Here we go, gang – let’s try pick the winners for this week.
Highlanders v Stormers (Friday 09h35)
Fleckie’s boys were humiliated by the Crusaders last week and have a number of injuries to contend with this week as well. The Highlanders are nowhere near as strong as the top Kiwi sides this year, but I fancy they’ll have too much for the Stormers in a very tricky stadium for opposition teams. Highlanders by 10 points.
Chiefs v Sunwolves (Saturday 09h35)
Yeah, um, this is going to be a slaughter. Chiefs by 35.
Reds v Waratahs (Saturday 11h45)
Snorefest of note, I’m sure. How do you pick which of these teams is less shit? Not sure. Tahs by 2?
Force v Lions (Saturday 13h55)
A nice easy tour opener for the Lions and you can’t see them losing to the Force – on any given day. Lions to win by 15.
Cheetahs v Crusaders (Saturday 17h15)
Let’s see – the Cheetahs couldn’t even find a way to beat the Bulls, so their chances of toppling the log leaders are basically nil. Yes, Crusaders to prevail by 12 or more.
Kings v Rebels (Saturday 19h30)
The Kings are back home and on a bit of a high after a shock win over the Waratahs last week. The Rebels don’t have much to offer and assuming the Kings play better than the Sharks did last week (not hard) they should take this. Kings by 7 points. Go Kings!
Jaguares v Sharks (Saturday 21h40)
Both of these teams need to find their mojo – and fast. The Jagures haven’t won in three week, but are back at home this week and will want to pick up where they left off in terms of a proud home record. The Sharks were nothing short of abjectly poor last week and will know that coach Rob is going to properly blow a gasket if they play that way again. I wonder whether there’s enough firepower to record a victory in Argentina and have to be honest, though, in that I think there may not be. Head over heart says Jaguares to win by 5 points.
Brumbies v Blues (Sunday 08h05)
Blues will win by 8. Maybe more.

Hmmm…I’ll have to think about this…
I’m going sharks by a narrow win.
So after a bit of thinking and the odd thumb suck I went:
Highlanders by 10
Chiefs by 36
Reds by 2
Lions by 10
Crusaders by 19
Kings by 6
Sharks by 4
Brumbies by 4
Actually my 10-year old helped me with these. He thinks you got two wrong, Rob. If he gets 8 out of 8 I’ll get him to write an article with some tips for all of us…
Jaguares by 10. Could even be more.
Same picks as you Rob. The only game that worries me is the very dull Aussie derby. The only thing worse than watching the Aus game will be to watch a repeat of the Sharks game last week.
Looks like Highlanders by 10 will be more like Highlanders by 25+. π
4 tries to Highlanders already. Inside 30min. π―
Try no.5 on the way. π
And there it is.
@McLovin (Comment 9) : Two kak kicks and a dubious ref’s decision within a few minutes completely took the Stormers out of the game. Small margins…
@Spirit of Rugby (Comment 10) : True, but I don’t blame the ref. It wasn’t him who missed about 63 tackles leading up to some of the tries. Oh well. Que sera sera.
@McLovin (Comment 11) : Ja, that didn’t help
Is this embarrassing for the Stormers yet…50 up! Of course our Rebels debacle was at least as embarrassing!
Highlanders score after the hooter to make it 57-14 final score… π―
How many of these guys were a shoe-in for a Bok place? Ai…
@McLovin (Comment 11) : The way you go on you have no choice but to defend the ref even if his decisions cost you a 1 point title loss. You have nailed your colours to the mast and anything close to criticizing the ref will seem to be hypocritical on your part.
@pastorshark (Comment 14) : Unfassbar π― π― π―
read my prediction for this game four times, please
@Spirit of Rugby (Comment 16) : π― Ja wirklich!!
Soooo…I didn’t score a margin point on Superbru…just saying…
@robdylan (Comment 17) : Done…still π―
Now that was a Springbok captain! The Cape press was just so right…
Well done to the Highlanders. Some superb skill from a kiwi side. Again. Can’t help but doff your cap, stand up and applaud.
@robdylan (Comment 17) : … and your prediction for the Sharks game -10 times
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 15) : I genuinely have no problem with the refs and their assistants. Outstanding professionals the lot of them. π
Hope the rest of the Saffa sides have a much better weekend.
@McLovin (Comment 23) : And you, sir, are an upstanding gentleman. I dof my hat to you.
i didnt watch the game but were the Stormers really as bad as the scoreline suggests?
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 25) : Thank you sir. π
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 26) : Very bad at critical moments. Paid a heavy price. Also their one on one tackling was rather poor I thought.
Unfortunately can’t see much changing in the near future. Might win a few home games later on, but that’s about as good as it’s going to get imo.
@McLovin (Comment 28) : How must the Bulls and Cheetahs be feeling right about now, with the Stormers clearly the strongest team in the group. And what must Alister be thinking / feeling.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 29) : well i reckon Allister is working on a list of excuses to give at each post match press conference this year
Ok so pick for next week Canes vs Stormers will be 57-4 for Canes.
Two results on tour for Stormers:
Vs Saders 57-24
Vs Landers 57-14
So vs Canes 57-4 looks reasonable!!!! π
@DuToit04 (Comment 30) : …He’ll have Franco helping him with those… We’ll see some creative excuses coming from that lot.
@McLovin (Comment 28) : @Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 29) : the Africa 1 log only looks a bit better than the Ozzie Log!!! Stormers might come back from the tour with only the 26 log points they had before the tour!!!
@pastorshark (Comment 18) : don’t think anyone of us score that margin point!!!
@FireTheLooser (Comment 32) : sorry but Franco will not help much as he only has one excuse and that’s the player can’t perform as they’re unsure about their future!
On that note I see Boom Prinsloo signed for Bulls.
Reasonable but impossible.
stormers getting killed brings a smile to my heart, I believe we did ok last year with our tour from hell to the land of the long white cloud
what were the results again ? I know we didnt do this badly
@revolverocelot (Comment 37) : On you we narrowly lost to the Blues 23-18, we beat the Highlanders 14-15 and we lost narrowly to the Chiefs 24-22. So 6 points on tour…
@JD (Comment 31) :
@pastorshark (Comment 38) : Did you remember that or did you have to go look it up????
π
@Dancing Bear (Comment 40) : I have a photographic memory…
…not!
Actually I remembered the Highlanders and Chiefs games and scores but couldn’t remember who we played and what the score was in the third…which was the first…didn’t remember that either…
@revolverocelot (Comment 37) : @pastorshark (Comment 38) : Gotta love the b-section inferiority complex. ‘We didn’t lose as badly as you did’ nonsense. Well done for achieving f-all just like everybody else who hasn’t won this comp.
@McLovin (Comment 42) : π π π
@McLovin (Comment 42) : Lmao, deepest apologies Mcvirgin, you misunderstand the purpose of that post.
it is to highlight the fact that when up against formidible odds The Sharks (unlike the weather girls commonly referred to as stormers) put up a fight and leave the field with their heads held high, safe in the knowledge that they gave it their all.
your truly
Revolver ocelot (the coolest Metal Gear character ever)
@pastorshark (Comment 41) : I appreciate the effort
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 25) :
They scored a really good first up running try and then proceeded to try to run it out of their in-goal and gave away the equalizer. Then they ran in two more tries for the Highlanders and from there felt compelled to revert to running rugby for the rest of the match, from whence the end result became frightfully predictable. I skipped forward through most of the 2nd half, but from what I saw they did a lot of running, passing, offloading and standing under the goal posts.
They dominated the scrums and had a clear upperhand in the lineouts, but since they studiously avoided tactics that could lead to those, it was to no effect.
The kicking game? What kicking game?
I suspect Harry Viljoen is a consultant coach.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 29) :
One would hope that Alister is thinking about what a fucking disaster this all out running game that is all of a sudden so inexplicably popular among SA coaches is.
The objective of the Stormers was apparently to prove that in one on one situations, the advantage goes to the better athelete and this they did conclusively.
The last time I watch the Cheetahs, they set out to demonstrate that they would be a highly competative team in 60 minute rugby matches.
The Bulls did this thing where from a setpiece on the opponents 10 meter line, they recycled the ball through 10 phases whilst conceding ground all the way into their own 22 in order to concede a turnover and a try.
The purprose if this tactic is a mystery wrapped in an enigma.
@McLovin (Comment 42) : Breath…
You do make a fair point, though…
At the root of all this lies my greatest frustration with the Sharks: they play better rugby when they are up against it and cruise when they think they should win. Psychologically they seem incapable of convincing themselves that they should play at or near their best level in every game. Is that the reason their overall record against New Zealand sides is good, but against Aussie sides is pretty poor? We need that head doctor…
The Stormers just seemed tactically very naive…
I must say something about this: for a while it has seemed as if that amongst media scribes, pundits and fans there is an idea that we lose against New Zealand sides because they have better tactics. While I concede that our tactics have sometimes been mind-bogglingly one dimensional, I find it even more mind-boggling that no one seems to recognise that the New Zealand sides beat us so regularly because they simply have players with better skills and they have better depth (i.e. more players with those better skills). To me that would say they have better systems and particularly systems that equip their players better, prepare them better across the board in almost all very facet of play, certainly in terms of ball skills, reading the game, athleticism, etc. Whatever else we do, we have to address that if we are going to catch up. And that, by the way, is not just about getting in a New Zealand skills coach (which I am not against) but adjusting our structures from the bottom (tiny tots playing tag rugby through our school system) all they way to the very top…
@pastorshark (Comment 50) : We lose to the New Zealand sides because they are better teams period individually
chosen for one reason as how they fit as parts of a team.Our teams have many more dubious factors defining our make up,teamplayer not being on top of the list.
Watching the highlights that Stormers game, Kolbe and Marais gave a master class in how not to defend, absolutely cringeworthy display, Marais would make a great touch rugby player
Anyone watch the Newcastle Vs Worcester game last night?
I just had a feeling that the ref had rubbed Gary Gold the wrong way….When he blew his whistle for fulltime, Gary came marching onto the field and gave said ref an ear full.
Worcester lost 16 – 14….After being camped in Newcastle’s half for the first 30mins. of the game, scoring zero points.
Soooo the netball players…………ahhhh yes netball players,not sure what the rugby press do now having once again, pre season, declared them SR champs again, or lets just be real,they are rank rubbish
My question is where are the much hailed 4,5 combo in these games,the blonde 1 when playing good opposition does the best Casper trick ive seen in a long time
@benji (Comment 54) : I think that Alistar is setting up PSDT to play 7 for the Boys,probably with Koilisi at 6 as the Bok captain.Can’t quite work out who they will partner with Ethebeth,
Lood de Jager???
@The hound (Comment 55) : Since the Bok camp, all our teams have been decidedly rubbish, except for the Kings.
Tells me that Bok camp/culture is poison.
I can see AC doing exactly what you’re suggesting: brand-name players sellected on reputation only, far be it from him to upset the apple cart.
@fyndraai (Comment 46) : π π
@benji (Comment 54) : Maybe after last season when Blondie gave it his all and was one of the few who stuck up his hand game after game, he has finally got with the plan and is doing what his teammates do.
Looks like Rob got the first two games the wrong way around.
Sunwolves showing great resilience against the better team than the spineless Stormers.
Willie Britz such an underrated player.
Lions force game reminds me of a certain snore-fest from last weekend – error ridden.
Guess we’ll have to wait for the Kings game to give us hope for SA rugby.
Rob I see Eksteen is playing for Griffons. Is he in loan or did he moved permanently to Welkom?
@The hound (Comment 55) : yes you probably right
Tsietas fighting hard
against the crusaders….Err to overcome their fear of being dropped from SR. πJohann Greef is THEEEE most useless TMO in the world and does not belong in the game…how did he call that forward?! He is just soooooooooooo useless…my word! π― π― π― π― π― π―
Crusaders are battling, what a disgrace this officiating
@pastorshark (Comment 64) : he calls that forward and THAT jesse kriel try backward. Are the Cheetahs in the same pool as the Bulls?. Are they both scrapping for 2nd place? Is he still the chairman of the Blue Bulls referees association? I wish to run into this man one day.
@pastorshark (Comment 64) : Was that Greeff? That bru is out of his depth
Oh, can we go back and check whether the try scorer for the cheating knaves was in front of the kicker?
Cheetas have a right to feel cheated. Crusaders getting away with murder hands in every ruck .. who is the ref
Me feels ox would make a great hooker
@West Indies Cricket Board (Comment 66) : He is an absolute joke…
(I was going to use a stronger word than “joke”, but there we are…)
@byron (Comment 69) : Referees know that if you want to ensure longevity in your career, you take it easy on the kiwi sides.
That was a neckroll mr ref
That has to be a red
That is a deliberate elbow to the face … how is that only a yellow .. dumbfounded
The Kings have looked better in 3 minutes than we did all game last week…
@byron (Comment 75) : Bet you the citing commissioner won’t have a thing to say about that…
3-0 Kings after 5 minutes…
Van der Westhuizen joins the ranks of the refs who can’t tell forwards from backwards… π―
Still 3-0 after 17 minutes…
Jeepers, wonderful try by the Kings…man, that was good…
8-0 after 20 minutes…Kings full value for the lead…
@pastorshark (Comment 81) : Malcolm Jaer is having an amazing season, maybe Lionel, Schreuder and Jaer should be on our shopping list for next season
The only Fh that should be allowed to do a grubber kick
8-3 after 28 minutes…
Mzila is also playing very well…
11-3 after 35 minutes…
This is just ridiculous officiating…quite how is that a deliberate knock?
Wouldn’t it be a joke if the kings wasted the rebels and all we could manage was a bare ass scrape to a draw….
11-3 halftime…
@pastorshark (Comment 88) : RSA officially attempting their utmost to impersonate our government on ridiculous choices
@jdolivier (Comment 91) : Officials
@coolfusion (Comment 89) : Well, so far they are good value for the lead…
Another brilliant try to the Kings…18-3 after 43 minutes…
Impressive Mzila again…I think Lionel Cronje really got hurt there…
Looks like concussion…another good game Cronje…
@pastorshark (Comment 96) : He sure looked like he was/is in the clouds after that knock.
Another try Kings…bonus point (so far…)…
Schreuder is playing really well…
@pastorshark (Comment 98) : Doesn’t their play remind you of a certain plucky team in the mid 90’s that went on to be a great side……..
23-3 after 59 minutes…
@jdolivier (Comment 100) : They are certainly playing very nicely…
Just brilliant, brilliant play by the Kings…another try…
Makes last week just so much more embarrassing…
This is some lovely rugby from the Kings….Best of the SA sides thus far this weekend…. That’s 2 weekends in a row.
30-3 after 65 minutes…
@pastorshark (Comment 103) : Ya’ think AC might be thinking of some of these Kings players for the Boks?
Schreuder (cant remember the spelling) is by far the scrumming of the SA teams….Mapiempi (spelling again) is the pick of SA wings, CronjΓ© definitely not the worst pick at fh., and Cloete the only openside in SA doing the fetching role.
If AC is able to look past reputation, then surely a few of these Kings guys deserve a call-up.
Another try Kings…magic…Mapimpi has also been great…
@FireTheLooser (Comment 107) : You said “if”… π
This puts into perspective just how kak the Sharks were last weekend – don’t forget the Kings flew back from Aus on Sunday.
37-3 after 72 minutes…that has wrapped up the bonus point…5 tries to 0…
@Spirit of Rugby (Comment 110) : Unfortunately this is true…
@pastorshark (Comment 112) : Or how awesome the Kings are π
@Spirit of Rugby (Comment 110) : Hopefully RdP forced the Sharks to watch this game, instead of warming up for the Jaguars….Just to put things into perspective.
New kids on the block leading the way in SA rugby….Thus far, everyone except the Kings and Lions deserve to be dropped from SR.
@Spirit of Rugby (Comment 113) : Absolutely…awesome!
Another try by the Kings…just top stuff…
Kings are proof of the impact that boardroom politics have on a team….They got rid of the cancer in the boardroom, and voila, a different team is born.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 114) : So bloody true. A few pockets of potential but basically SA rugby is a sorry cesspool of mediocrity. Case in point hopefully not coming up in 12 minutes…
So Kings by 41…I got the win point but got nowhere near the margin point…
@pastorshark (Comment 115) : Love it!!! π
Sharks must go buy Schreuder
@pastorshark (Comment 93) : I cannot face palm any more. I feel like shoving my fist through my face. I mean I’m happy for the kings but I can’t stop thinking we could score even one measly push over try against these clowns. I hope Rob isn’t watching the score or the game. Seriously de motivating.
that was a tight game. but we prevailed, when we are up against it we win
now I hope we dont drop off against the force next week, kings look good wow
kings showed how you should play a weaker team today, very good vibes in pe
@benji (Comment 121) : not sure you buy him, its abit more nuanced than that in rugby, his gotta either be out of contract or have a escape clause or stormers agree to release him, but we compensate them to a degree (I guess that is buying). stormers are always more keen on there players leaving for europe instead of other unions
they did let jonny kotze leave a year early to the bulls lol, what a mistake on his part lol his injured right now though, maybe he would have played had be been fit, still would have lost mostly