A pretty cool mix of Japanese, Australian and New Zealand flavour this weekend, and then the game of the weekend which sees the top of the Africa 1 group against the top of Africa 2.Tank Lanning
The weekend:
Friday the 15th
09h35 – Crusaders v Jaguares (AMI)
11h45 – Rebels v Hurricanes (AAMI Park)
19h00 – Cheetahs v Sunwolves (Toyota)
Saturday the 16th
09h35 – Blues v Sharks (Eden Park)
11h45 – Waratahs v Brumbies (Allianz)
17h05 – Bulls v Reds (Loftus Versfeld)
19h15 – Lions v Stormers (Emirates Airlines Park)
Crouch and hold on the post work beers in the pub on Friday so you actually get to see the Cheetahs game, Blues vs Sharks on a spin bike on Saturday morning, and then chop tanning time for the Bulls vs Reds before settling into the cooler box for the scrum-fest at Ellis Park.
For game previews, head to the Vodacom Rugby Breakingnews section, and for the weekend’s teams, head to their Team Sheets article that will be updated as each side is announced.
My picks:
CRUSADERS to beat Jaguares by 9
HURRICANES to beat Rebels by 5
CHEETAHS to beat Sunwolves by 9
BLUES to beat Sharks by 5
WARATAHS to beat Brumbies by 11
BULLS to beat Reds by 6
STORMERS to beat Lions by 9
What the Bookies say:
CRUSADERS (2/9) to beat Jaguares (9/2)
HURRICANES (5/8) to beat Rebels (13/8)
CHEETAHS (1/6) to beat Sunwolves (6/1)
BLUES (8/15) to beat Sharks (2/1)
BRUMBIES (5/6) to beat Waratahs (25/18)
BULLS (2/5) to beat Reds (3/1)
LIONS (5/6) to beat Stormers (4/3)
The SuperBru Community picks:
CRUSADERS to beat Jaguares by 16
HURRICANES to beat Rebels by 6
CHEETAHS to beat Sunwolves by 8
BLUES to beat Sharks by 2
BRUMBIES to beat Waratahs by 5
BULLS to beat Reds by 10
LIONS to beat Stormers by 1
Flipping nervous about all those Aussie games. The Rabble have not been bad at all this year, while my Canes have blown hot and cold. The Reds beat the bloody Highlanders last week, and who the hell knows what is going to happen in an Aussie derby. The Tahs have been terrible this year, so no real science behind that pick I am afraid!
The Sunwolves will be hurting after the pasting they took from the Stormers last week, and obviously looking to bounce back. But the Cheetahs are fresh off a relaxing weekend hunting in the highveld, are starting their best front row (unlike 2 weeks ago), will have Hylton Lobberts bristling at 6, and welcome back Oupa Mohoje from the bench. Surely too much for the Sunwolves?
Messy for the Sharks last week as the Lions made sushi of them, and it does not get any easier in Auckland against a Blues side in revival mode – who also tend to blow hot and cold though. They looked good pushing the Chiefs all the way last week. Lourens Adriaanse is at tighthead, with Stephan Lewies behind him, so the scrum will be a lot better. But with Esterhuizen remaining in 12, I still see them struggling.
The Bulls have played in fits and starts this season, but hardly had to get out of 2nd in order to get past the Kings last week. This while the visiting Reds pulled a rabbit out the hat and beat the high riding Highlanders. Loftus is a long way from Suncorp, though, and if the pack can get parity up front, we could see the likes of SP Marais, Travis Ismaiel, and Bjorn Basson weaving some magic of their own.
In Jozi, the Stormers will take a lot of confidence out of their smashing of the Sunwolves last week, but it will be a completely new kettle of fish against a Lions side that Brendan Venter now believes to be a proper Super Rugby contender given their change of game plan to include more astute kicking against the Sharks last week. It’s a clash of South Africa’s two most complete sides, but it all starts up front. Both scrums have been in excellent form, and whichever side edges this and the lineout battle could well end up on the right side of the scoreboard. Jantjies vs Du Plessis will be a classic!
Enjoy …
