This Preview covers the first 3 matches on Friday. The games on Saturday will be covered in the next article. The teams playing on Saturday is under the tag above, “TEAMS”
Blues vs Hurricanes
Last year the Hurricanes gave the Blues a 45-27 hiding on their home turf and extended their record in the Super 14 to four wins out of five. A remarkable turnaround when you consider that the Blues had never lost to the ‘Canes prior to 2005.
Looking at the two backlines it’s obvious that there will be plenty of attacking rugby and tries on offer. It’s more likely that the side that wins this game will be the one that defends the best, sets a steady platform up front and dominates territory and possession.
Blues
The Blues were particurly weak on defence last season
Unavailable for selection because of injury were lock Ali Williams, and backs George Pisi, Anthony Tuitavake and Luke McAlister.
• Captain – Keven Mealamu
• Six new Blues named
• Brett & Mathewson start first games for Blues
• Ma’afi, Lilo, Paulo and Kirkpatrick make up new faces
Hurricanes
The ‘Canes are near full strength with the only notable absentee being former captain Rodney So’oialo
New captain Andrew Hore will lead the Hurricanes for the first time proper in Friday’s Super 14 opener against the Blues in Auckland.
The New Zealand hooker, who took over from Rodney So’oialo as leader during the off-season, captains a side that includes Ma’a Nonu, Conrad Smith and Cory Jane.
Elsewhere in Colin Cooper’s line-up, there are spots for Jason Eaton, Neemia Tialata, John Schwalger and Hosea Gear while Piri Weepu and Willie Ripia
• Captain – Andrew Hore
• Willie Ripia preferred at flyhalf to young sensation Aaron Cruden
• Vito starts in place of So’oialo who is taking the first three weeks off
• Michael Paterson starts ahead of All Black lock Bryn Evans
Force vs Brumbies
The Western Force managed to beat all three Australian sides last year, but it’s tough to see them overcoming this classy Brumbies outfit.
The fortunes of the two teams since the 2009 edition couldn’t be more different with the Brumbies making some big signings while the Force watched some of their best players leave
Force
The player drain has been offset somewhat by the arrival of Matt Dunning
Five new players are starting for the Force on Saturday and they’ve had to convert prop Pek Cowan into a hooker to cope with the loss of Tai McIsaac. To write the Force off this season would be foolish as they have class players like Nathan Sharpe, Dunning, David Pocock, Richard Brown, Cameron Shepherd and James O’Connor in their starting line-up
• Captain – Nathan Sharpe
• Bartholomeusz, Sheehan, Harris, Dunning and Henderson to make their Force debuts
• Sare and Cummins out injured
• Sharpe to make 50th appearance for the Force
Brumbies
Giteau has been named in the starting line-up alongside the Brumbies’ other big signing Rocky Elsom. The Canberra based side signing both the best Wallaby back and forward during the off season. Throw in the return of Justin Harrison and Josh Valentine and it’s easy to see why the Brumbies are being mentioned as title contenders for 2010.
• Captain – Stephen Hoiles
• Giteau faces late fitness test
• Elsom, Valentine and Harrison all start after moves
• Pat McCabe to make debut on right wing
Cheetahs vs Bulls
The match is a replay of last year’s Currie Cup final
If you’re looking for areas where one side dominates the other then look no further than halfback and the back three. The Bulls hold a distinct advantage at scrumhalf and flyhalf with Springbok pair Fourie du Preez and Morne Steyn in a class of their own in that department. Out wide it’s the Cheetahs who hold a slender advantage over the Bryan Habana-less Bulls back three. Nokwe and Mapoe, in particular, have pace to burn and the Cheetahs might look to exploit the Bulls out wide.
An interesting statistic is that the Bulls have won 15 games on the trot in South Africa.
Cheetahs
Seven players in all could be in line for their first taste of top level action. That doesn’t mean that they lack class or experience two of them, Riaan Viljoen and Ashley Johnson, getting Springbok caps in Europe last November while Lionel Mapoe was one of the brightest stars involved in the Currie Cup last year
WP Nel received international recognition when he was picked for the Barbarians and will form a formidable front row alongside Adriaan Strauss and Wian du Preez
Juan Smith, Heinrich Brussow and Johnson make up a lethal loose trio
• Captain – Juan Smith
• Seven S14 Rookies in squad
• Johnson, Mapoe and Viljoen all start first S14 game
• Barnes, Oosthuizen, Vermeulen and Ebersohn set for debuts off the bench
Bulls
Retained the bulk of the squad which won the title last year – with only Bakkies Botha and Akona Ndungane missing due to injury – while welcoming hooker Gary Botha and Potgieter back into the fold.
The Bulls developed a few chinks in their scrum armour last season and there will be few better tests to see if they’ve improved in that area than the Cheetahs pack
• Captain – Victor Matfield
• Roux and van der Merwe could make first appearance for the Bulls if used
• 50th game for Gary Botha
• Botha and Potgieter return to the Bulls following two years away
VRYSTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!
Jis ou jy maak my senuwees klaar, se daai vrystaat saggies , moenie so skree nie. 😆
my superbru gaan vir n bul wen maar ek sal glad nie omgee as die STAAT die een vat nie..
Ek verkondig nie maklik my predictions nie maar die game tussen die Bulle en die Cheetahs gaan close wees.
Die Blues teen Hurricanes gaan een span weghol en dalk ver wen .
Die Brumbies gaan die Force so klap soos die Stormers die Force geklap het.
Maar die flippen Cheetahs sal al loop hulle op een staduim ver voor of agter baie gelyk wees. Die twee spanne het nie ooghare vir mekaar nie. Ek as Bul ondersteuner is maar skrikkerig vir hulle. Weet nie wats dit met die blerrie Cheetahs nie, ons is te groot prooi vir n Cheetah maar hulle bly ons pla.
:LOL: 😆
Ps. Maar kom maar die Bulle is lus vir julle ek sien dis paar tyd in die bos , so weet maar julle gaan n bedonnerde BUL sien Moreaand.
met die guppies se spel die jaar is dit nie maklik om daai game te predict nie, die chiefs is mos soos die franse weet nie wat om te verwag nie…
5 – Scrumsaam, Just go with the SA side. Going to be Sharks buddy? TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO humid for the Chiefs…lol.
Mornin All, yep Puma, gonna be humid, although today is cool and cloudy, looks like rain, but the way things have gone here it should all return back to hell tomorrow.
7 – Morning FireStraeuli, Welcome here mate, good to see you posting on RT. We waited a long time last night for you to regisiter.
Just looked at the weather forecast and it says hot for Saturday. Not good for both teams the humid weather but probably worse for Chiefs as they not used to it.
Komaan GBS, die S14 begin more en ons wag nog vir die kompetisie op RT. Ek waai more Durban toe, en gaan nie naby Internet access wees nie. Ek moet vandag enige predictions vir die naweek maak.
HELP!
9@ Snoek – Hang bal donner, ek gaan net gou ‘n Netwerk se drade aanmekaarknoop in Springs van alle plekke, dan sit ek die kompetisie op….
Hier’s ‘n voorsmakie van die Login Page…
So hou vas, hy kom… VANDAG, so vroeg moontlik…
Kerels, hier kom LANG trane… hehehehe
Ongelukkig gaan net 2 SA spanne wen die naweek… 🙁
Canes
Brumbies
Bulle
Saders
Tahs
Leeus
Sharks
Wanneer word daar nou finaal besluit oor Ludik en Alberts se lot ?
Sharks…nahhhh
15: Chiefs begin altyd sleg, en ek dink die bomskok van die S14 finaal verlede jaar, gaan nog lank vat om te oorkom.
Blouste, ek het gehoor al die spanne het ‘n saamtrek gehou Stormers sit glo agter die hele ding), en soos een vrou saam besluit: gee nie om wie in die finaal is nie, almal moet net sorg dat dit nie op Loftus is nie. Geen span sien kans vir so iets nie, en mens kan hul sekerlik nie kwalik neem nie.
Canes met 10-
Brumbies met 5-
Bulls met 10+
Saders met 10+
Tahs met 15+
Stormers met 10-
Chiefs met 5+
Daar’s hy. Dis my predictions vir die baweek…
17 – KingPaul, Think Hurricanes will take the Blues. One of the big games this weekend.
Sharks and Chiefs it could still go either way. Who knows what Meyer would have played like, just read about him had never seen him play. It is our centres that also worry me as we don’t have Swannie to start. Think that is where we will be weak. Then who knows maybe the players play great Saturday. All I want is a win never mind the bonus point at this stage.
Still say Sharks by 5.
Puma
Sharks se agterlyn kwel my, en die Chiefs het gevaarlike ouens daar agter. Voorlangs kan hulle hul man staan, mits die skrums hou…
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