Graham
30-04-2009, 19:43
:SharksLogo0760:
So Lads what are your predictions for this weekend?
Graham
:SharksLogo0760: for ever!!!
supersport.co.za
WEEKEND FIXTURES AND PREDICTIONS
FRIDAY
Hurricanes v Blues Wellington 09.35
The Hurricanes produced probably the performance of the tournament in destroying the Brumbies last week and against a Blues team that should offer them scoring opportunities, they should be favoured to remain on top of the log at the end of this round.
Prediction: Hurricanes by 10.
Auto & General Lions v Crusaders Coca Cola Park 15.00
The Vodacom Cheetahs did the other South African teams a massive favour last week and the Lions can deliver the coup de grace. The Crusaders have ruled Richie McCaw out of the match because of concussion and no-one needs to be reminded how crucial that could be. However, the Crusaders have returned fullback Leon MacDonald to the starting team, which was a wise move, and Isaac Ross and Andy Ellis are also starting again.
Prediction: Crusaders by less than 7.
SATURDAY
Reds v Brumbies Brisbane 11.40
The Brumbies must have been shattered after their massive defeat to the Hurricanes, when the result must have felt a bit to them like having a balloon deflated given all the emotion they had ridden on following the death of Shawn McKay. The Reds recovered from a poor trot of matches last week to all but end the Blues challenge. It is a tough one to call, but the Reds are hosting the game, and the Brumbies’ morale must be questioned after Wellington.
Prediction: Reds to win narrowly.
The Sharks v Highlanders ABSA Stadium 15.00:shark2:
The time has arrived where the Sharks have to slip into finals mode, but at the same time they also have to grab whatever bonus points offer themselves. Of all the remaining matches, this is the one that offers the Sharks the best opportunity of grabbing five log points, which depending what happens later in the day in Pretoria, could just edge them back into the top two.
Prediction: Sharks by more than 10.:pokal::loveshower:
Vodacom Bulls v Western Force Loftus Versfeld 17.05
The Western Force were all over the Lions last week, but the Bulls are not the Lions, and Loftus definitely is not the Subiaco Oval. The Bulls at the moment are playing almost the perfect game given the strengths and weaknesses of the team, and while the Force may give them a hard time along the way, the hosts should be expected to strengthen their title challenge with another good win at altitude.
Prediction: Bulls by between 6 and 13.
Vodacom Stormers v Chiefs Newlands 19.10
The loss of Andries Bekker through a rib injury has severely dented the Stormers’ chances of helping out the Bulls and the Sharks by knocking over a team that before last week had won six successive games. But given the way the two teams play, the Stormers do have a definite chance of scoring an upset. What it will require of them is that they use the same recipe that previous Stormers teams used to beat the Crusaders and Blues in Cape Town in similar matches in recent years -- in other words, they must suffocate their opponents with their defensive game and just prevent the multitude of game-breakers in the Chiefs team from getting space and opportunities. Unfortunately for the Stormers, however, when you talk about game-breakers in the Chiefs team, the reference is not just to one or two, but virtually the whole team.
Prediction: Chiefs by less than 7.
So Lads what are your predictions for this weekend?
Graham
:SharksLogo0760: for ever!!!
supersport.co.za
WEEKEND FIXTURES AND PREDICTIONS
FRIDAY
Hurricanes v Blues Wellington 09.35
The Hurricanes produced probably the performance of the tournament in destroying the Brumbies last week and against a Blues team that should offer them scoring opportunities, they should be favoured to remain on top of the log at the end of this round.
Prediction: Hurricanes by 10.
Auto & General Lions v Crusaders Coca Cola Park 15.00
The Vodacom Cheetahs did the other South African teams a massive favour last week and the Lions can deliver the coup de grace. The Crusaders have ruled Richie McCaw out of the match because of concussion and no-one needs to be reminded how crucial that could be. However, the Crusaders have returned fullback Leon MacDonald to the starting team, which was a wise move, and Isaac Ross and Andy Ellis are also starting again.
Prediction: Crusaders by less than 7.
SATURDAY
Reds v Brumbies Brisbane 11.40
The Brumbies must have been shattered after their massive defeat to the Hurricanes, when the result must have felt a bit to them like having a balloon deflated given all the emotion they had ridden on following the death of Shawn McKay. The Reds recovered from a poor trot of matches last week to all but end the Blues challenge. It is a tough one to call, but the Reds are hosting the game, and the Brumbies’ morale must be questioned after Wellington.
Prediction: Reds to win narrowly.
The Sharks v Highlanders ABSA Stadium 15.00:shark2:
The time has arrived where the Sharks have to slip into finals mode, but at the same time they also have to grab whatever bonus points offer themselves. Of all the remaining matches, this is the one that offers the Sharks the best opportunity of grabbing five log points, which depending what happens later in the day in Pretoria, could just edge them back into the top two.
Prediction: Sharks by more than 10.:pokal::loveshower:
Vodacom Bulls v Western Force Loftus Versfeld 17.05
The Western Force were all over the Lions last week, but the Bulls are not the Lions, and Loftus definitely is not the Subiaco Oval. The Bulls at the moment are playing almost the perfect game given the strengths and weaknesses of the team, and while the Force may give them a hard time along the way, the hosts should be expected to strengthen their title challenge with another good win at altitude.
Prediction: Bulls by between 6 and 13.
Vodacom Stormers v Chiefs Newlands 19.10
The loss of Andries Bekker through a rib injury has severely dented the Stormers’ chances of helping out the Bulls and the Sharks by knocking over a team that before last week had won six successive games. But given the way the two teams play, the Stormers do have a definite chance of scoring an upset. What it will require of them is that they use the same recipe that previous Stormers teams used to beat the Crusaders and Blues in Cape Town in similar matches in recent years -- in other words, they must suffocate their opponents with their defensive game and just prevent the multitude of game-breakers in the Chiefs team from getting space and opportunities. Unfortunately for the Stormers, however, when you talk about game-breakers in the Chiefs team, the reference is not just to one or two, but virtually the whole team.
Prediction: Chiefs by less than 7.