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Opinion
The first games are done, and you’d have to think the teams in the best shape will be the ones who can make the necessary adjustments quickly this week, recover from a bruising opening encounter, and in some cases, just dry out completely.
Obviously, first rounds are pretty tough to pick – you’ve got to be pretty sharp to find a perfect round in Round 1.
Round 2 will be even more intriguing; who has best learnt the lessons from last week? Who has the most room for improvement? Who has already hit the level they might stay in 2022?
Certainly, the rust should be gone now. Unless of course you spent all of the first match of the season underwater.
Last week/overall: Brett 5, The Crowd 5, Harry 4, Digger 4, Geoff 3.
Excuse me, coming through…
Crusaders, Reds, Brumbies, Blues, Force
My biggest fear last week was that the five picks felt too obvious, which we all know is prime upset territory. Perhaps the Force were 90 seconds away from proving that was true.
This week, I’m not sure they’re quite so obvious, which combined with the fact the Blues are back on the park, has me genuinely concerned about my lead. But, as the Force discovered late last Sunday afternoon, sometimes there’s too much time to park the bus.
The Crusaders should be too strong in the South Island derby, though if the Highlanders are able to open the doors to fans again, that will help their cause. On that, are there crowds in New Zealand this weekend? I genuinely haven’t seen anything either way.
If the Waratahs’ bench was a bit stronger, you might be inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt at home over the old enemy. But a couple of injuries, not a lot of experience, and the ears of a Reds team still stinging from the scathing “yeah, nah, it wasn’t great” critique of scrumhalf and bird-watcher Tate McDermott makes me think the Queenslanders won’t be giving the mob from south of the Tweed a chance.
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
The Brumbies won’t make nearly twenty turnovers again, and that alone will be enough to get them home against the Fijian Drua. And I don’t think the Force will be game to veer away from their game plan to topple against the Rebels, who again seem to look a little light on in too many departments.
And that just leaves me with the you-know-whos, and the sinking feeling that will stay with me all weekend after I do you-know-what. Oh well, the lead was nice while it lasted.
Sure thing
Harry is now disappointed to learn one of his tips is doomed.
Crusaders, Reds, Brumbies, Blues, Force
Congratulations to our fearless leader. I thought the Drua might catch the Waratahs before systems had bedded, but in fact, big No.8 Will Harris looked the goods. That’s welcome news. Australian rugby is best when NSW is good. But the Reds await.
The Crusaders find a way. Year after year, a newcomer or a new idea ends up working just perfectly. I predict they will outlast and outmuscle the Highlanders in Round 2.
The Reds were not superb in Round 1, but that is actually ominous, because they handled the soap-fingered Rebels quite easily. Jock Campbell, Harry Wilson (that try!) and Jordan Petaia all impressed. I see the Queensland-NSW grudge match going Brad Thorn’s team’s way.
The Rebels’ skill players let them down, particularly at 10 and 15, with dodgy exits and brainless choices, even while the pack, with gingerbread man Brad Wilkin, worked hard enough.
The Brumbies are a tidy outfit and will only improve. The Drua will get better too, but not in enough time to pull this upset. ACT by a fair amount.
The Blues are a favourite to go all the way, so I will tip oppositely to my blue-sceptic friend Brett ‘Laidlaw’ McKay. The Canes to stay winless.
(Photo by Mark Tantrum/Getty Images)
The most difficult pick of the round is the Force-Rebels game. Based on nothing but a hunch, I will go with the Force.
Sure thing
When all the Australian sides get better, it might just get worse for one of them. Depending on this round’s results, the Rebels may have a heap of critique dumped on them. They need to catch up.
Crusaders, Reds, Brumbies, Hurricanes, Force
An excellent Friday night in store with local rivalry to the fore, the southern NZ derby always promises to provide entertainment galore and I do not expect this to be any different. The clan have had a few good results in recent times against their neighbours in recent times, but I suspect the Crusaders will prove a more cohesive unit and slip this one through the net.
The Waratahs are certainly shaping up as a rejuvenated force this season and will no doubt give as good as they get but I think the Reds have a few more championship rounds in them and a greater belief. The ridiculously tiny sin bin chair providing side to steal it.
The Brumbies at home are an automatic choice most weeks and this week proves no different, their forwards should be too much for the Drua to handle.
I am picking the Hurricanes over the ‘seemed to have already won the thing’ Blues based on the simple theory that the Hurricanes have had a decent hit out last weekend while the Blues had nada and in Melbourne, I feel the Force will have too much for the Rebels up front to deal with.
Sure thing
Rumours of Pita Gus Sowakula defecting to athletics in time for the 100m hurdles at the Commonwealth Games have proved unfounded as Aaron Smith is actually only half the height of the actual hurdles utilised in competition.
In other news, trialling a ‘one way comms’ device between refs and TMOs will be given due consideration to eliminate the option of the TMOs acting like a jilted ex-lover.
Crusaders, Reds, Brumbies, Hurricanes, Rebels
Not the ideal start, obviously. I missed the inside tip that Pita Gus was hurdling like an Olympic champion in training, while the Force nearly got me home for the upset, but saved their worst two minutes for when it counted at the end.
The ‘most room for improvement’ category is headed by the Rebels. They dropped a season’s worth of ball in one match and forgot to compete hard enough at their attacking breakdown. I’m sure both will be rectified this week, but the Force shape as very tough opposition. Matt Philip versus Izack Rodda is worth the price of admission alone.
(Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)
Maybe the ‘Tahs are the side to have found their level already, but we won’t really be able to line them and the Drua up properly for a couple of weeks. Certainly, things will be much tougher against the Reds. The Brumbies, meanwhile, are certs.
We’ve had some ripping southern NZ derbies in recent years, so here’s hoping for another one, despite the empty zoo. The Crusaders look more ready at this stage. I thought the Hurricanes went pretty well last week, and they’ll be advantaged by having more rugby under their belt than the Blues. For that reason, I’ll tip them, although like everyone, I’ll be heavily focused on the jolly Roger.
Sure thing
More halfbacks will raise the heckles by throwing the ball away to stop the opposition taking a quick restart, which will spark the biggest refereeing backlash since the great ‘crooked feed crackdown’ of 2013.
| Round 2 | Harry | Geoff | Digger | Brett | The Crowd |
| Overall | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| Last week | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| HIG v CRU | Crusaders | Crusaders | Crusaders | Crusaders | Crusaders |
| WAR v RED | Reds | Reds | Reds | Reds | Reds |
| BRU v DRU | Brumbies | Brumbies | Brumbies | Brumbies | Brumbies |
| BLU v HUR | Blues | Hurricanes | Hurricanes | Blues | Blues |
| REB v FOR | Force | Rebels | Force | Force | Rebels |
Get your votes in now – The Crowd’s tips will be revealed Friday afternoon AEDT.