Well, Super Rugby is upon us and finally kicks off tomorrow morning, when the Blues and the Highlanders clash in Auckland. With no early form to guide us, let’s try pick the winners.
Game 1: Blues v Highlanders
Well, come on…. how do you really pick this one with nothing to go on? You’d fancy the Landers, as reigning champs, to start strongly, but New Zealand derbies do tend to be great levlelers. I have a funny feeling about the Blues this year – they cannot be perpetually dire, can they? Let’s back the Highlanders to win this opener by 5.
Blues: 15 Lolagi Visinia, 14 Melani Nanai, 13 Male Sa’u, 12 George Moala, 11 Tevita Li, 10 Ihaia West, 9 Bryn Hall, 8 Steven Luatua, 7 Blake Gibson, 6 Joe Edwards, 5 Josh Bekhuis, 4 Patrick Tuipoluto, 3 Sione Mafileo, 2 James Parsons (c), 1 Ofa Tu’ungafasi
Bench: 16 Quentin MacDonald, 17 Namatahi Waa, 18 Charlie Faumuina, 19 Akira Ioane, 20 Kara Pryor, 21 Billy Guyton, 22 Matt McGahan, 23 Rene Ranger
Highlanders: 15 Ben R Smith (c), 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Teihorangi Walden, 11 Patrick Osborne, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Liam Squire, 7 Shane Christie, 6 Elliot Dixon, 5 Joe Wheeler, 4 Tom Franklin, 3 Josh Hohneck, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Daniel Lienert-Brown
Bench: 16 Ash Dixon, 17 Brendon Edmonds, 18 Ross Geldenhuys, 19 Alex Ainley, 20 Dan Pryor, 21 Fumiaki Tanaka, 22 Hayden Parker, 23 Matt Faddes
Game 2: Brumbies v Hurricanes
This should be an early season classic between two teams who like to play expansive rugby. As early contenders both, it’s hard to pick a winner, so we’ll go with home ground advantage and back the Brumbies to win a close game.
Brumbies: 15 Aidan Toua, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Matt Toomua, 11 Joseph Tomane, 10 Christian Lealiifano, 9 Tomas Cubelli, 8 Ita Vaea, 7 David Pocock, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore (c), 1 Allan Alaalatoa
Bench: 16 Josh Mann-Rea, 17 Scott Sio, 18 Leslie Leulua’iali’i-Makin, 19 Jordan Smiler, 20 Jarrad Butler, 21 Michael Dowsett, 22 Andrew Smith, 23 Nigel Ah Wong
Hurricanes: 15 Nehe Milner-Skudder, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Vince Aso, 12 Ngani Laumapi, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Brad Shields, 5 Mark Abbott, 4 Blade Thomson, 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 2 Dane Coles (c), 1 Reg Goodes
Bench: 16 Leni Apisai, 17 Chris Eves, 18 Loni Uhila, 19 Vaea Fifita, 20 Callum Gibbins, 21 Jamison Gibson-Park, 22 Otere Black, 23 Willis Halaholo
Game 3: Cheetahs v Jaguares
The Super Rugby newcomers have picked what looks almost like an Argentine test side, leading many pundits to write off the Cheetahs’ chances here. Super Rugby is a different beast, however, so I’d not be too quick to rule out a surprise win for Franco Smith’s team, who should be well-drilled and enterprising this season, at least until injuries start to bite. Expect the Jaguares to pummel them up front, though, but as the game loosens up, the Cheetahs could well come back into it. Let me go with heart over head and pick the Cheetahs for a 3-point win.
Cheetahs: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Francois Venter (c), 12 William Small-Smith, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Niell Jordaan, 7 Uzair Cassiem, 6 Boom Prinsloo, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Maks van Dyk, 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 1 Charles Marais
Bench: 16 Jacques du Toit, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Luan de Bruin, 19 Reniel Hugo, 20 Henco Venter, 21 Paul Schoeman, 22 Tian Meyer, 23 Niel Marais
Jaguares: 15 Joacquín Tuculet, 14 Santiago Cordero, 13 Matías Moroni, 12 Jerónimo de la Fuente, 11 Emiliano Boffelli, 10 Nicolás Sánchez, 9, Martín Landajo, 8 Leonardo Senatore, 7 Rodrigo Báez, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Tomás Lavanini, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Ramiro Herrera, 2 Agustín Creevy (c), 1 Lucas Noguera
Bench: 16 Julián Montoya, 17 Santiago García Botta, 18 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 19 Matías Alemanno, 20 Facunda Isa, 21 Gonzalo Bertranou, 22 Santiago González Iglesias, 23 Matías Orlando
Game 4: Sunwolves v Lions
Saturday’s action starts early with this game in Tokyo. The SunWolves have picked Riaan Viljoen at fullback, but otherwise their team contains few familiar faces. The Lions have gone with their most powerful line-up and one that should know one another well from Currie Cup. With all bar four of the Sunwolves completely new to rugby at this level, it’s hard to predict a win for them, so we’ll back the Lions to overcome the “strange” and pick up a decent win here.
Sunwolves: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Akihito Yamada, 13 Harumichi Tatekawa, 12 Yu Tamura, 11 Yasutaka Sasakura, 10 Tusi Pisi, 9 Atsushi Hiwasa, 8 Edward Quirk, 7 Andrew Durutalo, 6 Liaki Moli, 5 Hitoshi Ono, 4 Timothy Vond, 3 Shinnosuke Kakinaga, 2 Shota Horie (c), 1 Keith Inagaki
Bench: 16 Masataka Mikami, 17 Takeshi Kizu, 18 Koki Yamamoto, 19 Shinya Makabe, 20 Yoshiya Hosoda, 21 Kaito Shigeno, 22 Derek Carpenter, 23 Hajime Yamashata
Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley (captain), 7 Warwick Tecklenburg, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Ruan Dreyer
Bench: 16 Malcolm Marx 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Jacques van Rooyen, 19 Robert Kruger, 20 Ruan Ackermann, 21 Jaco van der Walt, 22 Harold Vorster, 23 Rohan Janse van Rensburg
Game 5: Crusaders v Chiefs
It’s a new era in Christchurch, one that will not involve Dan Carter or Richie McCaw and breath will be held as we try to figure out whether they will still be as formidable without these talismans. The Chiefs will test them for sure and as a team that is notorious for starting slowly, I’m not at all convinced that the home team will win this one. Chiefs to squeak it, for my money.
Crusaders: 15 David Havili, 14 Jone Macilai, 13 Sean Wainui, 12 Kieron Fonotia, 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Tim Boys, 6 Jordan Taufua, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Joe Moody
Bench: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Mike Alaalatoa, 19 Jimmy Tupou, 20 Reed Prinsep, 21 Leon Fukofuka, 22 Ben Volavola, 23 Johnny McNicholl
Chiefs: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Shaun Stevenson, 13 Seta Tamanivalu, 12 Charlie Ngatai, 11 James Lowe, 10 Aaron Cruden (c), 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Tom Sanders, 7 Sam Cane (c), 6 Taleni Seu, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Michael Allardice, 3 Hiroshi Yamashita, 2 Rhys Marshall, 1 Pauliasi Manu
Bench: 16 Nathan Harris, 17 Mitchell Graham, 18 Siate Tokolahi, 19 Maama Vaipulu, 20 Johan Bardoul, 21 Brad Weber, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 Latu Vaeno
Game 6: Waratahs v Reds
The traditional Aussie derby is typically a close run, and often dull, affair. As the strongest Australian challengers for the title (well, along with the Brumbies) I imagine the Tahs would take this game, albeit only by a few. You don’t assemble a team containing the names Folau, Beale, Hooper, Skelton and Polota-Nau without the expectation of significantly more wins than losses. Look out for Japanese phenom Goromaru-san, set for his Super Rugby debut off the Reds bench.
Waratahs: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Matt Carraro, 13 Rob Horne, 12 David Horwitz, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Kurtley Beale, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Jed Holloway, 7 Michael Hooper (c), 6 Dave Dennis, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Dean Mumm, 3 Angus Ta’avao, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Paddy Ryan
Bench: 16 Tola Latu, 17 Benn Robinson, 18 Jeremy Tilse, 19 Sam Lousi, 20 Jack Dempsey, 21 Matt Lucas, 22 Bryce Hegarty, 23 Reece Robinson
Reds: 15 Karmichael Hunt, 14 Chris Feauai-Sautia, 13 Samu Kerevi, 12 Henry Taefu, 11 Eto Nabuli, 10 Jake McIntyre, 9 Nick Frisby, 8 Jake Schatz, 7 Curtis Browning, 6 Hendrik Tui, 5 Rob Simmons (c), 4 Cadeyrn Neville, 3 Greg Holmes, 2 Saia Faingaa, 1 Ben Daley
Bench: 16 Andrew Ready, 17 Sef Fa’agase, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Ben Matwijow, 20 Michael Gunn, 21 Scott Gale, 22 Sam Greene, 23 Ayumu Goromaru
Game 7: Force v Rebels
We don’t yet have team sheets for this one, making it even harder to call. You’d imagine these sides would do nothing other than make up numbers this year, so the result is perhaps academic. Rebels to win, for me.
Game 8: Kings v Sharks
It’s a new era for both of these teams, but given all the issues the Kings have had, the Sharks must start as heavy favourites. Gary Gold’s team has a massive 2015 hangover that they need to get rid of fast and a big win in this opener would set the tone nicely. The Kings will scrap, but shouldn’t be able to live with the sharks and this could get ugly for them. Sharks by ten or more, I’d say.
Kings: 15 Jurgen Visser, 14 Luzuko Vulindlu, 13 JP du Plessis, 12 Shane Gates, 11 Malcolm Jaer, 10 Elgar Watts, 9 Ntando Kebe, 8 Jacques Engelbrecht, 7 Thembelani Bholi, 6 Chris Cloete, 5 JC Astle, 4 Steven Sykes (c), 3 Tom Botha, 2 Martin Ferreira, 1 Schalk Ferreira
Bench: 16 Edgar Marutlulle, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Louis Albertse, 19 Schalk Oelofse, 20 Cyril-John Velleman, 21 Leighton Eksteen, 22 Louis Fouche, 23 Charles Radebe
Sharks: 15. Willie le Roux, 14. Odwa Ndungane, 13. Paul Jordaan, 12. Andre Esterhuizen, 11. Lwazi Mvovo, 10. Joe Pietersen, 9. Cobus Reinach, 8. Daniel du Preez, 7. Jean-Luc du Preez, 6. Marcell Coetzee, 5. Hyron Andrews, 4. Etienne Oosthuizen, 3. Coenie Oosthuizen, 2. Franco Marais, 1. Tendai Mtawarira (c)
Bench: 16. Kyle Cooper, 17. Juan Schoeman, 18. Lourens Adriaanse, 19. Dave McDuling, 20. Philip van der Walt, 21. Michael Claassens, 22. Garth April, 23. S’bura Sithole
Game 9: Stormers v Bulls
Oh look, the Stormers have picked that blonde kid. How nice for them. In all seriousness, though, it’s the men from the Cape who boast the better tight five here and that should probably guarantee them victory over a Bulls team that may just, for once, offer as much excitement at the back as their hosts do. Robert du Preez against Francois Brummer should make for an intersting personal contest, with my money on hte Stormers lad to come out on top. Stormers to win this one with something to spare.
Bulls: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Francois Brummer, 9 Rudy Paige, 8 Arno Botha, 7 Jannes Kirsten, 6 Nic de Jager, 5 Grant Hattingh, 4 RG Snyman, 3 Marcel van der Merwe, 2 Adriaan Strauss (c), 1 Trevor Nyakane
Bench: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 Lizo Gqoboka, 18 Hencus van Wyk, 19 Jason Jenkins, 20 Roelof Smit, 21 Piet van Zyl, 22 Tian Schoeman, 23 Burger Odendaal
Stormers: 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Johnny Kotze, 12 Juan de Jongh (c), 11 Dillyn Leyds, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Oli Kebble
Bench: 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 JC Janse van Rensburg, 18 Frans Malherbe, 19 JD Schickerling, 20 Siya Kolisi, 21 Nic Groom, 22 Kurt Coleman, 23 Leolin Zas

Blues
Brumbies
Cheetahs
Lions
Crusaders
Waratahs
Force
Sharks
Stormers
Decided to jump back on the superbru train this year
@Seth101 (Comment 1) : all home wins apart from Sharks….
@robdylan (Comment 2) : First games of the season, it’s the safe bet. But I also went on pre-season results, and they support the picks. My only doubts were Brumbies v Canes and Saders v Chiefs.
Highlanders
Brumbies
Jaguars (I hope I’m wrong)
Lions
Chiefs
Waratahs
Force
Sharks
Stormers
I’ve gone:
Blues – my against the grain pick
Canes – gut tells me they’ll peak sooner than the Brumbies
Cheetahs – think composure will see out the day here and the Cheetahs being the more settled side will count in their favour. Also reckon Fred Z will impress this season.
Lions – have to be firm favourites
Chiefs – the Saders are historically slow starters
Tahs – Aussie derby. Pick a card, any card.
Force – See above.
Sharks – firm favourites.
Bulls – Stormers have a knack to throw it away at the death when the odds are in their favour. Plus, being coached by a guy with a nickname of ‘Legend’. That’s just asking fate to conspire against you.
Kick off time please. I dont have a fixture list 😳
@vanmartin (Comment 5) : On the Tahs pick, the Reds have had a terrible last few seasons, and had a terrible pre-season. You picked the right card.
@Seth101 (Comment 7) : That’s the real reason I picked the Tahs but I prefer to give the impression that any and all Aussie derbies are boring and pointless 😈
@vanmartin (Comment 8) : Unlike SA derbies? 😆 😆
All home wins, except for Lions, Jaguares and Sharks.
Just say the Stormers go ahead and win this,are any of us going to acknowledge them as the champions,when they play 8 home games out of 15 and no New Zealand opposition.
I still can’t believe we are happily entering the spirit of this competition,
What f********n competition.
@JarsonX (Comment 6) : you realise there’s a fixture list on this site?
@JarsonX (Comment 6) : @robdylan (Comment 12) : Perhaps not using a browser? Only explanation for the lack of ability to just Google it 😆
@Seth101 (Comment 9) : You’d have a point if the Sharks and Lions weren’t involved in some of these from time to time 😀
@The hound (Comment 11) : I think our reservations are well documented across a great many threads and the majority of SW for once agree on a matter but am I not going to watch the Sharks? The format may be rubbish but I don’t see that happening any time soon. And now someone will point out that this is how SANZAAR wins and I won’t disagree with that statement.
Hard to pick without much to go on. Gonna mostly pick the home teams.
Don’t think the Rebels should be written off that easily, they’re a well coached team who is improving each year and have come into a bit of money so they have recruited a couple players. Can’t say anything positive about the “[email protected]”
Agree with your predictions Rob, apart from the Cheetahs game, think people are underestimating the Jagaures. Although my heart says different, my head is telling me that they should top this group with the Lions 2nd and Sharks 3rd. But we all know funny things happen during the season, and squad depth is certainly going to be a factor.
@stevovo (Comment 16) : Have you seen the Jags travel schedule?
@robdylan (Comment 2) : wonder if Riaan will take the guys out after the game for a quick Sushi?!?! 😈
@vanmartin (Comment 17) : You right, another factor that will have major impacts on the teams.
@vanmartin (Comment 17) : yes they will also be flying a lot but think that 3 week 4 continent move of the Sharks is still worse than theirs!!!!!!
@The hound (Comment 11) : No! But don’t worry, if they are lucky enough to get to a play off game they will bottle it as they usually do.
@Kiss_the_Gold (Comment 21) : when they meet their first kiwi team most probably.
Blues
Brumbies
Jaguars
Lions
Chiefs
Waratahs
Rebels
Sharks
Stormers
@stevovo (Comment 16) : Lions have a Currie Cup squad in Super Rugby. They will do ok, but they’re not going to challenge for honours
@robdylan (Comment 12) : Maybe I’m blind, I don’t see it 😎
@JarsonX (Comment 25) : Found it 😳 In my defence, I’m having a very busy year, my eyes are tired.
@Seth101 (Comment 13) : Google? What’s that? 😈
In agreement with most except the Jaguars vs Cheetahs. I say if even our bok team struggled to find an answer to their disruption techniques how well could the cheetahs, who we know are easily rattled do? I say the experience in the argies side coupled with their techniques will shake and ultimately beat the cheetahs.
Please help. I still need someone to approve me on superbru. Please telegram Furguson.
@robdylan (Comment 24) : some fighting words!!! 😯
@JarsonX (Comment 26) : sorry to say but I know the feeling!!!!!!!!! 😯 good luck boet!!!!!!!!
Thank you Blues 😎
Canes :evil:. That bordered on a choke.
Way to chuck it away Cheetahs.
@Kiss_the_Gold (Comment 23) : 100% 😀
@Kiss_the_Gold (Comment 35) : well done now can you please post the results for next week as I need the points on Superbru!!! ;-P