| Week Nine Picks | Donsteppa
46/52
Crusaders v Waratahs
Highlanders v Force
Chiefs v Bulls
Blues v Stormers
Brumbies v Cheetahs
Cats v Reds | True Blue
42/52
Crusaders v Waratahs
Highlanders v Force
Chiefs v Bulls
Blues v Stormers
Brumbies v Cheetahs
Cats v Reds | The Mingster
41/52
Crusaders v Waratahs
Highlanders v Force
Chiefs v Bulls
Blues v Stormers
Brumbies v Cheetahs
Cats v Reds | Nick The Aussie
37/52
Crusaders v Waratahs
Highlanders v Force
Chiefs v Bulls
Blues v Stormers
Brumbies v Cheetahs
Cats v Reds | TAB
42/52
Crusaders v Waratahs
Highlanders v Force
Chiefs v Bulls
Blues v Stormers
Brumbies v Cheetahs
Cats v Reds |
Whoops - missed scoring round 3, waaay back. But those score have now been added, and as you can see, sod all has changed. NtA is still well off the pace, Donsteppa's $2 crystal ball is almost an all seeing object, and the midfield trio (Ming, TAB and True Blue) separated by a point.
This week, well, lets see if Donsteppa's ball is still working, or burnt out with all this accuracy...
• Donsteppa
The $2 Crystal Ball is relatively unimaginative this week. I'm going with comfortable wins (9-16) to the Crusaders, Highlanders, Chiefs, Blues, and Brumbies, but a tight win to the Reds.
• Mingster
Blues - they're back!
• True Blue
Crusaders v Waratahs
One gets the sense that the Crusaders have been holding back so far this season, expending just enough energy to win, with a view to conserving their players and their smartest moves for the playoffs. The Waratahs haven't shown their usual signs of fading from a good start as the season progresses and as such will visit Jade filled with expectation. Fortunately for the home crowd, they will be leaving with a sense of missed opportunity.
Highlanders v The Force
Soon the Force will win their first game and Turban's cup will runneth over. Just not this week at the House of Pain.
Chiefs v Bulls
The Bulls lost to a rampant Blues outfit that finally seem to have located their reproductive organs, and Pretoria team will now be looking to trample the Chiefs into submission for some points on the road. The Chiefs, having knocked over the Clan last weekend will have other ideas in front of their home fans.
Blues v Stormers
The last time the Stormers visited Eden Park, they inflicted the worse defeat on the Blues that they have ever suffered in front of their home fans. The Blues will have this in mind before the game, and will make take revenge in comfortable style against a team that seems to have lost its collective mojo.
Brumbies v Cheetahs
The Cheetahs have been something of a Cinderella team in their debut S14. The problem is that at Bruce Stadium, coaches turn into pumpkins (just ask David Nucifora) and this one ain't gonna have no fairytale ending.
Cats v Reds
The Cats will do their best to gain some log points from this one, but the Reds will drag them into the gutter and beat them on experience.
• Nick the Aussie
Crusaders to beat Waratahs by 15 - pains me to say it, but given the relatively soft opposition the Tahs have had so far this season, I just don't think they're ready for Jade yet. In a few weeks, after facing up to top sides like the Crusaders, ACT, and Canes, they'll be better prepared. The endeavour will be there, but the ability to snuff out the Crusaders isn't yet.
Highlanders to beat Force by 8 - still missing Evans, the Clan won't find it quite as easy to put away the Force as some would think. But the Perth boys are on only their second fixture outside Australia and despite their endeavours, the Clan pack will give them a shake and provide Bruce et al with just enough to kick the penalties and score the odd try.
Chiefs to beat Bulls by 5 - the Bulls pack will have a lot to say in the first 60 minutes, but run out of puff yet again. The Chiefs have some class finishers and its a good thing too - they'll need them.
Blues to smack the Stormers - but OTA and Troy will need to neutralise Watson and Burglar. Let's face it - without those two flankers the Stormers would be absolutely farked, and would have had the ignominy of losing to the Force.
Brumbies to beat Cheaters by 12 - the Ponies forward pack is going to get mullered, but with Giteau back at 12 and Mortlock looking stronger than ever on attack (and still poo on defence) they'll run in a couple of tries.
Cats to bore the Reds to death by 4 - Reds can score tries but with Cordingley, Moore, and Latham out, won't have the gas to finish over the top. Shaping as the least memorable game ever.
• TAB
Another pretty easy week really, the TAB obviously going for all the genuine favourites. Reds v Cats the only close game they are calling according to the odds. The Crusaders v Waratahs match though, surprisingly long odds for the Waratahs, may be worth a punt on the baby blue boys. |
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