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Super Rugby Preview Rd 14 My Picks

Started by 3ku17 REPLIES871 VIEWS· 13 May 2014, 06:29
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3K
3ku1
Pro2,580 posts
3K
3ku1Pro2,580 posts
13 May 2014, 06:29
#1
13 May 2014, 06:29#1

Hurricanes V Highlanders:


Prediction: Canes


Margin: -12


How Come: Canes have stuttered a bit the past few weeks compared to their form againgst Saders, Bulls, Blues, and Reds. But no team this year has been comfortable away from home, getting a loss in a game they should of wan, and beating a Rebels side at home which is never easy is relatively a good result. On the contrast Landers had a strong SA tour, smashing the Sharks at home, and loosing narrowlly to the Stormers by one point. However Canes structures have become very clinical this 

year, oppossed to the Canes of the past who have been excitement machines in the past, but when pressure came on faltered. But

 this Canes side seem to use the pressure to their advantage. After Landers struggles past the Lions albiet showing fatige due to 

Jetlag, seemed to unable to switch to 

defense quickly ennough, when a good attacking team puts pressure on. Previous 

results againgst Kiwi opppssition like 29-26 win over Saders away and 39-20 smashing 

of the Blues at home. Last time they faced, Landers just beat Canes 35-31, however Canes looked the better side in the end, was 

the cataylyst for their run of form, so recently they may hv the 

wood on kiwi opposistion, with home advantage Canes should win.



Crusaders Vs Sharks


Prediction: Saders


Margin: 13+


How Come: Nothing to say here if Saders dont put 30 on the hapless Sharks, somethings wrong


Rebels Vs Reds


Prediction; Reds


Margin: -12


How Come: Reds in shocking form, well be a close game. But Reds have more internationals who need and should stand up.


Stormers Vs Force


Prediction: Stormers


Margin:  -12


How Come: Force had a great start to their SA tour, and may actually beat Stormers, considering how injury depleted they are. And the fact the Stormers are still really misjointed, but Stormers showed enough againgst Landers Home and Bulls away, to suggest home advantage well be enough.


Cheetahs Vs Brumbies:


Prediction: Brumbies


Margin: -12


How Come:  Cheetahs are a good side, but they are really lacking balance in their gameplan right now. Brumbies are in form, looking really strong, too many strike players, and internationals and dont think travel well be an issue. 


Warratahs Vs Lions:


Prediction: Waratahs


Margin: 13+


How Come: Lions had a good second half againgst the Landers, but most of that stemmed from Landers fatiguing due to jetlag, againgst a freshened Tahs side expect a big loss

BO
Boklogic
Pro1,978 posts
BO
BoklogicPro1,978 posts
13 May 2014, 06:45
#2
13 May 2014, 06:45#2
All bullshit. I don't say the Sharks will win but they won't lose by 30 points either! Still one of the best defensive teams if not the best in the comp. People on here swear blind the Sharks lost terribly last week. Let's not forget that a couple missed penalties, some missed touch from penalties and over thrown line out in shoddy weather is what cost the Sharks the win there. We still held the dangerous brumbies to 1 try in their back yard. Same place the fucked the Chiefs up properly. Crusaders should win but 12 under sounds better.Trust me, it's not all doom and gloom for the Sharks. Not by a long way. Yes we have been harsh on Fransie this week but I hope he starts at 10 this weekend and has a blinder. We have no other options right now!

Rebels will beat reds.Cheetahs will beat Brumbies.
3K
3ku1
Pro2,580 posts
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3ku1Pro2,580 posts
13 May 2014, 06:51
#3
13 May 2014, 06:51#3
 I cant see the Cheetahs beating the Brumbies, yeah 30 points i was over exagerrating haha, more 12-15. But wouldent be surprised if Saders win by more.
BO
Boklogic
Pro1,978 posts
BO
BoklogicPro1,978 posts
13 May 2014, 07:31
#4
13 May 2014, 07:31#4
 Look anything can happen hey. If there is one team that can beat good defences by 30 points, it is the Crusaders but I don't think the Sharks are as bad as the wrap they are getting. On another night, we could have been 2 from 2 on tour so far. A few crucial moments is was cost us and Fransie is taking the wrath of it as he provided most of those moments with missed touch and post kicks from penalties and relieving pressure by kicking restarts directly into touch. It was a bad night for him. If he can sort that out for this weekend, Sharks are a chance albeit a very slim one.
History dictates that the Sharks won't win and currently, Saders are looking like Saders teams of old and that is an almost impossible task in Christchurch. 
We will have to see how it pans out but surely the Sharks won't be embarrassed. We would have to really roll over and die if we are to be smashed by big numbers!
CL
clevermike
Coach57,555 posts
CL
clevermikeCoach57,555 posts
13 May 2014, 10:59
#5
13 May 2014, 10:59#5
 I do not necessarily agree with the sentiments expressed in this thread.  Personally I think that the Sharks should rest two players who have the habit of under-performing for most of the games thus far in Super 15 - namely Alberts and Steyn.  
The reason is that the Stormers put up a decent enough game against the Crusaders and scored the best try of the day in that game.  Steyn is deadly poor in attacking backline play and kills all backline play.  He is no asset at 10 or 12 insofar as attacking rugby is concerned - so why play him in a game where the Crusaders would play 15 man rugby and Steyn would help them in mindless kicking?
I would also leave out Alberts from the starting line up.  Rest him by putting him on the bench.  He went AWOL against the Brumbies and was not present against the Rebels either.    He is what I would call a lazy player at the best of times. 
I would change the Sharks team by putting Steyn and Alberts on the bench and see   what happens.   Both are really defense liabilities as well = so if the game goes reasonably well - that is where I would leave them.
If I was White - I would select the following team for the Saders game:-
15  Marais,  14  Mvovo.  13 Sithole,  12  Jordaan,  10  Swiel,  9  Reinach,  8  Kankowski,  7  Deysel,  6  Botha, 5  Lewies,  4  Oosthuizen, 3  Adriaanse, 2 Du Plessis, 1 Beast.
16  Cooper, 17  Du Plessis,  18  Chadwick, 19 Alberts, 20 Daniel,  21 McLeod, 22 Steyn, 23  Pietersen.
The latter has also been holidaying in most games this year and a rest will make no difference to the team.   
The above team would be a gamble - but a gamble can pay off.  The present starting line up is not a gamble - but sure to lose, so what the hell take the gamble he may just hit the jackpot.                     
   
NU
nukefreekiwi
Club Pro441 posts
NU
nukefreekiwiClub Pro441 posts
13 May 2014, 11:41
#6
13 May 2014, 11:41#6
 All this talk about the Saders rolling the Sharks this weekend is making me nervous. I just hope the players aren't getting as confident and cocky because they may find themselves on the wrong side of the ledger. The Sharks could have beaten the Brumbies last weekend but for some poor kicking from Franna. Whites strategy is frustrating for opposition teams who want to run the ball and the Saders will lose if they are lured into a dour slogfest. A win against the Saders in Chch is just the impetus the Sharks need to move on and win the comp.
JW
Just_win
Captain18,570 posts
JW
Just_winCaptain18,570 posts
13 May 2014, 12:17
#7
13 May 2014, 12:17#7
Nukefree: I agree absolutely.

It was only a few weeks back some posters were calling for Blackadder's head and saying he was a good player but lousy coach.

Plus, the Sharks did not get to the top of the leader board by wishing it was so, they are a really good team that h ad a few hickups last weekend.
BO
Boklogic
Pro1,978 posts
BO
BoklogicPro1,978 posts
13 May 2014, 14:03
#8
13 May 2014, 14:03#8
 ^^^Gold by Just win and Nukefreekiwi...
A 16-9 loss to the 2nd team on the log in their back yard does not suddenly make the Sharks easy beats. We will not beat the Crusaders by playing their game. We need to make them play ours which means more of the same that we saw last weekend. Only thing that will need to be different is the execution. We can not afford to make as many unforced errors as we did. We can not kick balls out on the full off restarts or miss touch on penalties. The Sharks can beat the Crusaders but the worst thing we can do now is try and change our gameplan.If the Crusaders are good enough to field our kicks and play their natural counter attack game, we stand little chance as 7 pointers accumulate way faster than 3 pointers! We will need to be 100% on top of our game and get up on the Crusaders back 3 much quicker than we did last week. Force Dagg into an unnatural kicking game.
Weather looks awesome for Saturday nights game in ChCh on metservice which means the Crusaders will be fancying their chances of running the Sharks off their feet.
If we chase kicks like we did last week, Crusaders will run it back at us with interest every time. We need to be in their face. We need to contest the breakdowns and not let the Saders build phases because god knows they dont need many to score..They have game breakers across the park!
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