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“Could well be one of those weeks where three or four is a good score, too.”
That may well be my high-point in prophecy in 2014, and after two upset results in the first two games claimed five of the seven Powerplays in Round 7, three or four was indeed a good score. Unfortunately, Biltong didn’t even manage that, and I don’t think he’s taken it well.
Aside from the upsets, the other big news from last week was that Tristan’s four points meant he’s not just caught the pack, but he’s now overtaking people. My four points – but mainly Biltong’s misfortune – means I’ve now got a little bit of lead that I’m not really expecting to hold onto for long in this company.
Although if everyone’s only as good as their last round…
Tristo and I have the honour this week, and Tristo doesn’t have time to dilly-dally around. Here are the experts’ Round 8 Super Rugby tips:
Tristan Rayner
Tips: Highlanders, Brumbies, Hurricanes, Reds (P/P), Chiefs, Crusaders, Waratahs.
Explain yourself: What a round! These are the rounds we tip for, the rounds that make or break.
Any result would be believable given this year’s results, and you could argue your tips in many ways. Home team advantage? Or backing the usual form teams, like the Crusaders, and hoping? Good luck to all, hope to see you from a place that’s not too battered.
Reds are an exciting Powerplay choice!
Brett McKay
Tips: Highlanders, Brumbies, Hurricanes, Reds (P/P), Chiefs, Lions, Stormers.
Explain yourself: This shapes as another tough round, I think, with a number of 50-50 calls, and not really any clear candidates for the Powerplay. That said, someone will jag a run and win the week handsomely.
The Rebels were great last week, but travelling to Dunedin represents a bigger challenge again. The Blues shape as a danger, but the forecast downpour in Canberra will tighten things up in the Brumbies’ favour.
The Bulls are playing well at the moment, but the Hurricanes have confidence and they’re at home. The Reds are building nicely, and it’s tough to pick the Force when teams coming off the bye haven’t gone well this season.
If the Chiefs can take three away from Pretoria, they won’t have trouble taking four in Bloemfontein. The Crusaders burnt me last week and have just landed up on the high veldt, while the Lions are playing well within their systems at home.
Stormers-Waratahs is a tough one. The Waratahs should be better for the Durban loss, but will come up against another tough defensive team with the added desperation of a 1-5 record. Israel Folau not being a certainty doesn’t help the flip-flopping.
The Reds served me well last week, so they get the Powerplay again.
Scott Allen
Tips: Rebels, Blues, Bulls, Reds (P/P), Chiefs, Crusaders, Stormers.
Explain yourself: Where do I go from here – 3/7 is pretty awful. But I’ve selected on gut feel again this week and came up with five away teams. Now I know that flies in the face of the stats for home team success this season but this may just be my week!
Away victories will come from the Crusaders – who surely have to get it together soon – over the Lions. The Chiefs came home with a wet sail last week, and will be too good for the Cheetahs. The Brumbies finished with their sail in the water and the Blues are making repairs, although there’s a good chance I have this one wrong.
The Rebels need to build consistency and this match against the Highlanders is a great chance, and the Hurricanes are looking better but I think the Bulls are playing well.
The Stormers start the home team selections. Teams with aggressive defences have got the better of the Tahs this year, and the Stormers defence was good last week in Brisbane.
The Reds will beat the Force because I don’t think the Force can play any better than they have recently, and the Reds have plenty of room to improve.
I’ll spend my Powerplay on the Reds as I’m expecting them to respond to recent questions with a very fast-paced game plan which suits them.
Paddy Effeney
Tips: Highlanders, Brumbies, Hurricanes, Reds, Chiefs (P/P), Crusaders, Waratahs.
Explain yourself: Some nifty picking is in order for me to start climbing the tree, so I’m going for a mixture of away sides travelling well and a couple of less-fancied home sides.
The Waratahs, Crusaders, and Chiefs have to travel well – the Waratahs in particular against a Stormers side, who will no doubt relish playing at home again. The other controversial pick is the Hurricanes to topple the Bulls, but I’m hoping the Bulls will be tired after a journey across the Indian Ocean.
The Force has been a bogey side for the Reds in the past, with the overall 6-4 in the Reds’ favour with one draw. However, despite their recent wins I see the Reds taking this in Brisbane, where the record stands at a much more convincing 5-1.
My Powerplay is on the Chiefs to crush the ailing Cheetahs.
Elisha Pearce
Tips: Rebels, Brumbies, Hurricanes, Reds, Chiefs (P/P), Lions, Waratahs.
Explain yourself: By Round 8 I’m finding spending less time on picks is a good thing. Helps me enjoy the rugby more and watch it without wondering about the meta-score in my head.
I couldn’t even remember some of my tips last weekend – it was fantastic to watch the Bulls-Chiefs score and not realise until the next day what havoc it caused in the tipping!
I don’t trust the Rebels or Highlanders but on form I find myself tipping the Rebels on the road. The Reds should improve in their second week in Brisvegas after a tough trip, and will dispatch the Force (probably, maybe, ugh).
The Hurricanes haven’t won twice in a row yet and I’m backing them at home to do so against the Bulls, who are in form so don’t join me in this pick. Brumbies seemed a safe bet again until they laid a monstrous, cracked, runny egg (no one treats my Powerplay like that!)
Surely, that was a one off and the Blues will be suffocated by the Brumbies at home.
If the Chiefs start anywhere near the way they finished last week they’ll blow the Cheetahs apart. Take my Powerplay and be careful with it. #chiefsmana! [Brett’s note: #GoChefs!]
I’m taking the Lions against the Crusaders, probably the first time ever in that match-up. I just can’t reward losing to the Rebels, and the Lions are going for three on the trot at home!
I’m guessing the Stormers need a full week back home to reload after their trip away, and thinking the Sharks are that much better than everyone else right now gives the Tahs hope.
Spiro Zavos
Tips: Highlanders, Brumbies, Hurricanes, Reds (P/P), Chiefs, Crusaders, Stormers.
Explain yourself: Once again, I have taken a hammering. I went for the home team, with a couple of exceptions. The poor form of the Crusaders is taking its toll. And the inability of touring teams to win matches in South Africa is a challenge, too.
This round I am taking the home sides in most instances but betting on the Crusaders coming right and the Chiefs, too, winning in South Africa in two matches where I have picked an away side.
The Powerplay has been extremely hard to work out, given how even the sides are. But the Reds are generally unbeatable at home, so they are my pick.
Biltongbek
Tips: Highlanders, Brumbies, Bulls, Reds, Chiefs (P/P), Crusaders, Stormers.
Explain yourself: Trepidation and shame will follow me this week and redemption is my main priority as my standing in the tipping competition has dropped faster than a crash on the Johannesburg stock exchange.
Public sentiment usually will go into a panic and shout “sell, sell, sell” however I am going to buckle down and fix this.
The quick run-through: the Highlanders because of the injury list of the Rebels and of course home advantage, the Brumbies as they are at home, the Bulls due to their superior record over the Hurricanes over the past few years, and the Reds because nobody can perform that poorly in successive weeks – and of course they are at home.
The Chiefs as they are my rock. Stuart Berry won’t be officiating for the Lions, so the Crusaders, while the Stormers is more in hope than conviction.
Powerplay is on the Chiefs.
The summary
| Round 8 | Scott Allen | Biltongbek | Patrick Effeney | Brett McKay | Elisha Pearce | Tristan Rayner | Spiro Zavos |
| Overall | 27 | 30 | 29 | 32 | 30 | 28 | 27 |
| Last week | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| HIG v REB | Rebels | Highlanders | Highlanders | Highlanders | Rebels | Highlanders | Highlanders |
| BRU v BLU | Blues | Brumbies | Brumbies | Brumbies | Brumbies | Brumbies | Brumbies |
| HUR v BUL | Bulls | Bulls | Hurricanes | Hurricanes | Hurricanes | Hurricanes | Hurricanes |
| RED v FOR | Reds | Reds | Reds | Reds | Reds | Reds | Reds |
| CHE v CHI | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs |
| LIO v CRU | Crusaders | Crusaders | Crusaders | Lions | Lions | Crusaders | Crusaders |
| STO v WAR | Stormers | Stormers | Waratahs | Stormers | Waratahs | Waratahs | Stormers |
| POWERPLAY | Reds | Chiefs | Chiefs | Reds | Chiefs | Reds | Reds |
| Sharks BYE | |||||||