Need help with your Super 14 tips? Don’t we all
Columnist By Spiro Zavos, 1 Apr 2010 Spiro Zavos is a Roar Expert
- Tagged:
- Blues, Bulls, Chiefs, Reds, Rugby Union, Super Rugby, Waratahs
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Reds players celebrate their win against the Chiefs in a Super 14 Rugby match. AAP Image/NZPA, Wayne Drought
Every week, the ARU’s Matt McIlraith puts out a detailed preview of the upcoming round of Super 14 matches. As someone who is not travelling particularly well in The Roar’s tipping competition, and who has, therefore, a sympathy for fellow sufferers, I’ve picked out the best of this week’s insights.
The hope is that we’ll all make better choices this round.
The fear is, though, that the more information we have, the more likely it is some of us (I’m talking about myself here) will lose any clarity we might have had on the round.
A little knowledge is supposed to be a dangerous thing. But there is the possibility that too much knowledge might be even more dangerous.
Anyway, here goes …
Hurricanes Vs Crusaders, Wellington: referee Jonathan Kaplan (RSA)
The Hurricanes are facing an unprecedented five losses in a row in a season. The Hurricanes have won only 4 of 19 contests between the two teams, and 2 out of 11 since Colin Cooper has been coach. The Crusaders have won 11 times and lost once after coming off a bye.
Western Force Vs Stormers at Perth: referee Stuart Dickinson (A)
The Western Force are without a win this season. But David Pocock, Matt Dunning, Brett Sheehan and possibly Richard Brown are scheduled to be coming back from injury. The Western Force have won only 11 of their 30 home matches. The Stormers lost 4 out of their 5 overseas matches last season, and are coming off a bye. The Western Force led the Bulls 12 -10 at half-time last week.
Blues Vs Bulls at Auckland: referee Craig Joubert (RSA)
The Bulls have won 12 Super 14 matches in a row. The Bulls have never defeated the Blues at Eden Park in eight previous attempts. The Bulls victory over the Western Force was only coach Frans Ludeke’s 3 win from 19 matches in Australia and New Zealand. Pat Lam, the coach of the Blues, has presided over only 4 wins out of 9 matches at home.
Chiefs Vs Highlanders at Mount Maunganui: referee Marius Jonker (RSA)
The Chiefs have won their last 6 matches against the Highlanders. The Highlanders have only won two matches this season. In their last win against the Lions they scored three tries and conceded five.
NSW Waratahs Vs Cheetahs at Sydney: referee Keith Brown (NZ)
In their four years in Super Rugby, the Cheetahs are yet to win a match in Australia or New Zealand. But historically the Cheetahs have been at their most effective on tour on their first match. The Waratahs have won 26 out of 33 home matches against South African sides.
Sharks Vs Queensland Reds at Durban: Chris Pollock (NZ)
Last weekend’s victory over the Cheetahs stopped a run of seven losses by the Reds in South Africa. The Reds who have been in South Africa for several weeks played last Friday and will enjoy a longer preparation than the Sharks who have had to travel back to Durban from Wellington. The Sharks lost the first three matches of their Australian and New Zealand tour, and then won the last two matches. Just to confuse matters even more, the preview gives the table in 2009 at the end of the seventh round. The top eight teams were: Sharks (26), Waratahs (23), Chiefs (22), Bulls (22), Hurricanes (20), Highlanders (18), Crusaders (18), Blues (18).
The Bulls, Chiefs, Hurricanes and Crusaders made the final four.
Now that all this is cleared up (only joking!), I’m going to put in my picks.
I think.
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April 1st 2010 @ 4:43pm
Sam Taulelei said | April 1st 2010 @ 4:43pm | Report comment
Bulls v Reds????
Bulls v Blues and Hurricanes v Crusaders are the two standout matches for me with maybe Reds v Sharks.
A sign of any decent competition is where there is no clear favourite in a number of matches and with the Aussie teams being more competitive this year it’s made it a much more even tournament than in previous years.
April 1st 2010 @ 9:08pm
Ben J said | April 1st 2010 @ 9:08pm | Report comment
I predict a weekend of losses for all the South African teams.
April 2nd 2010 @ 3:13am
Loftus said | April 2nd 2010 @ 3:13am | Report comment
Bulls will beat this Auckland Blues with their superior forwards and half back pairing.It might get close because of travelling but this Bulls team know how to win these close games.If they keep the game structured and keep the ball in hand,the Blues will be chasing shadows all day.Steyn can keep the score board ticking nicely while the Bulls forwards dominate the set pieces,thank you very much! Bulls to win by 8.
April 4th 2010 @ 12:00am
ohtani's jacket said | April 4th 2010 @ 12:00am | Report comment
Fail.
April 2nd 2010 @ 10:06pm
Working Class Rugger said | April 2nd 2010 @ 10:06pm | Report comment
Finally, the Force have cracked it.Good game IMO. Not a high scoring affair but very tight and physical one. Literally jumped lept out of my seat at the Hill drop goal. Having spent 3 years in WA the Force are my and my families other team behind the Tahs so our family room was in raptures. Tell you what its no secret but JOC is a very talented footballer. I was impressed with both young Turner and Charles when they came on. Is it just me or does this team have a distinct Reds feeling to it. A lot of young talent building toward something.
Oh and BTW I put money on the Force to win this as have I for the Blues to get one over the Bulls.
April 2nd 2010 @ 10:20pm
ThelmaWrites said | April 2nd 2010 @ 10:20pm | Report comment
Yeah, my daugher’s in-laws are Perth people and I’ve been to some Force games when I’ve visited my daugher and her husband. So I’m sooo happy with the Force win!
April 2nd 2010 @ 11:07pm
katzilla said | April 2nd 2010 @ 11:07pm | Report comment
Wow WCR this could turn out to be an incredibly awesome weekend for you.
If your bets come in chances are your team will be sitting at the top of the table.
April 2nd 2010 @ 10:42pm
Working Class Rugger said | April 2nd 2010 @ 10:42pm | Report comment
It wasn’t pretty at times but I was enthralled. A good tight, tough and close affair. The Stormers just couldn’t get it together. The big Fijian on the wing is absolutely useless. Slow and pathetic.