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Super Rugby Round 17: Guess who's back, baby

27th June, 2018
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From driving from Berry to Sydney each week to playing alongside the Wallabies captain: it's been quite the year for Will Miller. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
Expert
27th June, 2018
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1229 Reads

Guess who’s back; back again. Panel’s back, tell a friend. Guess who’s back, guess who’s back, guess who’s back…

With apologies to Eminem, it is great to be back with the tipping panel in tow for the resumption of Super Rugby.

It genuinely feels like we’ve been away for much longer than just the three weeks of the June International window, but now that we’re back, it’s a welcome reminder that there’s a really exciting run home to the playoffs.

And it’s a welcome reminder that the tipping panel is far from decided, with Nobes and Geoff sitting pretty on top of the table, but not necessarily out of reach. At least that thought is what’s keeping Digger and I motivated over these next three weeks. And then there’s Harry, for whom ‘entertainment’ appears to be what’s keeping him motivated. Of course, the big winner from this strategy will be you, the reader.

Let’s get into it, but first, a recap…

ROUND 16: Brett and Geoff 4 from 5; Digger, Nobes, and The Crowd 3; Harry 2.

OVERALL: Nobes and Geoff 69; The Crowd 66; Digger and Brett 64; Harry 59.

Brett
TIPS: Reds, Rebels, Highlanders, Hurricanes, Sunwolves, Sharks, Jaguares

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OK then, how does this work again? From memory, the Blues haven’t been going great this season, and though they’re at home and Sonny Bill is back, I think the young Reds pack is more than capable of tilting this contest their way. Hopefully the Blues haven’t forgotten they haven’t been going great this season, too.

Hamish Stewart

Reds’ debutant Hamish Stewart. (PATRICK HAMILTON/AFP/Getty Images)

I leant toward the Rebels early over the Waratahs – even shared it with the panel, as several of them nervously waiting to see if Israel Folau would be suspended for his crime of competing for the ball. But in my mind, Michael Hooper is the bigger loss for the Tahs anyway. Yes, Adam Coleman is out for the Rebels, too, but he can be covered by Geoff Parling. Can the Tahs really cover the loss of Hooper?

Highlanders in Fiji; Hurricanes in Canberra in a classic win-win for me, and the Sunwolves to switch into giant-killing mode in Singapore over the sweaty Bulls.

I’ve not been a huge fan of the Sharks this year; you know that. I love the Lions; you know that too. But I can’t shake this hunch I’ve got that the Sharks will emerge from June in a better state. And the Jaguares at home – despite Los Pumas at home in June – because the Stormers away.

SURE THING: I sense a shake-up within a couple of conferences.

Geoff
TIPS: Blues, Rebels, Chiefs, Hurricanes, Bulls, Lions, Jaguares

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In what has been a very difficult tipping season, here comes Round 17, the grand-daddy of them all! The June internationals have seen injured players taken away from some sides, and momentum away from other sides – the trouble is, we don’t yet know which ones!

I always feel uneasy tipping the Blues, but at least we can say they are one team who aren’t likely to have got worse over the break. Which is the bigger setback, losing Genia and Coleman, or losing Hooper and Folau? The Tahs are a better side than the Rebels but I think Hooper is the most influential of all those players, for his side’s fortunes, so let’s back the home team.

Michael Hooper of the NSW Waratahs finds some space. (Photo: Paul Barkley/LookPro)

Michael Hooper (Photo: Paul Barkley/LookPro)

In what is an incredibly tough game to tip, the Chiefs have more recent Fijian experience to get them up against the Highlanders. The Hurricanes needed the break, they should start to get back on track in Canberra, while I don’t think playing in Singapore does the Sunwolves any favours – Bulls in this one.

Two more coin-tosses to finish the round – Lions over the Sharks and the bipolar Jaguares to find their love for the game again, back under Mario Ledesma.

SURE THING: There’s a 0/7 lurking somewhere among the panel tips.

Digger
TIPS: Reds, Waratahs, Highlanders, Hurricanes, Bulls, Sharks, Jaguares

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‘Canes by plenty.

So hard to be certain how teams will go after the break, but a number of the Reds were in good form for the Wallabies and the forwards look strong, so let’s back them against the Blues this week. And I will tip the Waratahs based on their greater experience at the top level available over in Melbourne.

The Highlanders were in great form and with plenty still probably buzzing from the AB camp, will back them against the Chiefs. But I guess the Bulls? Maybe, dunno, lets run with that.

I will back the Sharks at home, and while before the break the Jaguares were an easy pick, you have to wonder how draining the recent internationals were. Oh well, will stick with the Jags.

Agustin Creevy

Agustin Creevy of the Jaguares (Photo by Gabriel Rossi/Getty Images)

SURE THING: Plenty of decisions will be compared to what happened during the June Internationals over the coming weekend and further scratching of heads and keyboard mashing will take place along with the trend of further teams taking the points first rather than the lineout.

Nobes
TIPS: Blues, Rebels, Highlanders, Brumbies, Bulls, Sharks, Jaguares.

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It is a real challenge to retake the predictions without knowing which physical shape the stars are in having participated for their respective national sides in highly physical and intense matches. It is where the depth of each team takes greater relevance considering that the classification for the play off is a stake in many instances.

Two teams without close aspirations such as the Blues and Reds are very unforeseeable, and the result depends on many factors difficult to see for an eye that is on the other side of the planet. Home team Blues.

Rebels at home over the Waratahs to move on to lead the conference.

Will Genia

The Rebels are looking good (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

The Highlanders over the Chiefs. The visitors can see their classification in danger and they must give the blow, but the home team will win the derby.

The Brumbies have a real chance to beat the Hurricanes. The ‘Canes have to take care of players for what is coming, and they already harvest a large number of injured.

The Bulls will face the Japanese team that will be premiering a new coach and with both teams virtually eliminated make the result a chimera. Trust on Pollard to guide the African team to victory. The Sharks must win at home against the Lions and they have the weapons and will to do that.

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The Argentine players will change the uniforms, without Daniel Hourcade on the road and the chances that Mario Ledesma will take over the Pumas, they will put on the Jaguars shirts and beat the Stormers.

SURE THING: Amalfitani will hold the largest crowd ever for Jaguares, and it will be loud.

Harry
TIPS: Blues, Rebels, Chiefs, Brumbies, Sunwolves, Lions, Stormers.

My goal is to get to 60 points.

I am setting a modest goal, because (1) I am the Elton Jantjies of this competition; (2) this is the least tippable round on an untippable year; and (3) I just want to build on success.

In a preview of the upcoming US elections, Blue will beat Red, using brute strength.

The Rebels will put the Waratahs down, with skill and cunning. The big sly Chiefs will lower the weary wee Highlanders. The Brumbies will give the Hurricanes plenty of headaches, but Pasta Boy andamp; Co will take it.

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The Bulls will dehydrate in Singapore, and just like Trump was hoodwinked by Kim, I’m calling an upset here.

The Lions welcome back a few stars; the Sharks won’t be easy. Both have confidence-shattered flyhalves. The Lions by a charge-down. The Stormers will shock the Jaguares in a five-card brawl.

JD Schickerling of the Stormers

The Stormers are storming it up. (AAP Image/Craig Golding)

SURE THING: Aerial challenges will continue to baffle the refs. Is it result-determined? Intent-centric? Contest-driven? Safety-trumped? We need to assess foul play by how foul it is, not how much it hurts.

Get your votes in now – The Crowd’s tips will be revealed Friday afternoon AEDT.

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Who have you got, Roarers? Who gets your tip? Got a sure thing yourself? Let us know in the comments below, and enjoy your rugby this weekend…

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