Highlanders vs. Blues
Picking a close win to the Highlanders. Home advantage and Smylie in a halfback should be enough. The way the Blues fell apart in the second half vs. the Hurricanes suggests they aren’t yet onto their game.

Cats vs. Chiefs
Tipping the Chiefs in a close one. There are several ‘reasons’ one being that Kelleher & Donald must surely have been introduced to each other at training by now, and another that the Cats seem fairly week. However, it’s really because I hate tipping against my team.

Bulls vs. Brumbies
Tipping the Brumbies just. I’m picking the class of the Brumbies in the backs to overcome the Bulls. However I may be wrong and the Brumbies may get smashed upfront given the Bulls home advantage. Toss a coin.

Hurricanes vs. Force
Easy. Hurricanes will open the batting with Gilchrist and Katich and smash the Sri Lank- oops, Western Force. Fava starting on the bench won’t help.

Reds vs. Crusaders
Crusaders by 15 plus. The mantra in business used to be that “you don’t get fired for buying IBM”, likewise you don’t take a bath by betting on the Crusaders

Sharks vs. Cheetahs:
Buggered if I know – Sharks by nature of home advantage and coming off a morale boosting win. Cheetahs in with a chance of Percival has a ‘mare though.

Stormers vs. Warratahs
I’d expected the ‘Tah’s to trash the Reds last week, but they didn’t look as crash hot as they might have. I’m picking them to go down in a close one in their second away game.

… perhaps there’s a reason why I never put money on my tips… 

 

Highlanders v Blues - Dunedin
This game sees, arguably, the two strongest Kiwi packs up against each other in this repeat of the NPC final. Hayman v Woodcock. Oliver v Mealamu. Ryan v Williams. Mouthwatering stuff indeed! The Clan will be planning on starving the Blues of possession and dominating with Evan’s boot, while closing down Lavea with McDonald and Blackie. In reality, the Blues pack will stand its ground setting up the ‘Dougie and Rok’ show for a comfortable Blues win away from home.
Blues by 17+

Cats v Chiefs – Johannesburg
The Cats are such perennial under-achievers that the temptation is to write them off completely and automatically tip anyone and everyone to beat them home and away. Last week, in a fit of pity, I called a Cats win and ended up with egg on my face. And I’m going to do it again this week. With probably the same result, except that if Donald is dropped, and Bates moves to no 8, all bets are off…and don’t forget the altitude…
Cats by 1-8.

Bulls v Brumbies – Pretoria
Running a ruler down the Brumbies team sheet, one cannot hope to notice the distinct lack of mongrel amongst their forwards, and playing as they are on Saturday, against one of the strongest and most aggressive packs on the planet, it is difficult to foresee the Brumbies explosive outside backs getting enough ball to win the game for them. What will be obvious that, come fulltime, with the heat of the Africa summer at an altitude were oxygen is scarce, the Brumbies forwards will know they have been in a game of rugby.
Bulls by 9-16

Hurricanes v Force – New Plymouth
The Force delivered a spirited and brave opening performance against the Brumbies in front of a large and vociferous home crowd at Subiaco last week only to have the Brumbies run them off the park in the final 20 minutes. I don’t think that the Hurricanes will be so accommodating. The Canes are hungry as hell this season, and after sticking the rated Blues away will be riding an unstoppable (as far as the Force is concerned) wave of confidence. In front of their home crowds, this one will be traffic from the kick-off.
Hurricanes by 17+.

Reds v Crusaders – Brisbane
Spirited against the Waratahs, with some fine individual performances from the likes of McMenniman, Mitchell, Latham and Cordingley in front of a huge and parochial crowd at Suncorp, the Reds showed that they are a better unit than last year. But the ‘Saders will be too much for them and will outclass the Reds in every department. Jack, McCaw and Carter will reign supreme in one-sided try fest.
Crusaders by 17+.

Sharks v Cheetahs
The Cheetahs showed real mongrel against the powerful Bulls last weekend, while the Sharks showed a touch of class in seeing off the Chiefs. Watch out for AJ Venter v Juan Smith and Michael Claasens v Ruan Pienaar. The midfield battle between talented newcomers Ronnie Cooke and Andries Strauss will be worth the price of a ticket by itself. While local derbies are always tough to call, it will most likely come down to a battle of the boots, in which case one has to give the Sharks in the form of Montgomery at 5/8 the nod over the visitors.
Sharks by 1-8.

Stormers v Waratahs – Cape Town
Without setting the world alight, the Stormers looked at least organized last week against the Cats, and while there is often little that can be taken away from the dogfight nature of local derbies, the ability of the Stormers ‘light five’ to stand its ground was noteworthy. The Waratahs, conversely, struggled at times with the unrated Reds, and apart from Vickerman and at times Elsom and Waugh, had little to offer up front. Out wide, however, Tuquiri and Sailor remain massive threats, but having said that, the first and second receiver combination of Tiny Tim and ‘Cowboy’ Berne will be targeted from the start by the Stormers loosies including the likes of Schalk Burger, Luke Watson and Adri Badenhorst and the ball is likely to be turned over in that channel more than once in the game. In addition, having De Wet Barry and Jean de Villiers running at Berne on attack could leave one with concerns about the Tahs usually super-organized defense.
Stormers by 9-16.

 

Gordon Hunter Memorial Trophy game should be a ripper, should bring out the best from both sides and the Blues will be looking to bounce back after a shocking second half performance against the Hurricanes. The lineouts should be an interesting battle with All Blacks Ryan and Williams against fringe locks Rawlinson and Donnelly. However the lack of instinctive penetration in the backline from the 'Clan should see the Blues stroll through.

I'm backing the Aussie sides, Brumbies and Waratahs, to come out on top in SAF, while the Canes should be much too strong for newbies, the Force. Watch out for Ma'a Nonu in the midfield - he was devastating in the second 40 against the Blues. Another strong game would give the Hurricanes' coaches serious headaches seeing Umaga is due back soon. 
 

Highlanders v Blues (Dunedin)
The new Blues midfield combination could prove the difference here, with the Clan looking a bit shaky at the back. Both tight fives should just about cancel each other out and the Clan loosies might have the edge, but if the Blues backs click things could get deadly very quickly. I'm still tipping the Clan to play it tight up front and learn from last week's turnovers. Clan by 7

Cats v Chiefs (Jo'burg)
Having seen some of the two teams via highlights reels I reckon the Chiefs just need the rub of the green to put away the Cats. Chiefs by as much as 12.

Bulls v Brumbies (Pretoria)
As ACT captain Mortlock said after Friday's game in Perth: "Our forwards are in for an absolute pizzling". The Bulls, even without Matfield and first-choice hooker Botha, will be looking to smash every Aussie team into little pieces starting with numbers 1 to 8, and then use guys like Habana to drive the nail in. Long flight, playing at altitude against a stampeding herd of wildebeest... jeez. Bulls by 15, despite the Brumbies backline.

Hurricanes v Force (New Plymouth)
I can't see any other result here besides a complete dicking. The Canes in NZ (admittedly not at Welly) but looking rampant and so confident that they're thinking of resting Umaga who has a minor injury of some sort. The Force will try their arses off but the Canes should be comfortable winners by about 21.

Reds v Crusaders (Brisbane)
The Reds will find it tough to dig as deep as they did Saturday when coming oh so close to turning over the Tahs. The same sort of attitude and tenacity will see them harry the Crusaders well, and the conditions in Brisbane might even help slow the Kiwis down a bit. But ultimately unless the training runs are very light this week they risk running out of puff, and will miss old head Roe on the park to keep it real. Crusaders by plenty - 20 if I have to put a number on it.

Sharks v Cheetahs (Durban)
Sharks looked classy against the Chiefs. The Cheetahs have a lot of talent on paper but couldn't quite catch the Bulls with crap refereeing costing them the bonus point. I'll go with the Sharks mainly on home advantage, by 5, but don't be surprised if Percy has a 'mare and things fall to bits in the face of rabid provincialism.

Stormers v Waratahs (Cape Town)
Tipping the Tahs naturally enough, but not by much. The Stormers didn't have to do much to beat the Cats, but have been referred to as possessing a "light five" by one of the regular Saffers on the forum. We've picked up a few injuries since arriving in the Republic and the rush defence of the West Cape men could be our undoing with the midget brigade in Donnelly and Berne at 10 and 12 respectively. Tahs by 3

Boo of the week: The Reds fans who complained about the hot chickybabes strutting their little hineys off at Suncorp. Shame on you - perhaps you lot should learn more about advances such as the wheel and man made fire before you start picking on the innocent little flowers. For ages we've needed something to match the South African cheer girls, and although the lasses in QLD carried a touch more around the hips, their efforts were enthralling.

Yay of the week: Scott Fava. Not only scores an equalising try for his franchise's first 5-pointer ever, but turns up over the limit at training. Let that be an example to you youngsters - if you want the day off and a relaxing week on the bench, hit the turps. But only if you score the try.


 

Highlanders $2:30 v Blues $1.57
Fair enough I reckon - Highlanders the worst of the two teams by a long way last weekend!

Cats $2.35 v Chiefs $1.55
Chiefs favourite again - didn't the TAB learn from last week - I see Donsteppa didn't either...

Bulls $1.50 v Brumbies $2.50
Fair enough again, the Bulls to steamroll the Brumbies via their fatboy forward pack.

Hurricanes$1.05 v Force $9.00
Generous odds for the Hurricanes, but with the 'Canes, a spare tenner on the Force might not go astray!

Reds $4.75v Crusaders $1.16
Reds shot their bolt last week against the Waratahs I would think, and will be flat this weekend, and in line for a hiding.  The TAB agree, not good for the Crusaders...

Sharks $1.60 v Cheetahs $2.25
Two bloody Boer teams - Sharks with an upset win over the Chiefs last week, should be too good for the new boy Cheetahs.

Stormers $2.15 v Waratahs $1.65
Waratahs a class outfit over the last couple of years, should come away with a close one methinks.