It’s going to be interesting selecting winners this week, since at the time of writing, few squads had yet been announced. Let’s have a stab, though and see what round 11 has to offer.
Hurricanes v Blues 04 May at 09:35
New Zealand derbies always tend to be closer than one would expect – apparently one of the few things that the Kiwis love about this new Super Rugby format. That said, hte Blues are in such a deep slump that I really don’t see how they could upset the Canes, with the latter in reasonable nick. Canes by 6.
Hurricanes: 15. André Taylor, 14. Cory Jane, 13. Conrad Smith (Captain), 12. Tim Bateman, 11. Julian Savea, 10. Beauden Barrett, 9. TJ Perenara, 8. Victor Vito, 7. Karl Lowe, 6. Faifili Levave, 5. Jason Eaton, 4. Jeremy Thrush, 3. Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 2. Dane Coles, 1. Ben May
Replacements: 16. Motu Matu’u, 17. Reg Goodes, 18. Jack Lam, 19. Brad Shields, 20. Chris Eaton, 21. Charlie Ngatai, 22. Alapati Leiua
Blues: 15. Hadleigh Parkes, 14. Rene Ranger, 13. Benson Stanley, 12. Ma’a Nonu, 11. George Moala, 10. Michael Hobbs, 9. Piri Weepu, 8. Peter Saili, 7. Luke Braid (Captain), 6. Chris Lowrey, 5. Ali Williams, 4. Filo Paulo, 3. Charlie Faumuina, 2. Tom McCartney, 1. Tevita Mailau
Replacements: 16. James Parsons, 17. Angus Ta’avao, 18. Liaki Moli, 19. Daniel Braid, 20. Alby Mathewson, 21. Lachie Munro, 22. David Raikuna
Rebels v Vodacom Bulls 04 May at 11:40
It’s an away game for the Bulls and they’re a side that occasionally struggle on the road. That said, the Rebels are probably the easiest team in the entire competition to beat and I can’t see how the Bulls could fail to pick up five points in this one, if they just stick to what they know how to do. Bulls by 15.
Rebels: 1. Nic Henderson, 2. Ged Robinson, 3. Rodney Blake, 4. Cadeyrn Neville, 5. Hugh Pyle, 6. Luke Jones, 7. Tim Davidson, 8. Gareth Delve, 9. Nick Phipps, 10. Kurtley Beale, 11. Cooper Vuna, 12. Lachlan Mitchell, 13. Mitch Inman, 14. Mark Gerrard, 15. Julian Huxley.
Replacements: 16. Adam Freier, 17. Jono Owen, 18. Al Campbell, 19. Ryan Hodson, 20. Richard Kingi, 21. James Hilgendorf, 22. Stirling Mortlock
Bulls: 15. Zane Kirchner, 14. Akona Ndungane, 13. JJ Engelbrecht, 12. Wynand Olivier, 11. Bjorn Basson, 10. Morné Steyn, 9. Francois Hougaard, 8. Pierre Spies (Captain), 7. Jacques Potgieter, 6. CJ Stander, 5. Juandre Kruger, 4. Flip van der Merwe, 3. Werner Kruger, 2. Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1. Dean Greyling
Replacements: 16. Willie Wepener, 17. Frik Kirsten, 18. Wilhelm Steenkamp, 19. Arno Botha, 20. Jano Vermaak, 21. Louis Fouche, 22. Johann Sadie
Chiefs v MTN Lions 05 May at 09:35
This couldn’t be easier. The Chiefs are about the best team in the competition after 10 weeks; the Lions are pretty close to being the worst. And the former are at home. Chiefs by 25.
Chiefs: 1. Toby Smith, 2. Hika Elliot, 3. Ben Tameifuna, 4. Craig Clarke (c), 5. Michael Fitzgerald, 6. Tanerau Latimer, 7. Sam Cane, 8. Kane Thompson, 9. Brendon Leonard, 10. Aaron Cruden, 11. Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 12. Sonny Bill Williams, 13. Richard Kahui, 14. Lelia Masaga, 15. Andrew Horrell
Replacements: 16. Mahonri Schwalger, 17. Arizona Taumalolo, 18. Alex Bradley, 19. Scott Waldrom, 20. Tawera Kerr- Barlow, 21. Jackson Willison, 22. Maritino Nemani
Lions: 15. Andries Coetzee, 14. Deon van Rensburg, 13. Jaco Taute, 12. Alwyn Hollenbach, 11. Lionel Mapoe, 10. Elton Jantjies, 9. Ross Cronje, 8. Joshua Strauss (Captain), 7. Grant Hattingh, 6. Derick Minnie, 5. Ruan Botha, 4. Franco van der Merwe, 3. Pat Cilliers, 2. Callie Visagie, 1. Caylib Oosthuizen
Replacements: 16. Martin Bezuidenhout, 17. Jacobie Adriaanse, 18. Cobus Grobbelaar, 19. Jaco Kriel, 20. Tian Meyer, 21. James Kamana, 22. Michael Killian
Brumbies v Waratahs 05 May at 11:40
The only thing we can predict about this game is that it will be crap, so don’t bother watching it. The Brumbies will win by 3.
Brumbies: 15 Jesse Mogg, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Andrew Smith, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Joe Tomane, 10 Christian Lealiifano, 9 Nic White, 8 Fotu Auelua, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Ben Mowen (captain), 5 Sam Carter, 4 Scott Fardy, 3 Dan Palmer, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Ben Alexander
16 Anthony Hegarty, 17 Ruaidhri Murphy, 18 Peter Kimlin, 19 Ita Vaea, 20 Ian Prior, 21 Robbie Coleman, 22 Tevita Kuridrani
Waratahs: TBA
Sharks v Highlanders 05 May at 17:05
The Sharks should be able to name a strong team for this clash, now that their injury excuses no longer apply. The Landers have been surprisingly good so far, but one simply has to fancy the Durbanites to have just a little too much fire-power for them at home? Surely? Sharks by 4.
Sharks: 15. Louis Ludik, 14. JP Pietersen, 13. Paul Jordaan, 12. Tim Whitehead, 11. Lwazi Mvovo, 10. Pat Lambie, 9. Charl McLeod, 8. Keegan Daniel (Capt), 7. Marcell Coetzee, 6. Jacques Botes, 5. Anton Bresler, 4. Steven Sykes, 3. Jannie du Plessis/Wiehahn Herbst, 2. Bismarck du Plessis, 1. Tendai Mtawarira.
Reserves: 16. Craig Burden, 17. Jannie du Plessis / Wiehahn Herbst, 18. Pieter-Steph du Toit, 19. Jean Deysel, 20. Ryan Kankowski, 21. Fred Michalak, 22. Meyer Bosman
Highlanders: TBA
Toyota Cheetahs v Force 05 May at 19:10
The Cheetahs came desperately close against a well-coached Highlanders team last week. How will they do against a side that has no coach? Only time will tell, but we’re hoping that Sias Ebersohn, in for the injured Johan Goosen, can stamp his authority on the game early and run the show for the Cheetahs as he has done in the past. The Cheetahs should win this, by about 8 points.
Cheetahs: 15. Hennie Daniller, 14. Cameron Jacobs, 13. Robert Ebersohn, 12. Andries Strauss, 11. Willie Le Roux, 10. Sias Ebersohn, 9. Tewis de Bruyn, 8. Heinrich Brussow, 7. Philip Van der Walt, 6. Justin Downey, 5. Izak van der Westhuizen, 4. George Earle, 3. WP Nel, 2. Adriaan Strauss (Captain), 1. Coenie Oosthuizen
Replacements: 16. Hercu Liebenberg, 17. Trevor Nyakane, 18. Andries Ferreira, 19. Ashley Johnson, 20. Piet van Zyl, 21. Riaan Smit, 22. Philip Snyman
Force: TBA
Crusaders v Reds 06 May at 06:00
Sunday’s game sees the Reds take on the Crusaders and even though Ewan McKenzie’s lads got their New Zealand “tour” off to a great start in Auckland, that was against the rubbish Blues, so it’s hard to see them adding a second win against a Crusaders side who are starting to look ominous. A sold-out crowd at AMI Park in Addington will only add to the pressure on the visitors. Crusaders by 12.
Crusaders: TBA
Reds: 1. Greg Holmes,2. James Hanson ,3. James Slipper,4. Rob Simmons,5. James Horwill (c),6. Jake Schatz,7. Liam Gill,8. Scott Higginbotham,9. Will Genia (vc),10. Ben Lucas,11. Digby Ioane,12. Mike Harris,13. Anthony Faingaa,14. Dom Shipperley,15. Luke Morahan
Replacements : 16. Saia Faingaa,17. Albert Anae,18. Wallace-Harrison,19. Radike Samo,20. Eddie Quirk,21. Nick Frisby,22. Rod Davies
Tweet
All my picks are the same. I’m going with the Sharks for the 10th consecutive time.
@JarsonX (Comment 1) :
I think a lot of people will have the same picks..
A lot of one sided games this weekend, with the only real surprises possible in the Brumbies/Tahs match and the fact that the Sharks might lose it against the Highlanders..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 2) : I’m hoping the Lions can upset the Chiefs 😛
Whats up with these Sunday games 🙄
@JarsonX (Comment 3) :
Oh okay, I always hope for a Lions win..
But I just cannot see it against the Chiefs, they are back at home and flying high..
I’m so out off Rugby the last week….
Feels like I was on holiday…
Oh I was 🙂
@Franshark (Comment 6) :
I was also on holiday, but somehow managed 6 from 6 over the weekend.
Bound to not happen again this year..
Looks like it is a pretty easy prediction week. All my predictions are the same as yours.
This means, a few upsets (but not the sharks) will be a good thing for us. If any of the teams on the wrong side of the predictions win (but not the Highlanders) it will help us a lot in improving our place on the log.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 7) : I suppose you didn’t over think it. That happens to me. I had the Reds down for a win, everywhere else, but on superbru I decided on the blues. Darn! 🙁
@JarsonX (Comment 3) :
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 5) :
Funny that, I always hope for a Lions win too!
😥 😥 😥
@Greg (Comment 11) :
Hahaha!!
Funny man..
@Greg (Comment 11) : 😛
one question…i wonder if playing on a sunday suites the crusaders?isnt it their third game playing on a sunday now?
@JarsonX (Comment 4) : I was also wondering.
Interestingly the Warratahs have said that they would like all their home games to be on a Sunday, they get much better crowds then.
Keo’s boys are jinxing the Sharks again – both predicting Sharks by 10
I don`t really see where all these optimistic shark predictions are coming from.
If the cheetahs can`t get a result against the Landers, will we?
On the up side at least we`ve got a decent team this weekend, although I`m sure Rob will worry about our ” light ” pack.
@Original Pierre (Comment 17) : A few (relative) certainties I have picked up on Sharksworld:
1. Rob will worry alot before the game, be the calmest after
2. Letgo will be VERY vocal in her praise/disgust before or after a game (very entertaining that!)
3. Ice will support any team Marcell plays for. (she’s been rather quiet, looking for addoption papers?)
4. Richard always has a trebble/4-way bet, which he always looses on the first or second game
5. Culling Song will always have the right thing to say, almost always at the wrong time
(the emo’s don’t work on my phone, hope I do not offend anyone, my comments are meant to be tongue-in-cheek)
@Die Kriek (Comment 18) : Happy Star Wars Day! May the 4th be with you!
@Die Kriek (Comment 18) :
And here I was hoping someone would take my writing seriously?!
Haha.. No offence taken dude, great observations though..
Rob is only calmest because he stays away if he is furious!! 😉
@Die Kriek (Comment 18) :
But let me fill you in on my five-legged bet, and let’s see how it goes:
Bulls
Chiefs
Sharks
Cheetahs
Crusaders
@Die Kriek (Comment 18) : hahahahaha!! 😆
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 21) : Uh-oh, Sharks are third, and I do not think the Chiefs will be losing any time soon
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 21) : Odds?
Prima Facie the Sharks are the only close call there so I`m guessing you got it for 2.5 ? 😎
@Original Pierre (Comment 24) :
2.3 actually..
But a pretty safe bet, if I haven’t jinxed it already..
@Die Kriek (Comment 18) : Funny but true 😆