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.

Bulls squeak home Super 14 Guinness Premiership Magners League

Super 14

The big encounter of the weekend was the Bulls taking on the Crusaders. The result was either a fair reward for the Bulls persistence or a travesty of justice depending where you hail from. A fairer result would have been a draw. It’s dropped the Crusaders to 6th and leaves them with a pretty faint chance of qualifying. The Bulls are sitting pretty on home semis now. The Stormers and Reds both seem to falling by the wayside at the last hurdle, while the Tah’s, Brumbies and Canes are all well placed for the final four. From a national perspective it would be great if the Sharks could save their best performances for teams from other countries. It’s good news for the format of the Super 15 though, where all the teams play local leagues to decide who gets in to the second round, as some of the best recent matches have been local derbies. The Lions will never have to travel overseas again!

This is next week’s matches

Team Points P/D Opposition

1 Bulls 47 119 Stormers

2 Stormers 39 166 Bulls

3 Waratahs 38 81 Canes

4 Brumbies 37 85 Crusaders

5 Hurricanes 37 51 Tahs

6 Crusaders 36 75 Brumbies

7 Reds 34 56 Highlanders

Magners League

Well there were a few heart attacks as Leinster had to come from behind to beat Edinburgh, but they did what they had to do to book a date with … Munster who also came up with bonus point they needed to keep their hopes alive. It should be a good match, I wonder if the new Aviva stadium will get to host it? The Opreys looked imperious as they trounced the Dragons, to book adate at home in the semis with Glasgow. connachts recent dismal form continued as they rolled over to Ulster.

Guinness Premiership

The big shock result was the mighty Leicester losing out to Sarries. I guess they had the home semi in the bag already, but nobody enjoys losing and it will give Saracens hope if they reach the finals. To do that, though they are going to have to beat the resurgent Saints in the pick of the semis. Northampton took down London Irish easily enough, with Mike Catt getting the man of the match award – surely just for pitching up. Bath make up the quartet, that’s 10 wins out of the last 11 matches, could there be some surprises in store?

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.

8th April 2010

News


I see Jake White and Eddie Jones have teamed up to take over at the Lions in South Africa after Dick Muir was fired. What’s the point? It would take a come back to rival Lazarus at this point in the season, and the Lion’s many problems start with lack of continuity of players and coaches.

Super 14

Chiefs vs Bulls should be an interesting match, can the Bulls bounce back? I’d say yes they can, they won’t be happy with last week’s performance. Blues and Stormers should be good too, and I think the Stormers are going to come to the fore, they are a different team this year and the Blues could easily underestimate them. The pick of the weekend though is the Crusaders against the Waratahs, where I think the ‘Tahs are going to come unstuck against some New Zealand steel. They’ve been riding their luck for a while, and I think it’s about to run out round about now.

Heineken Cup

Looking at the finalists, we have four French teams, two Irish, one English and one Welsh, which meant it was a pretty good litmus test for the 6 Nations. And looking at the stats, England Could Do Better with only one team when Ireland have only 4 four provinces and two of them in the finals. In the top 14 at the moment, Clermount Auvergne are 4th, Toulouse are 5th, Biarritz are 7th and Stade Francaise are 9th. Leinster and Munster are 1st and 2nd in the Magners League, the Ospreys are 5th with a game in hand that would send them 2nd if they win it, and Northampton are 2nd with a game in hand over Leicester.

The first match up pitches champions Leinster up against the nearly men of French Rugby. Clermont have made the finals of the French Championship 10 times but never won it. Clermont are one mean team stuffed with stars like Parra, Bonnaire, Rougerie, Ledesma, Malzieu, Baby, Nalaga – the list goes on and on. No wonder French rugby is so strong at the moment. They also have the best Australian fly half – in the world- in Brock Harris. Leinster have their stars too with BOD, Heaslip, Carney, and Van Der Linde. French sides are iffy when they play away – victory at home is non negotiable, but anything can happen away, so I reckon Leinster will take this in a tight match.

On Saturday, Biarritz will take on the Ospreys in San Sebastien. Biarritz have the normal contingent for French teams of top players like Barcella, Thion, Harinordiquy, Traille and the blistering pace of Takudzwa Ngwenya, as well as Englishmen Lund, Erinle and Balshaw. The Ospreys have talent like Adam Jones, Ryan Jones, Holah, Collins, Phillips, Bowe, Byrne and Williams and have underperformed in this tournament. Facing Biarritz at home looks a step too far for them though, so I’m going with home advantage.

Also on Satruday and my pick of the weekend is Munster up against Northhampton. Munster’s talents (and recent failings) are well known, but they will be a different side with Earls and O’Connell back, and they take the Heineken Cup a lot more seriously than the Magners League. The Saints have plenty of stars in the making, and with a bit more adventurous management England should look a lot more like them. They beat Munster at Franklin Gardens and nearly did the double at Thomond Park. But I think there’s still another lesson to be ditched out by the Old Master yet, and Munster should squeak through this one.

Finally on Sunday, Toulouse will take on Stade Francais. Stade Francais are better known these days for their flash but they have their quality too with players like Szarzewski, Marconnet, Roncero, Beaxis and Bastareaud as well as Palmer and Haskell. Toulouse have a staggering array of stars including Servat, Albecete, Dusaurtoir, Nyanga, Picamoles, Kellerher, Michalak, Skrela, Fritz, Jauzion, Clerc, Heymans, Poitrenaud the list goes on and on. The French home team normally triumphs, and Toulouse just look too strong anyway, even if Stade have the carrot of the final in Paris

Amlin Challenge Cup

Wasps vs Gloucester on Sunday looks to be a pretty entertaining match, as will Newcastle vs Cardiff, with Wasps and Cardiff probably edging it. Connacht vs Bourgoin will be a test for the Irish province, but as Bourgoin are 12th in the Top 14, it should be fine French dining for Connacht.

5th April 2010

Super 14, Magners League, Guiness Premiership

Super 14


The news of the weekend has to be the Blues ending the Bulls unbeaten run and doing it in some style too (32-17). But those boys in blue have been creaking the last couple of weeks and they don’t like to stray too far away from mom’s home cooking. The Blues in 8th place probably hold the last chance of making the play offs – anyone beneath them is toast. The Reds are top class in the entertainment stakes running the Sharks close and getting two losing bonus points with a 28-30 loss. The other noteworthy result was the Canes nearly showing us what they’re capable of with a 26 all draw against the Crusaders.

Magners League

Connacht and Edinburgh (22-21) looked like a good match, more revenge for the Irish if any was needed, and Connacht look like hitting some form in time for the Amlin Challenge Cup. But the talk of the town has to be Leinster tuning over Munster in their own back yard! I would have put my house on Munster pulling through – this feels like a seismic change in the Irish provinces, Munster weren’t at full strength but then neither were Leinster. Munster always seemed indestructible, take away one cog and another stepped forward to do the job just is well, but they are looking pretty vulnerable at the moment. They need Paul O’Connell back, and in top form ASAP. Meanwhile, the Ospreys are quietly easing themselves into contention for a play off spot.

Guinness Premiership

Leicester looked pretty emphatic against Bath didn’t they, cantering to a 43-20 win at Welford Road to stay top, albeit with a game in hand. At Kingsholm, Gloucester squeaked home against Saracens (29-28), while Wasps looked the business against London Irish at Adams Park. That sets up both Gloucester and Wasps well for when they meet in the Amlin Challenge Cup next weekend.

Friday 2nd April

News


Rugby World Cup tickets go on sale on the 27th of April…Jake White, the former Springbok coach, has been linked with two Australian clubs…John Mitchell, former All Black coach currently with the Force may be heading the other way after he finishes his contract as he is apparently looking at an offer in the Republic…Just a thought now, but both of these men could do a job for England, Jake White, massive ego aside has an impeccable record. Is it better to be average and patriotic? Having said that, both Toby Booth and Jim Malinder could both do a pretty good job, better than Mr Johnson anyway.

Magners League

Ulster and Cardiff looks like it could be interesting. But the best match is the one that was so good that they had to change the licensing laws for it. Yes, people all over Limerick will be raising a glass tomorrow (on Good Friday!) as Munster take on Leinster. There’s so much recent history here, Munster must still be smarting after their 30-0 drubbing, then there was the Heineken Cup last year…they’re still without Paul O’Connell too. Leinster don’t have BOD, and have gone for Nathan Hines on the flank which I don’t think is their best move. It’s going to be a battle of Biblical proportions, and with home advantage I can see the mighty wrath of Munster smiting Leinster.

Guinness Premiership

Gloucester and Saracens could be pretty entertaining. Wasps and London Irish should be fairly similar to Wasps last match against the Saints, but at home they’ll probably shade it this time. I reckon Leicester and Bath is going to be the most entertaining, Leicester are the pace setters but Bath’s season is starting to rumble again and I think they’ll run Leicester really close at Welford Road.

Super 14

There a couple of very interesting match ups this weekend. First up is the Hurricanes versus the Crusaders, an all New Zealand derby that could be the match of the weekend. The Crusaders are looking good but they are coming off a bye which can upset the rhythm of the team sometimes. The Hurricanes meanwhile have been pretty dire over the last couple of weeks but will be desperate to find some kind of form in front of their home fans and get themselves up the table. It’s hard to see them winning though.

The Sharks versus the Reds is a pretty intriguing sounding match, the Reds have shown a lot of promise, and this is going to be a test for their playoff credentials. The Sharks forwards are starting to look really good but they don’t have too much going on behind them. The Reds have it all going on at the back and are decent enough up front. The Shark’s home advantage and experience should take them through this even if they are tired from the trip back..

Finally, the Blues and the Bulls are going to slug it out. The Blues will probably rightly think they were robbed last week, while the Bulls were not at their best but had just got off the plane. They both have reasonably leaky defences, but I’d rate the Blues better on attack. The Bulls have been riding their luck a bit the last couple of weeks so I’m going with the Blues in a tight match.

28th March 2010

Magners League, Super 14, Guinness Premiership


Magners League

There was a bit of déjà vu here, memories of Croke Park at Thomond Park … Scots front row giving problems, Dan Parks landing his penalties, but in the end Munster dug deep and ground out a lead, before Jean de Villiers produced a little magic to put the match beyond doubt. Johnnie Sexton managed to save Leinster’s blushes the next day at The RDS. Ireland and Scotland have their stamp on the Magners League with two each in the top four. 27-19

Super 14

The Sharks v the Hurricanes was a very entertaining match. Blooper of the match went to Ma'a Nonu as he failed 22 Drop Out 101 by just dropping the ball and picking it up, then glowering at the referee. You actually have to kick it you know. He did score a try as well though. The men from Durban were never behind in this match, they’ve FINALLY found a bit of form, winning by 29-26 with the last kick of the game and catching the Hurricanes not at the best after the long trip back from the Republic. Jaques Botes was busy as ever for the Sharks and Aaron Cruden injected purpose and energy into the Hurricanes back line. Elsewhere the Force made the Bulls toil but they turned it round in the second half to win 28-15. The commentators seemed to think a 13 point losing margin was some sort of victory for the Force – as apposed to the more traditional victory, when you score more points than the opposition. As for the rest, the Reds look Hot, the ‘Tahs scraped past the Blues, the Chiefs lost out to the Brumbies and the Highlanders have two wins now, thanks to the hapless Lions.

Guinness Premiership

Bath got in a good win over Harlequins in what sounded like a good match at the Rec in the early match. Northampton then dug deep at Franklin Gardens to overcome a determined Wasps side 14-9. This is one that will gone off Paul Sackey’s Sky Plus ASAP as there was a pantomime ‘HE’S BEHIND YOU’ moment before he was caught from behind by prop Brian Mujati. The Saints’ try was a mite controversial but Wasps weren’t robbed, they had their chances. Saints kicked a lot in the first half but came to their senses in the second half – why would you kick with Geraghty, Foden, Reihana, and Aston in your team?

26th March 2010

This week - Magners League, Super 14, Guinness Premiership

General news

I see Leinster boss Australian Michael Cheika is on his way to French superstars Stade Francais next season.Good luck to him, he’s done a great job with Leinster and had a stratospheric rise, form Padova to Randwick, then Leinster and now Stade . He’s going to have his work cut out for him though as it must be the rugby equivalent of managing Chelsea – owner Max Guazzini expects results every season and he also wants Stade to play with razzmatazz, that’s the whole pink jersey, Can Can girls and ‘artistic’ calendar thing…Fourie du Preez is going to play inJapan after the next world cup. The Springbok scrum half, arguably one of the best in the world, in the twilight of his career obviously didn’t find the thought of coming to Europe and having giant Tongans and Fijians( and the odd giant European) jumping on his head very attractive. I wonder why?...Tommy Bowe was voted the player of the tournament for the 6 Nations, the man is just pure class now.

Magners League

The pick of the weekend looks like Munster against Glasgow at Thomond Park. Both teams are pretty well at full strength, this is Munster’s chance to right the wrongs of the 6 Nations but as Ireland found last Saturday, the Scots will be no push over. I can’t see Munster losing though.

Super 14 - Whiff of desperation?

The Brumbies and the Chiefs could be interesting, likewise the Waratahs and the Blues, all teams that are there or thereabouts and need to start putting a run of results together to be serious contenders for the play offs. But the match I'll be looking forward to most will the Sharks and the Hurricanes at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington. When you look at both the teams it's quality internationals all over the field, but when you look at their log positions neither has anything to write home about. Sharks coach John Plumtree is an ex-Hurricanes man so that adds a bit of extra spice to the proceedings, but the biggest attraction is the whiff of desperation this fixture brings, this is last the last chance saloon for both these clubs. It's amazing when you compare these teams to the Bulls, the standard of the players is the same but the difference is that the Bulls know how to win and the others don't. No offence to the Bulls (who you'd hate to meet in an alley on a dark night) but none of them look like math’s Olympians do they? But they know how to win, whilst the Sharks definitively don't have a clue, and the Canes just don't seem to have that canny self confidence the All Blacks nearly always seem to have. As the Sharks season is all over bar the shouting, I'd say the Canes are going to pull through in a tight match.

Guinness Premiership

Bath vs Harlequins looks like an interesting proposition but the match I'm planning to watch is Northampton Saints against London Wasps at Franklin's Gardens. It's the new kid on the block having a go at the Old School. Saints are looking very impressive this season, they were good value for their win in the LV Cup over Gloucester with Shane Geraghty in sensational form at full back - I don't understand how he's not in the England set up. The Saints' defence is a bit leaky, but I'd still see them take this.