Super 14 Round 1

Yes the premier rugby tournament in the Southern Hemisphere is finally here – can you feel the excitement?!

I’m super excited.

Below are our picks for the first round which kicks off early tomorrow morning. We think there is going to be a big upset on the cards with the Cheetahs stunning the Bulls. That’s probably not going to win us too many fans but I’ve just got a sneaky suspicion that the Bulls are gonna come a cropper.

There is still time to get your predictions in on Sportspicks.co.za

Here we go:

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

For those who are playing the Super 14 Dream Team competition below is my team for Round 1. Would love to hear your selections:

1. Wicus Blaau
2. John Afoa
3. Keven Mealamu
4. Anthony Boric
5. Bakkies Botha
6. Jerome Kaino
7. Derick Kuun
8. Richie McCaw
9. Rory Kockott
10. Peter Grant
11. Gerhard VD Heever
12. Jaque Fourie
13. Waylon Murray
14. Bryan Habana
15. Hosea Gear

Happy punting!

Super 14 betting and predictions

7 days until the kickoff of the 2010 Super 14 competition and it looks like the bookies are expecting a pretty open contest this year.

Here is the betting at the moment:

Crusaders – 3/1
Bulls – 5/1
Brumbies – 5/1
Hurricanes – 8/1
Sharks – 9/1
Chiefs – 10/1
Blues – 12/
Stormers – 12/1
Waratahs – 12/1
Western Force – 50/1
Highlanders – 80/1
Cheetahs – 100/1
Lions – 125/1
Reds – 125/1

I have put money down on the Stormers (My team) as well as the blue boys from Auckland – I think that those odds look really good and both sides are in with a shout this year.

Roll on the Super 14!

Wow!

It has been ages since I posted on this blog but with the Super 14 now getting nearer and some interesting announcements coming out, I've decided to up my contributions again.

I was very impressed with the news out of the Lions camp that it had secured the services of Carlos Spencer for the 2010 and 2011 seasons. Spencer is a hard player and probably the right kind of guy that is needed in the Lions setup at the moment.

A young player like Burton Francis needs to be mentored by somebody who has been through a lot of the scraps that Spencer has been through and I think he could have a very positive influence on a Lions side which was just starting to show some fire toward the end of last year.

Roll on Super 14!

Currie Cup predictions

The Currie Cup finally comes to a conclusion today as the Bulls host the Cheetahs in a match where nobody is giving the team from the Free State any real chance.

I'm a big believer that nobody wants to play the Cheetahs in a semi-final or final simply because they play like they have nothing to lose. A side like that is terrible to play against as they tend to yank you out of your comfort zone.

While I suspect the Bulls will win I think there is little harm in putting a few bucks down on the Cheetahs for a shock factor.

One area where I think punters could have a lot of fun is around the first try-scorer. I've backed Bryan Habana (9/1) Jacques Louis Potgieter (33/1) and my good old fashioned try scoring banker Fourie Du Preez (18/1).

C'mon the Cheetahs!

Cracking stuff

Luke Watson might not want to slate Sireli Naqelevuki but that high-tackle cost us... I don't think he touched the ball or made any other real contribution to the game except to make that tackle.

Apart from that I think both semi-finals went way beyond their expectations and fans were treated to a phenomenal weekend of rugby.

How good was that tackle by Schalk Burger on Fourie Du Preez?! It was a monster and I think even the great Du Preez will remember it for the rest of his rugby career. Brilliant stuff!

So now the final comes down to the Bulls vs. the Cheetahs - lets hope we get the same treat next weekend.

Currie Cup - weekend predictions

The Currie Cup is getting tight and this weekend will decide the Semi's with a couple of big games on the cards.

Griquas vs. Sharks
The Sharks have pulled in all their big guns for this fixture and its hard to look beyond them to win here but seeing as I am supporting Province to finish top and I think Griquas are going to prove to be hostile hosts I have put a few bucks down on Griquas to surprise.

I REPEAT - this is me betting with my heart not my head - but damn I hope Griquas give the "Fish Paste" boys absolute carrots this afternoon. They'll be my hero's ...

... at least until the MIGHTY MIGHTY Province boys run on to the field

Boland vs Cheetahs
The Cheetahs have it all to do today and will be out to play running rugby. Boland have been nowhere in this competition and I don't expect that to change this weekend.

Cheetahs to win and first points to come courtesy of a Cheetahs try

Lions vs Western Province
2009 has been a long season for the Lions and an even longer one for their supporters. Injuries have proven a headache and they've come out on the wrong end of some close fought fixtures. Last weeks game against the Sharks being a perfect case in point.

They've got nothing really to play for against the log-leaders Western Province and I don't expect them to put up much resistance this afternoon - last weekend was their guts and determination fixture while this week they're simply going through the motions.

Predictions - Province to win, first points from a Province penalty.

Good effort from the Lions

I thought the Lions played well last night against the Sharks. Bearing in mind that the Sharks had all their international players to pick from and the Lions are falling apart at the seams in terms of injuries, they were in the game up until the last minute when Ruan Pienaar sunk that penalty.

Have to say my team (Western Province) are looking very tough to beat and with their Aussie import, it looks like they haeve some real depth to call on!

It would be very nice to pick up the Currie Cup this year!