The crusaders haven’t exactly stunned the competition but they have however done the business much like the Tahs have,

Lets compare their match results of teams they have both played.

Reds – Tahs won by 2pys Crusaders took a hammering in Week two.
Sharks – Got cut to pieces by a Crusaders pack looking to prove themselves, Tahs scrapped by in very controversial circumstances
Lions – Lets not even go there neither side can take anything from their respective matches against these chumps
Blues – Tahs scraped in with an intercept try at home in Sydney, Crusaders beat them convincingly in Auckland

The Tahs sit on 28 pts after 8 matches only 3 clear of the Crusaders who have played just 7,

This weekends match will be very interesting indeed.

I would say on results so far this season and teams played that there isn’t much in it but I would back the Crusaders to win this one

Did I ever say they weren’t?
But seems some people seem to think I’m not allowed an opinion

So I’d say instead of just singling out one person people should actually read the threads and you will see I am far from the only person saying the Tahs number one ranking at the moment is a little deceiving. You will also see I have said repeatedly that the Tahs are a good team however I do not believe they have the nous to win this competion. You will also find that I said the Blues have the potential to top the table when you take into consideration their form and who they have left to play.

I am a realist when I look at what the teams are offering I do not get caught up in some fantasy world that some posters here seem to be doing. The comments in here are as comical as the Tahs performances themselves. Lets wait and see who is where once the byes have been completed before you start jumping to conclusions.

As is there are still 6 to 8 teams who could realistically make the finals the Tahs are certainly no sure bet

How is it mean spirited Wavell,

Seems you and certain others love laying out the sh!te when you have the upperhand, when your own teams don’t do so well you blame everyone else and get all defensive.
If your big enough to dish it out, your big enough to take it on the chin

So your saying Australia is going to cream everyone before them are you AA

The Crusaders aren’t even my team but they are certainly doing the business, and I would not be surprised to see them finish 1 or 2come season end
What astounds me is how fickle Waratahs fans are, only a few weeks ago you had to wait in queue to bag them now they are the best thing since sliced bread, it really is hilarious to read these threads.

Whatever you like to call it Temba, I’m sitting on the fence on this one as you can see in the other threads from some of my posts.
I don’t know if the Sharks have the desire this year they look frustrated and don’t seem to have any answers. Would I like them to win well not so sure there either. i’d like to see the Brumbies get one up because someone has to try and keep in touch with the Bulls.

From a NZ perspective firstly like Rob has said the S14 starts in the middle of our summer when everyones still watching the Cricket and having a few bevies and a BBQ.
Secondly its pretty much the same teams doing well year in year out with the occasional changing of the guard mid – lower table.
From 14 years of Super competiton only 4 teams have ever won it, one of those teams a staggering 7 times with three in a row. In 12 years of the NRL there has been 8 winners with the Storm and Brisbane winning it 3 times each. The salary cap has done wonders for this competition and makes it a more even spread and very competitive unlike the S14 where it’s the same teams doing well every year, NZ Chiefs, Canes Crusaders, SA Bulls, and at times Stormers and Sharks(definitely not this year) Aus Brumbies and Tahs,
Something needs to be done with this competition to make it exciting, maybe introduce a cap but let players move between the three countries franchises, I don’t know but as it stands it’s hardly invigorating, The conference system coming in is also going to be interesting and a team could make the finals not because they are a better team but simply because they win their region. Last year proved this with the Best being the Bulls and the 3 next best teams coming from New Zealand however with the conference system one of the NZ teams would drop out of the finals to accomodate an Australian team. Theoretically they could still play by being one of the best losers,

neither will I especially after last weeks results

Pretty good picks in my opinion,

Crusaders over the Chiefs in a close affair 8pts differential
Tahs should do it easily over a Lions outfit who look frustrated,
Brumbies will maul the Sharks who will still be fuming over the Intercept fiasco in Sydney
Hurricanes should be a completely different team this weekend I’m picking a draw with the Stormers
Reds come on how stupid would you have to be to pick the Force then again being an all Aussie clash there will be a bit more passion in this local derby

I have read nearly all the comments son and it is very clear that most people are clearly sitting on eitherside of the fence. I’d say there is a rather even split on the final decision of the game which could have swung the tide in either teams favour. What i am finding absurd now is those same people telloing the Shark supporters and Plumtree to get over it they have bigger things to deal with are the same people who were crying foul come finals last year because they missed out.

Rather ironic don’t you think

Rememebr the Kiwis were dealt a BS ref last year in Goddard remember him and that farce of a game he officiated in Wellington against the Bulls????
That ref Goddard was subsequently stood down an admission by the SANZAR referes association that he Goddard stuffed up badly.
In this case with marks should he be stood down it will be another situation that he messed up. Both of these incidents the officials calls have directly impacted the scorelines of the matches at hands, by standing them down Lyndon Bray and his croonies are admitting this.

So there will always be question Marks over who rightly won each match and there is no grey area in the middle you either believe the Tahs deserved to win or you don’t.

Luckily for the Tahs it is in there favour this time lets see what happens should the tables be turned

I have witnessed some atrocious sportsmanship in my time but none as bad as the English tourist having his flag set on fire by a disgrintled australian fan after the finals of the Commonwealth games 7’s, all while the guy was wearing it like a cape. Not to mention the woman who had her head cut open by a disgruntled Warratahs fan who threw a bottle her way after the opposition (Blues) scored a try. In New Zealand I have seen people tip their drinks over opposition supporters and one guy had a bucket of yellow paint tipped over his BMW, I’m sure that there ae worse incidents but none that I have witnessed like those that I have mentioned,

Yes that he is for some reason I thought he was part Maori well me and thousands of other Kiwis lol,
Well anyway Tawera Nikau did extremely well in Melbourne, Benji Marshall at the Tigers and Issac Luke at Souths, league is extremely popular among Maori and Maori TV and Manly will be rubbing their hands with glee at this deal

Isn’t Taranaki one of if not the smallest union in the ANZC ?

Fair point but who wants to see a draw. Ashes aside test cricket is hardly attracting big crowds this days even India the spiritual home of cricket they are finding it hard to get crowds along. I for one am certianly not interested in a game that is played for 5 days and no result is forthcoming. How absolutely boring.

I guess if Australia had won the bowl off you would see it in a different light maybe

Still had less be it 2 points less scored against them than the Blues.
Plus Rusty the Chiefs have been away from home for the first three weeks of the competition. The Bulls haven’t left the country yet their first match was against the hapless Cheetahs.
While their achievement is impressive it is not in the same vein as the Chiefs where they have gained 14 points all far away from home.

I thought we normally had to wait five days for a draw Republican lol,
But in all seriousness I ‘m glad they have a play off a draw is worthless.
Play to win, at least a bowl off is a little more exciting than a penalty shoot out

Must be feeling pretty white faced there Whiteline, This was a cracker of a game andf noone gave the Black Caps a chance. McCallum – (take note Rebulican) was on fire and was all class he was toying with the Australian bowlers. It was a cracker game and unfortunately for Australia the unpredictable Southee bowled a decent over in extra time

3 bonus point wins at home is certainly a good haul however it’s not as impressive as the Chiefs 14 points all on the road. The Bulls defense isn’t that hot and teams well smart teams will know how to exploit this. The Bulls have a fantastic draw with 7 games at altitude two more in the republic and 4 on the road against the Western Force well lets face it will be a Gimme the Force are in disarray and playing in Perth is pretty much a home game for the Saffa teams anyway. I’d say the Chiefs and Blues will be the best bet to stop these guys on the road, maybe the Reds will pull another upset out of their backsides but I’m not so confident.

Strange tried submitting a post on my picks yet it is marked waiting moderation.
But I have been able to post elsewhere.
Whats up wtih that?

It is an opinion site AA he doesn’t need your permission to post!

All it seems your doing is turning people against you and surely that isn’t what you want.
i’m sure Daddy (Republican) will be allong in no time to mop up those tears and give you a big hug.

Seriously AA get to grips with reality most people don’t have a problem with it except a very small minority. Most Australian soccer fans can see the benefits having the Phoenix involved brings. FFA can certainly see the ka-ching$$$$ factor

This is how I’m picking them,

Crusaders – to absolutely spank the Sharks in Christchurch the Reds can count themselves lucky they had them on a bad day.

Brumbies – to get one over the Stormers, ACT look hot to me and the scoreline blew out in the Bulls game due to two tries in particular, the knock on and the ref being used as a shield. Brumbies should have learnt from the penalties hopefully.

Hurricanes – Cricket score should be on the cards here the Lions after a long flight will just not be in this match. Then again Coops and the boys may not take this match too seriously and could be in for a rude awakening

Reds – should account for the Blues who like the Reds are inconsistent

Chiefs – to spank the Force surely its a merry formality, then again maybe the Waikato boys have their heads on the plane home after a successful sojourn to South Africa

Cheetahs – will be pumped by their win over the Sharks and should easily account for the perrenial underachievers from the deep south

Bulls – how could you not back these boys at home, the Bulls have one hell of a sweet draw this year and anything but a Grand Final berth would be nothing short of a failure. Sorry Tahs fans I can’t see them coming closer than 10pts

Your right there Justin,
Didin’t want to irk AA too much can’t have him falling into a state of depression on a Friday afternoon now can we?
Reality is just a little too much for this lad to take lets let him enjoy his weekend with Alice in Wonderland