Bulls or Sharks? Saders or Chiefs? Two industrial picks to make … Catch the teams, times, odds, Superbru community picks and Tank Lanning and Nick Farr-Jones predictions.
Tank Lanning
Well if last Saturday could be described as a “Brutal for couches”, this weekend looks like pure torture for the poor beasts! And those of us trying to earn pink tickets to watch it all! A little break between 4 and 5 to allow you to light the fire and make sure the coolerbox is restocked, but otherwise it’s wall to wall rugby from 06h30 to 21h00. And that’s after having gone through your “Root canal” on Friday morning in order to take in the unmissable Saders vs Chiefs game.
The Lions take a well-earned breather after their quite remarkable run of victories, so it’s up to the Stormers, Bulls and Sharks to fight for that hotly contested top spot in the SA conference, while the Cheetahs are back at home after a timely win against the Force in Perth last week.
It took a while for the renowned “Wall of Cape Town” to join the Stormers party this year, but with 126 tackles made against the Waratahs last Saturday, and only 20 missed, it seems to be well and truly back. Making like a wet blanket thrown over a fire, they should have enough to smother the Force. In Bloem, unless the Reds can pull off a miracle return to form, even the Willie le Roux free Cheetahs should have enough in the bag to pip the Reds. It’s that Currie Cup like derby in Durban that is brutal to call. Showing some proper resilience against the Lions after the debacle against the Saders, the Sharks will not be pushovers in Durban, but their defence still looks a little fragile. Perhaps too fragile for a Bulls attack that suddenly looks golden with Burger Odendaal and Francois Hougaard on fire?
Unsurprisingly, and unhelpfully, the Bookies and Brus disagree on how it will pan out in Durban. As do they on the other Bata Tuffy, the Kiwi derby that gets us going on Friday morning. I am going with the Bulls and Saders to come out on top, unlike my guest predictor this weekend. Fellow SuperBru Legends poolmate, and World Cup winning Australian scrummie, Nick Farr-Jones, is going with the home side in Durban. He is coming 16th in the pool, though, with only Corne Krige and David Campese behind him.
Enjoy …
Friday, April 17
09:35 – Crusaders vs Chiefs (AMI Stadium, Addington, Christchurch)
Saturday, April 18
06:30 – Hurricanes vs Waratahs (Westpac Stadium, Wellington)
09:35 – Highlanders vs Blues (Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin)
11:40 – Brumbies vs Rebels (GIO Stadium, Canberra)
13:45 – Force vs Stormers (NIB Stadium, Perth)
17:05 – Sharks vs Bulls (Kings Park, Durban)
19:10 – Cheetahs vs Reds (Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein)
My predictions:
CRUSADERS to beat Chiefs by 5
HURRICANES to beat Waratahs by 4
HIGHLANDERS to beat Blues by 6
BRUMBIES to beat Rebels by 11
STORMERS to beat Force by 9
BULLS to beat Sharks by 2
CHEETAHS to beat Reds by 7
The SuperBru Community picks:
CHIEFS (59%) to beat Crusaders by 2
HURRICANES (93%) to beat Waratahs by 9
HIGHLANDERS (94%) to beat Blues by 9
BRUMBIES (98%) to beat Rebels by 10
STORMERS (94%) to beat Force by 9
BULLS (68%) to beat Sharks by 3.5
CHEETAHS (92%) to beat Reds by 7
The Collated odds:
CRUSADERS (5/6) to beat Chiefs (5/4)
HURRICANES (1/2) to beat Waratahs (11/5)
HIGHLANDERS (1/2) to beat Blues (11/5)
BRUMBIES (2/7) to beat Rebels (4/1)
STORMERS (8/13) to beat Force (13/8)
SHARKS (6/7) to beat Bulls (5/4)
CHEETAHS (1/2) to beat Reds (11/5)
Nick Farr-Jones predictions:
CRUSADERS to beat Chiefs by 3
HURRICANES to beat Waratahs by 5
HIGHLANDERS to beat Blues by 15
BRUMBIES to beat Rebels by 3
STORMERS to beat Force by 10
SHARKS to beat Bulls by 2
CHEETAHS to beat Reds by 10
The weekend’s teams:
Friday, April 17
09:35 – Crusaders vs Chiefs (AMI Stadium, Addington, Christchurch)
Crusaders – 15 Israel Dagg, 14 David Havili, 13 Keiron Fonotia, 12 Dan Carter, 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Colin Slade, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Kieran Read (c), 7 Richie McCaw, 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 Matt Todd, 21 Mitchell Drummond, 22 Tom Taylor, 23 Nafi Tuitavake.
Chiefs – 15 Tom Marshall, 14 Tim Nanai-Williams, 13 Charlie Ngatai, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 James Lowe, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Brad Weber, 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 Fitzgerald, 20 Liam Squire, 21 Augustine Pulu, 22 Andrew Horrell, 23 Bryce Heem.
Saturday, April 18
06:30 – Hurricanes vs Waratahs (Westpac Stadium, Wellington)
Hurricanes – 15 Nehe Milner-Skudder, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith (c), 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Brad Shields, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Callum Gibbins, 5 James Broadhurst, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Ben Franks, 2 Motu Matu’u, 1 Reggie Goodes.
Bench: 16 Brayden Mitchell, 17 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 18 Chris Eves, 19 Mark Abbott, 20 Adam Hill, 21 Frae Wilson, 22 Rey Lee-Lo, 23 James Marshall.
Waratahs – 15 Israel Folau, 14 Peter Betham, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Rob Horne, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Pat McCutcheon, 5 Dave Dennis (c), 4 Will Skelton, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Tolu Latu, 1 Benn Robinson.
Bench (from): 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 Jeremy Tilse, 18 Paddy Ryan, 19 Jacques Potgieter, 20 Mitchell Chapman, 21 Stephen Hoiles, 22 Brendan McKibbin, 23 Matt Carraro, 24 David Horwitz, 25 Jed Holloway.
09:35 – Highlanders vs Blues (Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin)
Highlanders – 15 Ben Smith (c), 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Jason Emery, 11 Patrick Osborne, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Nasi Manu (c), 7 James Lentjes, 6 Elliot Dixon, 5 Joe Wheeler, 4 Mark Reddish, 3 Josh Hohneck, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Kane Hames.
Bench: 16 Ash Dixon, 17 Brendon Edmonds, 18 Pingi Tala’apitaga, 19 Tom Franklin, 20 Dan Pryor, 21 Fumiaki Tanaka, 22 Marty Banks, 23 Richard Buckman.
Blues – 15 Charles Piutau, 14 Frank Halai, 13 Pita Ahki, 12 George Moala/Francis Saili, 11 Melani Nanai/Tevita Li, 10 Dan Bowden, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Jerome Kaino (c), 7 Brendon O’Connor, 6 Akira Ioane, 5 Patrick Tuipulotu, 4 Josh Bekhuis, 3 Angus Ta’avao, 2 James Parsons, 1 Ofa Tu’ungafasi.
Bench: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Tony Woodcock/Sam Prattley, 18 Charlie Faumuina, 19 Hayden Triggs, 20 Blake Gibson, 21 Jimmy Cowan, 22 Ihaia West, 23 Francis Saili/Hamish Northcott.
11:40 – Brumbies vs Rebels (GIO Stadium, Canberra)
Brumbies – 15 Robbie Coleman, 14 Lausii Taliauli, 13 Henry Speight, 12 Nigel Ah Wong, 11 Joe Tomane, 10 Christian Lealiifano, 9 Michael Dowsett, 8 Jarrad Butler, 7 David Pocock, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore (c), 1 JP Smith.
Bench: 16 Josh Mann-Rea, 17 Allan Alaalatoa, 18 Ruan Smith, 19 Blake Enever, 20 Ita Vaea, 21 Jordan Smiler, 22 Nic White, 23 Rodney Iona.
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 Jordy Reid, 22 Luke Burgess, 23 Bryce Hegart
13:45 – Force vs Stormers (NIB Stadium, Perth)
Force – 15 Dane Haylett-Petty, 14 Luke Morahan, 13 Kyle Godwin, 12 Luke Burton, 11 Nick Cummins, 10 Sias Ebersohn, 9 ALby Mathewson, 8 Ben McCalman, 7 Chris Alcock, 6 Steve Mafi, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Sam Wykes (c), 3 Tetera Faulkner, 2 Nathan Charles, 1 Pekahou Cowan.
Bench: 16 Heath Tessmann, 17 Chris Heiberg, 18 Oliver Hoskins, 19 Ross Haylett-Petty, 20 Angus Cottrell, 21 Ian Prior, 22 Zack Holmes, 23 Marcel Brache.
Stormers – 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Juan de Jongh (c), 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Dillyn Leyds, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Bench: 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Alistair Vermaak, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Jean Kleyn, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Nic Groom, 22 Kurt Coleman, 23 Huw Jones.
17:05 – Sharks vs Bulls (Kings Park, Durban)
Sharks – 15 Odwa Ndungane, 14 S’bura Sithole, 13 Waylon Murray, 12 André Esterhuizen, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Renaldo Bothma, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Marco Wentzel (c), 4 Mouritz Botha, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Franco Marais, 1 Beast Mtawarira.
Bench: 16 Monde Hadebe, 17 Thomas du Toit, 18 Lourens Adriaanse, 19 Giant Mtyanda, 20 Etienne Oosthuizen, 21 Conrad Hoffmann, 22 Lionel Cronjé, 23 SP Marais.
Bulls – 15 Jesse Kriel, 14 Francois Hougaard, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Rudy Paige, 8 Pierre Spies (c), 7 Jacques du Plessis, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Grant Hattingh, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Marcel van der Merwe, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Dean Greyling.
Bench: 16 Callie Visagie, 17 Morné Mellett, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Arno Botha, 20 Lappies Labuschagne, 21 Piet van Zyl, 22 Tian Schoeman, 23 Jürgen Visser.
19:10 – Cheetahs vs Reds (Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein)
Cheetahs – 15 Coenie van Wyk, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Joe Pietersen, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Willie Britz, 7 Boom Prinsloo, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Francois Uys (c), 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 1 BG Uys.
Bench: 16 Stephan Coetzee, 17 Danie Minnie, 18 Maks van Dyk, 19 Steven Sykes, 20 Tienie Burger, 21 Tian Meyer, 22 Willie du Plessis, 23 Rayno Benjamin.
Reds – 15 Karmichael Hunt, 14 Lachie Turner, 13 Chris Feauai-Sautia, 12 Samu Kerevi, 11 James O’Connor, 10 Nick Frisby, 9 Will Genia, 8 Adam Thomson, 7 Liam Gill, 6 Curtis Browning, 5 James Horwill, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Greg Holmes, 2 James Hanson, 1 James Slipper (c).
Bench: 16. Andrew Ready, 17 Ben Daley, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Marco Kotze, 20 Adam Korczyk, 21 Anthony Fainga’a, 22 Campbell Magnay, 23 Chris Kuridrani.
