So we have a round where I believe upsets may be too many for our liking - so anything could happen. Lets look at the various matches which would impact on my fantasy team selections.
Chiefs vs Jaguares Game
The Chiefs have a very good backline and there forwards are iffy – with their best forward player absent from duty. The Jaguares base there game on Tight 5 dominance and good loosies and it would not be difficult for the Jaguares to dominate up front.
I give the Chiefs a 50% chance to win te game – but they would have home town advantage. I do not expect any of the two sides to win by more than 6 points.
Rebels vs Crusaders
This is one game that should be a walk in the park for the Crusaders. The Rebels had two poor games against te SA teams and theyh mhayh hhhave jheth lag to take into account.
Not that the Crusaders have not lost against the Rebels in he past – but this time the deck is stacked in their favour.
Hurricanes vs Lions
A difficult game to predict. The Hurricanes are the favourites, but they –
* did not perform as well as expected against the Sunwolves in Round 11; and
* needed the active help of the referee to beat the Sharks at home and lost against the Bulls away.
Although the Hurricanes have an excellent backline their forwards are at best iffy. Their loosies are good – their Tight 5 anything but. My guess is that the winning margin will be small – but think either side could win this one.
Waratahs vs Blues
Most people think that the Waratahs will win this one with ease aand on paper it may happen, but I think there could be an upset. The Waratahs at times lost the plot completely and the return of Folau may put them on a more positive trajectory.
The Blues however, had a poor record this year – their big scalp was the Lions away – the Lions beat the Waratahs by reducing them to a mess. No Waratahs team ever had no points in a Super Rugby match
The Waratahs should win – but????????
Stormers vs Bulls
The Bulls have the momentum – the Stormers a desperate need to win the game. The Stormers have three players whose performances on the day will have an impact on the outcome – namely Willemse, De Allende and Du Toit. I tend to believe that being at home with huge crowd support the Stormers may just pull of a win – but the margin will be close.
Sharks vs Highlanders
It depends on which team turns up against the Highlanders. The Highlanders will need the assistance of the ref, the linesmen and the TMO to get out of jail here. If there is no such interference they are going to lose by 15+ points.
So where to with fantasy selections?
I am convinced it would be wrong to put too many eggs in one basket. For that reason my team is made up of the following-
Chiefs Players - 2 McKenzie and Alailamo
Crusaders - 3 Goodhue, Drummond and Franks
Rebels 1 Mafi
Huricanes 2 Lam and Laumape
Lions 1 Marx
Blues 1 Akira Ioane
Bulls 2 De Jager
Stormers 3 Kitshoff, Du Toit and Willemse
Sharks 1 Jean-Luc du Preez
I benched Rieko Ioane and Augustine Pulu because of the poor team efforts thus far. Is probably wrong in doing that
Drummond and Franks are probably the worst two fantasy selections I ever made and now I am stuck with them
