YEEEEE HAAAAAAA.

At last, rugby starting again.  Super rugby, Super 14, not that the number is important, as that will change again no doubt in the near future.  But, in its current form, it is back.

Time to bury those memories of last season, of the missing All Blacks during the Super season, of that RWC, which did not hurt as much as previous losses to be fair.  While it did hurt standing on a rusty nail in bare feet, we won't go there again, stop looking back, look forward!!

So looking forward, round one, Super 14, and the first game on deck, the mighty Australian Crusaders (snort) versus the new look Brumbies.  A bit of a no brainer this one, for two reasons.  The Brumbies have lost about a million caps in Larkham, Grogan, Mortlock and Paul not starting, and the Crusaders have their All Blacks coming back on deck, with plenty to prove, so expect a 13 plus win here for the good guys. 

Crusaders should be too strong up front, with a pack anchored on long time All Black Greg Somerville, All Black in waiting COrey Flynn and another potential All Black in Ben Franks - leaving Wyatt Crockett on the bench, yet another 'potential' player.  That front row is getting powered by the All Blacks best player at the RWC Ali Williams packing down beside the returned from league former All Black Brad Thorn.  Brumbies props Nic Henderson and Guy Shepherdson are two solid performers, but they, along with their fellow tight fivers are not up to the Crusaders standard.  Edmonds at hooker is a journeyman at best, been around the traps, never landing a starting spot at any high level.  Across the board in the packs the Crusadesr should have the edge - thanks to the dominance their tight five should get.

Backlines match up, experience where it counts for the Crusaders, with Carter and MacDonald (in his 100th game) leading the parade.  The Brumbies have cobbled together a backline that looks like it might be threatening at heartland rugby level, but little else...

Player to watch:  Dan Carter.  The world's best first five needs to prove it, watch him do it.

So as mentioned above, Crusaders by 13+, a maximum points win to kick their season off.

Reds v Highlanders

The battle of the Giraffes.  Both packs have three men around the 2:00 metre mark, more height than a really really high thing.

The Highlanders also have a pair of props both measuring in above 6'4" in rookies Newlands and MackIntosh.  A complete rookie loose trio though in 8. Steven Setephano, 7. Alando Soakai, and 6. Hayden Triggs, but that word, potential comes into play.  Potentially a very good trio.  Triggs locked the Manwatu scrum last season, but was out and about like a loose forward playing some superb rugby for the once mighty Manawatu.  Setephano has much to prove after languishing in the Waikato for the last few seasons, stuck behind Bates, Messam and co.  He is a no nonsense player who will grab his chances.  Soakai, like Triggs was pretty handy in last seasons NPC too, and showed up well in his appearances for the Highlanders last season.

The Clans blouses are led, and fed by former All Black, Jimmy Cowan.  Cowan must be in line for a recall should he play as well as last season - especially if he addresses whatever it was that the Cartel told him to work on.  My favourite word for the day, potentially the number one halfback in New Zealand I reckon.  Outside Cowan, there is next to nothing.  Daniel Bowden at ten (who?), and a swag of no names outside him.  Paul Williams and Niva Ta’auso the two with the most experience and who will be relied on to lead the rookies.

The Reds, well, fat bastard prop 'Rodzilla' leads the way, then the string beans.  The last hurrah of Chris Latham too, so expect the talented fullback to be on fire as per usual.

The Reds will probably have too much class out wide for the Highlanders, even though the Clan might get the upper hand in the forward exchanges.

Player to watch:  Lock Craig Ross.  Top NPC season for the Crusaders, big, skilled, strong running, good rugby brain.  All Black material, if not this season, than the next.

A close call I reckon, but the Reds by 12 and under.

Sharks v Western Farce

Well, truth be told, I would have trouble naming even ten players from both teams - I always get confused over which biltong boy plays for which team, and the Force, well, full of boxers...  Matt Henjak v Haig Sare being the latest bout.

The build up for the Force, and playing away, should see them shafted by the Sharks.  At least that is what I think, based on sod all...

Player to watch:  Rocky Henjack.

Sharks by 13+

Blues v Chiefs

This would have to be the match of the round for New Zealanders.  Especially for the upper North Island.  Olde Foes Auckland (Blues) and Waikato (Chiefs) going head to head for the millionth time!  No matter what the past history, form is usually thrown out the window when these two play.  As there is no form this season, this being the first round of the comp, there will be no throwing, and even less than usual to base thoughts on who will win and why!

The Blues should have a slight advantage in the tight five, thanks mainly to their All Black front row of Woodcock, Mealamu and Afoa.  The Chiefs front three, while solid performers, are not quite at that level - Tom Willis at hooker is class, and props Davison and Castle while good solid Super and NPC players, are not quite at the level of the Blues front rankers.  If Castle can get parity with Woodcock, half the battle in the tight will be won. 

The second rows are pretty even.  Veterans Flavell and Gibbes opposing captains both packing down with comparative rookies, Haiu for the Blues and O'Neil for the Chiefs.  O'Neil being the only really tall lock on the field, perhaps the Chiefs will have an edge at lineout time, especially with the spring healed Gibbes there, although Haiu is in the Gibbes mould, a superb aerial athlete despite lacking the height of a genuine lock.

The loose trios are a contrast.  The Blues have gone for size with Nick Williams at 8, Kaino at 6, and veteran Justin Collins at 7 in place of the recovering from surgery Daniel Braid.  So basically three 'tight' loose forwards opposing the Chiefs quicker loose trio of Tanerau Latimer, Liam Messam and wrecking ball Sione Lauaki.   It should be an interesting clash of styles,  more so to see what works, if anything, with the ELVs.

There are two exciting back lines on deck here, pretty much an evens call I say, the line that gets the best service from their pack should carry the day.  There is pace to burn, with the Blues turning out with Rokocoko, Tuitivake, Toeava, Evans and Nacewa as genuine speedsters, while the Chiefs have Aseni, Sivivatu, Muliaina, and Donald with serious gas.  A pity Sivivatu and the Rock are not opposing each other directly, that would be interesting!!

So for mine, the match will be won up front.  Where I think all matches are won, but with the ELVs and an ounce of luck with a quick tap, who knows, a match might be lost when it should be won, and vice versa.

Player to watch:  Stephen Donald, an All Black in waiting, or another Waikato 'close, but no cigar' (Duane Monkley, Gary Major, Craig Stevenon et al).

Match won up front?   That means the Blues, but by bugger all - 12 and unders.

Waratahs v Hurricanes

Waratahs at home are always tough, and they have some flash Harry backs out there, but up front, where the Hurricanes are fielding 6 All Blacks, they should be beaten.  It will not be easy though, the NSWelshmen have a Wallaby front three (not world class, but Wallaby class to be sure), some handy locks, and and excellent loose trio.  The Hurricanes though, have a superb loose trio, better locks, and a better front row - not by a great deal though with Fairbrother starting instead of Tialata.  Schwalger and Hore outclass Dunning and the hobbit Freir any day! 

The loose trios are a mouth watering match up.  So'oialo, Collins and Masoe take on Wycliff Palu, Phil Waugh, and Rocky Elsom.  The edge that the tight five give the Hurricanes should give their loose trio the edge too.  Will Palu be able to handle the extra pace that the new ELVs are meant to bring into the game, we'll see.  He might be more effective off the back of the scrum, but is he still a fat looking unfit bugger and will he run out of gas after ten minutes??

Lota-cash Tuqiri will have much to prove, as he always does, and will be fun to watch. Timana Tahu, the latest in the league signings will be worth keeping an eye on too, along with Kurtley Beal, the youngster at ten.

Of the Hurricanes backline, the men with the most to prove are halfback Piri Weepu and wing / utility back Ma'a Nonu.  Both could have/should have gone to the RWC and will want to prove to the Cartel that they are food enough this season to be All Blacks.  A big season for All Black centre Conrad Smith would be good for all concerned too.

Player to watch:  Hooker Hika Elliot.  Only on the bench for the Hurricanes, but hopefully he'll get a good 15 - 20 minutes and show the world his paces.  Like his namesake with ball in hand, Hika Reid.  Watch this boy, the next generation of New Zealand hookers.

So on the back of the Hurricanes forward pack, a close win for the Kiwis - 12 and unders.  More if Gopperth plays well.

Stormers v Bulls

A Boer bash, I have to back the champions.  Why, as that is the only thing that I can think of here!!  But a close one, as first round matches are usually tough battles when no form is on the board.

Bulls by 12 and under.

Cheetahs v Lions

Cheetahs will win, why, umm, because they are at home!!

Cheetahs by 12 and under.

So there you go, follow this advice and margins, and you will be sitting sweet in the tipping this week.

Or not.