Six games this Easter weekend, including all five SA sides. Catch all the teams, times, odds, SuperBru Community picks and both Tank Lanning and AJ Venter’s predictions.
Tank Lanning
He calls himself “The Oracle” on SuperBru, but given that he is currently 7th on the Legends log, I think you might need to take ex Bok flanker AJ Venter’s nickname with a pinch of salt. That said, he has hit a bit of a rich vein of form of late, and calling the Lions to pip the Bulls might not be as crazy as it sounds!
Six games this Easter weekend, including all five SA sides, spread over two days, with a Currie Cup trans-Jukskei derby to finish it off on Saturday evening. No “Koffie en Beskuit” kickoffs this weekend sadly, but then again, no dastardly 7PM horror shows either.
The Stormers and Cheetahs remain on tour, while the Sharks, this week sans Frans Steyn as well as Bismarck du Plessis, take on the smarting Saders, and the Lions host the Matfield and Serfontein free Bulls.
If the Saders are smarting after their loss in Pretoria last weekend, the Stormers will be doing more than that after being despatched by the Highlanders in Dunedin a few days ago. Can they regroup With Duane Vermeulen back in the mix and make it happen against a side that has gone six from six and seemingly added a steely defence to their sensational attack?
Easy as you like according to the Bookies and the Brus, who agree on all six games! Hah, beware the sea that looks too calm. Potential upsets lie not only in Durban, but perhaps also in Wellington and Melbourne. Quade Cooper might be a bit of a knob, but with him back at the Reds, they will come good at some stage. And write those Stormers and Saders off at your own peril. The Sharks reacted well to their two red cards a few weeks back, and perhaps the Frans Steyn news will galvanise them in the same way? Or how about a little more joy for the Lions after their incredible tour? Tough ask after a long trip home to meet the Bulls who seem inspired by the young Burger Odendaal, though.
To the weekend, then …
Friday, April 03
08:35 – Hurricanes vs Stormers (Westpac Stadium, Wellington)
Tank: HURRICANES to beat Stormers by 5
Collated odds: HURRICANES (6/19) to beat Stormers (3/1)
SuperBru Community: HURRICANES (83%) to beat Stormers by 9
AJ: HURRICANES to beat Stormers by 8
Hurricanes: 15 Nehe Milner-Skudder, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Callum Gibbins, 6 Brad Shields, 5 James Broadhurst, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Ben Franks, 2 Motu Matu’u, 1 Reggie Goodes
Bench: 16 Brayden Mitchell, 17 Ben May, 18 Chris Eves, 19 Mark Abbott, 20 Adam Hill, 21 Chris Smylie, 22 Rey Lee-Lo, 23 James Marshall
Stormers: 15. Cheslin Kolbe, 14. Kobus van Wyk, 13. Juan de Jongh, 12. Damian de Allende, 11. Dillyn Leyds, 10. Demetri Catrakilis, 9. Nic Groom, 8. Duane Vermeulen (captain), 7. Schalk Burger, 6. Siya Kolisi, 5. Manuel Carizza, 4. Eben Etzebeth, 3. Vincent Koch, 2. Scarra Ntubeni, 1. Steven Kitshoff
Bench: 16. Bongi Mbonambi, 17. Oli Kebble, 18. Frans Malherbe, 19. Ruan Botha, 20. Michael Rhodes, 21. Louis Schreuder, 22. Kurt Coleman, 23. Huw Jones
10:40 – Rebels vs Reds (AAMI Park, Melbourne)
Tank: REDS to beat Rebels by 9
Collated odds: REBELS (8/11) to beat Reds (4/3)
SuperBru Community: REBELS (72%) to beat Reds by 7
AJ: REBELS to beat Reds by 7
Rebels: 15 Mike Harris, 14 Tom English, 13 Tamati Ellison, 12 Mitch Inman, 11 Sefanaia Naivalu, 10 Jack Debreczeni, 9 Nic Stirzaker, 8 Scott Higginbotham (c), 7 Scott Fuglistaller, 6 Sean McMahon, 5 Lopeti Timani, 4 Luke Jones, 3 Paul Alo-Emile, 2 Pat Leafa, 1 Toby Smith.
Bench: 16 Tom Sexton, 17 Cruze Ah-Nau, 18 Tim Metcher, 19 Cadeyrn Neville, 20 Colby Fainga’a, 21 Luke Burgess, 22 Jordy Reid, 23 Bryce Hegarty
Reds: 15 Lachie Turner, 14 Chris Feauai-Sautia, 13 Samu Kerevi, 12 Anthony Fainga’a, 11 James O’Connor, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Jake Schatz, 7 Liam Gill, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 James Horwill, 4 Dave McDuling, 3 Greg Holmes, 2 James Hanson, 1 James Slipper (captain)
Bench: 16 Ben Daley, 17 Saia Fainga’a, 18 Sef Faagase, 19 Marco Kotze, 20 Curtis Browning, 21 Nick Frisby, 22 Chris Kuridrani, 23 Karmichael Hunt
Saturday, April 04
08:35 – Chiefs vs Blues (Waikato Stadium, Hamilton)
Tank: CHIEFS to beat Blues by 7
Collated odds: CHIEFS (1/4) to beat Blues (7/2)
SuperBru Community: CHIEFS (99%) to beat Blues by 13
AJ: CHIEFS to beat Blues by 35
Chiefs: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Tom Marshall, 13 Andrew Horrell, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 James Lowe, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Augustine Pulu, 8 Michael Leitch, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Liam Messam (c), 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Matt Symons, 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Mitchell Graham.
Bench: 16 Quentin MacDonald, 17 Siate Tokolahi, 18 Pauliasi Manu, 19 Michael Allardice, 20 Liam Squire, 21 Brad Weber, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 Bryce Heem.
Blues: 15 Charles Piutau, 14 Frank Halai, 13 Pita Ahki, 12 George Moala, 11 Tevita Li, 10 Dan Bowden, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Jerome Kaino (captain), 7 Brendon O’Connor, 6 Steven Luatua, 5 Hayden Triggs, 4 Josh Bekhuis, 3 Charlie Faumuina/Angus Ta’avao, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Ofa Tu’ungafasi
Bench: 16 James Parsons, 17 Sam Prattley, 18 Angus Ta’avao, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Luke Braid, 21 Jimmy Cowan, 22 Ihaia West, 23 Francis Saili
10:40 – Brumbies vs Cheetahs (GIO Stadium, Canberra)
Tank: BRUMBIES to beat Cheetahs by 5
Collated odds: BRUMBIES (1/7) to beat Cheetahs (21/4)
SuperBru Community: BRUMBIES (94%) to beat Cheetahs by 11
AJ: BRUMBIES to beat Cheetahs by 20
Brumbies: 15 Robbie Coleman, 14 James Dargaville, 13 Henry Speight, 12 Christian Lealiifano, 11 Joseph Tomane, 10 Matt Toomua, 9 Nic White, 8 Jarrad Butler, 7 David Pocock, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Blake Enever, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Scott Sio.
Bench: 16 Josh Mann-Rea, 17 Allan Alaalatoa, 18 Ruan Smith, 19 Jordan Smiler, 20 Ita Vaea, 21 Michael Dowsett, 22 Nigel Ah Wong, 23 Lausii Taliauli.
Cheetahs: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Raymond Rhule, 11 Joe Pietersen, 9 Tian Meyer, 8 Willie Britz, 7 Boom Prinsloo, 6 Heinrich Brussow, 5 Francois Uys (captain), 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 1 Danie Mienie
Bench: 16 Stephan Coetzee, 17 BG Uys, 18 Maks van Dyk, 19 Steven Sykes, 20 Tienie Burger, 21 Sarel Pretorius, 22 Willie du Plessis, 23 Rayno Benjamin
15:00 – Sharks vs Crusaders (KINGS PARK, Durban)
Tank: CRUSADERS to beat Sharks by 7
Collated odds: SHARKS (5/6) to beat Crusaders (6/5)
SuperBru Community: SHARKS (56%) to beat Crusaders by 0.2
AJ: CRUSADERS to beat Sharks by 9
Sharks: 15. SP Marais, 14. Odwa Ndungane, 13. JP Pietersen, 12. Andre Esterhuizen, 11. Lwazi Mvovo, 10. Pat Lambie (captain), 9. Conrad Hoffmann, 8. Ryan Kankowski, 7. Jean Deysel, 6. Marcell Coetzee, 5. Marco Wentzel, 4. Mouritz Botha, 3. Jannie du Plessis, 2. Kyle Cooper, 1. Tendai Mtawarira
Bench: 16. Franco Marais, 17. Thomas du Toit, 18. Matt Stevens, 19. Lubabalo Mtyanda, 20. Renaldo Bothma, 21. Conrad Hoffmann, 22. Fred Zeilinga, 23. Waylon Murray
Crusaders: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 David Havili, 13 Kieron Fonotia, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Colin Slade, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Kieran Read (captain), 7 Matt Todd, 6 Jordan Taufua, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Ben Funnell, 1 Wyatt Crockett
Bench: 16 Codie Taylor, 17 Joe Moody, 18 Owen Franks, 19 Jimmy Tupou, 20 Richie McCaw, 21 Mitchell Drummond, 22 Tom Taylor, 23 Nafi Tuitavake
17:05 – Lions vs Bulls (Ellis Park, Johannesburg)
Tank: BULLS to beat Lions by 3
Collated odds: BULLS (5/8) to beat Lions (10/7)
SuperBru Community: BULLS (70%) to beat Lions by 4
AJ: LIONS to beat Bulls by 6
Lions: 15. Andries Coetzee, 14. Ruan Combrinck, 13. Lionel Mapoe, 12. Harold Vorster, 11. Anthony Volmink, 10. Elton Jantjies, 9. Ross Cronje, 8. Warren Whiteley (captain), 7. Warwick Tecklenburg, 6. Derick Minnie, 5. Franco Mostert, 4. Andries Ferreira, 3. Ruan Dreyer, 2. Robbie Coetzee, 1. Jacques van Rooyen
Bench: 16. Armand van der Merwe, 17. Corne Fourie, 18. Julian Redelinghuys, 19. Robert Kruger, 20. Jaco Kriel, 21. Faf de Klerk, 22. Marnitz Boshoff, 23. Howard Mnisi
Bulls: 15. Jesse Kriel, 14. Francois Hougaard, 13. JJ Engelbrecht, 12. Burger Odendaal, 11. Bjorn Basson, 10. Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 9. Rudy Paige, 8. Pierre Spies (captain), 7. Hanro Liebenberg, 6. Deon Stegmann, 5. Grant Hattingh, 4. Jacques du Plessis, 3. Trevor Nyakane, 2. Adriaan Strauss, 1. Dean Greyling
Bench: 16. Callie Visagie, 17. Morne Mellett, 18. Marcel van der Merwe, 19. Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, 20. Roelof Smit, 21. Piet van Zyl, 22. Tian Schoeman, 23. Jurgen Visser
