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There’s no nice way of putting this: we were rubbish last week – or as I like to put it, the teams we picked in good faith were rubbish.
Digger’s good guess on the Blues effectively decided the round by the end of the first game, while the rest of us were looking at 0 and 4 records by the end of Saturday night in Australia. You guys only get black and white, but there was so much red on the table!
The big Round 10 questions: Can Digger handle the pressure of front-running that Paddy clearly couldn’t? Can the Chiefs beat the curse of the bye? Can the Hurricanes beat the curse of the bye? Can the Blues only confuse things even more in New Zealand?
Can the Brumbies finish with the full complement? Can the Force be the Stormers’ speedhump on the run home? Can the Shar… nope, they can’t. If no-one watches the Cheetahs-Reds, was it played at all?
Diggercane
Tips: Crusaders, Hurricanes, Highlanders, Brumbies (PP), Stormers, Bulls, Cheetahs.
“Crusaders. Why? Am I mad? Yes I am, quite mad, but they just have to win and history tells us they usually do when they have to. I am picking it will be a good weekend for the Mainlanders, however, as the Highlanders will leave the Blues with one win in a row.
“The Brumbies looked severely disappointed after losing last week and I expect them to take it out on the Rebels at home, while the Force will most likely be obliterated by the Stormers on their way back to South Africa. I cannot see the Sharks beating the Bulls, and I just have to back the Cheetahs even with some signs of life from the Reds.
“I’m missing someone…oh that’s right, the Hurricanes shall continue their general magnificent and aesthetically pleasing play with a solid win over the SuperTAHs.
“Brumbies for the Powerplay this week, they appeal as the most likely home team.”
Spiro Zavos
Tips: Chiefs, Hurricanes, Highlanders, Brumbies (PP), Stormers, Bulls, Cheetahs.
“Last week I rather foolishly said that it was a relatively easy round to pick the winners. So what happened was that four of the teams expected to win, including the Force, all lost.
“This round I am going once again for the obvious teams in the hope that I can retrieve a disastrous round of the previous week.”
Brett McKay
Tips: Crusaders, Hurricanes (PP), Highlanders, Brumbies, Stormers, Bulls, Cheetahs.
Right, so the current tactic of trying to catch the leader is not working, so I’ve inadvertently stumbled across a new plan: pick the same as the leader and let everyone in between fall over.
So while I do give the Chiefs a hope, I can’t see the Crusaders dropping two home games on the trot. The Hurricanes look well equipped to remain unbeaten, but I will still have my fun by dropping the Powerplay here and making Digger sweat.
Highlanders and Stormers shouldn’t have too many issue, and if the Brumbies can’t beat the Rebels, then they’ve got bigger issues than just costing me tips.
In South Africa, I’m now picking against the Sharks out of spite, for lulling me into tipping them to top the conference in the pre-season. And though teams often come together by the second game on tour, I’m not sure the Reds can repeat last week’s spirit with an even further depleted squad.
Elisha Pearce
Tips: Chiefs, Hurricanes, Highlanders (PP), Brumbies, Stormers, Bulls, Cheetahs.
“Last week the teams I picked upset me greatly, so this week I’m going to play some party games. Let’s have some fun, kids!
“Pin the tail on the donkey first, with the steady yet unspectacular (aka a donkey) match ups of the Bulls versus Sharks and Reds versus Cheetahs. The pin landed on the fleshy Bull and fat-free Cheetah rumps.
“Musical chairs for second place in the New Zealand conference: this week when the music stops I expect the Chiefs to grab a seat and the Highlanders (powerplay) to jump on one too. Yes, a round where two seats were sneakily pulled by the parent on the music. Sorry Blues and Crusaders, it’s a tough game that teaches children how to lose with dignity.
“Charades will take places in Canberra as the Brumbies host the Brumbies-lite Rebels. Both robust, hardworking teams with flaws that are exposed when trying to score points and spread the ball – which version of the act will win? The Brumbies.
“The zombie-Waratahs are going to be wrapped up by the Hurricanes when they play the Mummy Game in Wellington. They almost look real, they have flashed of quality rugby-humanity, but they’re not quite the real thing this year the Tahs, they’re zombie contenders. The Hurricanes are the real deal.
“The Stormers have played two truths and a lie in the last three weeks. They beat the Tahs (truth), lost narrowly to the Canes (truth) and lost to the Highlanders (lie). I’m going to say they’re a better team than those results and will beat the Force for another win on this trip.”
Paddy Effeney
Tips: Chiefs, Waratahs, Highlanders, Brumbies, Stormers (PP), Bulls, Reds.
“This week I’m taking a punt on some Aussie sides in the hope they can bounce back from a categorically awful week last time out. Plus I need to make up some ground on Digger. My Powerplay banker will be the Stormers, who I think can beat the Force.
“Both the Waratahs and the Hurricanes have played just seven games, and I think it’s going to be a great game. I’m going the Tahs, because Digger tips with his heart. Every other mug can see this is their game they have to lose.
“Top of the table again next week!”
Brett’s note: Every other mug has picked the Hurricanes…
The summary
| Round 10 | Diggercane | Patrick Effeney | Brett McKay | Elisha Pearce | Spiro Zavos |
| Overall | 46 | 44 | 40 | 41 | 44 |
| Last week | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| CRU v CHI | Crusaders | Chiefs | Crusaders | Chiefs | Chiefs |
| HUR v WAR | Hurricanes | Waratahs | Hurricanes | Hurricanes | Hurricanes |
| HIG v BLU | Highlanders | Highlanders | Highlanders | Highlanders | Highlanders |
| BRU v REB | Brumbies | Brumbies | Brumbies | Brumbies | Brumbies |
| FOR v STO | Stormers | Stormers | Stormers | Stormers | Stormers |
| SHA v BUL | Bulls | Bulls | Bulls | Bulls | Bulls |
| CHE v RED | Cheetahs | Reds | Cheetahs | Cheetahs | Cheetahs |
| POWERPLAY | Brumbies | Stormers | Hurricanes | Highlanders | Brumbies |
| BYE | Lions |