Brycy started a pretty interesting thread and clearly demonstrated that there is some value in punting on some of these games this weekend. Lets see who can guess the results with a brief reason why you select that.
ps..If Mike takes part, I offer you a $1.01 odds that he will mention Fransie and Alberts as a reason Sharks lose ;-)
Blues vs Reds - Blues by 9
The Blues are making Eden park a bit of a fortress this year. They wont be the same team at the break down with their inspirational and massive hearted captain Luke Braid but I think they will have enough to squeeze the life out of the Reds at home. When guys like Luatua and Moala sit on your bench, you know you are building a decent squad.
Rebels vs Sharks - Sharks by 6
I always get nervous when the Sharks play "lesser" teams as we always seem to drop our standards. My thinking on this one is how much lower can our standards drop than we have already seen over the past 2 weeks. On the plus side, our team does look stronger than the previous 2 weeks and I am sure Jake would have whipped the boys into shape. They will be hungry to start the tour well! Rebels wont let them run riot though and will push us all the way.
Crusaders vs Brumbies - Crusaders by 14
Crusaders are freshened up. Richie's back. Christchurch is cold and the Brumbies bullied their fellow countrymen when they were ravaged by injury last weekend. Time to hand the headache back!
Chiefs vs Lions - Chiefs by 2
Many new combinations. Chiefs are not clicking this year. If they do this weekend, my prediction will be wrong by 20 but I dont see it! I just see them stuttering and stumbling to wins/draws this year and they should have been embarrassed twice in SA. They also should have lost to the Rebels but they do find a way to grind them out. Lions have little to lose. I expect a good fight from the Lions and I have a feeling we will see an upset here but I am not brave enough to call it. Not whilst Jantjies is at 10 at least but I have never been convinced by Boshoff either. He is the epitomy of average.
Waratahs vs Hurricanes - Waratahs by 10
I think the Hurricanes good run will come to an end in Sydney. Why, because Jacques Potgieter said so!! ;-) If the Hurricanes can win in Sydney, they are the real deal this year but I am going Waratahs.
Stormers vs Highlanders - Stormers by 4
Lets face it, Stormers have not been good but they will be good enough to beat the Highlanders. Highlanders shot their bolt last weekend. Stormers lost to the Cheetahs but that same Cheetahs team put 30 points against the Chiefs in a half. Cheetahs score tries at home..Thats what they do. Burger will lead from the front and spark the guys in defence.
Bulls vs Cheetahs - Bulls by 15
It will be boring. It will be brutal but it will be all Bulls. Its hard to attack when a big pack is smashing you back and we saw the Sharks win easy against the Cheetahs 2 weeks ago when they played shit. It was simply because we outmuscled them and made them have to attack off the back foot. Stormers pack never got stuck in like they should and allowed Cheetahs to attack with front foot ball. Extremely dangerous !
