Another interesting round of Super Rugby is on the cards. There are some big make or break games this week and this is how I think they will go down.
First up is the Hurricanes versus the Brumbies. This game is shaping as a cracker. Both teams will be without their main first five so it could come down to who has the better second string first five.
Both teams are big over-performers in 2012. The Brumbies you could attribute it to the appointment of Jake White and the Hurricanes it is likely that the wholesale cleanout of disgruntled players is responsible.
What I have seen from both teams this season makes this a very tough match to pick. Therefore I will take the cheap way out and go for the Hurricanes by three points courtesy of home ground advantage.
Next up is the Highlanders versus the Bulls, which is the match of the round. One thing you seem to get every time the Bulls play is a very entertaining encounter. Whether they are belting the Reds by 50 or sneaking home in a high scoring close encounter (Crusaders, Brumbies, Rebels and Waratahs), you get value for your money.
I am going for the Highlanders. My reasoning for this is of all the sides in the competition, the Highlanders seem to be the one who give the Bulls most grief. They are in essence their bogey side and I am tipping the Highlanders by six points here.
Crusaders versus Blues will be an interesting match. If the Crusaders were dirty with their performance against the Reds a fortnight ago, they will be absolutely disgusted by last week’s capitulation in the second half against the Rebels.
The Blues on the other hand had a lot of pressure released with a win over the lowly Lions and with a new coach in place they will be looking to build on that win.
No doubt the Crusaders have been copping it left, right and centre all week with many of their stars commitment and form under scrutiny. I don’t think any of their stars will be sitting out this week and I think there will be a lot of venom in their play. Crusaders to hit back hard and win this one by 20.
Reds versus Lions is next up. They used to throw Christians to the Lions in ancient times but in 2012 at the Suncorp Colosseum it will be the Lions being put to the sword.
The Reds are back in town, their stars are firing and Quade is back. The Lions, at the back end of their road trip look tired and weary. This could be one massive blow out but I can see the Reds getting their five points early in the contest and taking the foot off the accelerator. I think the Reds will win comfortably but the margin to be 15 points after leaking a lot of late tries to the Lions.
Cheetahs versus Sharks is a game holding interest to a lot of New Zealand and Australian sides. If the Sharks want to secure a top six spot these are the games they need to win. Both sides were impressive last week. Sharks destroyed the Force while the Cheetahs can consider themselves unlucky not to have beaten the Stormers.
This game for me comes down to who wants it more. I think the Sharks will want to win the game more and have more to play for. This will be a tight contest but the Sharks to get up by two points here.
Stormers versus Waratahs is the next game this weekend. With storms forecast for Cape Town on Saturday what was already shaping as a low scoring encounter could turn into a tryless slog for both sides. It won’t be pretty but I see the Stormers getting up by nine points in a game dominated by kicking.
Force versus Rebels is the final match of the round. One team has come off an embarrassing flogging. The other produced a magnificent performance to beat the Crusaders.
Since their bye, the Rebels have been flying, mixing it up with the big boys of the competition. The Force looks like a team going through the doldrums. For this reason I will go for the team with the momentum and tip the Rebels to win this by five points.
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