Like nearly every one else I got it all wrong last week. Matter of fact I only had three of the 6 forecasts correct. I was wrong with the Brumbies, Crusaders and Chiefs games. That should really scare me off - but I am going to try and get nearer the mark this week.
Blues - Sharks Game
After being totally wrong with the Sharks Surprisingly beating the Crusaders i may be wrong today as well - on the home page I thought that the Sharkks will on tour win 2 games and they won 2 already. The two games I though they would lose were the Brumbies and Crusaders games and they should win the other two.
I am not going to change my mind on the outcome of this game. After their performance last week I think the Sharks will beat the Crusaders by at least 12 points. They should have the upper hand in the Tight 5 - but they need to see Alberts doing some work for a change.
The other issue that could impact on the result is the question of aimless kicking, The Blues have very good outside backs and they will run back at the Sharks and put them at a disadvantage. One can only hope Steyn does not bugger up in that regard.
Rebels - Waratahs Game
It is clear that the Waratahs will go all out to win this game and with Folau, Beale and Foley in their team I think thy will win fairly easily. They are a better all-round team than the Rebels in any event.
Bulls - Brumbies Game
This is a repeat of the game last year between the two sides at Loftus Versveld. It then was a case where Morne Steyn destroyed every chance of the Bulls to win the game by one of the worst aimless kicks a flyhalf could ever make and the Brumbies won the game after scoring a resultant try,
This year I doubt whether they would get similar assistance and we have to look at issues more objectively. The Bulls used to have of the best driving mauls in the game - but they have weakened that component of the game by playing Matfield as a lock and leaving out Willemse. They also made the dubious selection of Kruger ahead of Marcel van der Merwe. The weakening of the tight 5 is a worrying factor.
The other worrying factor is the defense of the Bulls backline. The Brumbies has strong backline ball carriers and they could make life very difficult for the wider out backline players of the Bulls.
However, i think after the Cheetahs loss last week last week - the brumbies will be really fired up this week. Despite that home ground advantage is going to favour the Bulls and the forecast is that the Bulls will win this game with a tight outcome foreseen.
Crusaders - Highlanders
The defeat last week must be very much in the back of the minds of the Crusaders - another defeat will definitely make them very unhappy. I think they realize that hard work is required and that nobody is going to gift them a win.
The Crusaders must have realizxed hat their tight 5 was a major problem for them last week and they changed their starting props this week. They are also without Read and they must certainly hope that McCaw comes to the party this time around.
This type of New Zealand derby is normally won by the backline performance and here the Crusaders might have a problem - their backline is not the strongest one around. However, the Chiefs are not the strongest team around - so my quess is that the Crusaders will win this game.
Hurricanes - Chiefs Game
Both teams must realize that this is a must-win game top feature in the play-offs/semis and both are going to go all out in this game. Both teams have a common problem - namely a dubious Tight 5 combination and in this case the determining factor will be the backline performances.
I think that the team that is better in the latter department of the game will win. Despite home town advantage of the Hurricanes I think the Chiefs will beat them and forecast a Chiefs win in this case.
Force - Lions Game
I am going to go against the majority opinion here and forecast a win here for the Lions. Cannot really lay my finger on the reason - it is just a gut feeling and may be influenced by the travelling factor. A team returning from SA normally ahve a problem in their first game after their return. Tight - but I would give the Lions a very real chance to win this game.
Stormers - Cheetahs game
The only SA derby this week. The Stormers at home is a very difficult team to beat and I think it will be the case again this weekend. I think the Stormers should win this one with relative ease.
