PREVIEWS AND PREDICTIONS- BLUES v SHARKS (Auckland, Friday 09.35am)
Given what has been going on in Auckland this week, with Pat Lam reacting emotionally to what he called racial insults on social media networks and on talk-back radio, plus captain Keven Mealamu basically telling Piri Weepu to shape up or ship out, there should be a lot of anger in the Blues. That should be bad news for the Sharks, for they desperately need to win this one, and what has appeared to be lacking from the Blues just recently has been 100% energy and commitment. The hosts now have plenty of reason to be energetic. On the positive side of the balance sheet, the Sharks do have Patrick Lambie back, and his decision-making at flyhalf could give them a chance. The Sharks have been so inconsistent this season that it is hard to make a prediction, and the same can be said for the Blues. The anger factor sways me in this one.
Prediction: Blues to win.
FORCE v WARATAHS (Perth, Friday 1.40pm)
The Western Force have Cameron Shepherd back in what is basically the team that thumped the Reds but lost to the Chiefs, while the Waratahs have retained the same 22 that did duty against the Chiefs and the Sharks. The Waratahs coaching staff believes they have arrived at the right 22 and if that is the case they stand a chance against a Force side that has improved as the season has progressed. It is an almost impossible game to call.
Prediction: Waratahs to win.
CRUSADERS v STORMERS (Christchurch, Saturday 09.35am)
The Stormers were outstanding last week after flying across the time zones, but what that result did do was show that the Crusaders can do the same. Although the flight from west to east is tiring and debilitating, the Kiwi side does have the psychological rush of arriving home. And they looked good in patches against the Bulls last week. They have the tactical game and the big backs to trouble the Stormers, who against these opponents might miss the bulk and height Sireli Naqelevuki and Jaque Fourie used to provide against these opponents. I am also one who pays heed to history – no SA team has won in Christchurch this century and there must be a reason for that.
-Prediction: Crusaders to win. (See your shrink will ya!)
BRUMBIES v REBELS (Canberra, Saturday 11.40am)
The Brumbies have made six changes to the side that suffered a second consecutive defeat to the Reds last weekend. The Brumbies are in a bit of a trough, while the Rebels should have some momentum after winning against the Blues last week. But the Brumbies are at home and that should give them an edge.
Prediction: Brumbies to win.
TOYOTA CHEETAHS v CHIEFS (Bloemfontein, Saturday 5.05pm)
A hard one to call as it is difficult to shake off the feeling that for all the strides the Chiefs have made in turning them into a formidable force this season, they do sometimes still blow hot and cold. The Cheetahs have lost Johan Goosen but that might not be quite such a big loss if Sias Ebersohn can recapture the form he showed at stages of last year. The Cheetahs were good on tour and lost none of that momentum against the Lions when they returned. Their defence got a good work-out last week but it will have to be even better this time as the Chiefs have big runners who can hurt them if they get so much as a millimetre beyond the advantage line.
Prediction: Cheetahs to scrape it. (That visit to your shrink paid off!)
MTN LIONS v VODACOM BULLS (Johannesburg, Saturday 7.10pm)
Not many will be giving the Lions a chance of victory in this big northern derby, but the result is by no means a foregone conclusion. The last time the Lions hosted a derby it was the match against the Stormers, the front-runners in the competition, and they were unlucky to lose. They have Elton Jantjes back since then and were better against the Cheetahs than the final scoreline might have suggested. The Bulls have made a few changes to the side that beat Crusaders, with Johann Sadie dropping to the bench for his former WP mate JJ Engelbrecht and Jaundre Kruger moving from No 5 lock to No 4 to replace Flip van der Merwe.
Prediction: Bulls to win.
Hey brycy what do you think about the Cheetahs win prediction. Try and talk some sense please!
