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An up-and-down week, it has to be said, in Round 12. We all started reasonably well, even with some differences in the Brumbies-Tahs slugfest, but it came tumbling down from the Rebels on Saturday night.
Some of us never recovered, in what turned out to be a harder round to tip that perhaps it first appeared
Paddy remains in the lead – just. A different Powerplay saw Digger peg him back just slightly.
The big Round 13 questions: Is this the last chance for the Crusaders in 2015? Can the Rebels begin an unlikely run to the playoffs? Will the Hurricanes send the Sharks in again by halftime?
Do the Waratahs really believe the Force is the bogey team they say they are? Can the Highlanders cement their playoffs spot on tour? Who has the more to lose in Cape Town? And what happened to the other game?
Diggercane
Tips: Crusaders, Rebels, Hurricanes (PP), Waratahs, Highlanders, Stormers.
“Paddy will have a kink in his neck as the chasing pack inevitably closes in on his frail lead and this week should be some good pickings.
“Friday night is all about the home teams for me, with the Crusaders and Rebels to get the points over the coloured teams.
“I’m backing the Waratahs to continue their run to the playoffs while I think the Highlanders will win at Ellis Park for my away team picks while I expect the Stormers to bounce back hard at home after a disappointing last outing.
“For the important game, the Hurricanes can have my powerplay against the Sharks in Wellington.”
Brett McKay
Tips: Crusaders, Rebels, Hurricanes, Waratahs (PP), Highlanders, Stormers.
This looks like another easy week to me, which is immediately worrying. Lock us in for twos and threes again this week, for sure.
Crusaders and Rebels feel self-explanatory. Hurricanes even without Barrett will be too good for the Sharks. In fact, Chris Boyd could run the Wellington Lions out and still get the four points. Maybe even the five points. Geez, I’m annoyed with the Sharks this year.
The Force will fancy themselves, but the Waratahs need to win and win well. And they need to win when the pressure’s on, so they can have my Powerplay, too.
The Lions will be hard to beat, but I think the Highlanders can do it. And I wrote it month ago, I wrote it a fortnight ago; the Brumbies are facing a tough run in the next few weeks. And I’ve seen nothing in that time to change my mind. Season’s on the line for them at Newlands.
Paddy Effeney
Tips: Crusaders (PP), Rebels, Hurricanes, Waratahs, Highlanders, Brumbies.
“Another one of the bye rounds eh? Well, at least the tipping’s easier this week. Right, guys?
“Guys?
“Nah, I actually think it is easier. Crusaders pick themselves. Rebels pick themselves. ‘Canes pick themselves. ‘Tahs pick themselves.
“Lions pick… No Highlanders pick… *Flips coin*. Coin picks Highlanders!
“Stormers… No Brumbies… I don’t really know with this one. I’ll go with the Brumbies.
“Powerplay goes on whoever’s playing the Reds.
“Now, how good was that Rebels match on the weekend? Plenty of starch was shown by the lads, as it has been all season. My brother’s a convert, and I can see why. Heckling’s never been so much fun.”
Elisha Pearce
Tips: Crusaders, Rebels, Hurricanes (PP), Waratahs, Lions, Stormers.
“I enjoyed that round of tipping until Saturday night. My first loss of the round coincided with me getting soaked, walking from the Strawberry Hills Hotel to Central Station in the pouring rain. I don’t know if that’s a metaphor or a warning, or what.
“Crusaders to wipe the Reds, one they have to win to stay alive. Then the Rebels to sneak home against the Blues by a closer margin than beating the Chiefs the week before would suggest. Take the Hurricanes at home and put a powerplay on it (the Sharks deserve to lose after signing away Potgieter from the ‘Tahs as far as I’m concerned).
“The Waratahs to get another ugly win in Perth, sending more writers into premature raptures. Give the Lions a home win against the Highlanders – sneaky game of the round prospect here. And the Stormers also at home over the Brumbies.”
Spiro Zavos
Tips: Crusaders, Rebels, Hurricanes, Waratahs (PP), Lions, Stormers.
“I took a hammering last week, even though I picked what looked like the obvious outcomes. It just goes to show that this is a competition where any team, or almost any team, can beat another Super Rugby side on a particular day.
“Last week, too, was a triumph for home sides, with the exception of the Waratahs win over the Brumbies. I am going, without a great deal of confidence, in a similar series of home wins, with one exception, for this round.”
The summary
| Round 13 | Diggercane | Patrick Effeney | Brett McKay | Elisha Pearce | Spiro Zavos |
| Overall | 62 | 63 | 56 | 59 | 58 |
| Last week | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 3 |
| CRU v RED | Crusaders | Crusaders | Crusaders | Crusaders | Crusaders |
| REB v BLU | Rebels | Rebels | Rebels | Rebels | Rebels |
| HUR v SHA | Hurricanes | Hurricanes | Hurricanes | Hurricanes | Hurricanes |
| FOR v WAR | Waratahs | Waratahs | Waratahs | Waratahs | Waratahs |
| LIO v HIG | Highlanders | Highlanders | Highlanders | Lions | Lions |
| STO v BRU | Stormers | Brumbies | Stormers | Stormers | Stormers |
| POWERPLAY | Hurricanes | Crusaders | Waratahs | Hurricanes | Waratahs |
| BYE | Bulls, Cheetahs, Chiefs |