| Week Seven Picks | Donsteppa
34/39
Blues v Bulls
Waratahs v Cheetahs
Force v Stormers
Hurricanes v Crusaders
Chiefs v Highlanders
Sharks v Reds | True Blue
32/39
Blues v Bulls
Waratahs v Cheetahs
Force v Stormers
Hurricanes v Crusaders
Chiefs v Highlanders
Sharks v Reds | The Mingster
30/39
Blues v Bulls
Waratahs v Cheetahs
Force v Stormers
Hurricanes v Crusaders
Chiefs v Highlanders
Sharks v Reds | Nick The Aussie
30/39
Blues v Bulls
Waratahs v Cheetahs
Force v Stormers
Hurricanes v Crusaders
Chiefs v Highlanders
Sharks v Reds | TAB
31/39
Blues v Bulls
Waratahs v Cheetahs
Force v Stormers
Hurricanes v Crusaders
Chiefs v Highlanders
Sharks v Reds |
This weeks picks on time, and not much variation from our experts, NTA picking the Force for an historic first win, otherwise, all going the same - even the TAB...
Mingster
Blues v Bulls
Nacewa has replaced Lavea at first-five, and will be interesting to see how he copes with the play at 10 considering he is only a 'part timer'. Watch for Flavell at blindside to give the side more of a presence at ruck & maul time. Blues to win.
Waratahs v Cheetahs
Force v Stormers
Hurricanes v Crusaders
Potentially the match of the S14 so far, plenty of All Black match-ups particulary in the loose. Crusaders should come out on top as usual, but the Hurricanes have proved to be a bogey team for team in the past...
Chiefs v Highlanders
Sharks v Reds
Nick the Aussie
Blues by 6 or so over the Bulls. They'll get their confidence back with the free-running Nacewa at 10, and the Bulls will run out of puff around 60 minutes, allowing the fatal blow to fall
Tahs by 16 over the Cheetahs. A tough side, the Cheetahs will look to kick penalties or drop goals from anywhere, but the travel factor and a willing Tahs pack should see them home. And a home crowd of course 
Force by 3 over the Stormers. Why oh why am I still supporting these guys? As Phil Kearns said on Inside Rugby - this is probably the best lineup the Force have picked. With Fava and the fearless Brown in the back row, and Henjak away from the starting spot, Hilgendorf will give these guys their first win... provided Damp Bazza doesn't kill him first...
Crusaders by 10 over the Canes. The Cantabs will show the Canes that a few lucky breaks does not do the job at the pointy end.
Chiefs to defeat the Clan by 8. At home the Chiefs are a good unit, and even away ran the Brumbies close. The Clan pack, despite its rating, will see their efforts lost without Evans at 10.
Sharks to bump the Reds by 12. Guppies have looked good all year for a Saffer side, and the Reds are poo without Latham.
Donsteppa
Looks like a risky weekend, especially when the $2 crystal ball keeps getting clouded over by images of the Blues and the Chiefs...
Blues vs Bulls:
I've got a vague idea that this game will be close and that the desperation in the Blues camp will overcome the lack of game plan and lack of on-field intelligence. Blues in a close one.
Tah's vs Cheetahs:
Easy, Tahs by a hatful.
Force vs Stormers:
No joy this week either for the Force, the Stormers to win by around a dozen.
Hurricanes vs Crusaders:
Closest game of the weekend, but the Crusaders are the safest bet for this one.
Chiefs vs Highlanders:
Only the Highlanders tight five stands in the way of a win to the Chiefs in this one and Hill should take some of the pressure off Donald. Chiefs by around 10 points. (Gulp!)
Sharks vs Reds:
Sharks comfortably.
True Blue
Week Eight – Anybody’s game!
Blues v Bulls
Blues at home, having just suffered their worst defeat since the Stormers gutted them in 2004, and crippled by injuries to key players front up against the biggest, meanest gang of hard cases that ever did turn into a bunch on mummy’s boys the second they leave home.
Blues 9-16
The Farce (Force) v The Farce II (Stormers)
The Farce has been pants from the start and, occasional flashes of individual brilliance notwithstanding, are the tournament’s easy beats. The Stormers (The Farce II) are a team packed full of promise with zero delivery. This game is there for whoever wants it, and may the Farce be with both teams… but like um, does anyone care?
Stormers 1-8
Waratahs v Cheetahs
The Tahs must seem like overwhelming favourites at home to blow the Cheetahs off the park. The Cheetahs are, however, quite capable of doing the same to the Waratahs, but will it happen on Friday night? I don’t think so.
The Waratahs by 17+
Hurricanes v Crusaders
Top of the table clash it is, but one way traffic it will be. The Hurricanes have had it all their way this season, with a good chunk of luck to go with it. The Crusaders have been run close by the Sharks and the Chiefs but have never really looked like being in danger of actually losing a game. The Canes will huff and puff, but the plywood castle will stand.
Crusaders 9-16
Chiefs v Highlanders
Two honest, hardworking teams will be getting stuck into each other. The Highlanders started the season with a killer win over the Blues and the Chiefs lost two on the trot in the Republic, but it’s the Chiefs that have the momentum now, and they should take a closely fought match on the day.
Chiefs 1-8
The Sharks v The Reds
The Reds without Latham have this nasty tendency to drag oppo teams down to their level and then beat them on experience. The Sharks, with their bevy of youngsters may just be enmeshed in this mire, but will look to the cool heads of John Smit, AJ Venter and Tony Brown to ensure this doesn’t happen.
Sharks 9-16
TAB
Blues v Bulls. Blues best money at $2.90 for 12 and under. Bulls at $3.50 for the 12 and under. So the TAB think the Bulls will do their normal choke in NZ.
Waratahs v Cheetahs. The Tahs paying $1.30 for teh 13+ option, so heavy favourites here, and rightly so. Cheetahs best chance according to the TAB is for 12 and under, paying $10.00.
Force v Stormers. Not so clear cut here. For the 12 and unders, Force at $3.00, and the Stormers at $2.85. So anyone's game really. NTA's picking of the Force might not be so insane after all!
Hurricanes v Crusaders. At least the TAB are realists. The Canes paying $3.75 for 12 and under, and $7.00 for 13+. The Crusaders paying $2.75 for both options. Good calls methinks. |
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