I'm talking up the Currie Cup, Tony Jantjies, and Pat Howard here

With nothing much going on in rugby this side of the world, I was pleased to be able to watch some Currie Cup action from SA as a filler until the Rugby Championship gets going next weekend. Pleased also I got to watch some decent rugby. I watched bits and pieces of the Lions Cheetahs, and Bulls Stormers matches. The physicality levels of these matches is set to barbaric, it’s a health and safety nightmare! And amidst all the testerone, some decent rugby gets played as well. The team I like to watch these days is the Cheetahs. They have the grunt, but they’re never scared to go wide, and have plenty of runners coming on to the ball at pace in a style that reminds me of Leinster. The wonder of it all is looking in their coaching box and seeing Os Du Randt and Naka Drotske sitting there – a prop and a hooker! How do they come up with that running rugby? Lets’ see how Heineke Meyer gets on with the Boks, but my  favourite to replace his him when the time comes is definitely Naka Drotske.

In the Bulls WP match, the men who caught my eye were Tony Jantjies, surely soon to eclipse his elder brother Elton, and Pat Howard, who took a beautiful line for his try.

Super Rugby results this weekend - Bulls fans look away now!

http://bit.ly/1aR1dhz 

The Southern Kings and the Lions got things going in PE with a pretty decent match. It was the typical bone crunching contest you’d expect from two SA teams. Handling and a few other basics weren’t always great, but it was exciting end to end stuff. If the Lions had played like this all last season, or the Spears like this all this season – they’d have both avoided the situation they’re in. The match made a good case for 6 SA teams in Super Rugby.
Next up was the Chiefs and the Crusaders. I tipped the Chiefs, and got that one right – they tore into the Crusaders from the whistle, never let them settle, kept putting in eye watering hits, and their back line threatened all the time. The Crusaders are masters at dominating teams physically, but they don’t know how to respond when it happens to them. It’s such a classy team though – Carter is still the master, Dagg showed good touchs and Read is in the middle of everything. The final is the Chiefs to lose now.
The other semi final saw the Brumbies sneak out of Pretoria with a win. The Bulls play with the mantra that the perfect game plan was invented by Naas Botha and Northern Transvaal in 1981, and who are they to tamper with perfection. Or to use their heads – thinking is not really that masculine is it, beating the other team to a bloody pulp is the aim, and if you have to think to win – let’s not go there… They had the game wrapped up when they were camped on the Brumbies 22 in the last 10 minutes, but made the head scratching decision to go for a try  three times instead of taking the points. Fair play to the Brumbies, they have their work cut out in the final – but at least they’re in the final.
Super Rugby
Saturday , July 27
Chiefs 20 - 19 Crusaders 
Bulls 23 - 26 Brumbies 
Friday , July 26
Southern Kings 19 - 26 Lions 

This weekend- I'm going Kings, Chiefs and Bulls!

The Lions and the Southern Kings kick the Super  Rugby off on Friday, with the first of a two match series to work out who gets the 5th SA Super Rugby spot. It’s a pretty desperate affair, whoever loses is basically fecked for the next year. You only have to look at the Lions team to see the names missing without the lure of top class competition. At the start of the year I’d have said the Lions would walk back into the competition, but now I’m going with the Kings because they’ve had a better build up.
Saturday the real action gets underway with the Chiefs looking to keep their hopes of retaining their title alive. The chiefs missed  SBW this season..but they still topped the log, and apart from a few wobbles – and a big loss to the Crusaders – they have been chugging along nicely. The Crusaders are overwhelming favourites, after chewing up and spitting out the Reds, and their recent run of form. You’d figure though, that if anyone’s going to beat the Crusaders, it’s going to be the Chiefs. They are going to meet the physical onslaught from the Crusaders with absolute brutality, and have a backline that can hurt the Crusaders. The key to this match is Dan Carter – the Chiefs have to shut him down if they’re going to win. I’ve just stalked myself into a Chiefs win, just, just just!
The Bulls and the Brumbies round things off in Pretoria. The Brumbies closed a close game last weekend, but this weekend – I’d say they all be happy to get out alive, never mind with a win! I know the Aussies are good at outsmarting the Bok teams, but at home, with a spot in the final as the prize, I think the Bulls are going to win emphatically. So I’m predicting a final in New Zealand then. Enjoy the rugby.
Super Rugby
Friday , July 26
Southern Kings vs Lions 
Saturday , July 27
Chiefs vs Crusaders 19:35
Bulls vs Brumbies 17:05

Crusaders slay the Bulls, while the Sharks terrorise Queensland

(picture http://bit.ly/QoJV3L)

The semi deciders got going in Christchurch, with the Bulls taking on the Crusaders. If ever a team looked like they’d got off a 24 hour flight, this was the Bulls. In fact they looked like they’d got off a 24 hour flight, gone straight to a 24 hour party, and then come to the match. All in all, they put in a decent  spell for about 10 minutes in the second half.  Their A plan didn’t fire, and let’s face it, this is the Bulls, let’s not confuse things by having two plans. The Crusaders played well, but weren’t really tested. McCaw is pure class, and could easily be starting for the All Blacks at no 8 (depending on how Read recovers) , while Carter is back to his best. The Bulls weren’t help by a succession of injuries, and a bad day at the office from Morne Steyn.

The second match was much better – OK, I’m a little biased because I’m a Sharks fan, but there was a lot more running rugby, and the teams were a lot closer. I don’t know where the Sharks have been hiding this form, but for the last three weeks they’ve been on fire. Their loose trio is immense, ( and with Alberts at lock and Bismarck they have 5 loose forwards!)and the running from the backs, in particular JP Pietersen, is savage as my son would say. Paul Jordaan impressed as well. It all went wrong for the Reds when Cooper tip tackled last week. Then Lucas went off, they lost their shape, and found it nigh impossible to break down a determined Sharks defense. With a bit more luck with injuries, they could have done a lot more this season.

This is how they line up next week. Why host the NZ side on a Friday though?

Chiefs v Crusaders:
Date: Friday, 27 July
Venue: Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
Kick-off: (19.35 local, 17.35 AUS, 09.35 SA)
Stormers v Sharks:
Date: Saturday, 28 July
Venue: Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off: (17.05 local, Sun 29 Jul 03.05 NZT, Sun 29 Jul 01.05 AUS)

Super Rugby
Saturday , July 21
Crusaders 28 - 13 Bulls 
Reds 17 - 30 Sharks

Super rugby - time for the semi semi finals

(picure http://bit.ly/MKJzhm)

After 18 rounds of slugging it out, we’re down to the knockout stage of Super Rugby. This week I guess is the semi semi final, and the intricacies of the system mean that if the Sharks beat the Reds, the Stormers play the Sharks at Newlands in the semis. Should the Reds win however, the Stormers will play the winners of the Crusaders/ Bulls match.

So, there’ll be two things on the Crusaders minds this weekend – beating the Bulls and hoping like hell that the Reds win, otherwise they’ll be on the plane to SA for the next round. The Crusaders (or team Whitelock as they are now known), have only one key player missing , Kieran Read. McCaw has stepped into the breach and is covering the number 8 position and lying all over the ball.  I can see a yellow card in this match – for standing on McCaw at a ruck. The Bulls have namedan impressively large team, and I’m sure the strategy will be to pulverize the Crusaders pack, score on the breakaway, and kick the penalties. The critical question is will they be able to contain the flair of the Crusaders backs? I’m saying, no, they won’t so a home win for the Crusaders.

The Reds have sneaked into this final, with some very up and down form, mainly as a result of a long string of injuries. They will be missing Quade Cooper, not renowned for any type of tackling, and then last week he goes and does a tip tackle. How Will Genia plays is absolutely crucial for them, he could take them through on his own.  The Sharks have picked Alberts at lock, and are planning to pulverize the Reds pack – where have I heard that before? Without Lambie in the backs they are little short on flair, so again I’m going with the home team to get the win.

Super Rugby
Saturday , July 21
Crusaders vs Bulls 08:35
Reds vs Sharks 10:40

Block rocking Boks grab three, New Zealand two and the Aussies one

One to watch ( picture http://bit.ly/MrSA4Y)

It’s a good thing I don’t put money on my predictions. The Chiefs will be kicking themselves after handing the top of the league to the Stormers, in the last minute of their last round robin match. Composure! That’s what champions have, and I kind of doubt that the Chiefs are going to be champions this time around. Next up in the kicking themselves stakes are the Brumbies, who after hanging on to lead of the Aussie division forever it seems, managed to lose to whipping boys the Blues in their last match, and bow out of the competition.  It’s tough, but Jake White has done a great job with a team nobody expected anything of.

After that, it went to form, with the Crusaders easily beating the Force,  and the Reds trouncing the ‘Tahs to grab a spot. With only 58 points, in a real competition, they would have got sixth spot, but Sanzar gave the Reds 3rd.

The Stormers didn’t look to flash putting away the Rebels, but they already had their eye on potentially a final. If you top the log, you normally win the whole thing, is this going to be the Stormers year? The Sharks played their normal half of rugby, but lucky for them chose the second half this time, and put down a spirited Cheetahs side. JP Pietersen and Willem Alberts had big games, but it’s a pity to see Lambie out now.

Finally, the Bulls ran over the Lions, it was contest for some of the match, but in the second half the Bulls opened up and put the game to bed. Impressive for me was JJ Engelbrecht, who looks like he could add some much needed flair to the Bok backline.
So that’s the final standing, 3 from the Republic, two from New Zealand, and an Aussie side scraping in. Good news for the Boks.

1. Stormers 66
2. Chiefs 64
3. Reds 58
4. Crusaders 61
5. Bulls 59
6. Sharks 59

Then these are the next matches, while the Stormers and Chiefs take a break.

Saturday , July 21
Crusaders vs Bulls 08:35
Reds vs Sharks 10:40

Super Rugby
Saturday , July 14
Brumbies 16 - 30 Blues 
Crusaders 38 - 24 Western Force 
Stormers 26 - 21 Melbourne Rebels 
Sharks 34 - 15 Cheetahs 
Reds 32 - 16 Waratahs 
Bulls 37 - 20 Lions 
Friday , July 13
Hurricanes 28 - 25 Chiefs

Bulls Leicester Ospreys Super 14 Guinness Premiership Magners League

Leicester 33 - 27 Saracens


Bulls 25 - 17 Stormers

Leinster 12 - 17 Ospreys




Super 14


The premier rugby competition in the South closed up in Sowetu of all places, as the Bulls and Stormers went to war at Orlando stadium. Last year the Bulls absolutely smashed the Chiefs, so badly they still haven’t recovered a year later. This time it was the Stormers stepping up to the plate. The tournament prides itself on running rugby, the rules favour the attacking team and there are normally tries galore. This was no free running affair though, more like two tanks engaged in mortal combat. The score at the end was pretty close , but from about 20 minutes in there only looked like there was going to be one winner as wave after wave of relentless Bulls attack and defense smashed the Stormers back. This wasn’t rugby for the feint of heart, and there are bound to be a few frosty moments when the players meet up in the Bok camp. It was carnage on the field and carnage on the ears as the vuvulezi droned on at an unbelievable volume. The Bulls look like they are laying the foundations of a dynasty to rival that of the Crusaders.

Guinness Premiership

You have to hand it to the Tigers, much as I would have loved to see a new name on the Premiership trophy, you have bow down to the canniness of Leicester as they delivered the sucker punch and snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. Saracens will be absolutely kicking themselves (well Brendon Venter will probably doing that for them quite well) as they hauled themselves back out of the abyss and came within a whisker of a famous victory, only for it all to turn to ashes in their mouths as one lapse in attention let the Tigers in for back to back premiership titles. It was a good advert for the Premiership, and for rugby in general, tries drama and a heartbreaking end.

Magners League

Now I don’t want to boast – much – but that is three out of three predictions as the Ospreys went on a smash and grab in Dublin. It seems a long long time ago that Irish rugby was standing on the pinnacle of European rugby with the Grand Slam, the Heineken Cup and the Magners League all in the cabinet. There’s going to be quite a bit of soul searching in the off season, and maybe a chance in the tour down under for them to rediscover their mojo. Welsh rugby took another step forward as the Ospreys turned on the style, scored the tries and made it look all too easy as they downed Leinster at home at the RDS. It’s hard to put your finger on what’s wrong with Leinster, it just looks like the self belief is gone.

Finals Finals Finals Guinness Premiership, Super 14, Magners League

Saturday 29th of May

Leicester vs Saracens 17:30
Bulls vs Stormers 17:00
Leinster vs Ospreys 18:00

Sunday 30th May

England vs Barbarians 17:00


Super 14

It’s back to Orlando Stadium for the finals of the Super 14, where either the Bulls or the Stormers will be crowned king of the southern hemisphere. Is the meanest defense in the tournament going to be able to survive the onslaught the Bulls are surely going to bring? It could come down to the gamebreakers – Fourie du Preez, Morne Steyn, Pierre Spies, Bryan Habana, Schalk Burger, Jaques Fourie. It could also come down to 15 large gentleman from Pretoria jumping on the heads on the Stormers, and this is the most likely outcome. The Bulls managed to pinch it at home from the Sharks in Durban in 2007, but although they are going to get bloody trying, it’s hard to see the Stormers winning this.

Guinness Premiership

It’s going to be a big day at Twickenham as Leicester Tigers defend their title against Saracens. Coach Brendan Venter conducts himself with good old fashioned South African charm and diplomacy and this has rubbed off on the Saracens – they play a no nonsense direct style of rugby, featuring several large South African men. Brendan is going to have to watch the match on TV due to his ban.The Tigers are the perfect foil for Saracens, they do all the simple things well and grind teams into the dust before really letting rip. Saracens have never won a league title, is that going to change this Saturday? Self confidence doesn’t seem to be a problem for them, but Leicester are old hands at this finals game, and that should help them claim back to back titles.

Magners’ League

This looks to be a really good match, Ireland’s finest taking on the Opreylians at the RDS. Leinster have had a good Magners League this year after falling short in the Heineken Cup. The Opreys have been ticking along nicely this year, they will feel unlucky to have lost to Biarritz in the Heineken Cup and would love to claims some silverware. Normally I’d be backing Leinster all the way and home advantage is formidable, but without Leo Cullen I think they could struggle – so I’m going for the Ospreys to join Cardiff with a cup of their own.

Cardif Blues Triumph - Super 14, Heineken Cup, Amlin Challenge Cup

Heineken Cup Final Biarritz 19 - 21 Toulouse


Super 14 Semi Final Bulls 39 - 24 Crusaders

Super 14 Semi Final Stormers 25 - 6 Waratahs

Amlin Challenge Cup Final Cardiff Blues 28-21 Toulon

Heineken Cup

The Heineken cup reached it’s finale in Paris and the rugby gods even organized some sparkling sunshine to crown the occasion. Well, the sunshine was probably the most sparkling thing on Saturday afternoon as Toulouse kicked their way to their fourth title but is was a final so more conservative rugby is likely to be the order of the day. Biarritz gave Toulouse a big scare with a late try but it was a fair result as the better team triumphed, and brought the competition to a close for another year.

Super 14

I had to smile when I read some of the Australasian reports on the upcoming semis. There was one report talking up a final in Sydney, and other stuff like’8 reasons why the Crusaders will win’. It reminds me of being at school and not having studied for an exam but looking for every little reason as to why I was still going to scrape through. The facts of the matter are that to win the Super 14, you have to finish top of the league and get home semis. Thus, he spake, it ever was. Home advantage gives you overwhelming odds of winning. So it would have been refreshing to see a little bit of honesty, along the lines of ‘Basically we’re shagged unless they give it to us on a plate’. Both the Crusaders and the ‘Tahs are really good teams, but the momentum at the moment is with the SA teams – a few years ago it was the complete opposite, and in a few years it’ll probably swing around, with the Aussie teams poised en masse to make a big impact on the tournament. For the moment, the Bulls and Stormers can bask in the glow of successful seasons, and dream of lifting the trophy next Saturday.

In the first match, the Bulls flexed their not inconsiderable muscles as they gored the Crusaders – they’ve perfected doing all the simple things really well and the Crusaders had no answers. The Stormers also looked dominant apart from scrum time where they obviously have a weakness that the Bulls can exploit next weekend. The ‘Tahs weren’t helped by some unsympathetic refereeing but they never really got going and made loads of mistakes. The match was sealed with Juan de Jong’s moment of magic, a player who’s young but surely has Springbok stamped all over him.

So it’s over to Orlando stadium in Sowetu next weekend with prime servings of South African beef on the menu.

Amlin Challenge Cup

This turned into a sensational match in the end, particularly if you were a Blues supporter. Toulon were all over Cardiff like a rash in the first half, looking all the time like they were about to run riot. Then in the second half, Jonny Wilkinson was injured, and after that it was Cardiff running wild, taking all their opportunities and running away with the match, all under the baking French sun.

Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup Finales and Super 14 Semis

Heineken Cup



Saturday , May 22

Biarritz vs Toulouse 17:00

More Heineken Cup fixtures


Super 14


Saturday , May 22

Bulls vs Crusaders 17:05

Stormers vs Waratahs 19:10

Amlin Challenge Cup

Sunday

Cardiff Blues vs Toulon

Super 14

The average Super 14 match can be pretty average, there are lots of mismatches and you never know what you are going to get. Now the men have been sorted out from the boys, so to speak, what we are left with is real quality. First up are the Bulls and Crusaders, the old masters versus the new kings of Super 14. The Bulls are an old fashioned team in lots of ways, this is no cool team, no fancy hairdos a la Nonu, no precisely cut beards, half of them probably still live with their parents. What they have going for them is a certain brutal efficiency, they are bigger and stronger than everyone else, and follow a simple game plan – simple so they can all understand it. The Crusaders meanwhile are also the least cool of the New Zealand sides, it’s all about the team with them, and while they have their stars it’s an ego free zone. They have had a bit of an up and down season, and while they are on the up at the moment you don’t know exactly what team is going to show up. If anyone can beat the Bulls they can, but with their big stars not really firing, and the long trip back to SA, even at Orlando Stadium in Soweto I can’t see them beating the Bulls.

Then it’s over to Cape Town for the match between the Stormers and the Waratahs. Both teams bought wisely in the off season, Jacque Fourie and Bryan Habana for the Stormers, and Drew Mitchell and Berrick Barnes for the Waratahs. The Stormers seem to be finally realizing the potential they’ve always had, but you’re going to have to excuse them a bit of nerves as they are in pretty unfamiliar territory getting into the semis. The Waratahs are a really solid team and their backs in particular are really starting to gel. The Stormers have the best defense in the tournament and their attack is beginning to fire. So who’s it going to be? I’m going with Stormers at home in front of a sell out crowd.

Heineken Cup

Paris in the spring… but there’ll be no love lost between Toulouse and Biarritz as this great tournament reaches its finale. Toulouse on paper are the stronger team , but Biarritz are also a star studded team. When are they going to sort out a Super 14/Heineken Cup winners match so people in the South can understand how good some of these Northern teams are? The French tradition is that home wins are non negotiable, no matter who you play, while they are decidedly more temperamental playing away. This really leaves the match wide open, and with two superb attacking teams it promises to be a fitting end to tournament. Toulouse will probably shade it in the end.

Amlin Challenge Cup

This rounds of the weekend nicely on Sunday in Marseilles as teh Cardiff Blues take on Toulon. It could nearly be the match of the weekend, both teams are red hot in attack, and although the trophy's not as prestigious as the Heineken Cup, that in some ways means the teams have tyhe freedom to really go for it. Neither of these sides is going to die wondering, and I'm giving it to Toulon as their stars are bigger and it's in France.

Imperious Leicester - Guiness Premiership, Super 14, Magners League

That was a clean sweep of predictions this weekend, OK you didn’t have to be Sherlock to spot half of them but pretty good anyway.


Super 14

The Hurricanes look disorganized and nervy, more like a summer breeze as the ‘Tahs (narrowly defeating the Cheetahs in the competition for the ugliest jersey) rolled up their sleeves and ground out the victory. Their prize is a trip back to the Republic to take on the Stormers who had few problems getting 5 points against an understrength Bulls team – all very cosy to keep it in the family. The final semi position went to the Crusaders as they overcame the Brumbies to book their date with the Bulls to be played in Sowetu stadium because of the upcoming World Cup. The Reds capped an excellent season by beating the Highlanders to come in a very creditable 5th. Things are looking up for the SA and Aussie teams, but not so good for the Kiwis.

Magners League

Glasgow would have to feel aggrieved by the shambolic manner by which they were denied a home semi, with the Ospreys being deducted 4 points next season for failing to fulfill an earlier fixture. But the smart money would have been on the Ospreys wherever they played. They made short work of the Warriors anyway. Munster’s woeful season continued as Leinster overpowered them to book their date in the final in Dublin. The old man of Europe is showing his age – time for a firesale of all the wrinklies and a big infusion of new blood.

Guinness Premiership

The first encounter on Sunday was fast paced and exciting, the lead swinging backwards and forwards several times. Brendan Venter may be famous for his SA style diplomacy i.e. none but he has got Saracens in to the final where anything could happen. Northampton just lost it at the end, where was the drop goal attempt? Leicester swept in to their umpteenth final in fine form. Not the most interesting match mind you, but they have a kind of ruthless efficiency that is admirable if not exciting. Watching Butch James temper fray as Bath were pinned back repeatedly in their 22 was the highlight of the match.

Leicester pull the plug - Guinness Premiership, Magners League, Super 14

Super 14


This is going to be a great tussle for the remaining places in the play off. Some of the Kiwis and the Aussies are kicking up a fuss about the Bulls fielding a second string side for their final match. Of course the Bulls are going to do whatever suits them, including letting the Stormers in if they feel like it’s a good tactical move. The teams that are whinging should have beaten the Bulls in the first place (OK the Crusaders probably did but that’s another story). So this is how I see it panning out: the Crusaders should tame the wild horses of the Brumbies, working through the travel fatigue and the dodgy loss to the Bulls. Tah’s and Canes – this is tricky one, both on a bit of a roll but home advantage should tell as the Tah’s blow the Canes out of town. Bulls and Stormers: well I reckon even the orange peeler and the scorer for the Bulls are pretty big guys so the Stormers won’t have it all their own way but should win and claim second spot, followed by the ‘Tahs and the Crusaders.

Magners League

First up is the Ospreys taking on Glasgow. Practically the whole Osprey team – apart from Jerry Collins and Marty Holah who are All Blacks – have played for Wales so at home they are just going to way too strong. The Ospreys always play attacking entertaining rugby so it should be a good match. Then it’s the Irish derby, Leinster vs Munster at the RDS. Neither side is firing on all cylinders, but Munster seem to have developed serious engine problems that only a whole of new parts is going to fix, and not in time for this weekend – Leinster as the tide turns for them.

Guinness Premiership

Wha a weekend as the Premiership nears the end. Saturday’s matches start with Northampton taking on Saracens. This is incredibly hard to call, the Saints should take it at home but Saracens have been in a rich vein of form. I’d love the Saints to win because of their exciting style, but I think Sarries are on a roll so I’m going for an upset for them. Then it’s Leicester and Bath slugging it out in the other semi. Leicester are creaking a bit, whereas bath are 10 from the last 11 – the one loss to…Leicester. Home advantage pays here as Leicester pull the plug.

High Body Count Sharks and Stormers Super 14, Guinness Premiership, Magners League

Super 14


This  is how it lines up for the last two weeks:
Team Points 7th 14th

1 Bulls 43 Crusaders Stormers

2 Stormers 38 Sharks Bulls

3 Crusaders 34 Bulls Brumbies

4 Reds 34 Canes Highlanders

5 Waratahs 33 Chiefs Canes

6 Brumbies 32 Highlanders Crusaders

7 Hurricanes 32 Reds Tahs



It’s all to play for as the play off’s loom large. First up, the Reds got Caned in Wellington, and easy with the score handy now, but I was going for the Canes on their recent run of form, while the Reds looked really tired last week. Next up is the Bulls and the Crusaders, both wanting the win, the Crusaders desperately so. But these Crusaders are going to get gored, Bulls all the way. The Tah’s can’t afford to slip up again, they looked really ropey in their last outing, really hard to call as the Chiefs luck has to turn sometime – but not this weekend, ‘Tahs to win. The Brumbies should take down the Highlanders, with the last big match being Sharks at home to the Stormers. Looks like another bruising SA derby with a high body count – I’ll take a punt on the Stormers being last man standing.

Guinness Premiership

Two BIG matches her e, first of all Leicester take on Saracens, and I’m sorry Leicester fans but I think Sarries are in tiger taming form and will want to lay down a marker for the semis, Sarries to take a close match. London Irish vs the Saints is the other big match. Neither teams are in great consistent form but The Saints just look hungrier and I’m going for them to spoil Mike Catt’s farewell.

Magners League

In the games that matter, the Ospreys will thump the Dragons, Glasgow could sweat a bit but should sort out the Scarlets, Munster will have to watch out for the red hot Blues but should make it home, and Leinster face the giant banana skin of Edinburgh , and beat them well after the bitter disappointment of lasts weeks result. Connacht and Ulster should be a good dust up too, cruelly I think Connacht are down and out now so Ulster should claim the spoils.

France 3 Ireland 0 Heineken Cup Amlin Challenge Cup Super 14 Sunday 2nd of May

Heineken Cup


France 2 Ireland 0

Home advantage and superior scrum power told this weekend as both Leinster and Munster fell by the wayside. A lot of the fizz went out of the competition compared to the barnstorming quarter finals as the teams played edgy percentage rugby. Leinster looked competitive for a long time against but the French had another gear to slip into and a far superior bench to fall back on. Leinster would have looked a lot better with Sexton playing as well. And how brave was that camera man? Munster meanwhile seemed to be struggling to get a team on the pitch, and you still felt like they could have snuck home but at the end of the day both French sides were the better team and deserved to win.

Amlin Cup

And yes it’s those bloody French again, beating the Irish as Toulon’s glittering league of nations downed Connacht. The rugby gods don’t do fairy tale endings do they? A couple of Connacht players stood, Gavin Duffy, Sean Cronin and Frank Murphy, for Toulon Juan Martine Fernandez Lobbe was in a class of his own. See what Philippe Saint Andre has done with Toulon, a decent coach should be the first signing for any team. Wasps came a cropper against Cardiff Blues, nothing is going right for them at the moment. I’m not surprised the Cardiff Blues won though, they looked a lot more dynamic and looked like they wanted it so much more.

Super 14

The top of the league is starting to take shape now. The Bulls turned over a spirited Sharks outfit while the Stormers put one foot in the semis as they hammered the Crusaders. The Tahs slipped up badly by going down to the Highlanders, while the big result of the weekend was the Reds being comprehensively outplayed by the Brumbies. The Chiefs put their poor fans through the wringer again, looking good against the Canes before slipping up again. The Reds and Crusaders are clinging on to 3rd and 4th by their finger nails with really tough matches to come.

Streetwise Munster - Heineken Cup, Amlin Challenge Cup, Super 14 29th April 2010

Heineken Cup

Saturday , May 1

Toulouse vs Leinster

Sunday , May 2

Biarritz vs Munster

So France take on Ireland once again, this time in the Heineken Cup, and France are favourites again. Toulouse look like the far stronger side so Leinster will really have their work cut out. The one thing you have to admire about Leinster and coach Michael Cheika is their ability to play smart, to come up with a good game plan and execute it well. It’s going to be really difficult against this team of superstars, especially away from home and I think this is one adventure too far for Leinster.

Munster meanwhile have to go San Sebastian to play Biarritz. The Ospreys showed that you can hurt Biarritz with exciting backline play, but that is not really Munster’s forte. But having said that, while they may lack the tactical nous of Leinster, there’s not a more streetwise team in Europe, and I can’t tell you how they’ll do it even without Paul O’Connell but I’m going for a Toulouse/Munster final.

Super 14

Team Points 30th 7th 14th
Bulls 39 Sharks Crusaders Stormers
Stormers 34 Crusaders Sharks Bulls
Crusaders 34 Stormers Bulls Brumbies
Reds 34 Brumbies Canes Highlanders
Waratahs 33 Highlanders Chiefs Canes

That’s how they line up for the next three weeks. Bulls vs the Sharks is going to be an old fashioned SA derby, no quarter taken or given, expect the stretcher bearers to be busy, and the Bulls pulling through. Stormers and Crusaders pits two sides that both lost last weekend – Stormers to come good at home. Reds and the Brumbies could be the match of the weekend – and having been wrong two weeks in a row, I still think the Reds will lose this time. And the Waratahs will thump the Highlanders.

Amlin Challenge Cup

Much as I’d like Connacht to win, Toulon have such a wealth of talent I just can’t see them losing, even away from home. Wasps, meanwhile, look to have aged greatly recently, and the Cardiff Blues are one mean side when they get going, to Wasps to lose out.

What about the Reds? Super 14, Magners League, Guinness Premiership 25th April 2010

Super 14


Well, those bloody Reds (see what I did there) have totally messed up my predictions with a hard fought victory over the Stormers, sending them back home with their tail between their legs, and adding some much needed unpredictability to the competition. And woe are the Crusaders(and New Zealand rugby?) as the Force came from behind to record a notable victory. The Lions were duly slaughtered by the Bulls, and poor Chiefs fans were made to sweat as the Cheetahs nearly recorded their first overseas victory. These are the kind of matches profanities were made for. The ‘Tahs are keeping themselves nicely in contention, by edging the Brumbies. The top of the league has an unusually SA/Aus feel to it.

This is the run in for the finals, looks like the ‘Tahs and the Reds can make up a bit of ground:

Team Points 30th 7th 14th

Bulls 39 Sharks Crusaders Stormers

Stormers 34 Crusaders Sharks Bulls

Crusaders 34 Stormers Bulls Brumbies

Reds 34 Brumbies Canes Highlanders

Waratahs 33 Highlanders Chiefs Canes

Guinness Premiership

Bath and Saracens are coming good at exactly the right part of the season with good wins over Wasps and the Saint’s respectively. The Saints , London Irish and Wasps meanwhile are losing form just when they want to be peaking. Bath have had a fairy tale come back with Olly Barley and Joe Maddock in good form in their win over Wasps. Is it just me or are Wasps starting to look old? Worcester, meanwhile go down after 6 years in the top flight after losing out to Leeds.

Magners League

Leinster and Munster both lost out this weekend, but Leinster weren’t any kind of team you could recognize as they rested players ahead of their big match to come, with Connacht losing out also with a second string team. Ulster had a good result against Glasgow, and not before time as they scramble to avoid missing out on Heineken Cup Rugby next year. Munster won’t have enjoyed losing to the Ospreys as the final positions in the league start to shape up.

22nd April 2010

Super 14
The match of the weekend has to be the Reds against the Stormers, the best attack against the best defense. Who’s it going to be? I’m going with the Stormers by not underestimating the Reds. See what the Reds have done with a decent coach? Is this not something teams like the Sharks and the ‘Canes should be thinking about? After that the all Australian derby of ‘Tahs and Brumbies looks to produce some fireworks, where the ‘Tahs at home are going to trying to ‘bring the pain’ and should tame those Brumbies. The Sharks should see off the Blues, and the Lions would probably wish they were doing something safer than playing the Bulls, like bungee jumping or swimming with sharks.

Magners League

Connacht came up with a good win against Leinster on Wednesday, which will give their Heineken Cup hopes a shot in the arm. What kind of quality of rugby are we going to see with this kind of fixtures list, that’ll be three games in a week for Connacht and Leinster by the end of the weekend? The Ospreys vs Munster looks good, while Leinster vs Glasgow should still have a bit of an edge from the 6 Nations

Guinness Premiership

Saints and Saracens at Franklin Gardens will be the showpiece this weekend and a real test for both teams. The Saints look as hungry as anything and with Dylan Hartley who has England captain written all over him (if you’re reading Mr. Johnson) leading from the front this could be a bit of a meltdown for the Saracens. Wasps vs Bath looks pretty good too although I can’t see Wasps losing, and at the bottom Sale and Newcastle, and then Leeds and Worcester are all walking a tight rope. How did Sale get down there? Newcastle and Leeds I think.

News

Sounds like there is going to be a shake in the South African coaching set up, with Pieter De Villiers unhappy about rumours he’s not really in charge still circulating. If you judge PDV on his results, he’s a pretty good coach, but if you judge him on what he says then all I can tell you is that east is west and that up is down. Ricky Flutey is going back to Wasps after an unhappy stay at Brive.

18th April 2010

News


I see Deon Carstens is moving over to Saracens next year – he’s still a reasonable player, but there must several empty old age homes in the Republic with all the SA pensioners playing their trade in the Premiership. Is that Faan Rautenbach and Danie Coetzee playing for Irish - surely they must qualify for a bus pass by now?

Super 14

The Reds kept it interesting at the top with a win over the Bulls, who, with having lost to the Blues and the Reds might get back to some consistency now they have no more colours to play. I caught the ‘Saders looking efficient if not particularly inspiring as they outran the Cheetahs. The poor Chiefs, run over by the Bulls last week, came staggering back into the road to be run over by another 18 wheeler in the form of the Stormers, and look to be roadkill at this stage. Things are looking up for the Sharks and the Canes but too little too late.

Magners League

Leinster scraped past the Ospreys at the RDS, thanks to a second half try by Shaun Berne who looked pretty handy coming in for Sexton. Leinster had another gear to fall back on whereas the Ospreys’ gear box was smoking and bits were falling out all over the place by the end. Ulsters’ appalling recent form continued as they went down to Glasgow. Munster beat Connacht, ending their 8 match home winning streak, but it didn’t sound like vintage stuff.

Guinness Premiership

The Saints looked really good, going top and deserving to be there. I watched the Saracens clinically dismembering the headless looking ‘Quins. Sarries look really confident, and seem to be peaking at exactly the right time. Leicester went top again on Sunday with an easy victory over Newcastle, while London Irish stepped on a giant banana skin in the shape of Leeds – nothing like a bit of desperation to give you inspiration is there?

16th April 2010

Super 14


The Chiefs and the Stormers should be a good match, can the Stormers keep their standard up from last week? The Chiefs will be expecting them to be good, but the Chiefs have been too inconsistent this year, and the Stormers should pull through. The Brumbies and the Hurricanes is last chance saloon for both clubs – probably an illusion as neither is like to get into the top four this year. The Canes should steal this though, good to see Aaron Crudden getting another chance to start at fly half. The Bulls against the Reds is the match of the weekend. On paper, the Reds are going to struggle, after a long trip back from SA, being a young team and playing the champs. Their one hope will be that the Bulls try to throw the ball around a bit to match the Reds. When they do that, they look like a bear trying to breakdance. For Bulls fans, let’s hope they leave their dancing shoes at home and stick to their normal brutal formula.

Magners League

Leinster and the Ospreys will be the match of the weekend on Friday as first and second meet. This will be the Ospreys third match in 7 days and they are going to be absolutely cream crackered after this game. Looks like Leinster have gone for a full squad, and with home advantage and a week’s rest they should take this. Munster and Connacht could be good too, with Munster coming out on top.

Guinness Premiership

Northampton vs Gloucester looks good on Saturday, Northampton will want to bounce back after last weekend and Gloucester are going to feel the pain of their wrath. Saracens and Harlequins also looks pretty interesting, with Sarries likely to take the spoils.

Enjoy the rugby.

11th April 2010

I’m 100% on my predictions this week (polishes nails). This weekend I caught the Leinster match, the Crusaders, part of the Brumbies, part of the Connacht, Biarritz, Munster, and even a bit of Toulon. And before you wonder if I have a black belt in Marital Arts, no, my wife’s away. And I put some curtains up walked the dogs, did the shopping! Apologies for my April fools blooper about the Lions.

Heineken Cup

This was all vintage stuff, a serious cut above any of the Super 14 I caught, OK it’s a knockout competition but it was still a lot lot better. Leinster squeaked through, Clermont looked the better team for long stretches but couldn’t take their kicks. BOD played through a lot of pain, but I think the only time he goes off is when his leg actually comes off and the medics hide it. The welsh leek nearly made it out of the heat of the San Sabastian cauldron but failed by a whisker, two one point matches that were hugely entertaining. Then Munster provided a master class in winning rugby. Where was the Saints scrum, where was Shane Geraghty? Not to get too carried away, but what team isn’t going to be put off by Thomond Park, the noise (apart from when the kicks are taken) and the signs ‘Stand up and Fight’ and ''To the brave and faithful, nothing is impossible”. The Saints can hold their heads up though, never giving up. Good to see a spot of full blown concussion wasn’t going to put Jerry Flannery off. Toulouse then steamrollered Stade to take up the final semi spot.

Amlin Cup.

Connacht got a good win. It looks like a different class to the Heineken cup though.Wasps and Toulon are also looking good.

Super 14

The Bulls and the Stormers had good away wins. The Crusaders beat the Waratahs but it wasn’t pretty or interesting to watch. And the Cheetahs – why do they bother? Why don’t they try? They don’t deserve to win anything anyway with that hideous jersey.

It’s not looking too good for New Zealand teams at the moment, with only the Crusaders to fly the flag at the top.