You all know the type, don’t you Roarers. The one person in the tipping comp who just happens to get a good start to the season with a few lucky tips, and suddenly thinks they’re better than Bill bloody McLaren.
And let’s be honest, anyone can have a good week; we know that when we go into a competition in any given year.
But two good weeks in a row? That’s pushing it. And when the sledging emails come in – mid-round, mind you! – that’s really pushing it.
So, imagine the horror of the tipping panel when a very cocky email arrived in our Inboxes on Sunday morning, not just proclaiming his own greatness, but entering his Round 3 tips four full days before the deadline. I mean, honestly, the gall!!
Roarers, I give you your current runaway leader.
Harry. Bloody. Jones.
Last week: Harry 7, everyone else 4.
Harry – 6.13am AEDT Sunday morning
“Howzit, lap dogs. Don’t let me lap you.
“The cowbells will clang in Hamilton; the chief reason the Chiefs will win is an edge in team fitness. The Force’s turnover tactics will fail in Canberra. The Sharks will bite a hole in the SS Waratah.
“The Blues will have the blues. The Reds will have red faces. The Cheetahs will run in 7-8 tries; let in 2-3.
“The Stormers will blow the Kings down. The Lions will win the catfight.”
TIPS: Chiefs, Brumbies, Highlanders, Crusaders, Stormers, Cheetahs, Sharks, Lions
Digger
“Bloody Harry. Oh well, here goes nothing…
“’Canes by plenty. Brumbies at home based on pure desperation, while I suspect the Sharks may have too much at home for the Waratahs, particularly up front.
“I cannot tip the Reds based on last week’s performance, while the Cheetahs and Stormers should be comfortable winners. And given the Lions absences for varying reasons and the Jaguares first home game, let’s see what backing the Argentinians brings me.
“In the game I found hardest to settle on, I have decided to jump on the Blues wagon. The Highlanders will be desperate to turn their season around and are more than capable despite the injuries but I am swayed by the likely starting pack for the Blues, and also their own determination to ensure their home games are secured. Blues it is, I think.”
TIPS: Hurricanes, Brumbies, Blues, Crusaders, Cheetahs, Stormers, Sharks, Jaguares
Nobes
“What awful weekend of tipping I had, but let us see if can do better for this week. Harry is definitely making too much ground already.
“The Chief will cook the Hurricanes on a hot fire. The Brumbies finally stop losing against the Force. The Sharks will be too strong and in high spirits when they face the Tahs.
“The Highlanders will see off the Blues, I guess. Crusaders look to strong for the Reds. Cheetahs will run faster than wolves. The Kings will feel the Storm. I will gamble with Jaguares at home taking the Lions (I will be there to make sure it happens).”
TIPS: Chiefs, Brumbies, Highlanders, Crusaders, Cheetahs, Stormers, Sharks, Jaguares
Brett
Six points down, after just two rounds. Never mind the Rebels having the worst start to a season in recent memory…
The Chiefs have started better than I expected, but the Hurricanes are playing pretty much perfect rugby at the moment. Or they were, until I wrote that.
Brumbies by not many, and the Blues by one or two more than that. Cheetahs by plenty, Stormers by plenty, Sharks by enough. And I’m not getting fooled by the Lions not taking top players to South America again.
And that just leaves Brisbane. There’s no reason why I should tip against the Crusaders. Even fewer why I should have any confidence in the Reds. But I refer you to my opening point. And to Nobes’ upcoming sure thing.
Praise be to the upset.
TIPS: Hurricanes, Brumbies, Blues, Reds, Cheetahs, Stormers, Sharks, Jaguares
Get your tips in now – The Crowd’s tips will be revealed after 5pm AEDT Friday, before kick-off in the Chiefs-Hurricanes game.
The Sure Thing
Something new in 2017, subbing in for the Big Question, where we all nominate the one thing we’re absolutely certain will happen over the course of this weekend.
Digger
“I am going to buck the trend and say the Jaguares will not receive a yellow card this weekend.”
Harry
“More Saffa wins (4) than Kiwi (3).”
Nobes
“There will be a big upset this weekend.”
Brett
Delete whichever is appropriate from the Saturday morning headline: ‘BRUMBIES/FORCE WIN STRENGTHENS CASE FOR SUPER RUGBY SURVIVAL’.
Got a sure thing yourself? Let us know in the comments below, and enjoy your rugby this weekend…
Nobrain
Roar Guru
There is a perfect 8 there, what way start with my new Guru status!!!
Brett McKay
Expert
Apologies for the late update re Crowd tips, been a busy week. Tips closed on time last night, I just didn't have the ability to puts the tips up! Anyway, they're up now. More than 650 responses this week, which is massive! And the Blues-Highlanders was the closest of the lot - Blues taking it out with just 50.8% of the vote..
JRVJ
Guest
Quickie comment: When you see a Lat Am person who uses two surnames, its one of two things: (a) The person has a composite surname (in which case you should hyphenate it in English) or (b) The person wants to honor his mother. The last part is of importance, because the first surname in Spanish is the paternal one. From a quickie investigation, Mr. Ortega Desio's surname is not a composite one, and his mother's surname is "Desio". You can confirm that in this story, where reference is made to Mr. Ortega Desio's mother "Alejandra Desio" ("Alejandra Desio, su mamá, y Lara, su hermana, contaron a Ovación sus sensaciones en la previa del duelo ante los Wallabies"). http://www.unoentrerios.com.ar/la-familia-del-puma-ortega-desio-alienta-parana-n939914.html So, long story short, I would respectfully suggest that you hyphenate OD's surnames ("Ortega-Desio") or refer to Mr. Ortega.
Rugby Tragic
Guest
Well you are running 50% before the weekend Thugby ... not caught a match live so far as presently away and no Foxtel. TBM will not let you down by Jags might... Sharks and Tahs?... Hmmm Good luck with that ...*S*
Nobrain
Roar Guru
?
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
I guess the BIG news this week is another NZ star has joined the exodus to rich bitch NH clubs. James Lowe is leaving the Chiefs to play for Leinster at the end of this SR season. He joins A.Cruden, C.Piutau, C.Slade, Ma’a Nonu and many others from NZ to chase the loot. I see this as good news for Australian and the PI rugby, which have been gutted for years by the leeches from the NH. Finally NZ may stop sitting on the fence and use its powerful rugby influence into some agreed solution. Its a hard battle though and I cannot think of any one solution, there is so much TV money about in the NH that (mainly but not only French) clubs are offering well paid rugby "bursaries" to 14 year old PI kids so by the time they turn 20, they have qualified to play for that country.
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
To follow on, SURE Things for this week; at least ONE Australian side will not lose their match and Rebels won't get flogged this week. Put your house, wife and dog on it. :)
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
If you don't wanna read my rubbish below, here are the winners; Chiefs, Force, Blues, Crusaders, Stormers,Cheetahs,Tahs, Jaguares. I need a good week this week as last week's round went further south than the Antarctica, only 3 wins + PP from 9 games. The Canes defence won them the title last year but I don't think they have the up front muscle to stop the Chiefs. Canes look light with two sub locks fighting against B.Retallick and the D.Bird. Chiefs to win by 10 in a massive battle of the heavyweights (Sonny Liston vs Cassius Clay aka M.Ali). The Boys from the West should Force a win the Snore-athon against the (gelded) ponies. Last year, all my tips went down the toilet because of the Far East Bondi Blues (renamed by RugbyTragic as TBM) and the Tahs. So if TBM can't beat the a weakened Highlanders at home, I'll diss them (well maybe home against the Kings or Wolves). The Reds will play out of their skins this week. As DaveS says above, their forwards' ears will still be ringing from "words of wisdom" from Mr. G.Smith. However, damn the Crusaders looked impressive last week and I expect them to win a very close game. Almost a toss of the coin. The Kings will be executed by the republican Stormtroopers, maybe 3-1000 or thereabouts. The rabble called Sunny Wolves don't travel well so PP to Cheetahs. The Shorks have been so-so while the Tahs have played some decent rugby; with N.Phipps back I reckon Tahs will dine on Shark fin soup. Lions played great running rugger last week, against a jetlagged Tahs at high altitude. This week they are the jetlagged ones and put their B+ team against the Jaguars at home. I'll bring a smile to NoBrain's dial and go for the Jaguars.
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
Hi Machooks, The Tahs may be a mite crook but at least the Chooks in RL are going well. I think Big Willy ate one of your sausage rolls. He is out of the match against the Shorks. :(
taylorman
Roar Guru
Cmon the Blues, first match at the hallowed ground. A changing of the guard...at the bottom?
taylorman
Roar Guru
True, though having four All Blacks back in your starting pack doesnt hurt either?
Baylion
Roar Rookie
I posted the team by for some reason it has to be moderated
Baylion
Roar Rookie
Essentially the same team that travelled back from SA, apart from those two
Baylion
Roar Rookie
Jaguares: 15 Joaquín Tuculet, 14 Ramiro Moyano, 13 Matías Orlando, 12 Jerónimo de la Fuente, 11 Santiago Cordero, 10 Nicolás Sánchez, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 8 Leonardo Senatore, 7 Tomás Lezana, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Matías Alemanno, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Felipe Arregui, 2 Agustín Creevy (captain), 1 Santiago García Botta. Replacements: 16 Julián Montoya, 17 Lucas Noguera Paz, 18 Cristian Bartoloni, 19 Marcos Kremer, 20 Javier Ortega Desio, 21 Felipe Ezcurra, 22 Juan Martín Hernández, 23 Matías Moroni. Only changes to the team that played the Stormers are Desio and Hernández on the bench
JRVJ
Guest
Ortega-Desio and JM Hernández have been included as reserves for the Jags.
Baylion
Roar Rookie
Lions: The team shows nine changes to the side that started against the Waratahs and one positional change with Harold Vorster moving from 13 to 12 1. Dylan Smith - Back where he belongs 2. Robbie Coetzee 3. Johannes Jonker - First start 4. Andries Ferreira 5. Marvin Orie - First game for the Lions 6. Kwagga Smith - First start 7. Cyle Brink 8. Warren Whiteley (c) 9. Ross Cronjé 10. Shaun Reynolds - Rookie 11. Anthony Volmink 12. Harold Vorster 13. Jacques Nel - 2 previous SR games 14. Courtnall Skosan 15. Jaco van der Walt 16. Malcolm Marx 17. Jacques van Rooyen 18. Ruan Dreyer 19. Lourens Erasmus 20. Jaco Kriel 21. Faf de Klerk 22. Andries Coetzee 23. Sylvian Mahuza Some interesting changes. High impact bench
Digby
Roar Guru
Sorry, You say something?
Harry Jones
Expert
Ouch I hate being ignored Smart
RobC
Roar Guru
Chiefs at home gravel. Canes are not. Draw. If Brums lose they deserve to be ousted Blues at home, will bully the Landers. Reds to win!!! But not this weekend Tahs will be deflowered Kings will be queened by the Stormers Cheetahs will eat Wolf meat Lions v Jags. Will be a good match. But Lions to win
Digby
Roar Guru
Spot on Phil, form and cohesion as a unit is far more relevant, as opposed to the individuals present.