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We all knew Round 14 would be decided by the first game, and it was indeed a close-run thing.
The Bulls had their chances, but just couldn’t nail the execution when they needed it the most.
Over the rest of the round, we saw some cracking games, much refereeing controversy, and the Australian and South African conferences change hands. We saw a Reds team we hadn’t seen all year, and we saw a Lions team as determined as ever, but for whom that attacking polish remains just out of reach.
Paddy suffered a triple-loss: the Bulls, a wasted powerplay, and his lead goooooooone. However, Digger hasn’t exactly been a convincing front-runner this year, unlike his ‘Canes.
The big Round 15 questions: Do the Chiefs have any locks left? Who was that mob the red jerseys last week, and are they available again? With 13 injured players, can the Blues field a side? Are we in for the most underwhelming grand final replay in some time, form-wise?
Can the Force defence hold out the incisive southerners? Are the Cheetahs just there for ‘spoiler’ roles now? And will the Rebels found out the hard way just how far off ‘finals contention’ they really are?
Diggercane
Tips: Chiefs (PP), Reds, Hurricanes, Waratahs, Highlanders, Lions, Stormers.
“The tipping is getting harder to pick than a broken nose while riding a unicycle downhill with no helmet on into driving rain with no brakes on gravel while being chased by a large quick animal.
Brett’s note: Yeah, but aside from all that?
“Chiefs easily at home, and can carry my powerplay as well. They should be really mad and ready to hit the ground running, while the Reds and Sharks confuse me. I haven’t picked the Reds much at all (really, they say), so why not and playing at home to boot: Reds to win.
“The Hurricanes over the Blues, even playing at Eden Park, and likely absentees, and blah, blah, blah. ‘Canes all the way. And I am backing the Highlanders to be too desperate for the Force in Perth.
“In South Africa, I believe in the Lions and will back them to get the biz done in Bloem, while I expect the Stormers to be too strong for the Rebels under the mountain.
“In what shapes as the big clash of the round, I have to back the Tahs in Sydney plus, in my view anyway, they have fronted and won the games they have needed too while the Crusaders have not, which probably means they will win now but anyway, Waratahs for me.”
Spiro Zavos
Tips: Chiefs (PP), Sharks, Hurricanes, Crusaders, Highlanders, Lions, Stormers.
“The Rebels bubble burst for my tipping, as it did for all the other experts, when they were comprehensively defeated by a resurgent Reds side well-selected for the first time this season. There is also “The Knuckles (Connolly) Effect” to be considered for their game this weekend against the Sharks. I am picking the Sharks, if only because they will be desperate for a win on their overseas tour.
“The other tough match to pick is the Waratahs – Crusaders. There is a South African referee for this match and I think that the Crusaders, with their 2015 campaign on the line will reach back into the glory days and take out a win.”
Brett McKay
Tips: Chiefs, Reds, Hurricanes, Crusaders, Highlanders (PP), Lions, Stormers.
This felt like a surprisingly easy round to tip, which perhaps might explain why I’ve been propping up the table for most of the season.
Despite recalling a commentator and possibly holding an open trial to find a pair of locks, the Chiefs still look too good for the underwhelming Bulls in Rotorua. And three weeks ago, I outlined how I didn’t think the Sharks wouldn’t win a game on tour – tonight in Brisbane that comes to fruition.
The ‘Canes will beat the Blues in Auckland just because, while in the GF replay, the Crusaders strike me as the team with the most to lose. Even if the Waratahs lose this game, they still have a win in hand over the Brumbies, and so just need to find a couple of extra bonus points somewhere. If the Crusaders lose, that’s them done for 2015.
The Highlanders served me well with the Powerplay last week, so they can continue carrying it on their stopover in Perth, while the Lions and Stormers just look obvious.
So an easy round to pick, and I’ve finished with four away teams. What could possibly go wrong?
Paddy Effeney
Tips: Chiefs, Sharks, Hurricanes (PP), Waratahs, Highlanders, Lions, Stormers.
“With my lead gone, it’s time to go back in the shell. I blame everything on the Reds of course, my team, who had no right to beat the Rebels last week.
“Onwards and upwards, the power play was a tough choice this week. I’ve gone with the Hurricanes, even though they face a renewed Blues. I think the loss of Luatua is the thing that finally knocks any wheels they had left off.
“I don’t think the Reds can repeat heroics twice, though I thought Karmichael Hunt was very impressive last weekend. The rest of the games pick themselves for the most part. Sort of. I will get then wrong, of course.”
Elisha Pearce
Tips: Chiefs, Reds, Hurricanes (PP), Waratahs, Highlanders, Lions, Stormers.
“Take the Chiefs – they’ll somehow overcome their lineout/maul gaps and win. Sharks won’t get an Australasian win as the Knuckles honeymoon rolls on. Hurricanes will get a win in Auckland, nursing my powerplay unscathed.
“Crusaders to lose by less than a penalty again, as the Waratahs play with conviction but without skill. Take the Highlanders pushing for a finals spot over the Force looking at next year. The Lions to get another win to furnish their “next year” credentials again, and the Stormers to romp home against the Rebels, who’s ‘next year’ tag is emphasised by a tough away loss.”
The summary
| Round 14 | Diggercane | Patrick Effeney | Brett McKay | Elisha Pearce | Spiro Zavos |
| Overall | 73 | 71 | 66 | 69 | 69 |
| Last week | 6 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 6 |
| CHI v BUL | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs |
| RED v SHA | Reds | Sharks | Reds | Reds | Sharks |
| BLU v HUR | Hurricanes | Hurricanes | Hurricanes | Hurricanes | Hurricanes |
| WAR v CRU | Waratahs | Waratahs | Crusaders | Waratahs | Crusaders |
| FOR v HIG | Highlanders | Highlanders | Highlanders | Highlanders | Highlanders |
| CHE v LIO | Lions | Lions | Lions | Lions | Lions |
| STO v REB | Stormers | Stormers | Stormers | Stormers | Stormers |
| POWERPLAY | Chiefs | Hurricanes | Highlanders | Hurricanes | Chiefs |
| BYE | Brumbies | ||||