The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

Super Rugby Expert tips - Round 11

23rd April, 2014
Advertisement
Will Genia has showed glimpses of his best form recently. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
Expert
23rd April, 2014
102
4495 Reads

Another decent round of tipping for Round 10, with fives and sixes everywhere. Our universal selection of the Sharks as our Powerplays went well, too, thankfully.

Some astute tipping, if I may say so, recognised that the Crusaders have always won the second game against the Chiefs since the inception of the conference system, and the danger that was always there in our unanimous tip of the Force proved too much for their winning streak to handle. And weren’t Force fans happy with us!

Cast your eyes to the tallies thus far, and you’ll notice the similarities with the Super Rugby table; a breakout leader, followed by a large pack on similar points. But I think that means Scott is the Cheetahs… (Sorry, mate!)

It’s Spiro and I leading off this week, we’re all going early ahead of Anzac Day, and here are the Experts’ Super Rugby tips for Round 11:

Spiro Zavos
Tips: Blues, Brumbies, Sharks (P/P), Hurricanes, Bulls, and Stormers.

Explain yourself: I can’t pick the Waratahs on the road just yet, even though they defeated the Stormers in South Africa. My other picks follow the formbook, right now. I think the Chiefs are in trouble without Aaron Cruden and the Brumbies are very hard to beat at home in Canberra

My Powerplay is my standby on all occasions when they are playing in South Africa: the Sharks.

Brett McKay
Tips: Waratahs, Brumbies, Sharks (P/P), Hurricanes, Force, and Stormers.

Advertisement

Explain yourself: A relatively easy week, I found, and this worries the hell out of me. It strikes me as a round where tips should be obvious and we’ll all be on the same page, but then if you think about any one game for long enough, you can find reasons to go against your gut. So I just stopped thinking…

I am nervous about taking the Waratahs, because the ‘club in crisis’ element can work so well for teams. I’m just not sure if the Blues are one of those teams, though. Brumbies at home should get their redemption for the Final loss last season, but that still doesn’t give them a title, does it.

Sharks will be safe at home, the Hurricanes have been growing in intensity over the last month, I’m sticking strong with the Western Force, and the Stormers will finally put some competition points between themselves and the Cheetahs.

Sharks get the Powerplay again; you don’t break winning a winning formula. I expect I won’t be alone.

Scott Allen
Tips: Waratahs, Brumbies, Sharks (P/P), Reds, Force, and Stormers.

Explain yourself: It’s getting harder to stay motivated to enter my tips given how far behind I’ve slipped, but here goes.

Somehow the Chiefs have got to where they are despite only winning 74 per cent of their own lineout ball this season so I guess if they can maintain that appallingly low number against the Brumbies they may win, despite possession from their own lineout being disrupted. However, I think the Brumbies can convert domination in this area into a win.

Advertisement

The Sharks will beat the Highlanders – so confident am I that I’ll use my Powerplay on them again. I’m also pretty confident about the Waratahs over the Blues.

Hurricanes, no Reds – not sure, so will go with the Aussie team.

Stormers will continue their streak and get over the Cheetahs. I’ll tip the Force again because the Bulls are looking very tired at the end of their trip.

Biltongbek
Tips: Waratahs, Chiefs, Sharks (P/P), Hurricanes, Force, and Stormers.

Explain yourself: This weekend is going to be tough to predict, the problem is home teams have won about 80 per cent of their matches this season in comparison to the usual 60 per cent. Will it continue for the rest of the season?

I can see half of the matches this weekend going to away teams.

The Waratahs will feel confident after their result against the Bulls, and know they have a real shot at a home semi final. Sharks should grind down the Highlanders. The Chiefs and Brumbies is a tough call, but the Brumbies are coming off a bye, so the Chiefs in my view.

Advertisement

The Hurricanes are looking to hit form, while the Reds are a little bland in my view. Force will want to bounce back and the Bulls have even more injuries. The Stormers have nothing to lose this season and Coetzee told his charges nothing they have done this season have worked, so they must just go out and play.

Powerplay this weekend is on the Sharks once again.

Paddy Effeney
Tips: Waratahs, Brumbies, Sharks (P/P), Reds, Force, and Stormers.

Explain yourself: Time to make a move! After a steady round of five, I’m feeling that it’s Brett’s time to fall down the ladder and my turn to do a Curtis Mayfield and move on up.

In that spirit, I’m only picking winners this week. Force fans will no doubt be displeased in my choosing them. Like Scott Allen I don’t think I’ve tipped a game of theirs right all season. I’m backing the Waratahs to deepen the Blues’ woes, and the Brumbies to get one over the flagging Chiefs.

I’m hoping the Reds will secure that long overdue win against the Hurricanes after a refreshing bye, and the Stormers to beat the horrible Cheetahs.

Sharks. Powerplay. Need I say more?

Advertisement

Elisha Pearce
Tips: Waratahs, Brumbies, Sharks (P/P), Hurricanes, Force, and Cheetahs.

Explain yourself: Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to The Trans-Tasman Bonus Round! Some juicy Australian team versus New Zealand team matches highlight this weekend. Is the Australian conference really stronger? Are the Kiwi sides just waking up? All will be revealed! (And then either ignored or found to be false next week)

The Hurricanes haven’t lost since the 21st of March. That’s too long but hosting the Reds they’ll sneak the win at home. I’ll pick the Waratahs against the Blues but wouldn’t be surprised if I’m wrong – the Blues are due for an upswing. And the Brumbies rested and lying in wait in Canberra will do the business over the Chiefs. (Two-one to Australia in the Trans-Tasman round!)

The Force will win their fifth game in six but it’s against the Bulls so no one will crow about it as much.

I’ll take the Cheetahs, another home side (we really need to talk properly about this issue, it’s not good), because the Stormers snored loudest last week, rather than winning. So that leaves my Great White Sharks as my Powerplay. The most bankable pick in world sport right now has to be the Sharks at home.

Tristan Rayner
Tips: Waratahs, Brumbies, Sharks (P/P) Hurricanes, Force, and Cheetahs.

Explain yourself: Last week really hurt my move onwards towards Brett’s mantle and I’m back with the pack of strugglers, battlers, and also-rans. And Patrick.

Advertisement

Short words this week: Forget form, favourites, coaches, analysis – it’s time for a round of home teams, except the Mighty Waratahs, who will rattle the Benji-less unstable Blues, who’ve been disrupted this week.

Powerplay: Sharks.

The summary

Round 11 Scott Allen Biltongbek Patrick Effeney Brett McKay Elisha Pearce Tristan Rayner Spiro Zavos
Overall 38 43 43 48 43 42 43
Last week 5 5 5 6 5 3 6
BLU v WAR Waratahs Waratahs Waratahs Waratahs Waratahs Waratahs Blues
BRU v CHI Brumbies Chiefs Brumbies Brumbies Brumbies Brumbies Brumbies
SHA v HIG Sharks Sharks Sharks Sharks Sharks Sharks Sharks
HUR v RED Reds Hurricanes Reds Hurricanes Hurricanes Hurricanes Hurricanes
FOR v BUL Force Force Force Force Force Force Bulls
CHE v STO Stormers Stormers Stormers Stormers Cheetahs Cheetahs Stormers
POWERPLAY Sharks Sharks Sharks Sharks Sharks Sharks Sharks
Crusaders, Lions, Rebels, BYE
close