Seven games, no “Koffie en beskuit” kick offs, and a pesky Saturday 19h00 kick off! Catch the teams, times, odds and both Tank Lanning and Mils Muliaina’s weekend predictions.
Tank Lanning
A seven game weekend, again, but this time spread over a more manageable three days. No early morning kick offs for us insomniacs, plenty of rugby for you to take in while on a vital “Client visit” on Friday, and another irritating 19h00 Saturday evening kick off for those who love our North vs South Currie Cup type derbies.
Given the difference in stats between the Canes vs Tahs match last weekend, and that of the Sharks vs Bulls, which was a bit of a snore-fest, it is the Saders vs Blues game that is catching my eye this weekend. But for most of us it will be the derbies on Saturday afternoon forming the focal point of the weekend – and both of those look tricky to pick. The Lions were in sensational form but one never knows how a team is going to react to a bye, while the Cheetahs have lost all of Heinrich Brussow, Coenie Oosthuizen and Wille le Roux. No team news out of Cape Town or Pretoria at the time of writing, but just the head to heads between Duane Vermeulen and Pierre Spies, Jesse Keiel and Cheslin Kolbe, and Steven Kitshoff and Marcel van der Merwe are worth the entrance price. A little dramatic, but might this be the game that decides the SA conference? Such a brutal game to call!
The Bookies and the Brus agree on 6 of the 7 games, making it a simple one to call? Hah, more tricky to pick the “Upset” I say … Lots of indecision at Newlands but seemingly going the way of the home side, and then messy in Canberra. The Bookies seem less phased about the Brumbies shock loss to the Rebels, while the Brus are all over that first half from the Highlanders against the Blues last week. Fekitoa is out of the Highlanders side, along with a few other All Blacks who take a rest, so I am going with the the home side!
My guest predictor this weekend is fellow SuperBru Legends poolmate, and of course, legendary All Black fullback, Mils Muliaina. He was last week’s yellow cap winner with a phenomenal round of predictions, but being featured on The Grunt has become a little bit of a curse, often leading to the wooden spoon – Just ask Nick Farr-Jones! Given that we differ on only one pick (he has picked the Blues to pip the Saders), I hope he bucks the trend!
To the weekend then:
Friday, April 24
09:35 – Chiefs vs Force (Waikato Stadium, Hamilton)
11:55 – Brumbies vs Highlanders (GIO Stadium, Canberra)
Saturday, April 25
09:35 – Crusaders vs Blues (AMI Stadium, Christchurch)
11:55 – Waratahs vs Rebels (Allianz Stadium, Sydney)
17:05 – Lions vs Cheetahs (Ellis Park, Johannesburg)
19:10 – Stormers vs Bulls (Newlands, Cape Town)
Sunday, April 26
08:05 – Reds vs Hurricanes (Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane)
My predictions:
CHIEFS to beat Force by 18
BRUMBIES to beat Highlanders by 3
CRUSADERS to beat Blues by 5
WARATAHS to beat Rebels by 15
LIONS to beat Cheetahs by 4
STORMERS to beat Bulls by 3
HURRICANES to beat Reds by 9
The collated odds:
CHIEFS (2/17) to beat Force (8/1)
BRUMBIES (4/9) to beat Highlanders (13/5)
CRUSADERS (4/11) to beat Blues (3/1)
WARATAHS (2/7) to beat Rebels (4/1)
LIONS (2/5) to beat Cheetahs (13/5)
STORMERS (4/5) to beat Bulls (6/5)
HURRICANES (4/9) to beat Reds (9/4)
SuperBru Community:
CHIEFS (99%) to beat Force by 15
HIGHLANDERS (61%) to beat Brumbies by 2
CRUSADERS (94%) to beat Blues by 9
WARATAHS (94%) to beat Rebels by 9
LIONS (95%) to beat Cheetahs by 9
STORMERS (67%) to beat Bulls by 3
HURRICANES (97%) to beat Reds by 12
Mils Muliaina’s Predictions:
CHIEFS to beat Force by 16
BRUMBIES to beat Highlanders by 10
BLUES to beat Crusaders by 6
WARATAHS to beat Rebels by 12
LIONS to beat Cheetahs by 5
STORMERS to beat Bulls by 13
HURRICANES to beat Reds by 15
Weekend teams:
Friday, April 24
09:35 – Chiefs vs Force (Waikato Stadium, Hamilton)
Chiefs: 15 Tom Marshall, 14 Bryce Heem, 13 Charlie Ngatai, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Tim Nanai-Williams, 10 Marty McKenzie, 9 Brad Weber, 8 Michael Leitch, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Johan Bardoul, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Matt Symons (c), 3 Siate Tokolahi, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Mitchell Graham.
Bench: 16 Quentin MacDonald, 17 Pauliasi Manu, 18 Ben Tameifuna, 19 Mike Fitzgerald, 20 Liam Squire, 21 Augustine Pulu, 22 Damian McKenzie, 23 Andrew Horrell.
Force: 15 Dane Haylett-Petty, 14 Luke Morahan, 13 Kyle Godwin, 12 Luke Burton, 11 Nick Cummins, 10 Sias Ebersohn, 9 Ian Prior, 8 Ben McCalman, 7 Matt Hodgson (captain), 6 Angus Cottrell, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Steve Mafi, 3 Tetera Faulkner, 2 Nathan Charles, 1 Pekahou Cowan
Bench: 16 Heath Tessmann, 17 Chris Heiberg, 18 Oliver Hoskins, 19 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 20 Kane Koteka, 21 Ryan Louwrens, 22 Junior Rasolea, 23 Marcel Brache
11:55 – Brumbies vs Highlanders (GIO Stadium, Canberra)
Brumbies: 15 Jesse Mogg, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Robbie Coleman, 11 Joe Tomane, 10 Christian Lealiifano, 9 Michael Dowsett, 8 Ita Vaea, 7 David Pocock, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 Blake Enever, 4 Jordan Smiler, 3 Ruan Smith, 2 Stephen Moore (c), 1 JP Smith.
Bench: 16 Josh Mann-Rea, 17 Allan Alaalatoa, 18 Ben Alexander, 19 Rory Arnold, 20 Jarrad Butler, 21 Joe Powell, 22 Rod Iona, 23 Nigel Ah Wong.
Highlanders: 15 Trent Renata, 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Richard Buckman, 12 Shaun Treeby, 11 Patrick Osborne, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Fumiaki Tanaka, 8 Nasi Manu, 7 James Lentjes, 6 Elliot Dixon, 5 Joe Wheeler, 4 Tom Franklin, 3 Pingi Tala’apitaga, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Kane Hames.
Bench: 16 Ash Dixon, 17 Brendon Edmonds, 18 Josh Hohneck, 19 Joe Latta, 20 Gareth Evans, 21 Dan Pryor, 22 Josh Renton, 23 Jason Emery.
Saturday, April 25
09:35 – Crusaders vs Blues (AMI Stadium, Christchurch)
Crusaders – 15 Tom Taylor, 14 David Havili, 13 Ryan Crotty, 12 Dan Carter, 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Colin Slade, 9 Mitchell Drummond, 8 Kieran Read (c), 7 Richie McCaw, 6 Jordan Taufua, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Bench: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Joe Moody, 18 Nepo Laulala, 19 Jimmy Tupou, 20 Matt Todd, 21 Andy Ellis, 22 Kieron Fonotia, 23 Nafi Tuitavake.
Blues – 15 Lolagi Visinia, 14 Frank Halai, 13 Francis Saili, 12 George Moala, 11 Melani Nanai, 10 Dan Bowden,9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Steven Luatua, 7 Brendon O’Connor, 6 Akira Ioane, 5 Hayden Triggs, 4 Josh Bekhuis, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 Keven Mealamu (c), 1 Tony Woodcock.
Bench: 16 Matt Moulds, 17 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18 Angus Ta’avao, 19 Culum Retallick, 20 Blake Gibson, 21 Jamison Gibson-Park, 22 Ihaia West, 23 Tevita Li
11:55 – Waratahs vs Rebels (Allianz Stadium, Sydney)
Waratahs: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Peter Betham, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Rob Horne, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Dave Dennis (captain), 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Jacques Potgieter, 5 Mitchel Chapman, 4 Will Skelton, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Tatafu-Polota Nau, 1 Benn Robinson
Bench (from): 16 Tolu Latu, 17 Jeremy Tilse, 18 Paddy Ryan, 19 Wycliff Palu, 20 Stephen Hoiles, 21 Pat McCutcheon, 22 Brendan McKibbin, 23 Matt Carraro, 24 Taqele Naiyaravoro
Rebels: 15 Mike Harris, 14 Dom Shipperley, 13 Tamati Ellison, 12 Mitch Inman, 11 Sefanaia Naivalu, 10 Jack Debreczeni, 9 Nic Stirzaker, 8 Scott Higginbotham, 7 Scott Fuglistaller, 6 Sean McMahon, 5 Lopeti Timani, 4 Cadeyrn Neville, 3 Paul Alo-Emile, 2 Pat Leafa, 1 Toby Smith
Bench: 16 Tom Sexton, 17 Cruze Ah-Nau, 18 Tim Metcher, 19 Sam Jeffries, 20 Colby Fainga’a, 21 Luke Burgess, 22 Jordy Reid, 23 Bryce Hegarty
17:05 – Lions vs Cheetahs (Ellis Park, Johannesburg)
Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley (captain), 7 Warwick Tecklenburg, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Armand van der Merwe, 1 Jacques van Rooyen
Bench: 16 Robbie Coetzee, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Julian Redelinghuys, 19 MB Lusaseni, 20 Robert Kruger, 21 Ross Cronjé, 22 Marnitz Boshoff, 23 Howard Mnisi
Cheetahs: 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Rayno Benjamin, 10 Willie du Plessis, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Willie Britz, 7 Boom Prinsloo, 6 Tienie Burger, 5 Francois Uys, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Maks van Dyk, 2 Torsten van Jaarsveldt, 1 Danie Minnie
Bench: 16 Stephan Coetzee, 17 Caylib Oosthuizen, 18 Ewald van der Westhuizen, 19 Steven Sykes, 20 Carel Greeff, 21 Tian Meyer, 22 Michael van der Spuy, 23 Clayton Blommetjies
19:10 – Stormers vs Bulls (Newlands, Cape Town)
Stormers: 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Johnny Kotze, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Pat Howard, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Duane Vermeulen (captain), 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff
Bench: 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Jean Kleyn, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Louis Schreuder, 22 Kurt Coleman, 23 Huw Jones
Bulls: 15 Jesse Kriel, 14 Francois Hougaard, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Pierre Spies (captain), 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 Morne Mellet, 18 Arno Botha, 19 Lappies Labuschagne, 20 Akona Ndungane, 21 Tian Schoeman, 22 Jurgen Visser, 23 Trevor Nyakane
Sunday, April 26
08:05 – Reds vs Hurricanes (Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane)
Reds: 15 Lachie Turner, 14 Chris Feauai-Sautia, 13 Samu Kerevi, 12 Anthony Fainga’a, 11 James O’Connor, 10 Nick Frisby, 9 Will Genia, 8 Adam Thomson, 7 Liam Gill, 6 Adam Korczyk, 5 James Horwill, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Greg Holmes, 2 James Hanson, 1 James Slipper (c).
Bench: 16 Andrew Ready, 17 Sef Faagase, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Marco Kotze, 20 Lolo Fakaosilea, 21 Scott Gale, 22 Campbell Magnay, 23 Chris Kuridrani.
Hurricanes: 15 James Marshall, 14 Matt Proctor, 13 Conrad Smith, 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 Chris Smylie, 22 Rey Lee-Lo, 23 Cory Jane
