Highlanders v Hurricanes

First match up of the round, and if it was any team but the Hurricanes playing the Clan, you would pencil a win in for the visitors.  However, it is the Hurricanes, so you have to hope (if you are a Canes fan), that they carry on their improvement from the early rounds of the Super 14, and forge out another win with their combination of rugby 15s and 7s. 

You also have to hope the above if you are a neutral Kiwi fan, as the Highlanders are already gone for all money, and if you want more than just the Blues and Crusaders challenging for the title, than the Hurricanes are the next cab off the rank - the Chiefs and the Clan already looking forward to the 2009 season...

Anyway, the forward battle tonight should be fairly even, that is one place the clan have not been found wanting.  Their big boys have been pretty handy.  But in the loose, the Hurricanes trio brings a bit more to the park than the Highlanders boys, although they are welcoming back captain Craig Newby, who slots into the 8 jersey, leaving the impressive Setephano at number eight. 

It is in the backline though that the Highlanders have been found wanting - not being able ot finish off the work of the big boys.  Not glaring bad play, just a couple of degrees off in everything they do (like the Delany kick last week that cost them the game against the Waratahs.  Right idea, wrong execution).  Basically the game plan of that backline should be in every move called to manoeuvre wing Fetu'u Vainikolo into space.  This boy has serious pace, and is not used enough.

The Hurricanes need more of the same from last week.  Forwards getting into their work before letting the backs hit their paces.  The good ball that the backline received last week made journeyman first five Gopperth look like a world beater.  So it is a simple formula for the Hurricanes - get the backs bloody good ball, and then sit back and support the breaks.

Being a local derby, this match will be closer than it should be, especially being played in Dunedin.  So expect a win for the Hurricanes, but they will have to bring their 'A' game - not the muddle they gave us in their first up loss to the Waratahs in week 1.

Players to watch:  Craig Newby, back on deck after missing first three rounds with a foot injury.  That extra experience should help the hard working rookie forward pack no end.

Result:  Hurricanes by 12 and under.

Teams:
Highlanders:
15-James Wilson, 14-Paul Williams,11- Fetu'u Vainikolo,13- Niva Ta'auso,12- Johnny Leota, 10-Daniel Bowden, 9-Jimmy Cowan, 8-Steven Setephano, 7-Alando Soakai, 6-Craig Newby (captain), 5-Tom Donnelly, 4-Isaac Ross, 3-Clint Newland, 2-Jason Macdonald, 1-Jamie Mackintosh.
16-David Hall, 17-Keith Cameron, 18-Hoani MacDonald, 19-Adam Thomson, 20-Toby Morland, 21-Michael Delany, 22-Brett Mather.
Hurricanes:
15- Shannon Paku, 14- Ma'a Nonu,  11-Hosea Gear, 13- Conrad Smith, 12-Tamati Ellison, 10- Jimmy Gopperth, 9- Piri Weepu, 8- Rodney So'oialo (c), 7- Scott Waldrom, 6- Jerry Collins, 5- Jason Eaton, 4- Craig Clarke, 3- Timmuh! Fairbrother, 1- John Schwalger, 2- Andrew Hore, 16- Hika Elliot, 17- Jacob Ellison, 18- Jeremy Thrush, 19- Thomas Waldrom, 20- Alby Mathewson, 21- Willy Ripia, 22- Tane Tu'ipulotu.

Waratahs v Brumbies

Local derby number two of the weekend in game number two.  The no names that pack out that Brumbies side gave the Reds a pummelling last week, but away to the Waratahs, they should be on the receiving end of one.  Should be...

Result:  Waratahs by 12 and under.

Bulls v Lions

Another inter nation clash.  This match will be a bore fest (haha, get it, bore - Beor), if both teams bring their current games into the fixture.  Fingers crossed for those watching that the teams remember that it is not illegal to pas the ball more than two passes down a backline from set play, and some action ensues!!

Result:  Home team by 12 and under in a match that even the coaching staff will have difficulty staying awake for...

Chiefs v Cheetahs

The more things stay the same, the more things stay the same.  Round four, and the Chiefs, while one win ahead of where they were this time last season, are looking at make or break games already.  They also have the standard Chiefs injury toll running too, captain Crystal Gibbes out for 6 weeks, Kahui on a week to week basis, Ormsby gone for the season, Leonard just back on deck after missing a week, as is Anesi after missing a couple of weeks also.  So business as usual for the Chiefs, no wins, and no players fit.

In a 'interesting' move, Foster has rested the dynamic duos from the flanks, Messam and Latimer, replacing them with imports Faifili Levave and Tom Harding.  Why, Who knows.  The two regular starters both move to the bench, with fellow loose forward Hopgood.  Add in the two front rowers that a bench must carry, and you have, for the second time this season for the Chiefs, a 5/2 reserves split.  That bit them in the bum last match out at Waikato Stadium where Messam had to move into midfield for a time.  Chiefs fans, start crossing everything that you have...

In a surprise move Mils Muliaina has been given the captaincy for the Chiefs, with long time Gibbes assistant Tom Willis been given the finger.  Why, only Ferret Foster can know, but Mils captaincy experience at any level equates to two fifths of fark all, so a very interesting 'cunning plan' from the Chiefs management.  Has Willis not been saying his hail Mary's at the Chiefs prayer meetings or something perhaps!?!

The Cheetahs, of the Boer teams I have seen, have looked the most enterprising of the lot.  They actually give the ball some air, use their backline, and score tries.  Sure, their execution at times is kak, but they know the way forward with the ELVs is not a fat bastard forward pack and kicking for the corners.  They have the usual Biltong Biting steroid fuelled giant men in the pack which will keep the Chiefs honest up front too.

So this game should be a win for the home town lads, but of all the Boer teams to come up against, this is probably the most dangerous, even though they have not posted a win on the log yet.  Perhaps the Sharks might be more dangerous, but I have not seen them play yet...

Players to watch:  Ben May, the giant Tasman prop packing down at tighthead for the Chiefs this week.  Muliaina, captain, fullback, where he likes to be.

Result:  Chiefs by 12 and under.

Reds v Stormers

Reds at home to the Stormers.  Relying on the Boers to keep having their travel woes (generalisation), and not turn up ready to play.  That, and the Reds, in spite of their flogging last week against the Brumbies, are a vastly improved outfit from last season, so they should have enough left in the tank to pull out a win.

Result:  Reds by 12 and under.

Sharks v Blues

Now this is what we watch Super rugby for, the best of the Kiwis against the best of the Biltong Biting Bastards.  Both teams unbeaten, but the Sharks with home ground advantage, and the Blues in match three of their Boer tour, so perhaps getting a little weary and looking forward to heading home.  Probably not though, as they have had two good wins, and the team is humming along at the moment, just the one injury blow, and the squad will be feeling good.

That injury though, a telling one.  Nacewa out for who knows how long,  He's been in fine form now for Auckland and the Blues for the last 18 months, playing from 10 through to 15, and always being super dangerous to the opposition.  Ben Atiga gets the nod to fill his boots in this all important fixture.  Lets hope he is up to the task.

Otherwise for the Blues it is business as usual.  The same forward pack trots out to start the match for the 4th match running, and they have been firing on all six cylinders for all matches so far, so they will be primed and ready for this battle.  It will be a good battle too, the Sharks won twice last season against the Blues, once in NZ in a match filled with 'feeling', where they bullied the Blues off the park, and in the semi final.  The semi final, played in Durban was a closer match than the scoreboard indicated, with the Blues looking good for an upset win through until Isaia Toeava was injured setting up the second Blues try I think it was.  The young midfielder was on fire and the Sharks had no answer to his pace and power - from second five too.

The Blues backline, sees one other change other than the forced one at fullback, with Tuitavake coming back into the wing position in place of Rudi Wulf.  So pretty much the top line up that the Blues can field, certainly no mix and match here, this IS the first XV.

Sharks - will be interesting to see the Frenchy at first five, along with the usual Boer suspects turning out.

Players to watch:  Frederic Michalak at ten for the Sharks.  Also the continued march towards All Blackdom of Benson Stanley - perhaps the first really big game for the youngster so far, it will be interesting to see how he copes.  I think he is up to it.

Result:  Blues by 12 and under.

Farce v Crusaders

The Crusaders, like the Blues, are in their final match of the Boer / Perth tour, and have been, also like the Blues, playing superb rugby.  Also, again like the Blues, unbeaten, and looking like they should stay that way when the clash with the Western Farce, who have picked up a couple of wins so far this season too.

As I write this, no teams named for the match, but I am expecting not too much change from the Crusaders, and the Force will just play the best XV they can after their final after match session in Biltong land.  Sort of a 'last 15 men standing' sort of thing...

The Crusaders will probably change their props back over, but expect nothing to change other than that as they carry on their merry way.

Players to watch:  Stephen Brett as he carries on his campaign for an All Black jersey - an almost head to head clash with Blues second five Benson Stanely!

Result:  Crusaders by 13+