My thoughts on Super 14 round 1

An interesting opening to the Super 14 with the Sharks being stunned at home by the Chiefs... there is going to be a lot of soul searching after THAT result!

Of the SA teams:

Bulls:
Played well against the Cheetahs but perhaps some question marks asked about their defence. The Cheetahs are not easy to play at home, especially when the play gets loose but to concede 30+ points against one of the "weaker" Super 14 outfits means that the Bulls need to sharpen up. Still look like a dangerous side.

Cheetahs
I actually thought they played quite well. They certainly were not over-awed by the far more fancied Bulls and they gave as good as they got. They're lacking punch and experience in one or two places but they showed heart. I suspect they are going to get caned when they go on the road but at least they look like they might be a handful at home

Lions
The Lions put in a really two-sided performance against the Stormers. They were nowhere in the first-half - despite having Carlos Spencer at flyhalf. When he was subbed at half time and that new scrumhalf and Earl Rose partnered at 9 and 10, the whole side seemed to change its attitude. Don't write them off after this first performance. I don't expect them to put up too much resistance away from home, but expect them to trouble a few sides when they play at home.

Sharks
Pah! They were munched at home by the Chiefs. I didn't watch the game but it left me smiling that the Tuna Tank was not that much of a fortress for them

Stormers
A very mixed performance from the Stormers. In the first half they looked like an awesome unit full of running. Jaque Fourie, Bryan Habana and Juan De Jongh looked like they would trouble any backline. The second half it looked liked the side had, had enough and were already thinking about some beers after the game.

For the rest
I was disappointed with the Blues - I had money on them to beat the Hurricanes and they started off well enough. Unfortuanately they couldn't polish them off and next they knew the Hurricanes racked up 20+ points to knock them over.

Apart from the Chiefs who surprised, the Brumbies and Crusaders looked the pick of the rest with some powerful performances.

Bring on the second round! And if you haven't registered for Sportspicks.co.za then get yourself online and make your predictions for next week! Should be fun!