Just the six games this weekend, but who needs full rounds of seven games anyway? People are time poor, these days! It’s all 140 characters and the here and now!
No-one has time to sit through 560 minutes of Super Rugby every weekend, not four whole weeks into the season, and certainly not one whole week after what would’ve been the start of the season last year.
No way! This is the future, I’m sure of it. Next season, when we drop back to 14 teams, I can see six teams on the bye and as few as four games on a weekend!
And frankly, if by the start of the 2022 season we’re playing more than one game per day each round, I will be stunned. Stunned, I tell you!
Never mind more is less and less is more, less is best!
LAST WEEK: Geoff, Digger and The Crowd 6; Harry and Brett 5, Nobes 4.
OVERALL: Geoff 17, The Crowd 16, Digger 15, Harry 15, Brett 13, Nobes 12.
Geoff
Crusaders, Rebels, Chiefs, Reds, Stormers, Blues
Just as well the Highlanders got a taste of victory in Canberra because this will be a fruitless trip to Christchurch.
I note that Saturday afternoon’s match is being played on Mars, which for a certain ex-Tahs fullback, is probably preferable to playing on Uranus. It’s a tough one to tip. The Rebels have struggled against big, physical South African opposition, but the Sharks’ biggest threat lies with their electric back line.
It’s hard to see the Chiefs juggernaut being stopped, even with Lachlan Boshier taking a rest this week, meanwhile let’s hope the Reds draw plenty of fans to Suncorp to see them notch their first win for the season.
I give the Jags a decent chance in Cape Town, but not with enough conviction to tip them. And to finish the round I think the Blues are on their way to becoming a half decent side. Not sure I can say the same about the Bulls.
SURE THING: Reds coach Brad Thorn will shrug off the loss of Jordan Petaia by saying, “No worries, we’ll get Izaia Perese back. Oh, hang on…”
(Photo by Jono Searle/Getty Images)
Digger
Crusaders, Sharks, Chiefs, Reds, Stormers, Blues
It’s really all a bit ho hum this week with the magnificent Canes taking a well-earned break after three, that’s right, three gruelling weeks of toil and trouble. But of course this is perfectly timed for yours truly to attend the cricket Test this weekend at the Basin, so it is with great delight I can announce that SANZAAR have actually got something so wonderfully right.
Anyhow, I will summon up some enthusiasm for this week’s meagre fare. The big love affair from the bottom island should see the rebranded prevail while the trout should swim upstream in rural Victoria, bell ringers at home should be able to tame Secretariat while those delightful Wolves won’t be able to handle the Reds under the sunbed.
Harry’s diagonal flavoured mob appeal as too good up front and at home for puma lite and, well gee, I am going to have a hoon on the Auckland circus to run amok at the cattle ranch. I regret it already.
SURE THING: Jordie Barrett will be attending the cricket at the Basin over the weekend and will be encouraged to repeat his Melbourne Boxing Days effort on the Don Neely scoreboard, hopefully with a full cup at full strength and will remarkably get to stay in the venue.
Harry
Crusaders, Sharks, Chiefs, Reds, Stormers, Blues
At first glance, the round looks rudimentary. The C teams from New Zealand should romp. The coastal South African squads should roll, if a bit tighter. The magical run of the Sunwolves should end as they keep travelling. And the Bulls are just not good. Surely it won’t be that simple?
But my mum always told me: “Think long, think wrong”. So, that’s how I’ll go. I have misgivings. The Jaguares could pitch at Newlands, and the Cape boys are awfully young to keep their unbeaten record. But I am basing that tip on set-piece supremacy, and the likely return of two or more Stormer stars.
In truth, I have no idea on Reds-Sunwolves or Bulls-Blues. The Bulls just seem shapeless this year, so I expect Rieko Ioane to be celebrating tries.
(Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)
My Sharks tip is dodgy. Last week they had their five-foot-eight reserve nine playing five-eighth, their bench utility back at wing early (a Lam slaughtered him), and no kicker. But I feel Dave Wessels’ team still struggles against serious size and speed.
SURE THING: The new fashion is to use lopsided penalty counts as prima facie evidence of malicious local bias. Surely, we know there’s more to it.
Brett
Crusaders, Rebels, Chiefs, Reds, Stormers, Bulls
Right then, a short week with three teams needing the weekend off means there’s only six chances for tips to really go south. Glass half full. Ish.
The Highlanders played like very few Highlanders sides in recent years to grind out a win after the bell last weekend, but it’s really hard to see them getting over the top of the Crusaders with no real attack to speak of.
Rebels-Sharks is a flip of a coin and the home side isn’t exactly playing at home this weekend. Instead, the Rebels are about an hour and a half up the highway in Ballarat, and playing on an Australian rules footy oval. Still, it might be enough to throw the Sharks off, especially on the back end of a tour.
The Chiefs look a bit hot to overlook at home, especially with the Brumbies trying to get over a mumps outbreak, and the Reds are surely due to have some luck go their way in their first home game of the year. And though the Jaguares look pretty handy three weeks in, the Stormers at Newlands might be a bridge too far.
(Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
And that just leaves the Bulls-Blues. How do you pick between a team who concedes as many tries as they score and a team who is yet to cross the stripe at all? I can’t. But the draw isn’t available, either, so it’s time to pull out the rules again: “When in doubt, pick the home side. If still in doubt, fly the flag and pick the Australian side. And if still in doubt, pick against the Blues”.
You’re all mad. Mad, I tells ya!
SURE THING: Bulls 0, Blues 15.
Nobes
Crusaders, Sharks, Chiefs, Reds, Stormers, Blues
Finally, I could see several of the games of the weekend thanks to my landlord, who had paid an upgrade on his TV set. I could even see Federico Anselmi’s show according to the Reds fans and head coach.
I have been suggesting neutral referees since the Jaguares started playing Super Rugby, but anyway. Except for the blessed scrum in five metres, I thought he made wrong and right calls for both sides. That a visiting team is charged more penalties than the local does not tell me anything, since it was the history of the Jags in their first two years.
This fourth round presents difficulties like most for me so far, and the Jags are going to face one of the two undefeated teams in South African lands, which represents a very difficult stop for Gonzalo Quesada and his players. I think the Jags are not ready for such a challenge yet.
The Highlanders will face a more consolidated team than the Brumbies and will not be able to replicate against the Crusaders. My doubts with the Sharks to face the Rebels is the state of health of their drivers and the ability of Melbourne to maintain possession.
The Chiefs at home will remain undefeated despite a strong Brumbies challenge. I hope that the Reds already at home can continue with the good rugby they deployed in Buenos Aires in the first 40 minutes and keep it throughout the game.
The Bulls have not shown anything so far and the Blues have not done much, but it is time for the Blues to start winning in African lands since their visiting points against teams from other conferences are worth a lot because their chances are not many when they play teams from their own conference.
SURE THING: Local referees are going to charge more penalties in favour of visitors so SANZAAR shout our mouths and saves a few dollars.
Get your votes in now – the Crowd’s tips will be revealed Friday afternoon AEDT.
| Week 4 | Geoff | Nobes | Digger | Brett | Harry | Crowd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CRU vs HIG | CRU | CRU | CRU | CRU | CRU | CRU |
| REB vs SHA | REB | SHA | SHA | REB | SHA | SHA |
| CHI vs BRU | CHI | CHI | CHI | CHI | CHI | CHI |
| RED vs SUN | RED | RED | RED | RED | RED | RED |
| STO vs JAG | STO | STO | STO | STO | STO | STO |
| BUL vs BLU | BLU | BLU | BLU | BUL | BLU | BUL |
| Last week | 6 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Overall | 17 | 12 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 16 |
Who have you got, Roarers? Who gets your tip this weekend?
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Nobrain
Roar Guru
Who are the six Australian experts?
Nobrain
Roar Guru
I never feel comfortable with the tips anyway!!! Loving my time in Australia!!!!
jeznez
Roar Guru
I know what you mean but as a spectator, coach and former player, I like the different conditions. It adds to the variety of the game and is just one more thing to adjust to. Whether it is opposition, weather or law interpretation I say bring it on.
Nobrain
Roar Guru
Bu the time they adjust they are a probably b hind the score due to a few penalties. I have seen it happened .There are times that your game plan to beat an opponent confronts directly with the adjustment you have to do for the ref. That is something that should no happened. We have officials from four different countries and different views or understanding of the rules. The public then react they way the have . If SANZAAR wants to play it like this it has to make sure that there is set of rules that have the same meaning for all the refs
jeznez
Roar Guru
Should just be conditions you play to. My message to my players is that you don’t complain to the sky about the weather, you just adjust. The refs are the same.
Nobrain
Roar Guru
And then is where all the confusing criticisms starts!!!
jeznez
Roar Guru
Nobes, that is just part and parcel of coaching. I monitor the ref's my guys get managed by and give the team instruction. We've got one ref hates hands in the rucks, another of our refs allows the rucks to be an absolute free-for-all. I look at what a ref is allowing, focusing on and give the players instructions when running water out and/or halftime. I'll remember for the next time we get that referee and let my team know before they run out if they can go for pilfers or not, if they need to be closer in their support lines and faster into the clean out, etc.
Geoff Parkes
Expert
Hi TF, yes the franchises can bring up what they like, but there is no formal, regular process. Sometimes they might get a worthwhile explanation, usually it’s a meaningless motherhood statement, and of course it’s all too late anyway. Which is really what BT is saying, nothing is going to change, better to get on with the job.
Carlin
Roar Rookie
Their will be points in that Geoff mate. I think Sharks win a close one. They have some exciting backs. That disallowed try of theirs last week was one of the best that never was.
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
Haha! Thugby, you won’t be sorry :laughing: ..... I don’t think! I dunno which team is more painful to follow, Blues or Tahs. At least the Tahs won it in 2014, we have to go back to 2003 to find the year that the Blues lifted the trophy.
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
GP, an interesting article on RA website of Brad Thorn speaking of Reds' past two matches and saying "excuses are for losers". https://www.rugby.com.au/news/2020/02/21/super-rugby-reds-sunwolves-thorn Thorn basically says "if we play to our potential, we take the ref out of the game". Mind you further he admits there were "discussions" after the Jaguares match which could be what PaulD is talking about, "Thorn reluctantly conceded the Reds had sought clarification around some decisions by Argentinian referee Federico Anselmi after being on the end of a 14-3 penalty count last week." There is not much more one can do, is there? I'm not privy to the post match reporting system wrt referee performance, but does a referee have to defend only his penalties (apart from the weird scrum penalty I thought all of Alselmi's penalties against the Reds were correct)? Can team A seek post-match explanations as to why team B were not penalised for certain infringements, eg: offsides and/or a multitude of ruck and maul infringements?
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
Thinking of last week's match against the Jaguares, did anyone else think the jag's hooker looked a dead-set clone of Scott Higginbothem, albeit smaller in height.
Brett McKay
Expert
Harsh, but fair..
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
RT, you may dance a jig tonight for I, The Thugby One, has gone for the Auckland Blues over the Male Bovines. This weekend the Blues take the place of the Tahs. :silly:
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
Sadly let down by the Tah's "lack of heart" and the mumps-ridden Brumbies playing dumb footy when they basically had the game in the bag. Perhaps the Tahs should be called the soft-centred chocolates; as they are "Weak on the inside, they melt in the heat and anyone can eat them". Anyways onto this week's tipping: Crusaders: The Highlanders showed loads of ticker last week and won a difficult match but I don't think the Crusaders will be so obliging in keeping the play within 10m of their line. It'll be a tough game and Saders have some prime beef in the stands but should win by 6-8 points. Sharks: The Rebels have finally got on the points board and looked pretty good against the soft-centred chocolates, but have lost M.Toomua and R.Hodge for this week (though to be fair A.Deegan and T.English are 2 pretty good replacements). The Sharks have a powerful pack, a totally different proposition for the Rabbles, and C.Bosch is back to fine-tune their backs. Sharks to win easily. Chiefs: by a mile. The Brumbies really missed Irae Simone last week (certainly N.Lolesio did) and although he has returned, it sounds like half the squad is feeling "mumpy". Add that F.Fainga'a has pulled out with a crook toe (possibly from throwing the ball onto his foot after scoring another exciting maul try) and I think it's curtains for the ponies. Meanwhile the Chiefs almost have everyone on board, A.Cruden is back but the "Bosh" has taken a rest, and are humming along. Reds: This game really depends on who shows up for the game and it would not surprise to see the Tokyo Boyz pinch the goodies. However the Reds have looked pretty damn good in all three of their matches and should win. I see LSL is back at blindside and F.McReight and S.Malolua return via the bench. I won't say the referees won the last two matches for their homeboys but the Reds have to realise and change their game at times to the fact that different refs have different "interpretations and applications" of the Laws of Rugger. Sad but true. Stormers: This is the match of the round. Jags look good at home and have an exceptionally tough pack but so do the Stormers as well as some serious speed in the backs. The kitchen sink and half the dunny will be thrown at the opponents in this game but Stormers to come home with a wet sail. Add that Mssrs Rasta Rasi and E.Seconds are officials and it's a lay-down misere. Blues: I know, I have broken Brett's Law #3, but who in their right mind would go for the Bulls? It's still iffy as Blues are messing about with their backs and the Bulls have a strong defence. This match depends on "who blinks first", the crook defenders or the shocker attackers. In short: Crusaders, Sharks, Chiefs, Reds, Stormers, Blues. Sure thing: Townsville is gonna rock n roll with the new stadium. However it's a hard sell trying to get customers to rock up when you want $45 pp (adult) to sit next to or behind the goal posts. Side seats are a better deal at $65 pp, but if RA are seriously wanting people to rock up to matches, then they should look at the price structures. Not every couple can chuck $200 to sit in the cold watching their team get belted by crowing Kiwi or Saffers. :crying: :sick: One final point. SANZAAR whinges that they cannot afford to fly referees around the planet to ensure neutral referees and anyhow all referees are unbiased (waits while audience rofltfao). In the last two rounds we have seen JacoP and F. Anselmi blow the pea out of their whistles against the Reds whilst being extremely lenient to hometown infringing, and tbfh I thought B.OKeefe was pretty hard on the Sharks and lenient with the Canes. I could almost believe this "wiffle-waffle" from SANZAAR until I see they have flown a Saffer referee (AJ.Jacobs) all the way to Ballarat to referee the Rebels vs Sharks match. Don't they have any referees in Aussieland?
woodart
Guest
yes, this is one game that sunwolves would have targetted. could be a basketball score either way??
Machooka
Roar Guru
Thanks Brett... tbh I’ve NEVER felt comfortable about the Webels. Now. Before. Ever. And this has nothing to do with our G adopting them as his team... :unhappy:
Machooka
Roar Guru
This is an outrage... tragically! :silly:
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
Interesting ... I see “all six of the Australian’s expert tipsters” have all chosen the same 6 thus week. That is : Crusaders Sharks Chiefs Reds Stormers Bulls Do they know something and shared the information? :happy: :happy:
Baylion
Roar Rookie
With both Toomua and Hodge out and the Sharks having Bosch and Mapimpi back as well as their first choice front row starting it should be an easy win for the Sharks