Wokka wokka wokka (as Fozzie Beer used to say), Super 14 round 3 here we go!!  Round two was a vast improvement on the first round, and as the players get up to full speed, expect the lesser teams (for lesser, read any team other than the Blues and Crusaders) to start playing some good football - especially now that they have realised the game has not changed too much, despite the ELVs.

Horrorcanes v Chiefs.

Both teams playing really ugly rugby, not much form to speak, and with a win and a loss thus far.  Home advantage to the Canes, and you would think that they will get up for the win - on paper at least they are a far better team than the Chiefs, and with no form on the field to speak of for either side, than that is all we have to go on!

An All Black laden forward pack, and a mercurial backline clashes with a Chiefs eight packed with journeymen and a backline that has had its claws drawn with the loss of Richard Kahui and Brendon Leonard.

A full strength Chiefs side might challenge the capital city side, but not the cobbled together side that is going to face the task this Friday.  The worlds laziest Super star wing Sitiveni Sivivatu has been shunted to fullback, arguably the worlds best fullback has been shunted into centre, and David Bason gets thrown into the deep end at halfback, coming up against an almost All Black tight five, and an All Black test level loose trio. 

For the Chiefs to win those three players will probably have to have their best games in these respective positions ever.  That, along with the Chiefs forwards not taking a backward step, and getting stuck into the near All Black pack, no holds barred.  Bet they wish that a certain Keith Robinson was not just on the coaching staff for this game, his hard nosed, no fear approach is just what is needed.

The Hurricanes need to stop reading their press, roll up their sleeves and get back to basics to win this game.  All this week at training they should have been watching Blues and Crusaders videos, and learning that ELVs or not, you still need to do the basics right in rugby.  Get dominance up front, and have 14 men working like bastards to give the 15th man a half a yard start on the way to the try line.  Nothing has really changed in the last 100 years really - dominance in the forward exchanges equals wins. 

Neemia Tialata will need a big game at tighthead, if he wants to catch up on Somerville and Afoa, who are currently leading the race for the vacated All Black three jersey, as will Jerry Collins, who has also been very quiet compared to his usual high standards.  On form, he would also be well behind the eight ball with Jerome Kaino leading the way, and even Kieran Reid of the Crusaders probably in better form.  Also needing to continue to impress is Andrew Hore, Corey Flynn is breathing down his neck in the race to be Mealamu's back up.

In the blouse department, Piri Weepu needs a massive game.  At the moment it is hard to remember him ever being an All Black, let alone a pretty decent one.  If he wants to wear the silver fern again (which is conjecture anyway), he needs to fins some form and quick!  Jimmy Gopperth needs to find the form that he first bought to Super rugby however many years ago too (four, three, maybe five)??  He's adequate, but that's about it, and you don't win Super titles by having adequate men in charge.  You win them having Andrew Mehrtens and Dan Carter and the ilk. 

Players to watch:  Lets call this one All Black watch - Piri Weepu, Neemia Tialta, and Jerry Collins - all underperforming and in need of big games.

A win then for the Hurricanes, and comfortably so, 13+

Lions v Western Force

Lions worse than pathetic last week, the Force winning despite themselves.  That'll probably continue, I hope so, as that is what I have tipped anyway...

Players to watch:  None, as I won't be watching...

Froce by 12 or less...

Stormers v Crusaders

The Burger-less Stormers versus the on fire Crusaders.  I expect nothing less than a 13+ win again for the men from the south.  The Biltong Biting Boers have no idea about these new ELVs, and in fact, even without them would still be struggling.  Their main problem is not getting the hang of the new laws, but they are just not fit enough to play Super level football, hell, some of their players look not fit enough to jog a lap of the field.  Still hung-over from that RWC thing I expect...

Anyway, we won't go there!!

The Crusaders have made three changes, rolling the props over, and veteran Caleb Ralph into the starting lineup in place of Scott Hamilton, who has flown home for 'personal reasons'.  Probably because he had a ratshit game and was depressed...  But that is unfair, no doubt a real reason, and it has nothing to do with his performance last week, whcih must rank as the single worst Super game he has ever had.

Props Somerville and Franks are gone, with Campbell Johnstone and Wyatt Crockett coming into the starting jerseys, Somerville taking the bench spot.  If it is one place that the Crusaders have a vast advantage, it is in props.  No other team in New Zealand at least has 4 props that you would not mind starting in any combination come game time.  Sure Johnstone is not the most mobile prop in the business, but he can scrum, and that under the ELVs is where it is at.  Take the Blues, remove Woodcock and Afoa, and you would be starting with Bronson Murray and Nick White, hardly a duo to strike fear into the hearts of any opposing eight!  So certainly strength in depth their for the Crusaders.

Otherwise an unchanged lineup, Deans going for the continuity thing with players getting chances to build combinations (memo to the Cartel, time to build combinations), and get some form on the board (memo to Cartel, form from playing).  This has been working too - Carter has looked better from week one to two, as did McCaw, and pretty much all the players in red 'n' black.

The Stormers, well, they are sitting on the bottom of the table, and deservedly so by all accounts.  So being crap, and losing Burger for being a grade 'A' Jessie Ryder (I AM bigger than the game), it should be normal transmission resumed for the men from the republic, another loss.

Players to watch:  Carter again, and Campbell Johnstone - has the prop with the mobility of a Tiger Tank in the mud, got up and running for the new ELVs, or been left behind...?

Crusaders to win 13+

Highlanders v Waratahs

The Clan with home ground advantage at last.  Two close losses to Aussie teams, and about to fact another bunch of convicts in the New South Welshmen (the original convicts weren't they)?  The Waratahs have had a win and a loss, and look quite good, but for some reason, I am thinking that the Highlanders will pull this one out of the hat.

The Highlanders rookies now know what it takes to play Super rugby, how much faster it is then NPC, how much more intense it is at the breakdown, how much more concentration you need for even the little things.  So expect big things from them this week.  They have named their 'mega sized' forward pack again, moving Hayden Triggs back to the side of the scrum and youngster Issac Ross heading back into lock.  Otherwise unchanged up front, and fair enough to, the pack has been going well for a bunch of rookies!

The backline sees Michael Delany slot in at first five, a mercurial running first five, but a really, really little bugger.  Expect plenty of Waratahs attacks to centre around there, to make him work his arse off!!  Otherwise remains the same, which is good, as while they have not been earth shattering like the Blues backs, they have been solid enough to make defending lines honest in their work.  Think their number one priority should be get the ball to Fetu'u Vainikolo, the Northland winger is greased lightning.

Players to watch:  Greased Lightning and Delany.

Highlanders to win -12.

Brumbies v Red

This is usually a quite good game, and usually, the Brumbies win it.  But this is not the usual Brumbies team, with the departure of Larkham, Grogan and Paul, and the injury of Mortlock, it is a shadow of its former self.  Add to that the Reds are playing with a bit of pride this season (although they started last year the same, before going on to that nine loss in a row trot), and this game should be quite a close one.  However, I think the Brumbies, at home will do enough to hold on for a win.

Players to watch:  The props, how many early subbing prop (Rodzilla), will then replace the prop that subbed on for them, who has been 'injured'?  Which is allowed in the rules, a subbed prop coming back on for injury.  Just how legit the injury has to be remains to be seen.  Means though, that fat pricks like Rodzilla can carry on being fat pricks.  Hell, even pudding Dunning looks to have trimmed up a little (as much as a human donut can that is)...

Brumbies by -12.

Cheetahs v Blues

Goodnight nurse for the Cheetahs.  The Blues demolished the Lions last week, and have another cat to skin this week.  They should have no trouble dispatching the Cheetahs, who are winless after two rounds.  The biggest obstacle for the Blues I reckon is themselves, and wanting to start the show time 50/50 passes before the hard work is done up front - the basics.  If they start playing Hurricane style rugby - Hurri-ball - then it could become unstuck.  Fingers crossed that filthy Aussie at the helm will have them well grounded.

The Blues have named an unchanged forward pack for the third week running, and one change in the backs.  Rudi Wulf gets his chance to win back the wing spot that he held off Joe Rokocoko for last season.  In place of Tuitavake though, not in place of the All Black Rokocoko. 

I expect more of the same from the Blues this week, I think they have enough old heads up front to know that the work has to be done first before the Hurri-ball starts.  And when it does, it will be worth being up for!!

Players to watch:  All of them!!  Blues on fire at the moment, but close eyes on Stanley as he pushed for All Black honours, and Kaino, can he put three in a row together on the paddock?

Result, Blues in a canter, 12+

Bulls v Sharks

Another Biltong Biting Boer derby.  Another snooze fest?  Probably.

Winner, go with the home side, the Bulls, they have a few of their big guns back on deck, and will want to pull the Sharks down from their lofty heights of 2 wins from 2 starts....

Players to watch, ahh, Botha is back for the Bulls, so keep on eye on that big dirty bastard (and I mean that in the best possible sense, would love him to be available in All Black colours).

Margin for the Bulls, -12.  Hell, there will probably be under 12 points scored in the match...!!

There you go, week twos picks, bring the games on!!