Does it come any better than Saders vs Canes? Do we really have to make a pick? Afraid so. Take in Tank Lanning’s weekend preview before making those picks.
The line-up:
Friday 12 May
09h35 – Blues v Cheetahs (Eden Park)
11 h45 – Brumbies v Lions (GIO)
Saturday 13 May
09h35 – Crusaders v Hurricanes (AMI)
11h45 – Rebels v Reds (AAMI Park)
15h05 – Bulls v Highlanders (Loftus Versfeld)
17h05 – Kings v Sharks (Nelson Mandela Bay)
23h40 – Jaguares v Force (Estadio Jose Amalfitani)
A 7 game weekend – yes please! The Stormers on braai duty – yes please. An old school Currie Cup corker in PE to make it only 4 SA games – yes please. Saders vs Canes at a relatively sane time on Saturday morning – oh my aching sack!
To see the weekend’s teams as they get announced, take in the All Out Rugby Team Sheets.
My picks:
Blues by 31
Lions by 5
Hurricanes by 7
Reds by 7
Highlanders by 9
Sharks by 13
Jaguares by 9
What the Bookies say:
Blues (1.1) over Cheetahs (10)
Lions (1.6) over Brumbies (2.6)
Crusaders (1.9) over Hurricanes (2.1)
Reds (1.6) over Rebels (2.7)
Highlanders (1.2) over Bulls (4.9)
Sharks (1.2) over Kings (5.8)
Jaguares (1.2) over Force (5.3)
The SuperBru Community picks:
Blues by 13
Lions by 9
Crusaders by 4
Reds by 2
Highlanders by 13
Sharks by 10
Jaguares by 10
It’s flippen “Toight” out there this week! The Aus and Kiwi derbies are impossible to pick, this while the derby in PE also comes with a smidgen more spice, and It’s difficult to write off a well drilled Brumbies side at home, even against the high riding Lions – as can be seen by the horrible odds offered on the wild horses.
In the cracker game of the year, the Saders are at home, but have travelled back from SA during the week. They have also had one less day to prepare given that the Canes played the Stormers on Friday last week. Throw in the Barrett extravaganza, and I am backing the all out flair (and scrum) of the Canes. My prediction comes with a bias warning though!
Both the Reds and Rabble are off heavy losses, but I see the boardroom shenanigans in Melbourne negatively influencing their on-field performance. The Sharks are a different side to the one that should have lost to the Kings at Kings Park earlier in the season, and sans Andre Esterhuizen, they have started using more than just a brute at 12 to bash it up.
Beware the wounded Bull! Not sure why, but a bit nervous about that pick.
Good luck out there …
Match information:
Blues v Cheetahs
Blues: 15. Melani Nanai, 14. Declan O’Donnell, 13. George Moala, 12. TJ Faiane, 11. Rieko Ioane, 10. Piers Francis, 9. Augustine Pulu, 8. Akira Ioane, 7. Blake Gibson, 6. Steven Luatua, 5. Scott Scrafton, 4. Patrick Tuipulotu, 3. Charlie Faumuina, 2. James Parsons (captain), 1. Pauliasi Manu.
Replacements: 16. Hame Faiva, 17. Alex Hodgman, 18. Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 19. Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 20. Kara Pryor, 21. Sam Nock, 22. Ihaia West, 23. Michael Collins.
Cheetahs: 15. Clayton Blommetjies, 14. Sergeal Petersen, 13. Francois Venter (captain), 12. William Small-Smith, 11. Raymond Rhule, 10. Fred Zeilinga, 9. Tian Meyer, 8. Henco Venter, 7. Oupa Mohoje, 6. Niell Jordaan, 5. Francois Uys, 4. Carl Wegner, 3. Tom Botha, 2. Torsten van Jaarsveld, 1. Charles Marais.
Replacements: 16. Elandre Huggett, 17. Ox Nche, 18. Johan Coetzee, 19. Armandt Koster, 20. Uzair Cassiem, 21. Shaun Venter, 22. Niel Marais, 23. Clinton Swart.
Referee: Brendon Pickerill
Assistant referees: Glen Jackson, Angus Mabey
Television match official: Aaron Paterson
Brumbies v Lions
Brumbies: 15. Aidan Toua, 14. Henry Speight, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 12. Kyle Godwin, 11. James Dargaville, 10. Wharenui Hawera, 9. Joe Powell, 8. Jordan Smiler, 7. Jarrad Butler, 6. Scott Fardy, 5. Sam Carter (captain), 4. Rory Arnold, 3. Allan Alaalatoa, 2. Josh Mann-Rea, 1. Ben Alexander.
Substitutes: 16. Robbie Abel, 17. Nic Mayhew, 18. Leslie Leulua’iali’i-Makin, 19. Blake Enever, 20. Ben Hyne, 21. De Wet Roos, 22. Jordan Jackson-Hope, 23. Tom Banks.
Lions: 15. Andries Coetzee, 14. Sylvian Mahuza, 13. Lionel Mapoe, 12. Harold Vorster, 11. Courtnall Skosan, 10. Elton Jantjies, 9. Ross Cronje, 8. Warren Whiteley (captain), 7. Ruan Ackermann, 6. Kwagga Smith, 5. Franco Mostert, 4. Andries Ferreira, 3. Johannes Jonker, 2. Robbie Coetzee, 1. Corne Fourie.
Replacements: 16. Malcolm Marx, 17. Jacques van Rooyen, 18. Ruan Dreyer, 19. Lourens Erasmus, 20. Robert Kruger/Cyle Brink, 21. Dillon Smit, 22. Jacques Nel, 23. Anthony Volmink.
Referee: Paul Williams
Assistant referees: Nick Briant, Jordan Way
Television match official: Ian Smith
Bulls v Highlanders
Bulls: 15. Warrick Gelant, 14. Jade Stighling, 13. Jesse Kriel, 12. Burger Odendaal, 11. Jamba Ulengo, 10. Tian Schoeman, 9. Piet van Zyl, 8. Hanro Liebenberg (captain), 7. Jannes Kirsten, 6. Ruan Steenkamp, 5. RG Snyman, 4. Jason Jenkins, 3. Trevor Nyakane, 2. Jaco Visagie, 1. Lizo Gqoboka.
Replacements: 16. Edgar Marutlulle, 17. Pierre Schoeman, 18. Coenraad van Vuuren, 19. Lood de Jager, 20. Nick de Jager, 21. Rudy Paige, 22 .Tony Jantjies, 23. Jan Serfontein.
Highlanders: 15 Matt Faddes, 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Richard Buckman, 11 Patrick Osborne, 10 Marty Banks, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Gareth Evans, 7 Dillon Hunt, 6 Elliot Dixon, 5 Tom Franklin, 4 Alex Ainley, 3 Siosuia Halanukonuka, 2 Ash Dixon (c), 1 Aki Seiuli
Bench: 16 Greg Pleasants-Tate, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Siate Tokolahi, 19 Joe Wheeler, 20 Jackson Hemopo, 21 Kayne Hammington, 22 Fletcher Smith, 23 Teihorangi Walden
Referee: Jaco van Heerden
Assistant referees: Egon Seconds, Cwengile Jadezweni
Television match official: Johan Greeff
Kings v Sharks
Kings: 15.Maxisole Banda, 14.Wandile Mjekevu, 13.Berton Klaasen, 12.Luzuko Vulindlu, 11.Makazole Mapimpi, 10.Lionel Cronje (captain), 9.Louis Schreuder, 8.Andisa Ntsila, 7.Tyler Paul, 6.Chris Cloete, 5.Wilhelm van der Sluys, 4.Irne Herbst, 3.Ross Geldenhuys, 2.Martin Bezuidenhout, 1.Schalk van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16. Kurt Haupt/Tanga Balekile, 17.Chris Heiberg, 18.Dayan van der Westhuizen, 19.Lubabalo Mtyanda, 20. Stefan Willemse, 21.Johan Steyn, 22.Pieter-Steyn de Wet, 23. Nicolaas Hanekom.
Sharks: 15. Rhyno Smith, 14. Kobus van Wyk, 13. Kukhanyo Am, 12. Jeremy Ward, 11. Lwazi Mvovo, 10. Pat Lambie (captain), 9. Michael Claassens, 8. Dan du Preez, 7. Jean-Luc du Preez, 6. Philip van der Walt, 5. Ruan Botha, 4. Etienne Oosthuizen, 3. Coenie Oosthuizen, 2. Franco Marais, 1. Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16. Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17. Thomas du Toit, 18. Lourens Adriaanse, 19. Stephan Lewies, 20. Tera Mtembu, 21. Cobus Reinach, 22. Garth April, 23. S’busiso Nkosi.
Referee: Federico Anselmi
Assistant referees: Quinton Immelman, AJ Jacobs
Television match official: Christie du Preez
