Well howdee ho people!

Good weekend of rugby, missed most of the games live but thanks to PVR and BBM Forums where i was getting regular updates of the Lions v Blues game :)

Interesting round it was. The Crusaders started off as was expected very flat and not there, but with a little help from the ref who kept them in the game through DC's boot. the Tahs were lucky in the lead up to Burgess' try because Turner picked up the ball from an offsides position but ey i guess you win some you lose some. The first 25 minutes or so was all the Tahs, Crusaders passes were going astray. I have always said SBW's long game is a little suspect but his short game...wow. As i have said before, I am not sure he deserves the hype he is getting at the moment (not that he is asking for it) potential...plenty and i would rather have him on my side than against me, but i believe Fruean is a more complete footballer at the moment as too is Treeby of the Highlanders, Luke McAlistar even Tana in his young age :). The SBW and Fruean combo in midfield will terrorise many a opposition. Matt Todd was another who impressed me, boy is fast, low and hard! Pity he has Richie in front of him because he is a talent. For the Tahs Halangahu was a joke at 10, their scrum was properly schooled. It was quite sad to see the front runners in the tournament look so ordinary.

Lions v Blues, The Lions are due a win i have been saying this for the last 2 weekends, didnt want their win to come last weekend though because you all know the French-like(unpredictable) Blues have been my side since Super Rugby began. I know a lot of you dont believe Jantjes has what it takes to be at the top level, but he did a lot of things right particularly in the first half his kicking was good too this week. He is small yes, but so too is o'Connor and look at how he turned out. I think he will get there if he believes in himself and in Carlos and Mitch he has 2 mentors that will help him with that. I like Doppies, i know many people dont like him but he had a pretty good game last weekend and Waylon is looking like the player he once was at the Sharks. Their loose forwards Whitely and Strauss in particular are pretty darn good, tackling, running and just being there all the time and well done to Bandise for moving over. I think they did enough to win that game, but there was one master stroke that swung it in the Blues favour. The use of hungry youngsters first and then the old heads in the last 20 or so minutes. A player who has really impressed me for the Blues is Jared Payne. Payno's linking with Rooster Ranger just like they do in Northland is sublime. Its also pleasing to see Isaiah and Joe playing some good footy. Welcome back Luke 10 or 12 you just keep playing like you did young man.

Wasnt it good to see the old man Tana turning back the clock. The Chiefs showed glimpses of how good they could be. Nanai Williams, Masaga and Sivivatu can you ask for a more potent back 3? I like Donald but i would prefer Delaney at the moment as well as kerr-Barlow at no 9. The Rebels will be a good side i honestly believe it. They just need more time together and get the trust going on defence, because they looked out of sorts on the weekend.

Other than what i saw on SSBlitz, i didnt catch any of the Brumbies Reds game, but how does a team score 4 tries to 1 and lose?? yes they infringed in the killzone, but i dont know so much ey?!

Sharks are looking the business. Loving their forwards but i still think Bismarck and his brother are liabilities. Dr Du Plessis telling Pocock i am going to break your neck, i mean really? but that aside, the Forces over physicality was unnecessary. I think out of all the South African teams they have the most balanced loose trio. Alberts the bruiser flanked by Kanko and Keegans flair and open play. Their tight five sets the platform up front and provides go forward ball which makes Mcloeds job so much easier and makes Lambie shine like he is. the centres are random and the back 3 able, but their game is won up front. it will be interesting to see when they come up against a pack that is equally physical and doesnt make mistakes like the Blues.

Stormers v Cheetahs - U S E L E S S game!

Then there was the biggest upset of the weekend. Well, i was having a conversation with a mate of mine before i wrote the blog saying that i wasnt too convinced that the Bulls will win, because if their pack is matched they are clueless (highlanders showed it last year) but then i thought about it, long travel, they were playing at the NG Kerk, even though the Bulls have been poor thus far, their first home game would g them up and the no name brand Highlanders would try hard but may just fall short...how wrong was i and the rest of the world!! bigup to them!! The Bulls are soo predictable! Stegman, I cant believe someone pays him money?!! he is foolish! another useless guy is meisie kind, really had he passed the ball in the last movement, they could have had a draw, not that they deserved it. For the Highlanders, Sean Treeby, Adam Thomson, Kade Poki, Jamie Mackintosh have been absolutely superb, but the whole team is just special. Everyone is waiting for the rising rollercoaster to fall, but hopefully they prove their doubters wrong and keep pulling off such great performances! Jamie Mackintosh got away with murder when he knocked the ball out of FdP's hand, but all in all i think the refs had shockers throughout the weekend. Jonathan Kaplan was poor, Pollock was random and so too Stuey!

This weekends games

Crusaders v Brumbies, looking forward the the centre matchup between SBW & Robbie against Coleman and Adam Ash, brawn v fleet footedness. DC against Gits Crusaders pack v Brumbies pack. this will be the decider. If the saders bully the Brumbies pack like they did the Tahs, its going to be a tough night out for the Brumbies. I will go with the home team for this one, but it wont be as easy as many think.

Rebels v Sharks, big games from Bismarck, Alberts, Lambie and Mvovo. Rebels will be up for this game. morts will have one of his better games. In the past he has been a player who rises to a challenge and playing against the Sharks is a bigger challenge i am sure than playing the Chiefs, no disrespect to the Chiefs but they have been perenial under-performers over the last few years. If Morts gets charged, look out for Cipriani and Shepard alongside and behind him. Once again its up front that the game will be decided and the signs show that it will be Sharks 6 Rebels 0.

Stormers v Highlanders...Stormers will up their game, they have to because they have stolen 2 wins so far and they know it. But i guess its against the Lions and the Cheetahs, 2 of South Africas weaker franchises, so i am sure it was hard for them to get up for the games. Ordinarily this would be another game they woudl take lightly but alas the Highlanders are topping the NZ conference and have taken the scalp of the much vaunted Bulls team. If you had to compare the teams man for man, i am sure 85% would favour the Stormers players. The only Highlanders players that would make it would possibly be Mackintosh, Rutledge, Thomson, Cowan and Poki. But there is very little substitute for heart and hard hard work. Its a tough call. If the Highlanders havent been caught up in the euphoria of their win last weekend and if they arent too tired, they will be very competitive. i dont see the Stormers being as poor as they have been. They have brought in Duvenhage and Gio so quick ball and fleet footedness. Its a tough call and even though the Stormers are at home i am going to go with my gut which i didnt last weekend and i will call the Highlanders

Force v Blues, please oh please Blues break this win lose win lose pattern they have developed. its a bit of a tough draw for them ey, come here play sharks, then up to the highveld and play the Lions, then off to Perth to play the Force...yikes. Man for man the Blues are a stronger side, i dont think even one Force team would make it if a comparison of the 2 teams was performed. but there is a long travel to take into consideration. There is the history of the Blues to consider. But the Blues have what it takes. Strike power out back, a near AB pack and a very competent bench. Logic says Blues by a few, but lets see

Cheetahs v Lions, hoping this is an entertaining game. both teams like to give the ball air. both teams are vying for their first win. I am calling the Lions on this based on the fact that they should have won the first 3 games they have played after being ahead in all of them in the closing stages. Lions by a few. Only derby of the weekend so plenty skop skiet and donder...lekker

Happy viewing

Super rugby week 3

Hey guys and gals

A tad late this week. Last weekend was absolutely shocking for me with my Super Bru picks. Totally got the games wrong, not by much except the Sharks v Blues game which i was way off. Once again it was only the Warratahs that managed a 4 try win. They really do look like the team to beat in their conference, only team showing some sort of consistency and ability. The others Reds, Brumbies and Rebels have been poor to say the least. In the other conferences, the most impressive team in South Africa at the moment for me is the Sharks, the brand of rugby they are playing with a bunch of no names, their desire on defence and their belief in their ability, which was very evident in the last few minutes of their game against the Stormers where they built phase upon phase, worked their way upfield but unfortunately were unable to capitalise...story of their season thus far. In NZ, the conference leaders the Highlanders are the form side without a doubt, they are exactly the same as the Lions in SA, loads of heart and execution and they play as a team. Its early days yet, but they are looking hot, their only achilles heel is their lack of depth. One or 2 more injuries and they are done. they are now importing 36 year old journeymen to plug their flyhalf berth!

Disappointments for me thus far are the Blues, Reds and the Chiefs. All three teams promise so much but yet deliver such random pot shots. I am a Blues fan, always been, but their inconsistency drives me insane. if you look at the calibre of player they have on that field, i mean the run on pack it was only Lowrey who wasnt/hasnt an All black. In the backline Stephen Brett and Jarred Payne so out of the run on 15...13 past or present All Blacks, but the inconsistency of their performances kills me. Yes they tried, but losers try...It wasnt because they were pummeled by a better team, no no, they beat themselves, handling errors, yes the weather was shoddy, but there were 2 teams playing in the same conditions so i cant understand. And then the Reds, the Quade Cooper step and flair has been nowhere, thats because Will Genia hasnt got much quality ball and thats because the forwards have been under the pump hard! We all know the game is won or lost upfront. Also whats happening now is that defences are closing down Quade, so none of that razzle dazzle stuff. The Chiefs...i say no more, just shake my head, thats all. S M H!!!

This weekends games. Big respect to the Highlanders for turning over the the Chiefs, no one gave them much of a chance but they gave themselves plenty. Jamie Makintosh seemed properly injured and he soldiered on, Adam Thompson, fell on his head, but he shook it off and soldiered on! They believe in their coach and each other and it shows. They were good value for their win.

The Brumbies, i am not in that team environment, but they seem like a bunch of prima-donnas, this is the second time they have had a big fall out with their coaching staff. Think the first was Nucifora. Anyway i am glad the Rebels got their first win. JK did help them though because that penalty was a joke at best, but so too was their missed forward pass that lead to the Brumbies last try. Hope it gives their season some momentum because the Oz conference games are sooo pap, they dont have the intensity of the SA or NZ ones. I think its a ploy from the Australians to nulify the treats posed by the Boks and All Blacks come Tri Nations and All Blacks come world cup and then all they have to do is waltz through the Northern hemisphere teams and the Pacific Islanders.

My 2 favourite games of the weekend was between the Bulls and Cheetahs and Stormers and Lions. Both my teams lost though, but alas, they were very competitive games. The Cheetahs should have closed the game down. Pity they have lost Juan Smith, but liked Ashley Johnson, always have, he is hard, fast and hardworking. He needs some refinement, but i would even go as far as saying i rate him over Pierre Spies...currently. I know he is SA's points machine, but sheesh Morne Steyn is arb! Sideshow Bob (Zane) on the other hand has been having a good season though, i like the way he joins the line, his defence and at most times his positional play. The Bulls should have been dead and burried, but i guess a sign of a champion side is their ability to find that last push when all seems lost. The Lions, the Lions the Lions, second weekend where they have snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. how many points were left on the field? kicking for posts was woeful, but other than that, it was such a polished performance by them. Its only a matter of time they get a win...i really hope its not this weekend though :) but i am loving the Lions.

This weekend
We see the Saders against the Tahs, i have already seen this game and I called the Saders by a few, didnt think they would win by so much. Granted the ref helped them out with a few gimme penalties in the first 15 min. I just knew they would rally to give the people back in ChCh something to smile about

Lions v Blues
I am very worried about this game. i am loving the Lions brand of rugby and the team, i mean Carlos is their assistant coach and if you know me you know Carlos and the Blues are my guys :) but, first things first. The Blues need this win...so too the Lions. The Blues have made some big changes for this game. looking forward to seeing mr unlucky Luke McAlistar starting his first game of the season. I think he is the best understudy to DC in NZ (if he can stay injury free) well him and Colin Slade. they have given a whole name of no names a start, look out for Sherwin Stowers, if he gets good ball in space, watch out. The coaching staff is smart. The travel and altitude has meant that they have put their big guns on the bench for a little bit of impact come minute 60 or so, lets hope they dont have to come on earlier because the guys are struggling. It will be a good game. weather in Jozi is conducive for good running rugby and both teams want to run. Watch the Lions try and move the Blues around to test out their lungs. Blues by just a few

Chiefs v Rebels
In an ideal world, i would call Chiefs, no problems, but eish this Chiefs team. I see Tana is back pity not at 13 against Morts. I would have kept Delaney at 10 instead of Donald, because he had a good game. Would also have left Kerr-Barlow on at 9 as well he had a good game, kept the opposition guessing. Looking forward to Sivivatu scoring a few, cos he is in my fantasy league team :) The Rebels i dont know what to say about them. They are an efficient side, do the basics and have a good system. The kicking game seems to suit Cipriani well, but i want to see more of his passing game. Chiefs to take this one...we hope

Brumbies v Reds

Brumbies have a new coach in their defence coach. The Reds coming off a shocker last week. Both teams will be looking to put together a good spirited performance. I am just a little concerned that Quade will try and be an individual to try and get his no 10 jersey back and thus disadvantage his team. The Reds have some injuries notably Horwill and Heynes. Watch the Brumbies youngsters of Speight and Coleman. Gits is looking like his old self again in the no 10. Even though they had a bit of off field drama, i think they will get away here the Brumbies and they are at home.

Force v Sharks.

O'Connor v Lambie. I know the whole of SA loves Pat Lambie, i think he is good but i dont see him as being better than Jantjes. He has a more powerfull forward pack that gives his scrummy good ball thus he too gets good ball. His goal kicking is better than Jantjies' but a flyhalf is more than place kicks. As an overall player, O'Connor may have his number here, but i think that may be the only place the Sharks lose their pack is monstrous, too much mongrel upfront and bruisers in the loose trio. The travel may be a factor in the last 20 minutes or so, but then Plum will clear his bench and bring some Boks on and bye bye Force. It will be a close match on the scoreboard, but on the field i think the Sharks will dominate. Sharks to sneak home though.

Stormers v Cheetahs
Stormers would have gotten most of the cobwebs out of the system, and will be a better side this weekend. the Cheetahs will soldier on valiantly but in the end the princess will go home with the men in blue and white. I am looking forward to the game though. if there is no rain down in the Cape it should be another game with 2 willing parties who want to give the ball some air. The Stormers forward will however be too strong for the Cheetahs pack. Actually if you had to compare man for man, i cant think of a position where they Stormers will be worse than the Cheetahs. Stormers dont have Jacques, but as a creator i like Juan, so they havent lost too much. I know bok fans think Schalla is the bees knees, but i dont think his loss will be that greatly felt, they have Flouw, Plouw and Duane who did well for them last year! Cheetahs are without Juan, even though it didnt look like it last week, they have lost much....Stormers to blow my other SA side away... :(

Bulls v Highlanders

Could the Landers cause this weekends upset (if the Lions dont, but wait if the Lions win is it an upset? because a lot of people are saying that it is a possibility) anyway back to the Bulls. They have been pretty random till now BUUUUTTTT, they have still won both matches, away from fort Loftus nogal. Ok wait its not gonna happen for the Landers. I like the Highlanders plenty, love it when the underdog prospers, ala Ireland over England, but i think (hope not) that this will be a mountain too high. They have just made the long journey over here, playing at altitude, against a very efficient, yet boring Bulls side. This up and under story has to go really, i dont understand why they keep doing that??!! I am hoping for a Highlanders win but if i was betting id back the Bulls at fort Loftus.

How was the English win over the French last weekend? As arb as they English are they just seem to building themselves into competitive contention for the RWC 2011. I thought the French would roll them up in their rizzla and smoke them, but ey what do i know

Happy viewing people, thoughts still go out there to the people of Christchurch, hope this mornings win gives you guys all more strength!

Y