The matchup I'm most....

looking forward is the one between the Bulls vs 'Blues....why? because it's the Bulls first hitout against a non SAFFA franchise. I expect the Bulls to win but they'll be forced to adopt new strategies. Of interest also will be how their new signings matchup against the likes of Toeava and Rene Ranger etc.

It's early days but the Sharks might feel a little bit under the pump going into bat against the Lions. On paper it should be a comfortable Sharks win but I fear something is missing in their star-studded backline. Clearly it's not gelling as they seem to lack combinations. Has the JP position shift backfired? And what about Lambie? ...a failure at 10 and a hero at 15?...or is the service from Freddie too slow?

Big Chief fan sitting bull also see Bulls goring Auckland tribe - Blues tribe cut to pieces by Mighty Chiefs but no time to lick wounds so weakened Blues no longer threat to man or beast...

and new smoke signals tell of coach Pat LAm going to have Bath coaching job, take Blues focus off path to victory ..also standout warriors Jerome Kaino, Rudi Wulf injured by MIghty Chiefs mean Blues on downtrail and drifting like octopus in the great blue abyss....easy battle for Bulls if they any good be like walk in park...

Why sitting bull I have no reason to doubt your smoke signals, they've been spot on so far......but pray tell what signals have you on Crusties vs Mighty Chiefs?

 Mighty Chiefs fine hunters and capture Crusader and AB coach Wayne Smith in off season...wise counsel and many secrets revealed to Chiefs give Mighty Chiefs upper hand ...Mightiest battle to follow between sth island and nth island  since nth island fished up by mighty Chief ...Crusaders have much thunder but Chiefs like lightning and are as sure to win as seeds rise in springtime...

mmmm yeah ok, your signals appear real good, I'm tipping a Mighty Chiefs win as well. Just hope Mighty Chiefs have quality reserves to fall back on in case of more injuries.

I think the smoke has got in chief sitting bull's eyes and the smoking crusties will bounce back with a vegeance and the chiefs will be sent to happy hunting ground?

Always hard for a side to travel to SA and then play first game at altitude. Big advantage to bulle. Its a DOUBLE whammy and accounts for many a bulle win.

Waikato taniwha rau - Waikato of a hundred Chiefs - he piko he taniwha he piko he taniwha - at every bend in the river another taniwha / Chief  ....Hinga atu he tetekura, ara mai he tetekura - as one Chief falls another will rise to take his place...

Trouble is sititng bull some chiefies are more chiefies than others. No side can handle to many injuries particualrly to key players.

Cant recall the Chiefs ever wining a super 10/12/14/15 title so how good is a chief anyways.

The Bulls v the Blues? Interesting one. The Blues offer a little more physicality in the backs. Having watched the Cheetahs demolition though, I don't feel so bad about the loss. We never played that badly, it was jjust such an overwhelmingly good display by the Bulls. What impressed me most was their physicality and accuracy not only at the breakdown, but in the contact area. Working the tackled player with support to put pressure on the deck. Their defence was superb. There were many Cheetahs attacks that really would have opened up any other side in the competition, but the Bulls stuffed it out early. This will bode well for the Bulls as these are the qualities that they will need to beat the Blues. I'm not saying the Bulls are going to win this tournament, they will undoubtedly have their wobbles this season and there is plenty of time for the wheels to fall off; but to play like they did last weekend tells you about their ability and capacity to beat anyone on the planet if I'm being quite honest. If they can beat the Blues, working on their scrumming (Greyling, I'm looking at you bud!), build some momentum... they'll be potent.