Super15 semi finals

The Chiefs are an IFFY team IMVHO. Sure they won last year. They score tries but also tend to give away too many points. Last season though their defence was miserly. This year, not so hot. Playing against the Crusaders this weekend I cannot see a win for the Chiefs.

Bulls / Brumbies - Jack White (MASTER TACTICIAN) gonna break SA hearts. Brumbies to win. JW one of the best in the business. -

CRUSADERS and BRUMBIES final - HUMDINGER

Now for the the egg

Don't we all just love to predict outcomes! That's why we gamble.

What does surprise me is the slightly reticent manner in which many posters put up their picks. Come on, guys! That's your opinion - so don't be so half apologetic about what you believe ( or feel ) might transpire. Some of you will be right whilst some of you will be wrong. In 15 minutes we will all have forgotten how accurate or 'off the mark' you were and we'll all move on. The winners collect and the losers pay.

Here's my take and I'll start with what I believe to be the 'easier' game to call :

I see little prospect of the Brumbies winning in Pretoria. I expect the Bulls to brutally manhandle the Brumbies up front and I also expect the visitors to really battle with the flight and bounce of the ball in the unfamiliar playing environment. Remember - quite a number of the Brumbies are 'first timers' at Loftus.

Even if my prediction should prove incorrect I see little likelihood of the visitors being in any kind of shape to contest a final a week later after another long haul flight home followed by a possible further flight to NZ just to compound their misery.

The Australians look totally tapped out from their exertions against the Lions and the betting reflects that reality.

Lastly - they were fortunate to secure the victory against the Cheetahs last weekend. Outscored 0-2 in tries they were the grateful recipients of wayward goal kicking by the visitors. If they were horses Computaform would probably comment - Won hard ridden. More needed in this company.

Posters who cite the 'Jake White factor' seem to ignore his record as South African coach. Not very consistent, below par overall win percentage and a World Cup won without having to face the #1 and #2 ranked sides en route to the cup. Not criticism. Just facts.

The Chiefs/Crusaders match is harder to call. But let's start with the facts :

My sources reveal that no NZ semi-finalist playing at home has lost in 15 encounters. Many have tried and ALL have failed whether they be NZ, Australian or South African opponents.

Do not underestimate the dual impact of a 'week off' allied to the reality that no motivation is required for this encounter.

The Chiefs side that will face the Crusaders is stronger up front than the one that capitulated 3 weeks ago. That win was absolutely non-negotiable for the Crusaders in Christchurch or they might conceivably have missed qualifying altogether. I suspect the Chiefs lacked the same degree of desire for that encounter.

I remain slightly underwhelmed by the Crusaders' class of 2013 when compared to some of the truly great teams from years gone by. Whatever the excuses they simply dropped too many games without good reason. Unlike the benchmark Crusaders of 2002 who went through all 13 successive matches unbeaten.

Although they are presently being swept along by a tide of hype I take them to draw the short stick on Saturday - not least because I believe the Chiefs coaching staff and, in particular, Wayne Smith as a former member of the Crusaders coaching staff, will prove more than a match for Todd Blackadder. I further believe that after four successive blanks Blackadder's position may well prove untenable if he fails for the fifth successive year with a side made up almost exclusively of All Blacks - as it has been in all previous years.

As an aside - good news for South Africa's prospects in the forthcoming Rugby Championship - the majority of our Springboks are getting a welcome and unexpected break whilst our Sanzar cousins beat each other up. Hopefully we will reap this benefit in August whilst the All Blacks stagger straight out of Super 15 into renewed battle at international level.

I agree with Garrick the Chiefs / Saders game will be very close. People mustn't read too much into their last round robin match. I remeber a couple of years ago in the Currie Cup the Sharks klapping the Lions 51-9 in the last round robin match only to have the favour returned in the Final a couple of weeks later.

Saw some of the Brumbies players at Monte Casino last night...... maybe they were working on their luck cause they will need that on Saturday. Bulls will bully them into submission....

Did i hear right.........liverpool is allowing Saurez to speak to Arsenal????

PeeKay Wrote:

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> Did i hear right.........liverpool is allowing
> Saurez to speak to Arsenal????


Are Arsenal playing Super Rugby next year?

PeeKay Wrote:

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> Did i hear right.........liverpool is allowing
> Saurez to speak to Arsenal????


they have too because Arsenal offered 40 million plus 1 pound which triggers his release clause. He will be an Arsenal player within the next 3 weeks.

only 2 teams yet to make any significant signings are man utd and arsenal.if arsenal get suarez then they will be title contenders along with man utd,man city and chelsea.lets see wat signings mr moyes makes to bolster his squad.as for super rugby who cares who makes the final as the stormers are not in contention.i do think the crusaders will win it.

Crusaders and Bulls to both win easily.....minimum 10 points win for both sides..............Happy Shrek -

PeeKay Wrote:

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> Crusaders and Bulls to both win easily.....minimum
> 10 points win for both sides..............Happy
> Shrek -


Thanks PeeKay. ()

Bulls -10.5 @ 1.15 must be the bet of the weekend! at BetFlash www.betflash.co.za/Betting/3;1621;7380208333

shrek Wrote:

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> PeeKay Wrote:
>

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>

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> > Crusaders and Bulls to both win
> easily.....minimum
> > 10 points win for both sides..............Happy
> > Shrek -
>
>
> Thanks PeeKay. ()

Shrek, i have a bud that bets very big. He took a bet some months ago for the bulls to win the Super 15. He got R75000/R10000. He was telling me that the bookie wants to buy some back and he told the bookie to speak to him after the match against the Brumbies! What a position to be in, but hey, they could still lose against the Brumbies!