Let me start off this week’s SuperBru thread by saying “Thanks for nothing, Sharks!”

Typical of the Cell C Sharks, play like plonkers for most of the Currie Cup, but then turn it on just in time to mess up everyone’s GSP.

After losses to the Steval Pumas and then at home to the GWK Griquas, not many gave them a chance at Loftus. Well done to the Sharks though, but it must be added that the Blue Bulls looked like plonkers on Saturday.

The Xerox Golden Lions and DHL WP consolidated their positions on the top of the Log with comfortable wins against the Steval Pumas and GWK Griquas, and the Toyota Free State Cheetahs easily beat the Eastern Province Kings. No surprises with those three games.

This week The Rugby Championship also resumes with the Springboks hosting the Wallabies at Newlands, Cape Town and the All Blacks traveling to Argentina to face Los Pumas.

Over to some predictions…

 

The Rugby Championship:

Nortie’s predictions:

The Wallabies haven’t beaten the Boks at Newlands since 1992 and I don’t think they will start now. They did beat us in Australia, but on Saturday it will be a different story. Boks have made some changes, the most notable and talked about being Oupa getting his first start. The Wallabies are decimated at hooker once again. Bokke at home should have just enough firepower to deal with the Ozmob, especially when HM brings on some of his experienced bench players. Then again, against the All Blacks his bench was utter crap and Bismarck, Lambie and Lood made more of an impact for the All Blacks than they did for the Bokke. Let’s hope this week he doesn’t sub just because he promised some of them X amount of minutes, but actually leaves the guys doing the job on the field if they are playing proper rugby.

Springboks by between 8-13 points would be my guess.

 

The All Blacks are without Aaron Cruden, but that means Barrett gets another crack at fly half. Last time out against Argentina he was also the fly half and barring a terrible day kicking wise, he set the back line away superbly. The All Blacks will relish the nice dry conditions and hard field and will use this game as a nice warm up for the big game a week later at Ellis Park. Most players will go for a small All Black win, but I don’t subscribe to the popular opinion that the Argentines are good or have made so much progress that they can keep the All Blacks close in perfect conditions. I really hope the AB’s cut loose and run them ragged.

All Blacks by 30-35

 

Grootblousmile’s predictions:

The Springboks missed a golden opportunity in the last game against the Wallabies, conspiring against themselves to lose to a resurgent Wallabies side in the last 10 minutes. The Bokke will therefore still be hurting that they let themselves down like that and will be up for the Test at Newlands. Springboks have a worry at scrumhalf and a question mark at blindside flank.

Let’s be frank, the Wallabies are not great at the moment, not by a long shot and should be beaten at Newlands.

Springboks by between 5-12 points.

The Pumas always start a Championship much harder than they finish it, whereas the All Blacks seem to get stronger the longer a Championship continues.

With 5 changes in the All Blacks squad, they are still putting a squad out there that is very, very strong. With Beauden Barrett at flyhalf, the All Blacks should run the Pumas ragged and I expect a big All Black win!

All Blacks by 20 – 30

 

Predictions from the bookies:

• Sportingbet: South Africa, New Zealand
• Bet.coza: South Africa, New Zealand
• Sportsbet: South Africa, New Zealand

 

Predictions from SARugbymag:

SPRINGBOKS vs WALLABIES

• Gary Lemke: Boks by 9
• Mark Salter: Boks by 10
• Jon Cardinelli: Boks by 6
• Simon Borchardt: Boks by 8
• Brenton Chelin: Boks by 17
• Mark Keohane: Boks by 15

 

ARGENTINA vs ALL BLACKS

• Gary Lemke: All Blacks by 12
• Mark Salter: All Blacks by 12
• Jon Cardinelli: All Blacks by 12
• Simon Borchardt: All Blacks by 14
• Brenton Chelin: All Blacks by 8
• Mark Keohane: All Blacks by 5

 

Predictions from Planet Rugby:

• South Africa by 10
• New Zealand by 15

 

Predictions from Rugby365:

• Springboks by 8

 

Predictions from SuperSport:

• Springboks by 7
• All Blacks to win with a bonus point

 

Currie Cup – Round 8:

As if the Cell C Sharks winning at Loftus wasn’t punishment enough, the Yellow Cap for last weekend goes to BrumbiesBoy. Talk about rubbing salt into the wounds… well done PoneyBoy, I hope they have a cap big enough to fit that head of yours.

We have a new leader atop of the Log after Brakenjan usurped MacroBull by jumping 7 spots. Brakenjan is on 30.75 points to Macro’s 30.50. In third spot this week it’s Bono who moved up 12 places and sits on 30.00 points.

Let’s get to the predictions for Round 8…

 

 

Nortie’s predictions:

There are two matches on Friday, the one being between the Free State Cheetahs vs the Blue Bulls. This is the most difficult pick of the round. I think a coin toss is the way to go and am expecting that the team I don’t pick will be victorious.

I tossed a coin twice and both times it came up Blue Bulls, but after them dropping most Bru players last weekend, I decided I couldn’t pick them again, so I went for the Free State Cheetahs.

Free State Cheetahs by 3

 

Province play the Pumas in Nelspruit and although the Pumas have been unbeaten in Nelspruit, there is a first time for everything, so I expect Province to get an away win.

WP by 15-20

 

On Saturday the final two matches will be played before the big one between the Springboks and Wallabies.

The Xerox Golden Lions travel to Kimberley and I doubt they will have too much trouble dealing with the Griquas.

Golden Lions by 25-30

 

The second match on Saturday will see the Cell C Sharks beat the EP Kings. Pointless saying too much about this one, it’s the EP Kings, so they will lose.

Cell C Sharks by 20-25

 

Grootblousmile’s predictions:

Some interesting games this weekend and none more so than the game between the Free State Cheetahs and the Blue Bulls.

I am bitterly disappointed in the way my Blue Bulls have been doing things and the bottom line is that I think they have become stale and far too predictable, as a result I think that time is overly ripe for a palace revolution and some coaching changes! Sorry Frans Ludeke, you are an extremely nice guy.. but I think it’s time for renewal.

The Free State Cheetahs have also been very average to poor in the Currie Cup… so who to pick?

I will go for hometown advantage…

Free State Cheetahs by 4 – 8

 

DHL Western Province, to the absolute delight of their big-mouth supporters, have been excellent in the Currie Cup, playing excellent rugby.

The Steval Pumas started the Currie Cup season like a house on fire, but they will be waning towards the latter stages of the competition, simply because they do not have the depth to maintain their giant-slaying exploits… and this weekend will follow that line.

WP by 12-24

 

The Xerox Lions are playing a fantastic brand of rugby lately… spit, spit, spit!

Griquas on the other hand, like the Pumas do not have the depth to mantain a strong run right throughout a season but they are notorious buggers to overcome in Kimberley.

The Golden Lions simply have too much ammo for the Griquas though.

Xerox Golden Lions by 15-25

 

The Cell C Sharks vs the Eastern Province Kings.. well we all know on current playing merit the EP Kings don’t even belong in the Currie Cup Premier Division (although completely valid arguments are made that the region should be developed and enhanced).

This game is a no-brainer… just the margin of the Sharks victory is the elusive question.

Cell C Sharks by 20 – 40, yeah, I know my margin is very wide…

 

Bookies’ predictions:

• Sportingbet: WP, Cheetahs, Sharks, Lions
• Bet.coza: WP, Cheetahs, Sharks, Lions
• Sportsbet: WP, Cheetahs, Sharks, Lions

 

SARugbymag’s predictions:

PUMAS vs WESTERN PROVINCE

• Gary Lemke: WP by 10
• Mark Salter: WP by 8
• Jon Cardinelli: WP by 7
• Simon Borchardt: WP by 5
• Brenton Chelin: WP by 6
• Mark Keohane: Pumas by 3

 

FS CHEETAHS vs BLUE BULLS

• Gary Lemke: Bulls by 4
• Mark Salter: Cheetahs by 5
• Jon Cardinelli: Bulls by 5
• Simon Borchardt: Cheetahs by 7
• Brenton Chelin: Cheetahs by 12
• Mark Keohane: Bulls by 5

 

SHARKS vs EP KINGS

• Gary Lemke: Sharks by 22
• Mark Salter: Sharks by 10
• Jon Cardinelli: Sharks by 10
• Simon Borchardt: Sharks by 12
• Brenton Chelin: Sharks by 16
• Mark Keohane: Sharks by 20

 

GRIQUAS vs GOLDEN LIONS

• Gary Lemke: Lions by 4
• Mark Salter: Lions by 12
• Jon Cardinelli: Lions by 8
• Simon Borchardt: Lions by 5
• Brenton Chelin: Lions by 13
• Mark Keohane: Lions by 10

 

Predictions from Planet Rugby:

• Cheetahs by 6
• WP by 4
• Lions by 10
• Sharks by 18

Predictions from the Rugby Blog:

• Cheetahs by 10
• WP by 6
• Sharks by 25
• Lions by 9

 

Predictions from Rugby365:

• WP by 10
• Cheetahs by 4
• Sharks by 14
• Lions by 8

 

Predictions from SuperSport:

• WP to score hard fought win
• Cheetahs to win
• Sharks to score comfortable win with bonus point
• Golden Lions to win