It really looks like another predictable weekend of Super Rugby, with only one game really sticking out as being tough to call, I suspect we’re not going to see a lot of difference among the tips.
The unbeaten Crusaders, returning home from South Africa, to face the red-hot Barrettcanes; it’s a genuinely mouth-watering contest, maybe even the match of the year so far. But it’s hardly going to be an upset either way, is it?
This is where I reckon this week gets difficult; trying to find the upset.
And there will be an upset, somewhere. It’s too easy a round otherwise, and that’s what makes it dangerous.
Last week: Digger, Harry, and The Crowd 8; Nobes 7, Brett 6
Digger
“’Canes by plenty.
“Blues at home over what looks to be an entertaining clash with the Cheetahs, while the Lions look too organised and fast for the Brumbies.
“These derbies are funny old things, but the Reds over the Rebels, surely. The Highlanders, too; the Bulls have shown little to make me want to tip them.
“The Sharks are looking better and should win but I am unconvinced that it will be straight forward against the Kings, and to round it off I will back the Jaguares, nervously, only because it is in Argentina.”
Tips: Blues, Lions, Hurricanes, Reds, Highlanders, Sharks, Jaguares
Harry Jones
“At this point in the season, teams are what they are and the better teams will win. Sports clichés are what they are, too.
“No upsets this round.
“The Blues are a lot better than the Cheetahs. The Lions are a lot better than the Brumbies.
“The Crusaders are a little better than the Hurricanes. Every team is better than the Rebels.
“The Bulls are almost as bad as the Rebels. The Sharks and the Kings might be the best match-up; but the Sharks have the better pack.
“The Jaguares are better than the Force.”
TIPS: Blues, Lions, Crusaders, Reds, Highlanders, Sharks, Jaguares.
(AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Nobes
“Well, the Waratahs did not show the pride I expected and lost one more time. The rest of Round 11 went as I planned. I am going to give Harry another chance and I will go with Barrett brothers against the Crusaders.
“The Blues will have too much fire power against the Cheetahs. Lions are too hot for the Brumbies. Reds supposed to beat the Rebels. The magic of the Highlanders will not be needed against the Bulls.
“Mmmm, Sharks will have to work hard against the Kings, and Jaguares will make my stents blow out of my arteries against the Force.”
Tips: Blues, Lions, Hurricanes, Reds, Highlanders, Sharks, Jaguares
Brett
So, there’s going to be an upset somewhere; the challenge is getting it right.
But it won’t be the Cheetahs, so let’s not even bother there. I do give the Brumbies a good chance, given the Lions have benched or rested their starting front row, but I’m going to get strategic here: I obviously want the Brumbies to win this, but I’m actually better off picking the Lions and at least getting the same result as these guys.
The Hurricanes are certainly capable of ending the Crusaders’ unbeaten run, and I think coming back from the Republic might be when it happens. Will be a cracking game. Looks like we’ve all flipped the same coin for the Rebels-Reds game, and I can’t really argue that.
(AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
Highlanders look too good, so do the Sharks, so do the Jaguares – though I give the Force a good chance here, too.
So where’s the upset?
Well, here’s a little something. Going all the way back to 2009, the Highlanders have always lost the second game on tour in South Africa. They sometimes won the first game, but they lost the second game every time. Whether it’s a second week away, or the altitude; hard to know. But it’s a consistent pattern.
And I think this is where the upset comes. The Bulls have been mostly hopeless this season, and the Highlanders were incredibly lucky to get away with the win last week in Bloemfontein. Can the Bulls be that bad again? Can the Highlanders be that lucky again? Don’t know either way, but somehow I see a Bulls win here.
Tips: Blues, Lions, Hurricanes, Reds, Bulls, Sharks, Jaguares
Get your tips in now – The Crowd’s tips will be revealed before kick-off in the first game of the weekend.
The Sure Thing
The one thing we’re all absolutely certain will happen over the course of this weekend. Well, pretty certain…
Digger
“There will be a host of Barrett confusion in Christchurch on Saturday night and the Crusaders will miss Whitelock.”
Harry
“Auckland fans will see ten tries or more; Pretoria fans will want to avert their eyes.”
Nobes
“Jaguares need a head coach from NZ.”
Brett
I’m tipping an unexpected – and stunningly high quality – Australian win. And I’m a genuine one-in-four chance of picking who it will be…
Got a sure thing yourself? Let us know in the comments below, and enjoy your rugby this weekend…
scottd
Guest
Brett I'd just like to say for the records that there were no upsets over the weekend I got 8 of 8 as all results were easily predictable Go the Force and the Kings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ScottD
Roar Guru
And the result is now in the record books!!!!!!
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
Thanks Dav, and I reckon you are right. H.Meyer was perhaps a bit too old school to be successful as rugby has evolved so much of the last few years. Mind you I think it was only against the AB that his Springbok teams were on the wrong side of the ledger. That game against Japan in the world cup killed off one coach's career (Meyer) and ennobled another coach's career to the lofty heights of the England set-up.
davSA
Guest
Hi there Thugby , he plays in Japan , not sure which side. His international career was ended by Heyneke Meyer who definitely only wants monsters in his pack ..... Meyer also came to a whisker of ending CJ Standers entire rugby career for the same reasons..... I reckon the only one who is a bit short here is that coach..... Short of common sense.
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
I have more chance of dating Mariah Carey than seeing C.Cronk in a Tahs' jersey, and my name isn't Packer. Any talk of Cronk playing rugger is likely blather put out by his management team to pump up the price for a Sydney NRL team.
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
5 wins is possible there. The Lions' Tour is a problem as some players on the AB radar and with niggles will be hiding instead of going all out, so hard to predict and a boilover (Blues vs Chiefs) is a possibility.
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
Hi DavSA, I remember Heinrich Brussouw, he was a BEAST. Where is he these days? playing for some Irish or French club I imagine.
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
Hi CUW, the Force have a very good front 5 there, in fact the whole 8 piggies look good. Where is Matt Hodgson, is he wounded? Surprised that Isireli Naisarani has been benched. The games I saw him lately, he was a powerhouse. Surely the Force #7 has a nick name of One Hung Low. :)
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
Ha! Thugby.... Our run home ... this week Cheetahs ((H), week after Stormers (A) .. *winnable gulp* ..Chiefs (H) after short turnaround and travel, a toughie ... but you never know.... then finish with Reds on neutral ground (Apia) and Sunwolves (A)
piru
Roar Rookie
it could mean all kinds of things "Boring buggers being bloody bookishly bellicose" for example but it's a typo
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
Hi there Geoff. That's another matchup made in heaven. George Smith vs Sean McMahon. Two weeks ago the G.Smith vs M.Hooper was a cracking draw in my book, this one could be as good although its likely S.McMahon will be a mite ginger after so much time off.
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
But Folic acid (B9) is associated with B12 (cobalamin) in that overdoses of B9 hides a B12 deficiency.
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
Piru, the Extra B's could also mean Blood Booster Biomolecules. Explains them megafit AB. (ducks and giggles) :) MaChookMan. Folic acid is B9 now-a-days.
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
G'day RT and fingers crossed for TBM, now that they got the win over the Inept Blues of NSW, even if it was those bleedin 1st half penalties that got them over the line. Its a nice way to finish the season, win all your games once the Semis are out of reach. If I recall, the Blues finished the 2016 season on a high also, unless you call beating the Brumbles and Tahs not much of a high. LoL. I hope the Tahs can finish on a similar high and win 4 of their last 5 matches, though they need to play more like the team from the 2nd half in their matches against Crusaders, Hurrycanes and Blues. The Tahs last 5 are against Rebels (H), Highlanders (A), Chiefs (A), Jaguares (H) and Force (A). Last year the Tahs walloped the Chiefs in Sydney. This year the game is on 3rd June and I expect some of the Chiefs' AB will be in cotton wool, so a Tahs victory is quite possible. In 2 weeks time it looks like you will be cheering the Tahs to do a job on them penguin Highlanders in Frigid Dunedin. How is the run home for Tana's Blue Mob? This week's match against the Cheetahs should be an entertaining game. The Cheetahs have taken up the baton of fast running rugby, similar to their SA counterparts Lions and Kings. I would expect them to score a couple of really nice tries but TBM far too rugby-smart and have plenty of fast talent also and likely to score 6 tries themselves. Early daze yet, but does anyone know when the AB squad for the Lions matches is announced?
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
The real pity is modern times, ease of moving about and the mish-mash of today's society will blend all of those localisms such as the West Counties, Geordie, Scouse, Lancs and Yorks into one homogeneous group. One of the quaint things of exploring England is every 100 km is almost a new country.
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
My Sure Thing for Round 12 is that Machooka and I won't be cringing, laying on the shed floor with knees up against the chest and gnashing teeth, as the Tahs find a new DUMB way to lose an "unloseable" match. Seriously; to be a Tahs' fan means a headlong rush to being the drunk in the pub corner and muttering into the slops "2014 Champions" or going ga-ga (Not Lady Gaga sadly) in the funny farm. Actually I'm heading for both. :)
taylorman
Roar Guru
Yes Canes have had some very dry moments, think the Saders will nab this one. Again, will depend on BBBBB.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Yes well we know the Lions were going to have it easier this year. Saders and Canes are doing it v NZ sides. Based on last year I expected the Lions to romp in on the table but Ackermans already played his low effort away card. Could cost them.
Baylion
Roar Rookie
Some important games as we get into the final stretch Brumbies vs Lions will be a defining game for the Lions and a loss for the Lions could cost them their chance at the top spot while a Canes win over the Saders will be a setback for the Saders' changes top finish top.
If the Lions can be on level terms at least after 60 minutes they should take it. Blues, Lions, Saders, Clan, Reds, Sharks, JaguaresNobrain
Roar Guru
To late Harry, we will biting our nails. It will be around 4 am when that game starts and I will be up.