Holy bat pole Robin, or Batman, or Catwoman, or the joker, round FIVE of the Super 14 Already. The good, the bad, and the ugly sorting themselves out too, and even without the 22 All Blacks on R&R, the Kiwi teams are rising to the top of the points log. Although, the top 10 places are separated by the grand total of 5 log points, so bonus point win to the 10th placed Bulls in Canberra (yeah right) would see them equal to the Blues, should the City of Sails boys lose.
So while the Kiwi teams are on top, and it is good to crow about it on the forum, and wind up, or attempt to, our Boer and Convict brethren, it can change rapidly in a week!
Blues v Highlanders @ Auckland
"Roll up, roll up, see the amazing Tupperware rugby player in his annual game for Otago or the Highlanders"... Yes, Nick Evans. Playing his first game this season for the Highlanders, and giving their backline some teeth, and not a mpment too soon. They are against the front running Blues, and the real House of Pain for southern men, Eden Park. Their forward pack, which I sighted for the first time last week, has from reports, and what I saw, been going pretty well - class players in the back five, coupled with the primarily no names up front doing the job needed. If the backline can do something with the ball the receive, they are in with a starters chance.
The Blues had a good blow out against the Reds last week, the win more comfortable than the scoreline would indicate, as a good half dozen kickable penalties were turned down in the quest for the four try bonus point. Hell, at 21 - 6 they stopped going for the posts, and in today's rugby, a 15 point margin can be gobbled up in five bloody minutes, but I am digressing a little here - Blues v Highlanders.
Expect a good clash between the fatties up front. SHould be a pretty equal battle I feel - the locks and loosies all quality players, it'll be an on the day thing over who wins that battle. The front rankers though - the All Blacks in the Blues set up against fellow All Black Dermody and the two no names King and McDonald. If these unknowns can beat their more fancied opponents, it could be game on.
The Blues backline though, led my Nacewa and McAlister, that should be the difference in this match, which will be very tight in the first half, before becoming more comfortable for the city slickers in the second spell.
Points Spread: Blues -12
Waratahs v Force @ Sydney
Who'd have believed it? Not me anyway, and certainly not anyone who read even a 10th of the propaganda that the Horrortahs put out each year about how good they are going to be, and 'this is their year', and, well, you get the picture - if rugby was played on paper and points measured in hot air, the Waratahs would be four times defending champions. Anyway, I am waffling, what I am 'who'd believing' is that the Force are five points ahead of the Horrortahs, and playing some really good rugby - despite still not being able to win a game at home for love or money.
So first point in favour of the Farce, they are playing away from home! But, or however, playing against 'big brother' might still be too much for them, even though they will have plenty of confidence after the two wins away from home. The Farce also should have had their first home win against the Lions last week, but managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of voctory for their third one point loss at home in a season and a bit!
So Waratahs, off their bye last week to notch up their second win of the season and show some of that paper form on the field.
Points Spread: Waratahs -12
Cheetahs v Chiefs @ Bloemfontein
Oh God, ANOTHER game in the republic for the poor old Chiefs. Luxury though for Foster, with the team going so well, he has been able to rest two of his All Black loose forwards, Bates and Holah for this unimportant game. Haaaaaaang on. That's not right. The Chiefs have won nothing this season, not even an after match raffle. Bates is their captain, and in ripping form. Holah gets better the more he plays, and looked to be getting into some sort of form last week. So of course they should be benched...
Selection frustrations aside, the Chiefs came close to a win last week, and did look a damn sight better than they have been. Still not at the level that you could expect, and would wish to expect if you were a Chiefs fan, but starting to come right. Just a pity that they have already placed themselves firmly behind the eight ball in the race for a top four spot with their four early losses.
Lets look ahead though, the Cheetahs were firmly spanked last week by the Crusaders, so the Chiefs have got a decent chance. They are trotting out their best front row again, Robbo back at lock for the second week running, along with Lauaki, Maega scoring tries, and Donald not doing too many things like a leper.
They are the Chiefs though, and even when they look like they are going to win, they'll invent another way to lose. Cheetahs to snare a win, another close, but no cigar, and an ought and five record for the Chiefs.
Points Spread: Cheetahs -12
Hurricanes v Stormers @ Wellington
Stormers looked horrible against the Highlanders last weekend, yet still managed to snaffle four tries for a bonus point. Hurricanes scraped home with an after the hooter try to win their match, so neither team really in the best form. The Boers though, they are away from home, and being away from home for these guys usually mean that they lose, and really, I can see no reason why they will not conform to the norm.
The only way the Stormers can win this will be by bashing the living daylights out of the Hurricanes eight, and stopping the supply of ball to their erratic backline. If the Hurricanes play as they did last week, the Stormers eight will have a field day. Their forwards were too busy trying to be a backline, and didn't have enough time for those horrible things like rucks and mauls.
They won't be that bad two weeks in row though, and a comfortable win will ensue, after the normal opening trench warfare that you get from the big Saffers.
Points Spread: Hurricanes 13+
Brumbies v Bulls @ Canberra
The Brumbies must be hurting. Two losses this season, and both after the final hooter has gone. To make it worse, to a couple of New Zealand teams, one coached by the last coach to take them to a title too. So they have to be hurting. They could be four from four, and sitting atop of the points log. They are not though, they are back in the pack, sitting in eighth spot.
The Bulls a point behind, also batting .500 for the season, two from two.
The curse though will apply, along with the Brumbies superb home record, and the Brumby abilty to put sides away, so a big win on the cards.
Points Spread: Brumbies 13+
Reds v Lions @ Brisbane
Lions had their first win in Australia last week against the Force (I think it was, as the Cats or the Lions that is), are a young team, and will be full of confidence as they prepare to battle with the Whining Reds. The Reds on the other hand had a reality check last week when they got smacked by the Blues. All of a sudden Whining Eddie's forward pack was not the best thing since sliced bread. Well, there first real test this week, a Boer pack, with front rowers whose first though on a rugby field is about scrums, scrums, scrums and scrums. This will come as a rude awakening to the Aussie props, whose first thoughts are running with the ball and all those flash Harry back things. In saying that though, the Reds scrum has not been too bad this season, and it will be good to watch the game even just for the scrums (is that a front rower speaking or what)>
Lions though, have the curse of the Saffer tourists to contend with, and I think that, along with the Reds hurting from their loss last week, will se a close win to the Ockers.
Points Spread: Reds -12
Sharks v Crusaders @ Durban
Sharks the only unbeaten team in this season's Super 14, coming of a bye last week. The Crusaders two and two, and finally starting to look like the Crusaders last week in their demolition of the Cheetahs. However (there is always a 'however', or a 'but' isn't there), the Sharks at home are hard to beat, and the Crusaders, well, they only beat the Cheetahs last week, and they have not looked good previous to that game.
So, despite their new players starting to gel, and they mob that started with a close loss to the Blues now looking less leaderless and more like a team, it'll be more hard lessons for the play through champions.
Points Spread: Sharks -12
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