Super Rugby tipping week 3: I’ve got the 'losing in the last minute' Blues

Oh, the Blues.

They had one freaking job. One job. But this is the Blues we’re talking about, and they’ve proven their unreliability time and time again. Honestly.

Hell of a finish to a game, obviously, but it’s hard to recall seeing a round so impacted by such a late swing in one game. And now I’m even more gun shy about the Blues than ever. Great.

A little hat tip to the generosity of you lot in The Crowd too, taking the Blues and the Rebels. I’m not ruling out a very strong suspicion of concerted tip-throwing by Western Force fans desperate to cling to underdog status.

And full credit to you, for pulling it off.

Last week: Digger 5, Brett 4, Harry 4, Geoff 4, The Crowd 3

Overall: Digger 9, Brett 9, Harry 8, The Crowd 8, Geoff 7

Digger

Crusaders, Rebels, Force, Blues, Hurricanes, Brumbies

We finally get to see Moana Pacific in their first competition match, however they couldn’t have gotten a tougher first outing. It’s hard not to see the Crusaders winning comfortably.

The Drua will fancy their chances but I suspect the Rebels have a bit more experience and structure to their game and will take this one. The Reds certainly know how to win and are just doing enough but they have not looked fluid this season, I suspect the Force at home may have their measure, particularly up front.

Onto Saturday and the Blues and Chiefs looks a cracker. Like last week I will back the team coming off a game on the weekend and I also think the Blues will be highly motivated to right the last-minute heartbreak from last week.

(Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)

The Hurricanes and Highlanders always manages to be a highly entertaining affair. I will let my bias take over here as I genuinely think the Hurricanes have more points in them, while the Brumbies at home should be good enough for the Waratahs.

While most of the likely focus will again fall on RTS at 12 again this weekend, the real show will be in Wellington when potentially two twin brothers from Wainui line up against each other. That should be some backyard fun for all to enjoy.

Brett

Crusaders, Rebels, Force, Blues, Hurricanes, Brumbies

Well now, I don’t know what to think.

This is without doubt the hardest round of the season to date, and anyone who jags even five this week, never mind a perfect six, will be doing bloody well.

I’ll start with the straightforward Crusaders being too strong several times over for Moana Pasifika, but it will be great to finally see the new boys on the field.

Similarly, I can’t see the Highlanders troubling the Hurricanes, not in Wellington, and not the way they stormed home last week.

Slightly harder is the Rebels-Drua. So much of me wants to say this is the week for the Fijian, and if everything does click for them, it might just be. But the Rebels surely haven’t slipped so far that they’re losing games to teams having only their third or fourth run ever. Things will be really grim if that’s the case.

Beating the Waratahs is something the Brumbies enjoy doing (and Brumbies fans enjoy watching), and I think they’ll do it again this week. But it won’t be comfortable. They won’t have it all they’re own way. But they will have too many points for the Tahs. Don’t ask how many is too many.

Quite very bloody harder to pick is the Force-Reds. The Reds on a FIFO mission across the country with no Tate McDermott the spark, no Angus Scott-Young the underrated workhorse, and with Taniela Tupou the talisman on the bench versus the Force at home for the first time since June last year. This will be tight.

And might be decided by the comfort of your own bed the morning of a game versus an aeroplane chair.

And that just leaves the impossible one. I don’t even want to make myself sick trying to justify the madness of what I’ve committed to in the tip line above.

Sure thing

And I certainly don’t want to make myself sick contemplating the obvious.

Harry

Crusaders, Rebels, Reds, Blues, Hurricanes, Brumbies

The Crusaders just might still have the best pack in this competition, as unbelievable as that sounds. Also, their backs run heavy and downhill. I fear for Moana Pasifika this weekend. Crusaders by bunches.

The Rebels desperately need an opponent like the Drua to restore some faith. The Melbourne team seems unable to break defensive lines. I suggest they send runners down the Drua 9-10 channel all night. Rebels by a few.

The happy Reds are a good team. They have many leaders. Coach Brad Thorn seems humble enough to let players lead on the pitch. They’ll be just a bit too much, too craggy and canny, for the mostly centrifugal Force.

(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

It is no overstatement to say the Blues have to win this round. They must. To go down 0-2 in North Island derbies, especially up so far at 70:00 versus the Hurricanes, is nigh to a tombstone in the race to a title, which the Blues should target.

Blues by a whisker.

I’ll go with momentum and choose the Canes in the battle of the H teams.

The Tahs have improved! But I don’t see them having quite enough to topple the best team in Australia. The Brumbies are moggnificent!

Sure thing

The battle between 15s, 9s, 8s, and props in the Tahs-Brumbies match will be golden! And green!

Join experts Brett McKay and Harry Jones and special guest Jamie Wall as they look at Super Rugby week 2, that debut by Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and tip what four teams will miss the finals this year.

Geoff

Crusaders, Rebels, Force, Blues, Hurricanes, Brumbies

What should be a great occasion – Moana Pasifika’s debut match – is tempered by their fans being locked out, and the game being in Dunedin. It’s for their own benefit though; in no way are they ready for the Crusaders.

The other new side, the Drua are further along the road and might fancy their chances this week. But as ragged as the Rebels are right now, they’ll still be good enough to go back to basics and get a much needed confidence boost.

The Force versus Reds shapes as a great match-up. With McDermott a big loss, and the Force riding an emotional wave back at home – as well as being a half-decent side – I can see the AU champs doing it tough.

Three excellent match-ups on Saturday too. The Blues were excellent first-up and will kick on. As will the Hurricanes, even if they’re still pinching themselves at what happened in those last few minutes. And while the Tahs are in with a great shot in Canberra, we’ll take the safe, white bread, missionary position option, and go with the Brumbies.

Sure thing

Barred by World Rugby from showing off his full range of skills, Pita Gus Sowakula will stage a sit-down protest in the middle of Eden Park. Nobody will notice, though, because all eyes will be trained firmly on Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.

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

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