- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Ouch. Just as night follows day, it was always a danger that our best ever round would be followed by our worst ever.
So much red on the tipping sheet, and so many of us sweating on a Waratahs victory as has ever been the case.
So depressing did the round become that I was actually hoping for a Lions win last Sunday, just so I could claim the distinction of following up a perfect Round 1 week with a zero-round the following week.
Whoever would’ve thought last Friday afternoon that three from seven would top the round?
Indeed, three did top the round, and congrats to Biltong, Paddy, EP, and Spiro for managing that much. They’ll have the honour this week, and with so many upsets last round, I’m expecting a lot of variation this week.
Just note that the Bulls versus Brumbies game has been moved to Friday, with the South African presidential inauguration in Pretoria happening on Saturday at Loftus. Why that couldn’t have just happened at halftime, I’ll never know. Big opportunity missed…
And we have more guests! I’m happy to announce that we’ve got a couple of passionate Roarers on board this week, with both Queensland-based Western Australian El Gamba and Hutt Valley-based Wellingtonian Diggercane accepting the challenge of topping Scotty ‘Sumo’ Stevenson’s six from eight a few weeks back on the Guest Tipster Leaderboard. No pressure, fellas.
Here are the tips for Round 15:
El Gamba
Tips: Sharks, Waratahs, Bulls, Crusaders, Hurricanes, Force (P/P) and Stormers.
Explain yourself: I’ve picked a fairly even mix of home-and-away in a round that will likely see a ‘refining’ of the top six from the nine or ten teams almost close enough to taste finals action.
The Sharks are a team full of self-belief following their heroic win over the Crusaders – the Blues have only impressed me against weaker opposition so far. The Waratahs are hitting their straps and the Rebels were scratchy over the average Reds last weekend. The Bulls are putting in a late season run-in, and with their year on the line they will be three points too strong for a travel-weary Brumbies outfit.
An awesome afternoon and evening of rugby can be expected on Saturday. I’m expecting the Crusaders to bounce back against the Highlanders and the Hurricanes to stamp “contender” on their season at home against the Chiefs. This is where the New Zealand conference comes to a head, so expect fireworks either way.
The Force must beat the Lions at home for any chance of further honours, this is a must-win. I’m hoping that they won’t trip on the last few hurdles. The Stormers looked better than the Cheetahs over the last few weeks and are at home.
I picked the Bye for the Powerplay as they have the Reds – Brett, if this isn’t in the rules I’ll go the Force.
(Brett’s note: Outstanding! Very tempted to allow it…)
Diggercane
Tips: Sharks, Waratahs, Bulls, Crusaders, Hurricanes, Force (P/P) and Stormers.
Explain yourself: Thank you Brett for the marvelous opportunity to embarrass myself in public. Having achieved the holy grail of three whole points last round, here is my uneducated guess to achieve one or two more this week.
After the decimation of the Nineteenth Crusade, I believe the Sharks will continue on their feeding frenzy at North Harbour, while the glittering mob of Paparazzi covering the ‘Folau Effect’ and his 22-man entourage will stun and blind the rebellion into dispersing at AAMI.
Likewise, the Bulls will have circled this game with the Brumbies into their calendar after last year’s semi-final capitulation at altitude, and will want to prove they are the most valuable livestock in the paddock.
There will be some rather disappointed Crusaders miserably stalking around Christchurch sharpening swords and kicking cats, and I fear the gallant Highlanders will feel the full force of the Crusader Cavalry at the enclosed killing fields of Forsyth.
With the Lions arriving in the far west to commence battle with the ‘Sea of Blue’, it will be to no avail as the Force Field repels all assaults. That will be where I shall entrust my Powerplay. And as fast as a Cheetah is, it will not be rapid enough to escape the perfect Storm brewing above Newlands.
Lastly, and obviously most importantly, the almighty Chiefs will stride into Wellington with pillage and plunder on their mind, but will leave the tin of cake battered and bruised. The omnipotent Hurricanes will descend upon them with furious anger and inflict righteous retribution for the whitewash suffered in 2013 – all the while hoping and praying Beaudy Barrett is fit!
(Brett’s note: Best. Explanation. Ever.)
Biltongbek
Tips: Sharks, Waratahs, Bulls, Highlanders, Chiefs, Force and Stormers (P/P).
Explain yourself: The Waratahs to canter and the Sharks have made their statement, whether they can do it two weekends in succession is a good question, but what the hell.
Most teams start slowly after a bye, but I expect the Bulls will be up for this. The Brumbies will be smarting after their loss to the Cheetahs, but it won’t be enough at Loftus. The Highlanders have surprised me this season and they are riding high.
Hurricanes versus Chiefs is difficult to predict, but I suspect the Chiefs will throw everything into this and ultimately their pack will make the difference. Stormers have caught their second wind for the season – it could be their first – and their newfound confidence will be enough to beat the Cheetahs.
Powerplay: it is a sad day when you think the Stormers are the most likely to secure a win for the weekend.
Paddy Effeney
Tips: Sharks, Waratahs (P/P), Brumbies, Crusaders, Hurricanes, Force and Stormers.
Explain yourself: If the Sharks can beat the Crusaders with 14, then surely they can get over the Blues. The Waratahs looked so good for 60 minutes against the Lions, and the Rebels beating the Reds last week, while a great achievement, doesn’t mean they can do the same to the Tahs here. That’s my Powerplay game too.
The Brumbies have to bounce back and beat the Bulls, as do the Crusaders against the Highlanders. I really don’t know what to think about the Chiefs. That’s the game that’s giving me the most curry this week, as I like the Canes’ pack, but don’t know whether the Chiefs will show up to play. If they do, they win, but otherwise I like the Hurricanes at home, so that’s where I’m going.
The Force need a win against the Lions, so I think they’ll get over jetlag and do it at home. And flip a coin for Stormers versus Cheetahs, that’s anyone’s game.
Elisha Pearce
Tips: Sharks, Waratahs, Bulls, Crusaders, Hurricanes, Force (P/P) and Stormers.
Explain yourself: Friday night could be two fun matches to watch: the 14-man, run-the-ball Sharks are the best team in the comp after their performance last week. So, surely the 15-man Sharks can do enough to get the job done against the Blues. Then take the Waratahs on the road. The Rebels will keep it close and entertaining – maybe a late Jason Woodward kick out on the full could be the game-changer?
My feeling was the Brumbies would get a win in the Republic, but the Bulls have been in-form, so take them at home. The Ponies will rue wasting an important chance away against the lowly Cheetahs last week.
The New Zealand double-header is going to be massive. The Crusaders are going to club the Highlanders and be too hard to handle, although if Lima Sopoaga is back it’ll be closer.
(Brett’s note: He is.)
Then the wobbly Chiefs finally take a tumble away to the Canes. TJ Perenara and Beauden Barrett both trying to claim an All Blacks jersey – juicy!
The Lions have leaked 102 points already on their Australasian tour and the Super Rugby Noob Squad will get one more throttling by my Powerplay-anointed Force before going home. The Force are coming off a loss but getting that earlier win in South Africa will boost their confidence down the stretch this year. Finally, the Cheetahs aren’t going to beat the Stormers at home because they’re not as good.
Spiro Zavos
Tips: Sharks, Waratahs (P/P), Bulls, Crusaders, Chiefs, Force and Stormers.
Explain yourself: I watched Round 14 with mounting fear that I might create a record and get every tip wrong. As it was, I took a hammering and this week it doesn’t seem to get any easier. I find myself taking four teams playing away from home and only three playing at home.
My Powerplay is on the Waratahs to beat the Rebels.
(Brett’s note: I like your thinking, Spiro – it can’t possibly get worse than last week…)
Scott Allen
Tips: Sharks, Waratahs (P/P), Bulls, Crusaders, Chiefs, Force and Stormers.
Explain yourself: I continue to refuse to pick based on the dominance of home teams this year – to my detriment of course.
This week I have five away teams winning – the Brumbies over the Bulls, the Chiefs over the Hurricanes, the Crusaders over the Highlanders, the Waratahs over the Rebels and the Sharks over the Blues. I’ve used my Powerplay on a ‘Tahs win in Melbourne.
The two home-team victories I’ve tipped this week are the Stormers over the Cheetahs and the Force over the Lions, in a must-win match for the Force if they are to stay in the finals hunt.
The great thing about the competition this year is that any team can beat the other. Even the Bye has a chance against the Reds given their form!
Tristan Rayner (live from New York)
Tips: Sharks, Waratahs (P/P), Bulls, Crusaders, Chiefs, Force and Stormers.
Explain yourself: What a great, brutal round ahead. If anyone jags a perfect round, I promise to take a photo somewhere embarrassing (for me) in New York with a sign that says ‘[insert name] is a tipping legend!’
(Brett’s note: Suggestions welcome – I want my name on top of Empire State…)
Brett McKay
Tips: Blues, Waratahs, Bulls, Highlanders, Chiefs, Force (P/P) and Stormers.
Explain yourself: A couple of calculated gambles this week. I haven’t been able to shake a nagging feeling the Sharks have had their big moment on tour, and I’m thinking the Crusaders have developed a few chinks in the armour (see what I’ve done there?) that can be exploited away from home.
The Waratahs look too good for the Rebels, and they need to win this game well. I don’t know the Bulls look too good for the Brumbies, but I think they have the form edge currently. And it’s at Loftus. Obviously, this is one I hope I get wrong, but fear I won’t.
Hurricanes versus Chiefs came down to the number 10s, for me. Beauden Barrett’s still under a bit of cloud, and the Chiefs are getting somewhere with Gareth Anscombe. Plus, Aaron Cruden is ready to go again from the bench. The Stormers have shown surprising improvement in recent weeks, soaring to the giddy heights of 13th on the table last week. They’ll be too good for the Cheetahs, and could need oxygen if they reach 11th.
Be very happy or very nervous, Force fans. Your boys get my Powerplay.
The summary
| Round 15 | Scott Allen | Biltongbek | Patrick Effeney | Brett McKay | Elisha Pearce | Tristan Rayner | Spiro Zavos |
| Overall | 54 | 63 | 62 | 65 | 63 | 60 | 62 |
| Last week | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| BLU v SHA | Sharks | Sharks | Sharks | Blues | Sharks | Sharks | Sharks |
| REB v WAR | Waratahs | Waratahs | Waratahs | Waratahs | Waratahs | Waratahs | Waratahs |
| BUL v BRU | Brumbies | Bulls | Brumbies | Bulls | Bulls | Brumbies | Bulls |
| HIG v CRU | Crusaders | Highlanders | Crusaders | Highlanders | Crusaders | Crusaders | Crusaders |
| HUR v CHI | Chiefs | Chiefs | Hurricanes | Chiefs | Hurricanes | Chiefs | Chiefs |
| FOR v LIO | Force | Force | Force | Force | Force | Force | Force |
| STO v CHE | Stormers | Stormers | Stormers | Stormers | Stormers | Stormers | Stormers |
| POWERPLAY | Waratahs | Stormers | Waratahs | Force | Force | Waratahs | Waratahs |
| Reds BYE | |||||||