Round 3 of the Rugby Championship ended in heartbreak for the Springboks when they went down to Australia by 1 point in the final few minutes of what was not an entertaining match at all.

The referee, the yellow card to Bryan Habana, the failed touchfinder by Morné Steyn and various other reasons have already been dissected and discussed, so we won’t dwell on those.

In the earlier match New Zealand did what most expected and their bonus point win now has them leading The Rugby Championship log over South Africa.

This weekend sees the big one, Springboks versus All Blacks in Wellington, New Zealand. Jean De Villiers will play in his 100th test, the fifth Springbok to reach this milestone.

On the Rugby-Talk SuperBru log, Charo is in first place on 7,5 points, followed by Modawg on the same amount and Beatrix in third on 7,3 points. The yellow cap this week goes to Daniel who climbed 28 places to 4th on 7 points.

Round 4 kicks off with a do or die match for the Springboks, if they want any chance to win The Rugby Championship, they have to beat the All Blacks in Wellington on Saturday morning, SA time.

The All Blacks have lost Liam Messam and Sam Whitelock to injury as well and they join Dan Carter on the sidelines.

How big an impact that will have on them, remains to be seen.

Springbok Coach Heyneke Meyer has problems, not just with his team selections, but also with his game plan and the execution thereof by his players. The Sprinboks continue to aimlessly kick vital possession away and if there is one side to whom you don’t want to gift possession, it is the All Blacks.

Meyer has opted to drop Morné Steyn out of the match day squad and has entrusted the flyhalf berth to young Handré Pollard. Whether Pollard is ready for a challenge of this magnitude remains to be seen and Saturday will provide the answer.

 

The Rugby Championship

New Zealand vs South Africa:

Nortie’s prediction:

Not too many will be expecting the Springboks to pull off a win, current form of both teams taken into account and the fact that the All Blacks are at home, all points toward another All Black win over the old foe.

The margin will be tricky to predict, as the Bokke will certainly be up for the match, but guts and glory will only get you so far, class, better game plan, better attacking intent and better execution will ultimately prevail.

I think the All Blacks will walk off the field comfortable winners by between 10-15 points.

 

Grootblousmile’s prediction:

Judging by recent results as well as by the 2 Team Sheets, it appears the All Blacks are clear favourites.

In addition the All Blacks are playing at home, which gives them added advantage.

I was shocked that Handré Pollard was picked in the flyhalf starting berth by Heyneke Meyer and I almost had a hissy fit… a little one… when I saw that Ruan Pienaar was still selected at No 9, despite a string of absolutely ghastly performances by him… surely there is better out there.

No matter what the weather does, the sensible thing is to pick the All Blacks for a win, by 8 to 22.

 

Australia vs Argentina:

The second match of the weekend is Australia vs Argentina, and I’m sure there are plenty of people who would love to see Argentina win.

They have a powerful scrum, compete well in the line out and loose, but do they lack the belief and skill to put one over equal or better sides?

The Wallabies have shored up their pack by rushing back Polota-Nau, and the Boks didn’t really manage to totally obliterate their pack last week.

Although they aren’t the strongest scrummimg side on the planet, they are one of the wiliest, so expect them to try and find some sort of counter for the Pumas using more grey matter than grunt.

 

Nortie’s prediction:

Last year this time I picked Argentina to get their first victory in the RC over the Wallabies. Last year this time the Wallabies were in a transitional phase with McKenzie having taken over the reigns, the Lions having won the series in Australia and the Bokke having beaten them with a bonus point win.

This year, Australia, although not quite where they want to be, are a much better side, so although I think the Pumas will once again be ultra competitive, I will still back Australia to narrowly win by 5-10 points.

 

Grootblousmile’s prediction:

I think the Pumas have greatly improved and even against the All Blacks they were very, very competative, specially in the first half.

Whether they have improved enough to beat the Wallabies in Australia is a totally different question though and only a drenched pitch could force a Pumas win, if you ask me.

I predict a win for the Wallabies, going away from the Pumas towards the end of the game… Wallabies by 10 to 15.

 

Predictions from Rugby365:

All Blacks by more than 15
Wallabies by less than 5

 

Predictions from Planet Rugby:

New Zealand by 9
Australia by 1

 

Predictions from SA Rugbymag:

New Zealand vs South Africa

• Jon Cardinelli: New Zealand by 7
• Mark Salter: New Zealand by 10
• Simon Borchardt: New Zealand by 12
• Brenton Chelin: New Zealand by 5
• Gary Lemke: New Zealand by 7
• Mark Keohane: New Zealand by 15

 

Australia vs Argentina

• Jon Cardinelli: Australia by 10
• Mark Salter: Australia by 5
• Simon Borchardt: Australia by 8
• Brenton Chelin: Australia by 12
• Gary Lemke: Australia by 16
• Mark Keohane: Australia by 10

 

***********************************************

 

ABSA Currie Cup

Last weekend’s Currie Cup picks didn’t go too well, with an average of less than 2 points the norm. The Pumas beating the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein was somewhat unexpected, but not completely out of the realms of the imagination, but the win by Griquas over the defending champions was what did most Bru’s in.

Changes atop of the Rugby-Talk leader board is the nett result, with Sakkie amassing a whopping 7 points, and this without a GSP, to climb into 1st place on 25,5 points. Second is Macrobull who climbed 3 places and is on 23,5. In third place is Rudz, also on 23,5. The previous leaders, Daniel and Snoek, are now in 4th and 5th spot respectively on 23 and 22.80 points.

Round 6 of the Currie Cup kicks off on Friday evening with the EP Kings hosting the Vodacom Blue Bulls in Port Elizabeth.

On Saturday there are a further 3 matches, the Cheetahs at home against the Sharks, the Lions hosting the Western Province and the Pumas traveling to Kimberly to face the Griquas.

 

Nortie’s predictions:

EP Kings vs Vodacom Blue Bulls

The Kings haven’t won a match yet, but unlike Griquas, who up to last week were also winless, they look unlikely to break that duck. The Bulls are finding some rhythm now and should be comfortable winners by between 15-20 points.

 

Toyota Free State Cheetahs vs Cell C Sharks

Cheetahs v Sharks is the most difficult pick of the round for me. Both teams are underperforming. The Cheetahs do however have a couple of players who like to run the ball, and if they can minimize the Shark’s mauling try limit to one or two, they could prevail. The Sharks have made some changes of their own, virtually a complete new back line.

This one is so tight, I have revised this particular prediction 4 times already, but after seeing the changes made to the Cheetahs backline, I will scratch my prediction of a Cheetah win and pick the Sharks by 5 or less.

 

Xerox Golden Lions vs DHL Western Province

The big one of the weekend is the Lions hosting the unbeaten Western Province.

WP haven’t won at Ellis Park for a while, and although Senatla is still injured, the Lions are still without their captain Warren Whitely, and that makes a huge difference to their side.

They have suffered some more injuries during training this week, and if it were two full strenght sides facing each other, I might have been swayed to go with the home team.

Province is on a high, confidence is up, they are fairly consistent with selections as, for a change, injuries are not cutting down their players every week.

Province to break the Ellis Park hoodoo and win by 5-10 points.

 

GWK Griquas vs Steval Pumas

The last game of the weekend sees the Griquas and Pumas once again pitted against each other. The Pumas have shown that they are not just formidable opponents in Nelspruit, and are serious contenders.

Pumas by 10-15

 

Grootblousmile’s predictions:

EP Kings vs Vodacom Blue Bulls

I’ll make it simple, the Blue Bulls will win because the Ep Kings do not even belong in the ABSA Currie Cup Premer Division. Blue Bulls by 10 – 20.

 

Toyota Free State Cheetahs vs Cell C Sharks

I think the Free State Cheetahs are weak this season, in many respects and although the Sharks have hit some large boulders in the last few weeks, should actually pull it off against the Free State Cheetahs, even in Bloemfontein.

Cell C Sharks by 5 – 12, as much as it pains me to predict an outcome like that.

 

Xerox Golden Lions vs DHL Western Province

I think the Golden Lions started the Currie Cup season like a house on fire, but I also think the game against DHL Western Province and last weekend’s game against the Vodacom Blue Bulls have knocked quite a bit of stuffing out of them.

DHL Western Province on the other hand are unbeaten and for once is playing a bloody decent game of rugga.

I predict an away win for DHL Western Province, by 5 – 12 points.

 

GWK Griquas vs Steval Pumas

Should be a great game and a tough one for the Pumas in Kimberley. Difficult to predict but my gut feel is tat Jimmy Stonehouse’s Pumas are so amped up at this stage that they could beat almost anybody.

Let’s say Pumas by 5 – 8

 

Predictions from SA Rugbymag:

EP Kings vs Vodacom Blue Bulls

• Jon Cardinelli: Blue Bulls by 8
• Mark Salter: Blue Bulls by 10
• Simon Borchardt: Blue Bulls by 7
• Brenton Chelin: Blue Bulls by 13
• Gary Lemke: Blue Bulls by 24
• Mark Keohane: Blue Bulls by 15

 

GWK Griquas s Steval Pumas

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

 

Toyota Free State Cheetahs vs Cell C Sharks

• Jon Cardinelli: FS Cheetahs by 5
• Mark Salter: FS Cheetahs by 3
• Simon Borchardt: FS Cheetahs by 5
• Brenton Chelin: FS Cheetahs by 6
• Gary Lemke: Sharks by 5
• Mark Keohane: FS Cheetahs by 5

 

Xerox Golden Lions vs DHL Western Province

• Jon Cardinelli: Golden Lions by 5
• Mark Salter: Western Province by 8
• Simon Borchardt: Golden Lions by 3
• Brenton Chelin: Western Province by 4
• Gary Lemke: Golden Lions by 3
• Mark Keohane: Western Province by 10

 

Predictions from Planet Rugby:

Vodacom Blue Bulls by 4
Steval Pumas by 7
Cell C Sharks by 5
DHL WP by 10

 

Predictions from the Rugby Blog:

Vodacom Blue Bulls by 5
Toyota Free State Cheetahs by 4
DHL WP by 3
GWK Griquas by 10

 

Predictions from Rugby365:

Vodacom Blue Bulls
Steval Pumas
Toyota Free State Cheetahs
Xerox Golden Lions