Last week I made some comments on the issue of the games to be played and was pretty near the mark as to what to be expected and was pretty near the mark on the whole - eg I said the Crusaders and Sharks would win, being a walk in the park for them.
So what do I expect to happen this weekend in Round 13:-
Blues-Hurricanes game
I think this should be a win by the Hurricanes, but do not expect as being as wide a winning margin as expected by some. Probably in the region of 15 points. The chances of an upset is about 10%
Sunwolves - Reds game
I think the game could go either way, but think the Sunwolves may pull this off at home. They have doe better against better teams than the Reds, by losing by smaller margins than expected and a win by them in this case is not beyond the realms of possibility. Personally I think the Sunwolves will beat the Reds.
Crusaders - Waratahs game
Another walk in the Park for the Crusaders - the Waratahs is not competition for them
Highlanders - Lions game
The Highlanders were poor in both games played in SA and must now travel back to NZ to face he Lions at home. They can be saved at home by the referee, but even without Marx, the Lions will be too strong for them. The Lions to win by a margin of 12+ points.
Brumbies - Rebels game
The Rebels beat the brumbies easily in their previous game - but the Rebels had a horrible tour of SA and was thereafter humiliated by the Crusaders. I still think this is a 50-50 game with a winning margin of around 6 points by the winners.
Stormers - Chiefs game
I am sorry for the Chiefs. After being dominated by the Jaguares they have to tr avel to Cape Town to play the Stormers. That can only result in them being humiliated and I think a winning margin by the Stormers will be in excess of 15 points.
Bulls Sharks game
Although it is a home game for the Bukks - I think theywill be beaten by the Sharks if they play the type of game they played against the Highlanders. However, the Bulls was beaten by the Highlanders with stroing support of the ref and it is likely that Jackson will ref this game and not the Stormers-Chiefs game this week - so he might not have the impact he had previously in Pretoria. There is about a 30% chance of an upset here, but I think the Sharks should win by circa 10 points.
