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Well then, an up and down start to Super Rugby tipping for this season, which I suspect is something we’re all going to need to get used to.
The previously friendless Lions were the party-poopers again last week, comfortably accounting for the Stormers and seven tipsters in this forum. The Highlanders and Chiefs brought more than a few people undone, too.
Paddy and Elisha have the honour this week, jagging six from a possible eight points. Biltong followed with five, Spiro, Scott and myself managed four points, and the tipster I last week described as an “extraordinaire” was 0/4 by last Sunday, and finished with three in the end.
Here are the tips for Super Rugby Round 3…
Paddy Effeney
Tips: Crusaders, Cheetahs, Stormers, Chiefs, Reds, Brumbies, Bulls.
Explain yourself: I love the sound of “sixth in The Roar’s tipping competition” in the morning. Long may it continue!
The Crusaders are obviously a good side, as they showed in a cracker against the Chiefs on Friday afternoon, so both of these teams get the nod from me. The Cheetahs will stamp the Rebels, though I’d love to be wrong here. Surely, the Stormers have to bounce back from a heavy loss to the Lions last week, while the men from Jo-berg will experience their first fall of the season against the Bulls.
Waratahs versus Reds has given me an aneurism, but I’m sticking with my heart. If they can beat the Brums at home, they can do it to the Tahs as well. Speaking of the Brums, they will hand the Force back-to-back losses.
I must say I’m thoroughly looking forward to looking down from the top of that tipping ladder at the end of the weekend.
The Chiefs are good enough for me to bank on them with a powerplay as well.
Elisha Pearce
Tips: Crusaders, Cheetahs, Stormers, Chiefs, Waratahs, Brumbies, Lions.
Explain yourself: The Crusaders won’t miss that many kicks again, because Todd Blackadder would probably go full Francis Underwood and have agents appear at the kickers’ houses.
The Cheetahs haven’t looked good yet and will inevitably lose on the road… next week against the Reds; they’ll sneak home against the Rebels. I know the Stormers are a step back this year, but they aren’t a “lose at home to a Hurricanes team that doesn’t play its most promising youngster”-sized step back yet.
I’m going with the Chiefs in what will be an entertaining match-up. Two sides that can move the ball. I’ll stick with my Waratahs this week. Sick ‘em Jacques. Then the Brumbies get to annihilate the Force slightly less than the Waratahs did, leading to many reactionary pieces (maybe from me) that the Tahs have passed the Brums.
And finally, the Lions in an upset against the Bulls even though I don’t think that’s an upset anymore.
The Crusaders get my power pick out of reverence to Mr Underwood, too.
Biltongbek
Tips: Crusaders, Cheetahs, Stormers, Chiefs, Waratahs, Brumbies, Bulls.
Explain yourself: Blues have individual talent, but even though the Crusaders lost against the Chiefs, their forward pack will win this for them.
It’s the first game up for the Rebels, and the Cheetahs will want to win this one to get off to a good start, and there is always the Willie le Roux magic. Head to head, the Canes lag behind the Stormers; in the past six years they have beaten the Stormers only once at home.
Highlanders looked good last weekend, but the Chiefs’ defence against the Crusaders were great, and the Chiefs have a much better pack than the Blues. Reds have won the last five matches against the Tahs, but this is Folau’s team, and they are at home. Brumbies ran out of ideas against the Reds, but the Force aren’t there yet.
And surely the Lions can’t make it three in a row? Can they?
Tough round to pick a powerplay, but the Chiefs likely the safest bet. I think.
Spiro Zavos
Tips: Crusaders, Cheetahs, Stormers, Chiefs, Waratahs, Brumbies, Bulls.
Explain yourself: Last weekend was difficult to pick because we did not have any real form, outside of the South African sides, to work on.
My picks are based on the form and results of last week. This does not provide for the improvement that some teams (the Hurricanes and Brumbies?) could reveal with a game in the system.
I was doubtful on this count about counting out all the teams, except for the Force, so I exercised my powerplay against them.
Scott Allen
Tips: Crusaders, Rebels, Stormers, Chiefs, Reds, Brumbies, Bulls.
Explain yourself: I’ve gone for the Crusaders again this week as they played well last week (apart from goal kicking). I think the Rebels can get a win over the Cheetahs and that the Stormers will bounce back.
The Chiefs should win comfortably as should the Brumbies. Can the Bulls get their season up and running against the Lions? I think so.
Which leaves the Waratahs against the Reds – it’s going to be a great match but I was impressed by how the Reds survived that second half onslaught from the Brumbies, so I’ve tipped them.
My powerplay was a choice between the Chiefs or the Brumbies. The Highlanders were pretty good last week whereas the Force were dreadful, so I’ve gone with the Brumbies.
Brett McKay
Tips: Crusaders, Rebels, Stormers, Chiefs, Waratahs, Brumbies, Lions.
Explain yourself: I’ve gone for the Crusaders again, mainly because I’ve gone colder on the Blues than a Canberra Stadium media box pie. I sense a Rebels upset, and now that I’ve said this to Gordon Bray, I’m kind of committed.
The Stormers were average last week, but like the Brumbies, I can’t see them playing two bad games in a row. I liked the Highlanders last week, but the Chiefs turned in pretty much the performance of the week, and can’t be ignored. And how can you not pick the Lions currently?
This just leaves the Tahs-Reds. The Reds defence was excellent last week, as was the Waratahs attack. A real hard one, in which the coin has come down for NSW, after spinning on its edge for a good while.
I’m backing the Brumbies to atone, and they get the powerplay, as well.
Tristan Rayner
Tips: Crusaders, Cheetahs, Hurricanes, Chiefs, Waratahs, Brumbies, Lions.
Explain yourself: Place egg on face from previous round and chef it up to create a stir-fry for success!
This round, we’re all hoping for away wins, more or less. But I’ve stuck with my faith in Cheika. The ones that don’t feel right are the Lions over the Bulls, and Hurricanes (and their four All Black backline?) over the Stormers.
Also, a question for Brett – do our tips influence yours? Is anything sacred?
[Brett’s note – as a rule, I’m going to pick as many opposite to you as possible, Tristo… 😉 ]
The summary
| Round 3 | Scott Allen | Biltongbek | Patrick Effeney | Brett McKay | Elisha Pearce | Tristan Rayner | Spiro Zavos |
| Overall | 5 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 6 |
| Last week | 4 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 4 |
| BLU v CRU | Crusaders | Crusaders | Crusaders | Crusaders | Crusaders | Crusaders | Crusaders |
| REB v CHE | Rebels | Cheetahs | Cheetahs | Rebels | Cheetahs | Cheetahs | Cheetahs |
| STO v HUR | Stormers | Stormers | Stormers | Stormers | Stormers | Hurricanes | Stormers |
| CHI v HIG | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs |
| WAR v RED | Reds | Waratahs | Reds | Waratahs | Waratahs | Waratahs | Waratahs |
| FOR v BRU | Brumbies | Brumbies | Brumbies | Brumbies | Brumbies | Brumbies | Brumbies |
| BUL v LIO | Bulls | Bulls | Bulls | Lions | Lions | Lions | Bulls |
| POWERPLAY | Brumbies | Chiefs | Chiefs | Brumbies | Crusaders | Chiefs | Brumbies |
| Sharks BYE |