Lions Pride

Week 3 of Super Rugby sees the Crusaders coming to the party, the Bulls bargaining on a bonus point win, the Stormers hoping to play a lot better, the Cheetahs starting their tour downunder and the Kings get a break and 4 points. Look forward to some scintillating matches when the Cheetahs take on the Chiefs and the Reds play the Canes and a possible bore-fest when the Tahs play the Rebels.

Last week my predictions were way off:

Last week: 3/7
Overall: 5/9
Percentage: 55.56%

Blues v Crusaders – 1 Mar 08:30

The Blues vs Crusaders is going to be an interesting match. Last week the Blues surprised most people by beating the Canes with a young and inexperienced side and this week they face the Crusaders in the Saders’ first match of the season. The Saders’ run-on side has a familiar look except on the wings where centre Adam Whitelock needs to stand in with the loss of Zac Guilford and Sean Maitland. Not an easy call but it’s difficult to bet against the Crusaders in this one.

Crusaders by 6

Fantasy League players to consider:
Blues: Frank Halai, Rene Ranger, Piri Weepu, Ali Williams
Saders: Robbie Fruean, Israel Dagg, Dan Carter, Kieran Read, Corey Flynn

Blues:

15 Charles Piutau, 14 Frank Halai, 13 Rene Ranger, 12 Francis Saili, 11 George Moala, 10 Chris Noakes, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Peter Saili, 7 Luke Braid, 6 Steven Luatua, 5 Ali Williams (captain), 4 Culum Retallick, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 James Parsons, 1 Tom McCartney.

Replacements: 16 Quentin MacDonald, 17 Angus Ta’avao, 18 Liaki Moli, 19 Brendon O’Connor, 20 Bryn Hall, 21 Baden Kerr, 22 Jackson Willison..

Crusaders:

15 Tom Taylor, 14 Adam Whitelock, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Israel Dagg, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Kieran Read (c), 7 Matt Todd, 6 George Whitelock, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Wyatt Crockett.

Replacements: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Joe Moody, 18 Dominic Bird, 19 Luke Whitelock, 20 Willi Heinz, 21 Tyler Bleyendaal, 22 Tom Marshall

Waratahs v Rebels – 1 Mar 10:20

Another tough call as the Tahs weren’t very good last week and the Rebels, with JOC playing well, could just surprise. NRL convert, Israel Folau, plays in his second rugby union match and a lot is expected of this youngster. In the end the Waratahs should take a match that will be fairly even for the first 60 minutes or so but don’t expect a very exciting match.

Waratahs by 6

Fantasy League players to consider:
Tahs: Israel Folau, Drew Mitchell, Wycliff Palu, Michael Hooper, Tatafu Polota-Nau
Rebels: James O’Connor (kicker), Ged Robinson

Waratahs:

15 Israel Folau, 14 Tom Kingston, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Tom Carter, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Brendan McKibbin, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Dave Dennis (c), 5 Kane Douglas, 4 Mitchell Chapman, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Benn Robinson

Replacements: 16 John Ulugia, 17 Jeremy Tilse, 18 Paddy Ryan, 19 Sitaleki Timani, 20 Lopeti Timani, 21 Matt Lucas, 22 Ben Volavola

Melbourne Rebels:

15 James O’Connor (captain), 14 Lachlan Mitchell, 13 Mitch Inman, 12 Rory Sidey, 11 Richard Kingi, 10 Kurtley Beale, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Scott Higginbotham, 7 Scott Fuglistaller, 6 Luke Jones, 5 Cadeyrn Neville, 4 Hugh Pyle, 3 Laurie Weeks, 2 Ged Robinson, 1 Nic Henderson

Replacements: 16 Shota Horie, 17 Paul Alo-Emile, 18 Jordy Reid, 19 Jarrod Saffy, 20 Nic Stirzaker, 21 Angus Roberts, 22 Tom English

Reds v Hurricanes – 1 Mar 12:20

This could be one of the entertaining matches of the weekend with both sides enjoying an open game. The game features a number of exciting players and try-scorers but the Canes’ poor defence may just cost them the game.

Reds by 9

Fantasy League players to consider:
Reds: Dom Shipperley, Ben Tapuai, Digby Ioane, Quade Cooper, James Slipper
Cane: Andre Taylor, Conrad Smith, Julian Savea, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara, Ben Franks

Reds:

15 Aiden Toua, 14 Dom Shipperley, 13 Chris Feauai-Sautia, 12 Ben Tapuai, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Ben Lucas, 8 Jake Schatz, 7 Liam Gill, 6 Eddie Quirk, 5 Ed O’Donoghue, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 James Slipper (captain), 2 Saia Faingaa, 1 Greg Holmes.

Replacements: 16 James Hanson, 17 Albert Anae, 18 Adam Wallace-Harrison, 19 Radike Samo, 20 Nick Frisby, 21 Mike Harris, 22 Luke Morahan

Hurricanes:

15 Andre Taylor, 14 Alapati Leiua, 13 Conrad Smith (c), 12 Tim Bateman, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Brad Shields, 7 Karl Lowe, 6 Victor Vito, 5 Jason Eaton, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Ben Franks.

Replacements: 16 Motu Matu’u, 17 Reggie Goodes, 18 James Broadhurst, 19 Faifili Levave, 20 Chris Smylie, 21 James Marshall, 22 Reynold Lee-Lo

Chiefs v Cheetahs – 2 Mar 08:35

This match has the potential to be the Rugby Lite (TM Kitchener) match of the weekend and one can expect a lot of tries as both sides don’t really place a premium on defence once the game opens up. With two of the best young flyhalves in the game on display and some of the best open-play player featured on  both sides the match promises to be a spectacle, however, in the end the Cheetahs’ lack of enough quality forwards will cost them the game.

Chiefs by 12

Fantasy League players to consider:
Chiefs: Gareth Anscombe, Tim Nanai-Williams, Aaron Cruden, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Sam Cane, Liam Messam, Brodie Retallick, Pauliasi Manu
Cheetahs: Willie le Roux, Johann Sadie, Raymond Rhule, Johan Goosen, Piet van Zyl, Adriaan Strauss

Chiefs:

15 Gareth Anscombe, 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Tim Nanai-Williams, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Asaeli  Tikoirotuma, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Augustine Pulu, 8 Fritz Lee, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Liam  Messam (c), 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Michael Fitzgerald, 3 Ben Afeaki, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Pauliasi Manu

Replacements: 16 Rhys Marshall, 17 Ben Tameifuna, 18 Craig Clarke, 19 Tanerau Latimer, 20 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 21Charlie Ngatai, 22 Patrick Osborne

Cheetahs:

15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Willie le Roux, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Robert Ebersohn, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Philip van der Walt, 7 Pieter Labuschagne, 6 Frans Viljoen, 5 Francois Uys, 4 Lodewyk de Jager, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Trevor Nyakane.

Replacements: 16 Ryno Barnes, 17 Coenie Oosthuizen, 18 Rynhard Landman, 19 Johannes Prinsloo, 20 Piet van Zyl, 21 Riaan Smith, 22 Ryno Benjamin.

Bulls v Force – 2 Mar 17:05

Last week against the Kings the Force struggled in the scrums, were pathetic in the lineouts and their goal kickers were poor while their backline couldn’t break a wet paper bag. The same  this week and you can expect expect a massacre from a Bulls side that looked fairly polished for the start of the season. Hopefully the Bulls will experiment a bit with some of their youngsters and give Jan Serfontein and Arno Botha a start.

Bulls by 26

Fantasy League players to consider:
Bulls: Lionel Mapoe, Bjorn Basson, Mornè Steyn, Mornè Mellett
Force: Alfie Mafi

Bulls :
15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Sampie Mastriet, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Mornè Steyn, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Pierre Spies (captain), 7 Arno Botha, 6 Jacques Potgieter, 5 Juandrè Kruger, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Mornè Mellett.

Substitutes: 16 Willie Wepener, 17 Frik Kirsten, 18 Grant Hattingh, 19 Jean Cook, 20 Jano Vermaak, 21 Louis Fouchè , 22 Jan Serfontein.

Force (Last week):

15 Will Tupou, 14 Nick Cummins, 13 Winston Stanley, 12 Kyle Godwin, 11 Alfie Mafi, 10 Sam Christie, 9 Alby Mathewson, 8 Ben McCalman, 7 Matt Hodgson (c), 6 Angus Cottrell, 5 Hugh McMeniman, 4 Sam Wykes, 3 Tetera Faulkner, 2 Nathan Charles, 1 Pek Cowan.

Replacements: 16 Heath Tessmann, 17 Kieran Longbottom, 18 Toby Lynn, 19 Richard Brown, 20 Chris Alcock, 21 Mick Snowden, 22 Junior Rasolea

Sharks v Stormers – 2 Mar 19:10

For the South African conference this is the game of the weekend when the two sides who are expected to battle it out for the top spot battle it out. The Sharks were solid last week although they went to sleep a bit in the second half wereas the Stormers were probably at their worst with set pieces not working, ball turnovers at the breakdowns, poor goal kicking and new combinations struggling. The Stormers might make a few changes but they will want their scrums and lineouts to work and will hope that Elton Jantjies has a more settled game this time around. The Sharks, however, is just a bit ahead of the Stormers in terms of being match ready and should win the battle in the Shark Tank.

Sharks by 6

Fantasy League players to consider:
Sharks: JP Pietersen, Paul Jordaan,Lwazi Mvovo, Patrick Lambie,Marcell Coetzee, Franco van der Merwe, Tendai Mtawarira
Stormers: Gio Aplon, Bryan Habana, Duane Vermeulen, Siya Kolisi, Andries Bekker

Sharks:

15. Louis Ludik, 14. JP Pietersen, 13. Paul Jordaan, 12. Frans Steyn (c), 11. Lwazi Mvovo, 10. Pat Lambie, 9. Cobus Reinach, 8. Ryan Kankowski, 7. Jean Deysel, 6. Marcell Coetzee, 5. Franco van der Merwe, 4. Anton Bresler, 3. Jannie du Plessis, 2. Craig Burden, 1. Tendai Mtawarira

Replacements: 16. Kyle Cooper, 17. Wiehahn Herbst, 18. Pieter-Steph du Toit, 19. Jacques Botes, 20. Charl McLeod, 21. Meyer Bosman, 22. Odwa Ndungane

Stormers:

15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Jean de Villiers (c),  12 Damian de Allende, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Rynhardt Elstadt, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 De Kock Steenkamp, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Deon Fourie, 1 Steven Kitshoff.

Subs: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Pat Cilliers, 18 Don Armand, 19 Nizaam Carr, 20 Louis Schreuder, 21 Peter Grant, 22 Gerhard van den Heever.