Emilie, 19 Hugh Pyle, 20 Sean McMahon, 21 Nic Stirzaker, 22 Tom Kingston, 23 Angus Roberts
Sharks: 15 Lwazi Mvovo, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Paul Jordaan, 12 Heimar Williams, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Frans Steyn, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Stephan Lewies, 4 Willem Alberts, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis (capt), 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Bench: 16 Kyle Cooper, 17 Dale Chadwick, 18 Lourens Adriaanse, 19 Etienne Oosthuizen, 20 Keegan Daniel, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Fred Zeilinga, 23 SP Marais.
Saturday 03 May
06:35 Crusaders vs Brumbies, AMI Stadium, Christchurch
Referee: Glen Jackson (NZ)
Assistant referees: Garratt Williamson (NZ), Ben O’Keefe (NZ)
TMO: Vinny Munro (NZ)
Prediction: CRUSADERS to beat Brumbies by 9
BetFlash odds: CRUSADERS (4/6) to beat Brumbies (17/11)
SuperBru Community picks: CRUSADERS (65%) to beat Brumbies by 1
Crusaders: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Johnny McNicholl, 13 Kieron Fonotia, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Colin Slade, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Luke Whitelock, 7 Matt Todd, 6 Richie McCaw, 5 Samuel Whitelock, 4 Dominic Bird, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Ben Funnell, 1 Wyatt Crockett
Bench: 16 Corey Flynn, 17 Tim Perry, 18 Nepo Laulala, 19 Luke Romano, 20 Jordan Taufua, 21 Willi Heinz, 22 Tom Taylor, 23 Nafi Tuitavake
Brumbies: 15 Jesse Mogg, 14 Joe Tomane, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Christian Lealiifano, 11 Robbie Coleman, 10 Matt Toomua, 9 Nic White, 8 Ben Mowen (c), 7 Jarrad Butler, 6 Jordan Smiler, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Scott Fardy, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Scott Sio.
Bench: 16 Siliva Siliva, 17 Ruan Smith, 18 Ruaidhri Murphy, 19 Jack Whetton, 20 Tom McVerry, 21 Michael Dowsett, 22 Andrew Smith, 23 Pat McCabe.
09:35 Chiefs vs Lions, Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
Referee: Chris Pollock (NZ)
Assistant referees: Mike Fraser (NZ), Mike Lash (NZ)
TMO: Ben Skeen (NZ)
Prediction: CHIEFS to beat Lions by 7
BetFlash odds: CHIEFS (2/17) to beat Lions (13/2)
SuperBru Community picks: CHIEFS (95%) to beat Lions by 12
Chiefs: 15 Tim Nanai-Williams, 14 Dwayne Sweeney, 13 Charlie Ngatai, 12 Tom Marshall, 11 James Lowe, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Liam Messam (c), 7 Sam Cane, 6 Tanerau Latimer, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Ross Filipo, 3 Josh Hohneck, 2 Nathan Harris, 1 Pauliasi Manu
Bench: 16 Mahonri Schwalger, 17 Jamie Mackintosh, 18 Ben Tameifuna, 19 Matt Symons, 20 Michael Fitzgerald, 21 Brad Weber, 22 Bundee Aki, 23 Andrew Horrell
Lions: 15 Chrysander Botha, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Stefan Watermeyer, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley (c), 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Martin Muller, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Schalk van der Merwe.
Bench: 16 Armand van der Merwe, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 MB Lusaseni, 20 Willie Britz, 21 Ross Cronje, 22 Marnitz Boshoff, 23 JW Jonker.
11:40 Waratahs vs Hurricanes, Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Referee: Steve Walsh (AUS)
Assistant referees: Angus Gardner (AUS), Michael Hogan (AUS)
TMO: George Ayoub (AUS)
Prediction: WARATAHS to beat Hurricanes by 5
BetFlash odds: WARATAHS (7/12) to beat Hurricanes (17/10)
SuperBru Community picks: WARATAHS (49%) to DRAW with Hurricanes (51%)
Waratahs: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Matt Carraro, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Rob Horne, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Dave Dennis (c), 5 Jacques Potgieter, 4 Kane Douglas, 3 Paddy Ryan, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Benn Robinson.
Bench: 16 Tolu Latu, 17 Jeremy Tilse, 18 Sekope Kepu, 19 Will Skelton, 20 Stephen Hoiles/Pat McCutcheon, 21 Brendan McKibbin, 22 Jono Lance, 23 Alofa Alofa/Cam Crawford
Hurricanes: 15 Andre Taylor, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith (c), 12 Alapati Leiua, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Jack Lam, 6 Faifili Levave, 5 James Broadhurst, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Ben Franks.
Bench: 16 Motu Matu’u, 17 Chris Eves, 18 Reggie Goodes, 19 Blade Thomson, 20 Ardie Savea, 21 Billy Guyton, 22 Tim Bateman, 23 Matt Proctor.
15:00 Stormers vs Highlanders, Newlands, Cape Town
Referee: Craig Joubert (SA)
Assistant referees: TBA (SA), Quinton Immelman (SA)
TMO: Deon van Blommestein (SA)
Prediction: STORMERS to beat Highlanders by 3
BetFlash odds: STORMERS (8/11) to beat Highlanders (7/5)
SuperBru Community picks: HIGHLANDERS (67%) to beat Stormers by 3
Stormers: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Damian de Allende, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Jean de Villiers (capt), 11 Sailosi Tagicakibau, 10 Kurt Coleman, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Nizaam Carr, 5 Michael Rhodes, 4 Ruan Botha, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Bench: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Oliver Kebble, 18 Brok Harris, 19 Jurie van Vuuren, 20 Siya Kolisi, 21 Louis Schreuder, 22 Peter Grant, 23 Kobus van Wyk.
Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Richard Buckman, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Shaun Treeby, 11 Trent Renata, 10 Liam Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Nasi Mani, 7 John Hardie, 6 Elliot Dixon, 5 Josh Bekhuis, 4 Joe Wheeler, 3 Chris King, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Kane Hames
Bench: 16 Brayden Mitchell, 17 Matías Díaz, 18 Ma’afu Fia, 19 Jarrad Hoeata, 20 Shane Christie, 21 Fumiaki Tanaka, 22 Jason Emery, 23 Phil Burleigh
17:05 Bulls vs Cheetahs, Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (SA)
Assistant referees: Lourens van der Merwe (SA), Cobus Wessels (SA)
TMO: Johan Greeff (SA)
Prediction: CHEETAHS to beat Bulls by 3
BetFlash odds: BULLS (8/15) to beat Cheetahs (9/5)
SuperBru Community picks: BULLS (78%) to beat Cheetahs by 4
Bulls: 15 Jurgen Visser, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 William Small-Smith, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Grant Hattingh, 7 Jacques du Plessis, 6 Jono Ross, 5 Victor Matfield (captain), 4 Paul Willemse, 3 Marcel van der Merwe, 2 Callie Visagie, 1 Dean Greyling.
Bench: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Morné Mellett, 18 Werner Kruger, 19 Jacques Engelbrecht, 20 Wimpie van der Walt, 21 Rudy Paige, 22 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 23 JJ Engelbrecht.
Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Raymond Rhule, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Ryno Benjamin, 11 Willie le Roux, 10 Elgar Watts, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Boom Prinsloo, 7 Jean Cook, 6 Heinrich Brussow, 5 Francois Uys, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Maks van Dyk, 2 Adriaan Strauss (c), 1 Caylib Oosthuizen.
Bench: 16 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 Ligtoring Landman, 20 Teboho Mohoje, 21 Shaun Venter, 22 Johan Goosen, 23 Cornal Hendricks.
