10 and 15 for the Boks explored

After 7 rounds of the Super 14 we’ve had quite a lot of time to look at some of the form players in the South African contingent.

The key area for most people are around flyhalf and full-back which are two positions likely to be up for consideration in the Bok setup later this year.

Flyhalf
Morne Steyn (Bulls) – No question he has been the best South African flyhalf on display and barring an injury he will be the one who wears the Number 10 jersey. The big question is who will be his backup.

Peter Grant (Stormers) – Grant has been solid, consistent and importantly he has shown a desire to attack the gain line. He’s striking up a good relationship with Juan de Jongh and Jaque Fourie. Personally I think he is a little underrated as a goalkicker but I’m in the minority.

Burton Francis (Lions) – Don’t underestimate the performance of Francis who is quickly showing up Carlos Spencer in the Lions number 10 jersey. Nothing has gone right for the Lions this season and yet commentators have remarked about the performance of Francis. I wouldn’t be surprised if he makes a surprise inclusion in some of the Bok training squads this year.

Naas Olivier (Cheetahs) – The Cheetahs haven’t had it easy and have been on the backfoot for a lot of the tournament. Olivier has actually surprised this year and put in a pretty handy performance. I actually thought that Olivier and Meyer Bosman have been a good combination at 10 / 12 but while the latter might be in with a shout for the Boks, Olivier will not likely to step up beyond the Super 14.

Ruan Pienaar (Sharks) – The reluctant flyhalf. He does it because he and the Sharks are desperate for a decent number 10. Pienaar will always be there or there-abouts for the Boks because of his versatility but he just doesn’t seem to have “clicked” as the number 10.

Fullback
Zane Kirchner (Bulls) – We know Kirchner is good and must be the favourite to wear the number 15 jersey this year. However the Bulls defence has been leaky at times and not always the best organised. They’ve had no problems on attack but it doesn’t help if you’re letting in opposition runners.

Joe Pietersen (Stormers) – Having a golden season this year. Good with the boot, fantastic on attack. Kirchener may have the inside track but Pietersen has shown he can mix it with the best of them.

No representative (Lions) – there has been a bit of a revolving door at the Lions and nobody can seriously be considered in the running here.

Hennie Daniller (Cheetahs) – With that square jaw, Daniller is the poster boy of Free State rugby. Another under-rated player but one can’t see him fitting the mould of a Bok this year.

Patrick Lambie (Sharks) – While Stefan Terblanche would probably be the first choice fullback, Lambie appears to be an interesting prospect… earlier days yet.

Exciting weekend of Super 14

A couple of exciting games in the Super 14 this weekend. The Brumbies vs. Chiefs game should be a cracker. We’re backing the Brumbies to pip the Chiefs with homeground advantage.

The Hurricanes are also taking on the Sharks and with the tour being largely unproductive for the Sharks, we’re betting that the Hurricanes will run out comfortable winners.

It will also be interesting to see how the Bulls do in their first game on the road. They take on the Force so its a relatively easy start for them.

On the local front, we are bullish about the Cheetahs prospects against the Reds. The Australian side have been handy but Meyer Bosman and the guys from the Free State have actually put up quite a good account of themselves at home and this will be one of the last opportunities for them to rack up some points at home!

Our predictions:

• Highlanders to beat the Lions
• Brumbies to beat the Chiefs
• Cheetahs to beat the Reds
• Hurricanes to beat the Sharks
• Blues to beat the Waratahs
• Bulls to beat the Force

Definately an interesting weekend of rugby!

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Another round of Super14 is here

It’s Super 14 rugby action again this week this week.

The Blues vs the Brumbies is the trickiest of the games to call. We’ve been backing the Blues from the start of the tournament and they have failed to deliver, while the Brumbies have also blown very hot and cold.

Our picks:

• Brumbies to beat the Blues
• Bulls to beat the Hurricanes
• Crusaders to thump the Lions
• Highlanders to beat the Sharks
• Stormers to beat the Cheetahs
• Waratahs to beat the Western Force

Happy punting!

Betting on Varsity Cup?

Earlier today I received an e-mail from Brent Graham who runs the Good For The Game and SportsPicks.co.za websites.

The mail was giving some tips on betting on the FNB Varsity Cup fixtures.

Now those who know me will know I am no shrinking violet when it comes to betting. I will take a plug on what colour tie somebody is wearing or whether Gill Marcus is going to be wearing a red tent or a brown tent when she delivers her MPC decision for the Reserve Bank.

I don’t know why, but betting on the Varsity Cup doesn’t sit well with me. There is something pure (untainted?) about this form of rugby that doesn’t need the influence of sports betting attached to it.

Of course the alternative argument there is that college American football and college basketball are big money in the US. This drives interest, sponsorship and TV revenue over there. This in turn has led to really well developed systems over there which means you have really cracking quality athletes moving into the professional ranks.

Dunno? Thoughts on whether betting on the Varsity Cup should be promoted?

Super 14 looking interesting this week

The Super 14 is getting interesting. Just when you think a form team has been identified then one of the ” no-hopers” like the Cheetahs suddenly spring a surprise on the Hurricanes.

Here are our predictions for the week:

• Chiefs to beat the Crusaders (but narrowly)
• Waratahs to thump the Lions
• Brumbies to beat the Sharks
• Bulls to beath the Highlanders (although not by the 16.5 points on offer at Sportspicks.co.za)
• Stormers to beat the Hurricanes
• Reds to beat the Force

I would be high on points on the Reds game and probably look at first points via a try to the Reds. Would also go each way on points coming from a try in the Stormers vs Hurricanes match up.

Good SA rugby on Saturday

There were important wins for both the Stormers and the Cheetahs yesterday as they put in credible performances against the Highlanders and the Hurricanes respectively.

I’m a Stormers fan so I am probably going to gush too much if I start with them so let’s take a look at the Cheetahs who were playing against a side which was tipped to thump them.

In Super 14 you have to win your home games – drop points when you have your fans behind you and it makes for a miserable trip on the road. The Cheetahs have dropped points – although impressively beaten the Sharks in the Tuna Tank – and then picked up the points against the Hurricanes last night in Bloem. While the rest of the season will probably be quite tough they can say they have beaten two “big name” teams and still have the chances for points against the Force and against the Lions.

The Stormers got the “bonus point monkey” off their backs with that late try from Bryan Habana but for me the critical point was that they did not concede a single point against the Highlanders. Everybody knows the Stormers can attack but it appears that they’ve now stepped up their defensive game as well and showing a lot more composure at the back – maybe the influence of Jaque Fourie?

It was also very noticeable that the team spirit is really high at the moment – smiles all round from Wicus Blaauw, Fourie and Schalk Burger just highlighted the upbeat attitude in the team.

It was also good that the youngsters such as Deon Fourie, Juan De Jongh could put in such measured performnaces and that Lionel Cronje was given some gametime as well.

One person who does deserve a mention is our big Fijian wing Sireli Naqweluviki. I had pretty much written him off as a contributor and couldn’t understand why they kept him around. He was potent yesterday and he went looking for work which was very pleasing to see.

It is still early days in the Super 14 but its good to see two SA sides wracking up wins after the less than thrilling performances last week…