Previews for this weekend's Super 14 matches

12th February, 2009

1033 Reads

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David Beniuk

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12th February, 2009

1033 Reads

Super 14 preview panel for this weekend’s round one action (all times AEDT).

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13

HIGHLANDERS v BRUMBIES at Carisbrook Stadium, Dunedin, 5.35pm.
Last meeting: Brumbies 22-20 at Canberra, rd 2 2008
Boasting a new coach and captain, the Brumbies will strive to claim only their second Super win in Dunedin. The unsung Highlanders lost all three of their trials and have few established stars apart from All Blacks halfback Jimmy Cowan. They boast a big pack with their starting props weighing a combined 20-plus kilos more than their Australian counterparts. If the Brumbies achieve parity in the possession stakes and the potentially damaging centre combination of Stirling Mortlock and Adam Ashley-Cooper gell, they have the firepower out wide to give new coach Andy Friend a winning start.

Centrebet: Highlanders $2.12, Brumbies $1.72

Tip: Brumbies by nine.

WESTERN FORCE v BLUES at Subiaco Oval, Perth, 9.45pm.
Last meeting: Force 27-17 at Albany (NZ), rd 5 2008

The season hasn’t even started but this is already shaping up as a battle of the hospital wards. Injury has been added to insult for Force boss John Mitchell after a pre-season inquiry into his coaching style. No.9s Josh Valentine (hamstring) and Justin Turner (back), Kiwi Ben Castle (neck) and backs Junior Pelesasa (hamstring), Scott Staniforth (knee) and forward Sam Wykes (shoulder) are all out of action. Last halfback standing Chris O’Young will play but has also been battling a hamstring problem. Luckily for the Force, the Blues have lost four All Blacks, including Ali Williams and Joe Rokocoko. The Force will need to improve on their 37 per cent winning record at Subiaco.

Centrebet: Force $2.15, Blues $1.70

Tip: Blues by 16

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14

LIONS v CHEETAHS at Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg, 4.10am.
Last meeting: Lions 23-22 at Bloemfontein, rd 1 2008

Last versus second-last on 2008’s ladder and few are predicting either to do much better this year. Despite winning only one game to the Lions’ two, the plucky Cheetahs picked up nine bonus points to pip their neighbours on the table. They also won the last time these two sides met in Jo’burg, two seasons ago.

Centrebet: Lions $1.65, Cheetahs $2.25 Tip: Cheetahs by 10

CRUSADERS v CHIEFS at AMI Stadium, Christchurch, 3.30pm
Last meeting: Chiefs 18-5 at Hamilton, rd 10, 2008

No Robbie Deans and no Daniel Carter, but the seven-time Super champion Crusaders still have great depth and remain the bookies favourite. The Chiefs have won only one opening round fixture in the last decade but triumphed in all three of their trials. They won their last two Super clashes against the Crusaders and in Mils Muliaina and Sitiveni Sivivatu, have the firepower out wide to worry the title holders. The Christchurch-based team still possess plenty of their own weapons and will be keen to give new coach and former skipper Todd Blackadder a good start.

Centrebet: Crusaders $1.34, Chiefs $3.25 Tip: Crusaders by six

HURRICANES v NSW WARATAHS at Westpac Stadium, Wellington, 5.35pm
Last meeting: Waratahs 20-3 at Sydney, rd 1 2008

A tough opening round assignment at the Cake Tin will be anything but a piece of cake for a Waratahs team trying to come to grips with the loss through departures and injury of Wallabies forwards Rocky Elsom, David Lyons, Matt Dunning and Dan Vickerman. The absence of injured All Blacks Andrew Hore and Conrad Smith could make the job marginally easier, but NSW have won only one of their seven away clashes against the Hurricanes. The new-look back row of Phil Waugh, Ben Mowen and Scott Fava, the first man to play for all four Australian Super teams, must apply pressure to All Blacks halfback Piri Weepu, who will line up at five-eighth. Watch out for opposing inside centres and impact players Ma’a Nonu and Timana Tahu.

Centrebet: Hurricanes $1.30, Waratahs $3.50 Tip: Hurricanes by eight.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15

STORMERS v SHARKS at Newlands Stadium, Cape Town, 2am
Last meeting: Sharks 12-10 at Durban, rd 2 2008.

An early season battle for South African rugby supremacy between the Republic’s two best sides. The highly-rated Sharks will be tested in the Newlands cauldron where the Stormers came home with a wet sail last year only to just miss the finals. The Sharks have won the last three between the sides – but the Stormers won five straight before that. The Sharks have already called on referee Mark Lawrence to police the Stormers’ scrum after former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones questioned it following a recent trial.

Centrebet: Stormers $2.08, Sharks $1.75 Tip: Stormers by three

BULLS v QUEENSLAND REDS at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria, 4.10am.
Last meeting: Reds 40-8 at Brisbane, rd 5 2008.

There’s no better way for the Reds to prove they are the Wallabies in waiting – as their coach Phil Mooney believes – than by avenging their lowest ebb, 2007’s 92-3 loss at the same venue. They went part of the way when they thrashed the Bulls at home last year and, overall, have an eight-from-12 record over the Pretorians. The Bulls are packed with Springboks and Victor Matfield is back from Toulon but they have struggled to put it all together since their breakthrough title win in 2007. Queensland skipper James Horwill (foot) is a big loss against Matfield, while they’ll also lose experience without Morgan Turinui (shoulder).

Centrebet: Bulls $1.18, Reds $4.90 Tip: Bulls by 14

Teams for the first round of Super 14 rugby matches this weekend (kickoffs AEDT):

FRIDAY
Highlanders v ACT Brumbies at Dunedin, 5.35pm
Highlanders: Israel Dagg, Ben Smith, Jason Shoemark, Johnny Leota/Jayden Hayward, Fetu’u Vainikolo, Daniel Bowden Jimmy Cowan (captain), Steven Setephano, Alando Soakai, Adam Thomson, Hayden Triggs, Josh Bekhuis, Clint Newland, David Hall, Jamie Mackintosh. Reserves: Jason Rutledge, Chris King, George Naoupu, Tim Boys, Sean Romans, Jayden Hayward/Brett Mather, Kendrick Lynn

Brumbies: Mark Gerrard, Clyde Rathbone, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Stirling Mortlock, Francis Fainifo, Christian Lealiifano, Patrick Phibbs, Stephen Hoiles (captain), George Smith, Julian Salvi, Mark Chisolm, Ben Hand, Guy Shepherdson, Stephen Moore, Nic Henderson.
Reserves: John Ulugia, Ben Alexander, Sitaleki Timani, Peter Kimlin, Josh Holmes, Tyrone Smith, Matt Toomua.

Western Force v Blues at Perth, 9.45pm
Force: Cameron Shepherd, Haig Sare, Ryan Cross, Josh Tatupu, Drew Mitchell, Matt Giteau, Chris O’Young, Richard Brown, David Pocock, Tamaiti Horua, Nathan Sharpe (captain), Pat O’Connor, AJ Whalley, Tai McIsaac, Pek Cowan. Reserves: Luke Holmes, Troy Takiari, Tom Hockings, Matt Hodgson, James O’Connor, Nick Cummins, Dane Haylett-Petty,

Blues: Paul Williams, Anthony Tuitavake, Isaia Toeava, Benson Stanley, Rene Ranger, Tasesa Lavea, Taniela Moa, Chris Lowrey, Onosa’i Auva’a, Justin Collins, Anthony Boric, Kurtis Haiu, John Afoa, Keven Mealamu (captain), Tony Woodcock. Reserves: Tom McCartney, Charlie Faumuina, Dean Budd, Peter Saili, Chris Smiley, Jimmy Gopperth, Jamie Helleur.

SATURDAY
Lions v Cheetahs at Johannesburg, 4.10am
Lions: Louis Ludik, Ashwin Willemse, Jaque Fourie, Doppies la Grange, Henno Mentz, Earl Rose, Jano Vermaak, Willem Alberts, Franco van der Merwe, Cobus Grobbelaar (captain), Gerhard Mostert, Anton van Zyl, Gert Muller, Willie Wepener, Heinke van der Merwe. Reserves: Hans van Dyk, Lawrence Sephaka, Rynard Landman, Todd Clever, Chris Jonck, Andre Pretorius, Jannie Boshoff

Cheetahs: Hennie Daniller, Danwel Demas, Corne Uys, Jacques-Louis Potgieter, Bjorn Basson, Meyer Bosman, Tewis de Bruyn, Frans Viljoen, Juan Smith (captain), Heinrich Brussow, David de Villiers, Nico Breedt, Bees Roux, Adriaan Strauss, Wian du Preez. Reserves: to be named

Crusaders v Chiefs at Christchurch, 3.30pm
Crusaders: Leon MacDonald, Jared Payne, Casey Laulala, Tim Bateman, Kade Poki, Colin Slade, Andy Ellis, Thomas Waldrom, Richie McCaw (captain), Kieran Read, Ross Filipo, Brad Thorn, Ben Franks, Corey Flynn, Wyatt Crockett. Reserves: Jason Macdonald, Bronson Murray, Isaac Ross, George Whitelock, Kahn Fotuali’i/Steve Alfeld, Stephen Brett, Adam Whitelock.

Chiefs: Mils Muliaina (captain), Lelia Masaga, Richard Kahui, Dwayne Sweeney, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Stephen Donald, Brendon Leonard, Sione Lauaki, Tanerau Latimer, Liam Messam, Kevin O’Neill, Craig Clarke, Ben May, Hika Elliot, Sona Taumalolo. Reserves: Aled de Malmanche, James McGougan, Toby Lynn, Colin Bourke, Toby Morland, Mike Delany, Callum Bruce.

Hurricanes v NSW Waratahs at Wellington, 5.35pm
Hurricanes: Cory Jane, Zac Guildford, Tamati Ellison, Ma’a Nonu, Hosea Gear, Piri Weepu, Alby Mathewson, Rodney So’oialo (captain), Scott Waldrom, Faifili Levave, Jason Eaton, Bryn Evans, Neemia Tialata, Dane Coles, John Schwalger. Reserves: Ged Robinson, Jacob Ellison, Jeremy Thrush/Api Naikatini, Karl Lowe, Dan Kirkpatrick, Jason Kawau, David Smith

Waratahs: Sam Norton-Knight, Lachie Turner, Rob Horne, Timana Tahu, Lote Tuqiri, Kurtley Beale, Luke Burgess, Scott Fava, Phil Waugh (captain), Ben Mowen, Will Caldwell, Dean Mumm, Al Baxter, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson. Reserves: Adam Freier/Damien Fitzpatrick, Jeremy Tilse/Dan Palmer, Chris Thomson, Wycliff Palu, Brett Sheehan, Tom Carter, Daniel Halangahu.

SUNDAY
Stormers v Sharks at Cape Town, 2am
Stormers: Conrad Jantjes, Tonderai Chavhanga, Gcobani Bobo, Jean de Villiers (captain), Nick Koster, Peter Grant, Ricky Januarie, Duane Vermeulen, Francois Louw, Schalk Burger, Andries Bekker, Adriaan Fondse, Brian Mujati, Schalk Brits, JD Moller. Reserves: Deon Fourie, Wicus Blaauw, AJ Venter, Luke Watson, Bolla Conradie, Joe Pietersen, Percy Montgomery.

Sharks: to be named

Bulls v Queensland Reds at Pretoria, 4.10am
Bulls: Zane Kirchner, Bryan Habana, Jaco Pretorius, Wynand Olivier, Akona Ndungane, Morne Steyn, Fourie du Preez, Pierre Spies, Dewald Potgieter, Deon Stegmann, Victor Matfield (captain), Bakkies Botha, Werner Kruger, Derick Kuun, Gurthro Steenkamp. Reserves: Chiliboy Ralepelle, Frik Kirsten, Danie Rossouw, Pedrie Wannenburg, JP Nel, Burton Francis, Heini Adams

Reds: Peter Hynes, Digby Ioane, Charlie Fetoai, Berrick Barnes (captain), Brando Va’aulu, Quade Cooper, Ben Lucas, Leroy Houston, Daniel Braid, Scott Higginbotham, Adam Byrnes, Van Humphries, Dayna Edwards, Sean Hardman, Greg Holmes. Res: Saia Faingaa, Laurie Weeks, Robert Simmons, Poutasi Luafutu, Will Genia, Anthony Faingaa, Mark McLinden.

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