Super Rugby week 1

i say this every year, but you guys have no idea how true (even though if sad) it is. But life truly begins for me around this time :).

Greetings sports fans, shoo what a hectic year of Rugby we have ahead of us. I have been catching a little bit of the 6 Nations and France are looking pretty impressive. i am looking forward to their encounter with England. England as robotic as they play, they have been well impressive and methodical in the way they go about the game i quite enjoy their back 3, they have some skill so too Shontayne Hape, but 10 and 13 are ordinary at best, and as usual they have an insane forward pack. Ireland are looking pretty average. Wales are looking good too along with Scotland who are showing some promise too. I think France should win this one too, they are definitely contenders for RWC 2011 mark my words.

But enough mickey mouse rugby, lets focus on real rugby, Super Rugby. I am not a fan of the new format for one, but i guess because its more like week in week out of the Currie Cup and the ITM cup and Oz derbies, instead of everyone playing everyone else and the length of the competition is madness especially in a RWC year. There will be some serious casualties. The season hasnt started yet and we have some casualties already, the most prominent being in the NZ franchises.

There are some pretty exciting new talent on display. i am pleased that Chilliboy and Basson got off, but i knew they would anyway, dont know why it took so long. Basson in a Bulls jersey should be a sight. I will be honest i cant think of any exciting new blood in the SA teams other than Elgar Watts for the Stormers, there really isnt that much new blood to speak of which is also a plus for them as they have some experience to call on. In the SA conference, i am pretty excited about the Lions, they wont win the conference i dont think but i think they will be very competitive. They are a group of no names, with a good coaching staff and loads of enthusiasm and ability. They have recruited nicely, but them buying Butch James, for me is like Chelsea buying Torres, waste of money. You have Burton Francis, Elton Jantjes, Carlos Spencer, Andre Pretrorious why Butch? But we talk more about the individual teams during the week match-ups. So for SA the teams to do the business are without a doubt the Bulls, Sharks and Lions and Stormers will razzle and dazzle, but for some reason and call me an optimist, but the top 3 in the SA conference will be 1) Bulls 2) Sharks 3) Lions. I looked at the Bulls line up for the opener and its a an experienced, hard side. Personally i'd like to see 1) Lions, 2) Stormers 3) Cheetahs 4)Sharks 5) Bulls, just purely on style of rugby and enthusiasm but its points that win you games not so

The Australian conference is another pretty interesting one good money should be on the Waratahs, because they have such a balanced and experienced team. Great forwards, good backs, they remind me a lot of the Bulls, not because they both wear baby blue but because of their style of play. No i lie their backs are much more exciting than the Bulls and the Bulls win tournaments, ok they dont remind me of the Bulls. Love their back-line though Beale, Turner, Mitchell (back 3), Horne and Carter (centres) Barnes and Burgess halfbacks....nice. But my Oz team is the Reds! their forwards are bloody good. They lack depth though, but their pack is such a good unit with Fainga, Horwill, Quirk (a young, big, fast 7's player) and Houston to name a few and Higginbotham off the bench. Its in the backs though that the excitement erupts. Genia, Cooper, Fainga, Chambers, Ioane, Davies..pace, power and skill aplenty. The Brumbies...all i can say is Adam Ashley-Cooper...such an underrated player he is for both Oz and the Brumbies. They are a very settled side the Brumbies a few new players here and there but the nucleus seems settled. The Force and the Rebels will be the conferences also rans i'm afraid. Oz conference 1)Reds 2) Brumbies 3)Tahs 4) Brumbies 5) Rebels

NZ teams a lot of old heads and some new faces with some pretty good skills that was unearthed during the ITM cup, names like Fritz Lee, Matthew Luamanu (but not fit for 80min, but he is insane), Lima Sopoaga for the Highlanders who gets a chance cos Colin is injured, Matt Todd who fills in for Richie, Tyler Blydendal from the NZ u21s, Julian Savea of the Canes, yo imagine him and Hosea on the wings, madness!!Sherwin Stowers of the Blues, 7's player with toe and strength. there is plenty of talent in NZ and to be very honest they should have gotten the extra team. Cos they have the talent to make another team. Unfortunately just like the highlanders find, the talent is concentrated in the other 4 teams. Dont be fooled, inspite of the injuries that have hit the Highlanders this year, they will be very competitive. I was hoping Slade would play the whole season and put his hand up firmly for the back up no 10 jersey, but it wasnt to be. But new coach, new personell, watch out for this team.The Blues are looking strong...as always...so too the Canes and Chiefs...as always and the Saders, but they deliver! My NZ conference 1) Blues and then the rest in any order, but thats just my heart :) reality says. 1) Saders 2) Chiefs 3) Blues 4) Canes 5) Highlanders

this weekends matchups
1) Canes v H'landers
Canes have an insane strike force out back.
Hurricanes: 15 Cory Jane, 14 Julian Savea, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Tyson Keats, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Jack Lam, 6 Mark Reddish, 5 Jason Eaton, 4 James Broadhurst, 3 Michael Bent, 2 Andrew Hore (captain), 1 John Schwalger.Replacements: 16 Dane Coles, 17 Neemia Tialata, 18 Faifili Levave, 19 Serge Lilo, 20 Chris Eaton, 21 Daniel Kirkpatrick, 22 Andre Taylor.
Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith, 14 James Paterson, 13 Kendrick Lynn, 12 Shaun Treeby, 11 Kade Poki, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Nasi Manu, 7 Alando Soakai, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Josh Bekhuis, 4 Jarrad Hoeata, 3 David Te Moana, 2 Jason Rutledge, 1 Jamie Mackintosh (captain).Replacements: 16 Brayden Mitchell, 17 Bronson Murray, 18 Joe Tuineau, 19 John Hardie, 20 Aaron Smith, 21 Robbie Robinson, 22 Siale Piutau.

Canes have maybe 10 All blacks in their team, H'landers 3. The Canes bench has players with experience and other than Robbie Robinson and Bronson Murray dont think any of the others have played super rugby. The Highlanders will be competitive, because they played these guys before in the ITM cup and it will be a tough fight it will, but the strike power of the Canes will be way too much. PLayers to watch out for Savea, Bent (to keep Tialata on the bench u have to be special) and Taylor for the Canes. Lynn, Treeby, Sopoaga, HOeata for the Hlanders. Dont mention the old heads names because you know what to expect.

2) Rebels v Tahs
Rebels: 15 Julian Huxley, 14 Lachlan Mitchell, 13 Stirling Mortlock (captain), 12 Cooper Vuna, 11 Luke Rooney, 10 James Hilgendorf, 9 Sam Cordingley, 8 Gareth Delve, 7 Michael Lipman, 6 Hoani Macdonald, 5 Kevin O'Neill, 4 Adam Byrnes, 3 Greg Somerville, 2 Ged Robinson, 1 Nic Henderson.Replacements: 16 Heath Tessmann, 17 Laurie Weeks, 18 Alister Campbell, 19 Jarrod Saffy, 20 Nick Phipps, 21 Danny Cipriani, 22 Afusipa Taumoepeau.

Waratahs: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Lachie Turner, 13 Rob Horne, 12 Tom Carter, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Berrick Barnes, 9 Luke Burgess, 8 Ben Mowen, 7 Phil Waugh (captain), 6 Dave Dennis, 5 Kane Douglas, 4 Dean Mumm, 3 Al Baxter, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Sekope Kepu.Replacements: 16 Damien Fitzpatrick, 17 Benn Robinson, 18 Sitaleki Timani, 19 Chris Alcock, 20 Brendan McKibbin, 21 Daniel Halangahu, 22 Ryan Cross.

Rebels have a good coach, some experience in Mortlock, Somerville, Henderson, Lipman, Huxley (good to see him back), Hilgendorf and Cordingley, but you cant compare that with the Wallaby laden Tahs. I think all of the run on team barDave Dennis have worn the gold of Australia and there are 3 more Wallabies to come off the bench.

Tahs by a few

3) Blues v Saders
Blues: 15 Isaia Toeava, 14 Joe Rokocoko, 13 Jared Payne, 12 Benson Stanley, 11 Rene Ranger, 10 Stephen Brett, 9 Alby Mathewson, 8 Chris Lowrey, 7 Daniel Braid, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Anthony Boric, 3 John Afoa, 2 Keven Mealamu (captain),1 Tony Woodcock.Replacements: 16 Tom McCartney/Ash Dixon, 17 Charlie Faumuina, 18 Filo Paulo, 19 Luke Braid, 20 Toby Morland, 21 Lachie Munro, 22 Sherwin Stowers.
Crusaders: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Adam Whitelock, 11 Tu Umaga-Marshall, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Kieran Read (captain), 7 Matt Todd, 6 George Whitelock, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Wyatt Crockett.Replacements: 16 Francis Smith, 17 Ben Franks, 18 Chris Jack, 19 Jonathan Poff, 20 Willi Heinz, 21 Matt Berquist, 22 Tom Marshall/Tyler Bleyendaal.

No prizes for guessing that this is my match up of the weekend, there are some pretty big games, Bulls v Lions is another i am looking forward to as well as the Reds v Brumbies.For the Blues there are only 3 of the run on team that havent worn the silver fern., so they should be the favourites but the Saders have the ability to make random players exeptional players. I like the Blues back-line, well dissapointed that Luke is injured. No one ever gives the man credit but no 13 JP is such a good player, for the Crusaders in the years gone by and for Northland he is such a solid player with a rugby brain of note and the way he links with Rooster Ranger is special. I look at this Blues team and i wonder what holds them back, you look at Stevie Brett, when i first saw him many years ago i thought damn this man has mad skills, but playing behind DC is never good for your game or confidence, but last year at the Blues and in the ITM Cup you saw how good he was! Hope he kicks on. Back-line is pooh hot! forwards with Jerome, Keven and Ali back come on man!!!?? Then there is the saders, Tu Umaga-Marshall, Dagg, Fruean, DC, Read, maddness! I call the Blues, one cos they are my team 2) cos its at Eden Park 3) cos the Saders dont generally start well 4) cos its time!!

4) Brumbies v Chiefs
Brumbies: 15 Pat McCabe, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Robbie Coleman, 11 Francis Fainifo, 10 Matt Giteau (captain), 9 Josh Valentine, 8 Ita Vaea, 7 Julian Salvi, 6 Mitch Chapman, 5 Mark Chisholm, 4 Ben Hand, 3 Dan Palmer, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Ben Alexander.Replacements: 16 Huia Edmonds, 17 Salesi Ma'afu, 18 Stephen Hoiles, 19 Colby Faingaa, 20 Patrick Phibbs, 21 Matt Toomua, 22 Andrew Smith.

Chiefs: 15 Mils Muliaina (captain), 14 Tim Nanai-Williams, 13 Dwayne Sweeney, 12 Tana Umaga, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Stephen Donald, 9 Brendon Leonard, 8 Fritz Lee, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Romana Graham, 4 Craig Clarke, 3 Nathan White, 2 Aled de Malmanche, 1 Ben May.Replacements: 16 Toby Smith, 17 Daniel Perrin, 18 Hayden Triggs, 19 Scott Waldrom, 20 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 21 Jackson Willison, 22 Lelia Masaga.

Tough call this one, will be interesting to see if Gits has lifted his lip and is now focused on playing rugby, because we all know he is one talented player. Brumbies have the saem look about them. They will be their David Blaine, illusinist selves, forwards might get a bit of a pelting. Looking forward to seeing the predator Tana back in Super rugby. Its good to see a semi full strength Chiefs team starting up, think the only real guy missing is Kahui, but Tana and Dwayne will fill the gap. Nanai-Williams, watch that one i tell you, if old heads like Colin Meads single you out for praise, then you know you are special. hoping Messam will have a good season and so to Donald, because he is a brilliant player, inspite of his elaborate kicking and running style. Watch Triggs!
Chiefs to take this, tough call, but i think they are up for a big season

5) Sharks v Cheetahs
Cheetahs: 15. Hennie Daniller, 14. Philip Burger, 13. Robert Ebersohn, 12. Andries Strauss, 11. Rayno Benjamin, 10. Naas Olivier, 9. Sarel Pretorius, 8. Kabamba Floors, 7. Christoffel Philippus Van der Walt, 6. Frans Viljoen, 5. Wilhelm Steenkamp, 4. Francois (FS) Uys, 3. Willem Petrus (WP) Nel, 2. Adriaan Strauss (Captain), 1. Coenie Oosthuizen Replacements: 16. Ryno Barnes, 17. Kobus Calldo, 18. Waltie Vermeulen, 19. Ashley Johnson, 20. Tewis de Bruyn, 21. Sias Ebersohn, 22. Riaan Viljoen

Dont have the Sharks team

ooh how i love it when the Cheetahs meet the Sharks in the Shark tank! Nerves in Shark country aplenty :)! I am sure many if not all of you will agree that Bismarck gets a raw deal, he is a much better hooker and player than John Smit. but this Cheetahs team is competent at best, but they wont strike fear into too many other teams. Interesting match up will be Strauss v Bosman, switching provinces and coming up against each other first up. I dont have much info on the Sharks team but i doubt it will be that different from the team that did battle last year and in the Currie Cup. I like their new scrummy McLoed. Even though this team (Cheetahs) isnt a team of superstars, i am putting my money on them to pip the Sharks in a tough rough encounter. BUt look out for the Umtata Express called XA-MVOVO!!

6) Lions v Bulls
Bulls: 15. Zane Kirchner, 14. Gerhard van den Heever, 13. Stephan Dippenaar, 12. Wynand Olivier, 11. Bjorn Basson, 10. Morné Steyn, 9. Fourie du Preez, 8. Pierre Spies, 7. Dewald Potgieter, 6. Deon Stegmann, 5. Victor Matfield (Captain), 4. Bakkies Botha, 3. Werner Kruger, 2. Gary Botha, 1. Gurthrö Steenkamp Replacements: 16. Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17. Rossouw De Klerk, 18. Danie Rossouw, 19. Derick Kuun, 20. Ruan Snyman, 21. Francois Brummer, 22. Jaco van der Westhuyzen

No Lions team...

but look at this Bulls team, only idiots like me will bet against them, Victor 109 caps, Bakkies 89, Danie 102, FdP 99, Wynand 71, this is one solid tried and tested unit and all the big guns are out on display. The Lions have no chance?? NEVER! They have a big chance. I think this Lions squad has the makings of a David. All that needs to happen is that the forward have to be matched, make sure they Bulls get no ascendancy and they are useless out back. FdP is good at steering the ship but it will be more of the same, box kicks a-bore! But let them get front foot ball and only the almighty can help you...and some good scrambling defense. I think the Lions are in good condition, well most of them, they started their training before the Boks went on tour or around then, so in terms of fitness happy days. And Mitch has an attitude of train train train, heard thats why the Force players didnt like him too much. They have players that can play like Killian, Jantjes, Dopies, they brought in Kockott, who i think is a great deputy for Jano. Not sure why they bought mr yellow card, but be that as it may he is there. Joshua Strauss from varsity cup was a pretty hot player, think he wore the pink shorts a few times

best gauge for where the Lions are at is this game i think. Head says the big guns of the bulls will be too much for them, but i have a feeling about this Lions team this year. And Carlos plays for them and he has aparently bulked up again cos he was looking quite skinny :)

7) Force v Reds
Tired of writing, Reds will be too hot for the Force

Teams courtesy of rugby365.com and supersport.com

Thanks and happy viewing

till next week...