- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Well, well, well. What have we here? We have someone very bullish about not being isolated at the bottom, that’s what we have.
And I’m sorry to bring you down to my level Spiro, I really am. It’s not personal – it’s just expert tipping business, and I shall have my moment!
In other news, the other two at the top are still at the top, despite their significantly inferior tipping on the weekend. It’s my moment, I tells ya…mine!
The big Finals Week 2 questions: Is Digger buying the coffees, or am I? And surely the Hurricanes couldn’t stumble at the first hurdle, could they? Can the Brumbies outlast the fatigue factor and jet lag?
Have the Waratahs been saving their first 80-minute performance of the year for this weekend? Is the spirit of the Highlanders the unstoppable force we’re starting to believe?
Brett McKay
Tips: Brumbies, Highlanders (PP).
Greetings from Wellington! With only three games left to play, this can only go one of two ways for me. I can make my unreachable break on Spiro now, or I can go down in a blaze of glory. So, it’s simple: I’m all in.
When in Rome, tip against the Romans, I say. If the Brumbies can beat the Stormers at Newlands, then the Hurricanes at the Cake Tin will be easy. Travel factor? West-to-east fatigue? Jet lag? Phooey – all mere details to extend the conspiracy forcing everyone to back the home side.
I’m onto you, SANZAR; this is where your cagey gamesmanship ends.
And though I obviously now have to take the Highlanders as I rage against the man, I think the southerners are now genuine title contenders anyway. They were superb against the #GoChefs last weekend, and they have the game to beat anyone anywhere. So they can have my powerplay, in Sydney.
Of course, if my tips come off, then we’re left with the Final that no-one predicted, and worse, the Final that no-one can get to. Take five minutes this morning to look at flights to Dunedin next weekend. See what I mean? Exactly. Hence why I’m in beautiful Wellington…
Elisha Pearce
Tips: Hurricanes (PP), Waratahs.
“So much to gain, and so much to lose! Being one of the final four teams left is such an achievement. But grabbing a spot in the grand final has a much better ring of success when you look back on the season one day.
“Surely the Hurricanes couldn’t lose their first knockout match, despite how well the Brumbies played last week. The ‘Canes have been in supreme form all year and although they were slightly less untouchable as the season went along, they were rotating players in and out more often. The Henry Speight omission will hurt the Brumbies. Joe Tomane was the hero last week, and the defence will be able to load up a little more on him and Tevita Kuridrani to make sure there isn’t any repeat breakout performance.
“After spending so much time looking at the chances of away wins during the week to put the Brumbies Cape Town exploits in perspective, I’ll have to go with the ‘Canes here. They’ll get my power play too.
“The Sydney semi-final looks like it could be a fire cracker. The Highlanders are rounding into peak form at the right time of the year, but the Waratahs are at home and learned how to win without always playing their best rugby down the stretch last year.
“The key will be whether Aaron Smith can repeat his ridiculously good performance last week. A. Smith is a clear strength over Nick Phipps, whose form has been terribly up and down this year. The Waratahs might get a bit of advantage in the pack but the backline of the Highlanders is sublime, and I think better than the ‘Tahs one this year. I’m taking the Waratahs with bated breath.”
Brett’s note: Really? Poisoned breath? Seems extreme…
Spiro Zavos
Tips: Hurricanes (PP), Waratahs.
“I am going for the two home teams to win their semi-finals. The Hurricanes have been very good all season, with the occasional blip when resting their All Blacks. They have their full complement of players and are rested. The Brumbies have the energy-sapping trip back from South Africa and will be without Henry Speight.
“The Waratahs have not been as convincing this year as they were last season, around this time. But they have come through in the big games. I expect their bigger pack will boss the Highlanders around, which will nullify the brilliance of the Highlanders backs.”
Paddy Effeney
Tips: Hurricanes (PP), Waratahs.
“Think as Diggercane thinks… That’s the key to maintaining my lead from here on.
“Powerplay on the Hurricanes then! I have to say, I’m liking the Brumbies for an upset, but to stick with my ‘Diggercane theory’ requires persistence beyond one paragraph, so Hurricanes it is.
“Similarly, I think Digger will pick the Highlanders. I feel that would be highly stupid, so here’s my first deviation from my ‘Digger trigger’ theory. I’m going the Waratahs. Don’t let me down Michael Cheika, Kurtley Beale, and Mitchell Chapman (he’s a controversial player, right?)! My fate is in your hands.”
Diggercane
Tips: Hurricanes (PP), Highlanders.
“Well, it’s make or break time and if I want to win this thing, I’m going to have to play with fire.
“Everything in my gut is telling me to pick the Waratahs but I am going to pick the Highlanders for the sole reason that I reckon Paddy will pick the Tahs, and I want to win. So there you go.
“In the other semi, it’s the ‘Canes all the way, baby, and with the powerplay too. See, I’m not nervous at all.”
Brett’s note: You two are so cute…
The summary
| Semi Finals | Diggercane | Patrick Effeney | Brett McKay | Elisha Pearce | Spiro Zavos |
| Overall | 95 | 96 | 91 | 93 | 91 |
| Last week | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| HUR v BRU | Hurricanes | Hurricanes | Brumbies | Hurricanes | Hurricanes |
| WAR v HIG | Highlanders | Waratahs | Highlanders | Waratahs | Waratahs |
| POWERPLAY | Hurricanes | Hurricanes | Highlanders | Hurricanes | Hurricanes |