OK, GBS is busy, so it gives me a chance to entertain you with MY version of what I believe will happen this weekend. My team isn’t playing, so I do not stand a chance of seeming over-confident or arrogant, so let’s look at what’s on in Super 14 Round 7.

Highlanders vs. Lions

Interesting game this, the Lions looked like they were starting to get into things against the Crusaders, and look and behold, a few of them actually made a tackle or two, but their defense was still their main foe against a second string Crusader team.

The Highlanders, fresh off the plane from the republic, ran into a desperate Sharks team, who didn’t have anything to lose, in the end it was some individual spark, instead of team dynamics that got the Sharks over the finishing line, ahead of a brave, albeit lacklustre Otago team.

As teams the Lions and the Highlanders are well matched, both teams have relatively unknown players, and are keen on running the ball. The ‘landers however, have a superior defensive effort, and as shown against the Bulls in Pretoria, they can penetrate other defensive systems with relative ease when in the zone. The key for the Lions should be, neutralizing the powerful Highlander pack, and then tackle, tackle, tackle, their attack is already good enough.
However, it will be too much too soon for the beasts from Gauteng, with the Highlanders recovered from jetlag I predict the Highlanders by between 7 and 15.

Brumbies vs. Chiefs

Both teams coming off a loss in their last games, with the Brumbies probably being somewhat unlucky in their titanic match against the Blues. The Bulls showed that with forward dominance and creative backplay, the Brumbies can easily be unlocked, and the Chiefs, after their bye, knows all about creative backs.

The Brumbies are probably the gambling man’s favourite, but this is rugby. The Chiefs know what they need to do to remain in contention, after two losses against the Reds and the Crusaders, they will be out for some payback.

I may be grasping at straw, but the Brumbies are not playing to their potential, something seems amiss in their camp, they ground out a hard-fought win against the Sharks at home, but the Chiefs are settled and should have sorted out their problems in their off week. The Blues did it a week ago, and I am afraid, the Chiefs, with a better team, are going to follow in All Black footsteps. Chiefs by between 5 and 9.

Cheetahs vs. Reds

The battle between the perennial bottom dwellers of the past. The Reds have been a revelation this season, mostly thanks to their enormous pack and the individual brilliance Genia and Cooper, shocking both the Crusaders and the Chiefs. They are riding a wave, and seem to be in tremendous form.

The Cheetahs seem more focused than in the past, and for once their aggression isn’t only aimed at their South African counterparts, albeit suffering some losses due to injury.

Bloemfontein is a daunting place to visit, even without a 14-hour flight behind you, I think that the Cheetahs’ defense is probably better than it has been for years, and they are in possession of a pack that can rival anything the Reds throw at them.

With Genia and Cooper on the back foot, and with a certain measure of jetlag to entertain, the Cheetahs are certainly eyeing this as a definite maybe. Home crowd support gives it to the Cheetahs by between 3 and 10.

Hurricanes vs. Sharks

An out of sorts Hurricanes team has been trounced on their South African tour, with their handling not being what it’s supposed to be, and their general play far below what we expect from them. They showed against the Bulls that they can play tight, and was it not for the Bulls’ championship pedigree, they might even have upset the Loftus faithful.

The Sharks still reeling after their first win of the season, have been luckless so far this year. Their one solid player in the past Stefan Terblanche is struggling to find form, and their pack can’t ascertain dominance come scrum-time. They seemed much improved when Pienaar took up the reigns at 10, but this week sees the return of the ironically named Andy Goode. Also their play seems a bit lethargic at times, and even though it is denied, one has to ask oneself if everything is OK over at the Shark tank.

The Hurricanes will have a lot to prove, and with All Black Cory Jane back in the saddle, will be desperate to revive their championship contention. All in all, I feel the Shark’s victory against the jetlagged Highlanders did little to inspire confidence, albeit the Hurricanes are also fresh from SA, they are an entirely different proposition than the Highlanders, desperation gives it to the Hurricanes by between 9 and 15.

Waratahs vs. Blues

The ‘tahs’ match against the Lions had to illustrate exactly how bad the Lions were, because the Tahs, have to be the least entertaining side in the history of the competition. Grinding out a win against the Force that on all counts should have been an easy match for them. Phil Waugh has got to be the angriest little man on earth, and he does little to inspire his players to any kind of greatness.

The Blues have had an up and down season, but seems to be right in it, as far as the competition goes. After a gut-wrenching game against the Crusaders and a close-fought win against the Brumbies they seem to have overcome the rumours about them being full of hot air, proving that if needed, they can also play 15 man rugby.

All in all this game should be quite equal up front, with the Tahs gaining only a slight ascendancy. But from 6 upwards, the Blues are more competent, man for man (excepting maybe Berrick Barnes). Expect another boring show from the Waratahs, but don’t fall asleep, cause the rampant Blues might just give you one or two things to look at. Blues to take the game by between 3 and 8 points.

Force vs. Bulls

Not much to say here really. The Force have too many players on the injury list to be real contenders. Their three best players, O’Connor, Cross and Sharpe, have to contend with arguably some of the best players worldwide in Steyn, Olivier and Matfield.

The Bulls are 5 from 5 this year, defending champions from 2009, and according to many knowledgeable okes, probably the best club or provincial side in the world.

To discount them is certainly not on, but you cannot honestly see the Bulls tripping over this hurdle, if they do, I will have to be stitched back together again, and woe be on any Bull supporter coming onto this blog in the following week.
With fatigue probably the Force’s only ally this week, it has to go the the Bulls by at least 13 points.