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Twos all round last week, as this crazy year of Super Rugby found yet another way to punish the tipping panel.
So here’s a challenge: I want one of you to pick the exact opposite to us this week and we’ll see who does best.
And what was weird about everyone getting twos was that we did it in different ways.
Geoff had the Highlanders and Brumbies; Nobes had the Hurricanes and Waratahs. Digger, Harry, me, and The Crowd went the Hurricanes-Highlanders route. None of us had the Lions and Reds.
What’s that all mean for this week? Almost certainly nothing. Unless we nail a perfect round, of course.
ROUND 10: Nobes dos; Digger and Geoff rua; Harry twee; Brett two; The Crowd 2.
OVERALL: Nobes 39; Digger 38; Harry and The Crowd 36; Brett and Geoff 33
PERFECT ROUNDS: no dice again, come on you lot! Like the panel, the Lions beating the Chiefs brought all of the Crowd commenters undone last week. Have faith gang, someone has to get it right eventually – that’s what keeps us going every week!
Nobes
TIPS: CRUSADERS, HIGHLANDERS, HURRICANES, WARATAHS, BULLS, JAGUARES.
Trying to explain what happened last weekend with common sense is impossible. The market is in charge of subtracting credibility from the tippers as the stock market does with its analysts. That all the panelists have not overcome the two hits from six possible speaks by itself of the difficulty to predict results with reasonableness.
Anyway, man is the only animal that stumbles twice with the same stone so I will insist with my methodology despite the mistakes.
The Crusaders even not having several of the All Blacks should equally be too much for a team of Lions that also suffers several casualties including his head coach. With tremendous doubts I will choose to go with the Highlanders as visitors in Tokyo.
Crusaders flanker Ethan Blackadder is tackled during the Round 16 Super Rugby match between the Chiefs and the Crusaders at Waikato Stadium on June 2, 2018 in Hamilton, New Zealand. (Photo by Michael Bradley/Getty Images)
The Hurricanes seem to be the second-best team in the competition, and they should beat the Chiefs, but this is a derby and many think can happen. The Waratahs and Sharks is an intriguing game too but those from Sydney have shown a greater character in their last games.
The Stormers vs Bulls is a very important match for the conference. Player by player I think the Bulls have a better team and should win despite playing visitors.
Finally, the Jaguares will receive the Brumbies. Both teams come from important triumphs in South Africa, but the locals are more rested. The Jags should take this game if they want to reaffirm their candidacy for the playoffs.
SURE THING: Twitter and Instagram will be in silence until early next month, when they explode again.
Digger
TIPS: CRUSADERS, HIGHLANDERS, HURRICANES, WARATAHS, BULLS, JAGUARES
‘Canes by plenty, should be a beauty. Really looking forward to Laumape and Leinert-Brown going head to head.
Crusaders at home should do it easily, while I will back the Highlanders away to the tricky Sunwolves who were given a big heads up by the Hurricanes last week as to what to expect (you are welcome).
The Sharks, my tipping nemesis this season and this is exactly the sort of game they are likely to win but recent form has been abject; let’s back the Waratahs at home.
Bernard Foley of the Waratahs (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
The Bulls appeal as the more settled side and a tiny bit more consistent so will suggest they will get the away win.
Brumbies must have used up a lot of gas in Newlands and it’s difficult to see such a performance two weeks in a row so the Jaguares for me at home.
SURE THING: ‘Sweet Caroline’ will again rear its ugly head around the grounds this weekend much to my dismay, while the ‘Thormers vs Kapteins’ show how shameless promoters will be when trying to attach themselves to popular culture such as Marvel.
Brett
TIPS: CRUSADERS, SUNWOLVES, HURRICANES, WARATAHS, BULLS, BRUMBIES
Here it is then, the rematch of the Final; the last two Finals, in fact. Two big teams. Two physical teams. Two teams who love throwing the ball around. Two teams who will be bang up for it. But there’s just one problem… one of these two teams are a way off the same level they were in all those Finals. Crusaders.
Highlanders without Ben Smith? It’s time for a party at Tony Brown’s Tokyo place. ‘Canes by plenty, too, when it comes to the Chiefs without D-Mac. M-Mac just isn’t quite as nerve-wracking.
Waratahs to make fish-fingers of the travelling Sharks in the new stadium of the west. And the Bulls because the Stormers jersey looks frankly ridiculous. We can’t have rubbish like that dominating highlights.
And to finish, the Brumbies. Because I’m already on the mighty Moondogs this week, so why not make it a really good weekend, and finish with the best possible breakfast result in Canberra!
Isi Naisarani alongside Tevita Kuridrani during the former’s time with the Brumbies. (AAP Image/SNPA, John Cowpland
SURE THING: I’m claiming a moral victory with last week’s sure thing of four away wins, but this week, there is nothing surer that two of the three unanimous tips are doomed.
Geoff
TIPS: CRUSADERS, HIGHLANDERS, HURRICANES, WARATAHS, STORMERS, JAGUARES
A new approach is required this week.
No commentary, no reasoning, no clever predictions that come to nothing.
People have stopped reading anyway because they don’t need my help to get 2/6, they can do that on their own!
Brett’s note: I fear for the readability precedent this sets for future rounds, if this approach proves successful…
SURE THING – We’re due a refereeing controversy. A major TMO snafu, an ‘own try’, a red card to the wrong player, another 20-1 penalty count… there’s something brewing.
Harry
TIPS: CRUSADERS, SUNWOLVES, HURRICANES, WARATAHS, STORMERS, JAGUARES.
It’s a clean sweep for the home teams this week!
The mighty and still-to-be-Crusaders love playing against Elton Jantjies, because they know exactly what he will do: miss at least four crucial tackles and attempt ten inside passes when only six are on. The wild Kwagga Smith also provides 2-3 penalties per match. Done. Saders by a heap.
The Highlanders are leaving Bun Smuth at home; so it’s another upset for the doomed Sunwolves, who will want to show their fans appreciation.
Sunwolves fly-half Hayden Parker (Michael Bradley/AFP/Getty Images)
The sleek Hurricanes will be up for the lumpy Chiefs, and it’ll probably come down to a Wes Goosen try and a wobbly Barrett conversion (maybe Jordie).
The woeful Sharks do travel well. But they are so out of sorts. I think it’s another Tah-Tah win, and up-up they go to the top of the Aussie ladder.
A North-South derby in South Africa is brutal: surf versus turf, latte versus blood, brains versus brawn, and history versus history. Home team on those, usually; and an anti-anxiety pill for Rassie Erasmus.
Over in Latin America, I think it’s the circumnavigating Brumbies will get devoured by a slick home side.
SURE THING: There will be very little free speech on the pitch.
Get your votes in now – The Crowd’s tips will be revealed Friday afternoon AEDT.
Who have you got, Roarers? Who gets your tip this weekend?