Super Rugby 28/29 March

Crusaders vs Hurricanes - Saders to win this one comfortably by 10 points or more (Home win)

Rebels vs Brumbies - Brumbies tend to just win there matches and i can't see them running a way with this, expect them to win but not by a large margin (Away win)

Blues vs Highlanders - Chickens 1st team (or are they his 2nd team:S, not sure he tends to sit on the fence as a sports supporter) < Blues to win this, expect a high scoring game +55 points in total (Home win)

Reds vs Stormers - Reds travel home after being beaten by the game Lions, Stormers are desperate to get a away win before they travel back to CT. (Away win)

Bulls vs Chiefs - Chiefs to bounce back from last weeks shock lose (Away win)

Sharks vs Waratahs - This will be a close game, think the sharks will get home but not by a wide margin (Home win)

The week's break should have done the Saders some good and I expect them to beat the in and out of form Canes. Wouldn't go big on the -9,5 as the Saders haven't looked great this year. Iffy game and going to stay out.

Rebels vs Brumbies should be a good game. Rebels are a different side at home and won't be a push over. I like the +7,5 on the handicap and wouldn't be surprised if they beat the Brumbies to set up the first upset of the weekend.

Blues vs Highlanders is another of those games where it is difficult to predict as both sides have shown up and down form. Blues should sneak it but if the Smith's are up for it I wouldn't be surprised if the Highlanders won this. Will take the +5,5 on the Landers.

Reds vs Stormers is another tough one to call, as Greg said, the travel back from SA is never easy but the Reds will be determined to pick up a win against a poor Stormers side.If the Stormers have one more injury at number 2 they might be calling Little Holland for a replacement. I will go for an outright win on the Reds on the back of an inform Cooper.

Bulls vs Chiefs. Two of the quality sides in the competiton square up here for a battle royale. Bulls have come right since the inclusion of JLP but I can't see the Chiefs performing as poorly as they did last week. Getting better than 11/10 on the Chiefs looks good value and I expect this classy side to bounce back. I hope the include Fruean as he looks bigger and stronger than before.

Sharks vs Waratahs. I expect Frans Steyn to slot back into flyhalf as he did a great job there earlier in the season. Waratahs have been decimated by injuries and it is unlikely that their tryscoring machine, Isreal Folau, will play. Hopefully Kankowski can learn how to catch and hold onto the ball, but he usually bounces back from a poor game. Beale has been in great form this season and will need a big game from him if they want to go close. Sharks -5,5 the bet for me and the 5/10 a win looks excellent value.

In summary my ATC just under 18/1:
Rebels +7,5 (9/10)
Highlanders +5,5 (9/10)
Reds OR (6/10)
Chiefs OR (11/10)
Sharks OR (5/10) Would rather take the safer option in the last leg.

Enjoy the ruggers. (tu)

Thanks greg and shrek (tu)

For me, a really tough weekend and I think there will be upsets galore.

Crusaders not great this year - I think the Hurricanes can upset

Rebels not in the same league as the Brumbies - Rebels at home though, so maybe they can keep the losing margin down to around 10 points

Blues / Highlanders - spin that coin

Reds may be caught out by the journey back to Aus - Stormers have been poor, Grant (I hear) badly needed the run last week - some new faces - I think they might squeak their first and only win on tour

Bulls playing well as a team - forward dominance and determined defense to keep out the Chiefs who have to travel, and really did not look that great last week. Bulls by around 5.

Sharks back in Durban and should beat the 'tahs who have to travel - I say comfortably by around 10

Crusaders to get this win
Brumbies by 12+
Blues by 7+
Reds by whisker
Bulls by 9+ ( 15h00 kickoff big plus)
Sharks / Waratahs to be close................Tahs too squeak in I hope

I think there will be a lot of emotion in the Stormers side. Gert Smal, new director of WP & Stormers rugby and according to press reports there will be changes made. Juan de Villiers said he was 'hurt' by the rumours re; Coetzee and Fleck, etc. Juan has a meeting with King Burger Wakefield on their return. Sal maar moet sien wat gebeur. Would love to see Mallet & Venter taking over the reigns.

Crusaders,Brumbies,Blues,Reds,Chiefs and Sharks. All by between 7/11 points. ( I hope for my Superbru!)

15. Lwazi Mvovo, 14. Odwa Ndungane, 13. S’bura Sithole, 12. Frans Steyn
11. JP Pietersen, 10. Fred Zeilinga, 9. Charl McLeod, 8. Ryan Kankowski, 7. Jean Deysel, 6. Marcell Coetzee, 5. Stephan Lewies, 4. Willem Alberts, 3. Jannie du Plessis, 2. Bismarck du Plessis (captain), 1. Tendai Mtawarira

Substitutes: 16. Kyle Cooper, 17. Dale Chadwick, 18. Lourens Adriaanse, 19. Etienne Oosthuizen, 20. Keegan Daniel, 21. Stefan Ungerer, 22. Heimar Williams, 23. SP Marais

Mvovo @ 15, Zeilinga @ 10, Alberts @ 4 & Daniel back on the bench.

Ou Ryperd Wrote:

---

> 15. Lwazi Mvovo, 14. Odwa Ndungane, 13. S’bura
> Sithole, 12. Frans Steyn
> 11. JP Pietersen, 10. Fred Zeilinga, 9. Charl
> McLeod, 8. Ryan Kankowski, 7. Jean Deysel, 6.
> Marcell Coetzee, 5. Stephan Lewies, 4. Willem
> Alberts, 3. Jannie du Plessis, 2. Bismarck du
> Plessis (captain), 1. Tendai Mtawarira
>
> Substitutes: 16. Kyle Cooper, 17. Dale Chadwick,
> 18. Lourens Adriaanse, 19. Etienne Oosthuizen, 20.
> Keegan Daniel, 21. Stefan Ungerer, 22. Heimar
> Williams, 23. SP Marais
>
> Mvovo @ 15, Zeilinga @ 10, Alberts @ 4 & Daniel
> back on the bench.


Strong side. SP Marais done nothing wrong at fullback. A bit wary of Mvovo playing outside his usual position.

Just wish JP would put longer studs on his boots! How many times has he broken away and before he can pass or when he sidesteps he falls over!:X

I would like to know who structures the fixtures as every season the likes of the Sharks, Bulls, Brumbies and Crusaders play heaps of home games (at home and in their own countries) before embarking on an overseas tour.

This gives these teams an unfair advantage as by the time they jump on a plane they have many points in the bag whereas the teams that had to do all the travelling are so far back and demoralised that its extremely difficult for them to get back into contention.

Shrek mentions in his write up that the Bulls are a quality side. Well lets see where that so called quality gets them come Saturday.

I hope that the Warraths thrash those highway surfers.

Stormers will need a miracle as their confidence is shot (thanks to dodgy ref calls )

Blues v Highlanders will be a high scoring match with the blues winning the match. Highlanders will get 2 bonus points.

CnC, the Bulls pack are looking great, Dominating in the scrum winning their lineouts and stealing the opposition ball with a solid halfback paring. If the Chiefs are going to win their backs are going to have to get the job done.

I think the Bulls vs Chiefs game is also going to be high scoring.....over 54