My top 3 Super Rugby games of the weekend

Published 22 February 2012 | By superBul

Although we have seven games  and only the Melbourne Rebels have a bye, my personal three Big games involve the top teams of each Conference. Crusaders vs Blues, Bulls vs Sharks and Waratahs vs Reds.

The 2012 season starts off with a bang in week one with the top teams in all three Conferences taking each other on. Who could have asked for a better Tournament opener with the New Zealand front runners taking each other on. Later on day 1 of the Tournament the South African top guns, Bulls and Sharks battle it out at Loftus. The next day we have the Australian Conference flag bearers , Reds vs Waratahs.

 

Blues vs Crusaders

In our first game we have a repeat of last years first round when the Blues take on the Crusaders. Last year the game was also played in Aucland because of the earthquake in Christchurch and the Blues won 24-22 with 3 tries to 2.

These two teams played each other 19 times. Blues won 9 and Crusaders 10. The points difference between these 2 teams are only 19 in 19 games, with the Crusaders winning by an average of 24-23.  Tries ares in favour of the Blues by quite a big margin in light of the small points difference. Blues have the most tries  53-47.  The prolific boot of Dan Carter gave the Crusaders the points-for advantage.  Taking all these stats into consideration don’t be fooled, they have  given each other a proper trashing over the years. Look at the big margins below.

Marginometer.

2011 Blues 16 – 23 Crusaders Lost by 7
2011 Blues 24 – 22 Crusaders Won by 2
2010 Blues 20 – 33 Crusaders Lost by 13
2009 Blues 13 – 15 Crusaders Lost by 2
2008 Blues 22 – 26 Crusaders Lost by 4
2007 Blues 34 – 25 Crusaders Won by 9
2006 Blues 10 – 39 Crusaders Lost by 29
2005 Blues 19 – 41 Crusaders Lost by 22
2004 Blues 38 – 29 Crusaders Won by 9
2003 Blues 39 – 5 Crusaders Won by 34
2003 Blues 21 – 17 Crusaders Won by 4
2002 Auckland 11 – 30 Canterbury Lost by 19
2001 Auckland Blues 17 – 12 Canterbury Crusaders Won by 5
2000 Auckland 20 – 32 Canterbury Lost by 12
1999 Auckland 16 – 22 Crusaders Lost by 6
1998 Auckland 13 – 20 Canterbury Lost by 7
1998 Auckland 31 – 24 Canterbury Won by 7
1997 Auckland 29 – 28 Canterbury Won by 1
1996 Auckland 49 – 18 Canterbury Won by 31

Who will be the winner this year?

My Pick will be the BLUES By 5.

 

Bulls vs Sharks

The first South African Conference game is a repeat of last year’s end of the season game for the Bulls. On that day it was an unofficial quarter final with the winner staying in the competition. The Bulls played themselves back in contention by winning the previous 6 games but on that day the Sharks was the best and eliminated the Champions 26-23. Over the years these two teams built a similar record to that the Blues and Crusaders. The Bulls wins against the Sharks are 9 to 7, with 2 games drawn. As far as points are concerned, the Sharks win bigger and scores more tries than the Bulls with the points average in favour of the Sharks by 21.17 to 19.78  and total tries, Sharks 42 to the 32 of the Bulls. The Bulls and Sharks have played each other 18 times.

Marginometer

2011 Bulls 23 – 26 Sharks Lost by 3
2011 Bulls 32 – 23 Sharks Won by 9
2010 Bulls 27 – 19 Sharks Won by 8
2009 Bulls 27 – 26 Sharks Won by 1
2008 Bulls 15 – 29 Sharks Lost by 14
2007 Bulls 20 – 19 Sharks Won by 1
2007 Bulls 3 – 17 Sharks Lost by 14
2006 Bulls 34 – 27 Sharks Won by 7
2005 Bulls 23 – 17 Sharks Won by 6
2004 Bulls 18 – 23 Sharks Lost by 5
2003 Bulls 24 – 16 Sharks Won by 8
2002 Bulls 10 – 23 Sharks Lost by 13
2001 Northern Bulls 17 – 30 Sharks Lost by 13
2000 Northern Bulls 14 – 14 Sharks Draw
1999 Northern Bulls 0 – 15 Sharks Lost by 15
1998 Northern Bulls 12 – 8 Coastal Sharks Won by 4
1997 Blue Bulls 27 – 27 Natal Draw
1996 Northern Transvaal 30 – 8 Natal Won by 22

Who would be my Pick?

My Pick is BULLS By 3.

 

Reds vs Waratahs

Last year the Reds had their first win in 8 starts against the Waratahs but no one will dispute the fact that the Reds are the top Australian side now. Under Ewan McKenzie this Union built their own empire after they were so humiliated at Fort Loftus in 2007. If one looks at the history of the two teams, you will note that the Reds have not lost a single game in the first 9 games they played against the Waratahs. Yes there was one draw in their third encounter, but from thereon it was 6 wins on the trot. The Waratahs responded with 7 wins in the following years. Last year the roles were reversed again and the Reds won.

Will this again be a period of 6 years of Reds dominance?

If one looks at the points and tries scored by these two teams you could appreciate how difficult it would be to pick a winner here. the points tally for the Reds is 341 against 326 to the Waratahs, a difference of only 15 in 17 games played between them. the tries are 29 to the Reds and 28 to the Waratahs.

Marginometer

2011 Reds 19 – 15 Waratahs Won by 4
2011 Reds 6 – 30 Waratahs Lost by 24
2010 Reds 28 – 30 Waratahs Lost by 2
2009 Reds 11 – 15 Waratahs Lost by 4
2008 Reds 11 – 18 Waratahs Lost by 7
2007 Reds 13 – 26 Waratahs Lost by 13
2006 Reds 12 – 16 Waratahs Lost by 4
2005 Reds 8 – 27 Waratahs Lost by 19
2004 Reds 23 – 7 Waratahs Won by 16
2003 Reds 35 – 23 Waratahs Won by 12
2002 Queensland 31 – 24 NSW Won by 7
2001 Queensland Reds 25 – 20 NSW Waratahs Won by 5
2000 Queensland 31 – 16 NSW Won by 15
1999 Queensland 30 – 13 NSW Won by 17
1998 Queensland 17 – 17 NSW Draw
1997 Queensland 26 – 16 NSW Won by 10
1996 Queensland 15 – 13 NSW Won by 2

My Pick is the WARATAHS By 2.

 

Other games to be played this weekend and my predictions regaridng the respective winners appear marked in Bold.

Brumbies vs Force

Chiefs vs Highlanders

Stormers vs Hurricannes

Lions vs Cheetahs

15 Responses to My top 3 Super Rugby games of the weekend

  • 1

    Loosehead on 22 February 2012 at 1:38 pm

    :poop: on those 3 games. The V R Y S T A A A A A A A T / Lions game is the pick of the week.
    [in my house at least]

  • 2

    Loosehead on 22 February 2012 at 1:38 pm

    1@ Loosehead:
    Farkin smilies!

  • 3

    superBul on 22 February 2012 at 2:23 pm

    @ Loosehead:
    Playoff tussen no 12 en 14, ja well elke outjie het sy plesiertjie

  • 4

    Scrumdown on 22 February 2012 at 3:43 pm

    SB, How do you conclude that either the sharks or the Bulls are the top sides in the SA conference.

    Did I miss something last year? Or did one of them win the SA conference while I had a social moment?

    Take the Blue contact lenses off.

    Have to agree with Loskoppie. For many reasons the Lions – Cheetahs game is more significant than the Bulls – Sharks match. I personally think it will also be by far the most entertaining game of the weekend.

    3@ superBul:
    And the Bulls and sharks came where, whilst the stormpoppies at least made a HOME playoff.

  • 5

    Lion4ever on 22 February 2012 at 3:50 pm

    @ superBul:
    Super, potential 1 and 2 in SA conference, especially if the Bulls new signings and youngsters struggle in this years Super Rugby. Stormers, for all their promise always fail to deliver, and without Rassie, we will see if AC is that good. Sharks are settled, but because the teams are so close this year, could come a cropper. Our conference is going to be even closer than last year.

  • 6

    ben_die_bul on 22 February 2012 at 3:59 pm

    Sien hier die Stormers se finale afronding voor die seisoen begin:

    http://www.bloubulblog.co.za/2012/02/22/nog-ene-vir-die-stormers-ondersteuners/

    Hier is hoe die SA konferensie gaan eindig:
    1. Bulle
    2. Leeus
    3. Staat
    4. Haaie
    5. Stormers

  • 7

    Scrumdown on 22 February 2012 at 5:02 pm

    6@ ben_die_bul:
    Hehehehe.

    All the highveld teams at the top, and all the surfer dude, pretenders at the bottom.

    I like your line of thought.

    Stormers to make way for the Kings in 2013? Now that would put SARU under pressure.

  • 8

    Loosehead on 22 February 2012 at 5:04 pm

    3@ superBul:
    😆

  • 9

    Loosehead on 22 February 2012 at 5:05 pm

    8@ Loosehead:
    Farkin smilies!

  • 10

    Just For Kicks on 22 February 2012 at 5:46 pm

    Eish, until the other Stormers fans come out of hiding, I think I’ll find a little corner of the blog to sit and colour in! It gets very lonely on this site, I have to say. But, let me be bold, or boldish any way. My ranking of the SA conference as follows

    1.Sharkies
    2. Bulls/Stormers
    4. Cheetahs
    5. Lions

    But hey, I’ve been wrong before!!!

  • 11

    superBul on 22 February 2012 at 7:39 pm

    @ Scrumdown:
    4
    i had a good answer ready, but to keep you busy go to Pick and Go website and see how the ratings work. Yes Stormers are perennial mid table dwellers but their best effort was a final. The Bulls won 3 in fact every one they reached. The Sharks have more finals than the Stormers, although they lost them all. That counts in the book of statisticians.

  • 12

    superBul on 22 February 2012 at 7:57 pm

    @ Just For Kicks:
    10
    JFK
    i feel sorry for you friend, i am sure you see me as a friend too. The lack of trophies in the cabinet hurts.
    Just have a look at the Lions supporters, they were even more scarce than WP supporters , but since they won the Worlds best and oldest trophy they found their voices. You will see how many will creep out of their holes the moment that silverware is back in that Newlands cabinet.

    Sorry about this, i saw it first today, maybe it is old news to you. But some funny guy worked out what DHL stands for, thats off course your main sponsors logo on your shirt.

    Pointing to your trophy cabinet it says Dis Heeltemal Leeg

  • 13

    Just For Kicks on 22 February 2012 at 8:41 pm

    12@ superBul:Don’t feel sorry for me Supers, I say it all in jest, if I took the Stormers seriously in the last 6 months, I’d have slit my wrists by now!!

  • 14

    ben_die_bul on 22 February 2012 at 8:46 pm

    JFK, hou goeie moed, die Proteas (Koning van Chokers) het vandag ‘n wedstryd gewen wat hul volgens hul eeuelange geskiedenis moes verloor het …. so daar is hoop dat die Stormers dit kan omdraai !

    Flippit man, ek kry al daardie jong wp seuntjies jammer wat al amper hoërskool toe gaan en nog geen ordentlike beker gesien het nie, shame man !

  • 15

    Just For Kicks on 22 February 2012 at 8:53 pm

    14@ ben_die_bul:thats the wonderful thing about these kids, because we’ve had nothing in the cabinet for so long, we’ll even be happy with a wooden spoon just to put in it. Thats the problem with coming mid table all the time, you don’t get anything to put in the cupboard!!!!

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