Alternative Title: “Still pissing off most of the Rugbyheads readers”
;DHighlanders v Bulls Invercargill
Highlanders : 15. Paul Williams, 14. Aisea Tuilevu, 13. Ryan Nicholas, 12. Paul Steinmetz, 11. Iliesa Tanivula, 10. Willie Walker, 9. Danny Lee, 8. Taine Randell (captain), 7. Ben Herring, 6. Kelvin Middleton, 5. Simon Maling, 4. Filipo Levi, 3. Carl Hayman, 2. Anton Oliver, 1. Carl Hoeft. Reserves Jason MacDonald, Joe McDonnell, Peter Bowden, Sam Harding, Byron Kelleher, James Arlidge, Seilala Mapusua.
Bulls: Team list not available
::)Comments
This is looking like the match of the round. Who would have believed that the Bulls could have put in another really solid game. Louis Koen was sensational in his ability to control the game and whole kicking game was superb. His tactical play really kept the Hurricanes bottled in their own half and then they exploited every opportunity.
The highlanders tore apart the Stormers last week and both Fijian players cashed in for a couple of tries each (?).
The game isn’t being played at the house of pain and then the home ground advantage isn’t as great.
:oBalls to wall
This one is hard to call. But I just can’t really go past the Highlanders, as I don’t think that they will give away as many penalties as the Hurricanes did last week.
;DHurricanes vs Stormers Wellington
The Hurricanes team: 15 Christian Cullen, 14 Lome Fa'atau, 13 Ma'a Nonu, 12 Tana Umaga (captain), 11 Jonah Lomu, 10 David Holwell/Riki Flutey, 9 Brendan Haami, 8 Rodney So'oialo, 7 Kupu Vanisi, 6 Jerry Collins, 5 Paul Tito, 4 Luke Andrews, 3 Tim Fairbrother, 2 Joe Ward, 1 Tony Penn/Jason Hooper.
Replacements: 16 Daniel Smith, 17 Tama Tuirirangi, 18 Kristian Ormsby, 19 Brent Thompson, 20 Jason Spice, 21 Riki Flutey/David Holwell, 22 Brent Ward.
The Stormers team: 15 Lean van Dyk, 14 Breyton Paulse, 13 Robbie Fleck, 12 De Wet Barry, 11 Gus Theron, 10 Gaffie du Toit, 9 Neil de Kock, 8 Jaco Gouws, 7 Pierre Uys, 6 Corné Krige (captain), 5 Selborne Boome, 4 Quinton Davids, 3 Faan Rautenbach, 2 Pieter Dixon, 1 Daan Human.
Replacements: 16 Tjoepie van den Heever, 17 Eddie Andrews, 18 Hottie Louw, 19 Adri Badenhorst, 20 Johannes Conradie, 21 Leon van den Heever, 22 Egon Seconds.
::)Comments
The Hurricanes have looked good for two weeks in a row without winning. They have lost to the Crusaders and a very committed Bulls side with 80 points being scored in the game. Yet again the hurricanes can turn defence into attack and can plie on the points like no one else in the comp.
The Stormers were very disappointing last week and I think that they will now struggle for the rest of their tour.
:oBalls to wall
The Hurricanes will be smarting after being the first NZ side to loose in NZ to the Bulls ever. They will come out and win this one and they also have the return of Lomu to help bolster their attack.
;DCats vs Brumbies Johannesburg
The Cats team: 15 Jaque Fourie, 14 Ashwin Willemse, 13 Jorrie Muller, 12 Gcobani Bobo, 11 Friedrich Lombard, 10 André Pretorius, 9 Enrico Januarie, 8 Bob Skinstad (captain), 7 Hendro Scholtz, 6 Joe van Niekerk, 5 Marco Wentzel, 4 Kleinjan Tromp, 3 Baksteen Nell, 2 James Dalton, 1 Pietman van Niekerk.
Replacements: 16 Hanyani Shimange, 17 Lawrence Sephaka, 18 Jaun Smith, 19 Russel Winter, 20 Norman Jordaan, 21 Kennedy Tsimba, 22 Adrian Jacobs.
The Brumbies team: 15 Joe Roff, 14 Mark Gerrard, 13 Stirling Mortlock/Joel Wilson, 12 Matt Giteau, 11 Mark Bartholomeusz, 10 Stephen Larkham, 9 George Gregan (captain), 8 Scott Fava, 7 George Smith, 6 Tamaiti Horua, 5 Daniel Vickerman, 4 Justin Harrison, 3 Ben Darwin, 2 Jeremy Paul, 1 Bill Young.
Replacements: 16 Digby Beaumont, 17 David Fitter, 18 David Giffin, 19 Mark Chisholm, 20 Travis Hall, 21 Pat Howard, 22 Andrew Walker.
::)Comments
The cats have lost 2 in a row and the Brumbies lost last week as well. But the Brumbies should have won as they don’t normally have hands that have been rubbed with soap but they have internal problems again with Walker. Also the interesting thing is it looks like Howard is definitely on the outer. I see this as a positive as Howard hasn’t been exactly a standout since his return.
:oBalls to wall
Brumbies to canter home with a win.
;DChiefs vs Reds Hamilton
REDS: C Latham/M Tabrett, B Tune, S Kefu, G Fairbanks, W Sailor, E Flatley (c), J Valentine, J Roe, D Croft, M Cockbain, N Sharpe, R Vedelago, F Dyson, S Hardman, N Stiles. Reserves to be named but wild guess it will be Tai McIsaac, Glenn Panoho, Luke Doherty, Ben Wakely, Tim Atkinson, Michael Tabrett/Chris Lyons, J. Huxley
::)Comments
Both sides are without a win and will be looking forward to getting at least 4 points out of the match.
I haven’t seen the Chiefs lineup but I know the Reds have some major injuries and some players returning. Flatley finally gets to start at 5/8 but the injury loss of T.Kefu is a serious blow. At least Huxley should be on the bench.
:oBalls to wall
Heart says Reds but that brain says something else again as the chiefs have crossed the line on more occasions than the Reds have by a lot to one.
;DBlues vs Crusaders Albany
The Blues team: 15 Doug Howlett, 14 Joe Rokocoko, 13 Malili Muliaina, 12 Sam Tuitupou, 11 Rupeni Caucaunibuca, 10 Carlos Spencer, 9 Steve Devine, 8 Xavier Rush, 7 Daniel Braid, 6 Justin Collins, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Bradley Mika, 3 Kees Meeuws, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Derren Witcombe, 17 Deacon Manu, 18 AN Other, 19 Ron Cribb/AN Other, 20 David Gibson, 21 Orene Ai'i, 22 Rico Gear.
Crusaders: 15. Leon MacDonald, 14. Marika Vunibaka, 13. Caleb Ralph, 12. Aaron Mauger, 11. Joe Maddock, 10. Daniel Carter, 9. Justin Marshall, 8. Scott Robertson, 7. Richard McCaw, 6. Reuben Thorne (captain), 5. Chris Jack, 4. Brad Thorn, 3. Greg Sommerville, 2. Mark Hammett, 1. Greg Feek. Reserves: Corey Flynn, David Hewett, Bryce Williams, Sam Broomhall, Ben Hurst, Scott Hamilton, Shaun Webb.
::)Comments
This really is the match of the round.
The Blues really put in the hard yards last weekend after playing a whole game with 14 men. The Blues back three are electric and the question becomes how can Fiji fit all its in form wingers into its RWC side?
The crusaders put in a massive defence effort last week and then were able to exploit any weakness they saw and cashed in for the 5 points.
:oBalls to wall
I give this game to the Blues. I think that their forwards are going to get them better field possession and then its going to be the back three that is going to be the difference. However, it should be a fast and high scoring match.
;DSharks vs Waratahs Durban
The Sharks team: 15 Ricardo Loubscher, 14 Wylie Human, 13 André Snyman, 12 Trevor Halstead, 11 Stefan Terblanché, 10 Butch James, 9 Craig Davidson, 8 Brad MacLeod-Henderson, 7 Shaun Sowerby (captain), 6 Luke Watson, 5 Albert van den Berg, 4 Philip Smit, 3 Deon Carstens, 2 Gary Botha, 1 Ollie le Roux.
Replacements: 16 Ettiene Fynn, 17 Eduard Coetzee, 18 Charl van Rensburg, 19 Wayne van Heerden, 20 Ryan Walker, 21 Rudi Keil, 22 Brent Russell.
The Waratahs team: 15 Mat Rogers, 14 Scott Staniforth, 13 Matthew Burke (captain), 12 Nathan Grey, 11 Lote Tuqiri, 10 Shaun Berne, 9 Chris Whitaker, 8 David Lyons, 7 Phil Waugh (vice-captain), 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Jono West, 4 Tom Bowman, 3 Alistair Baxter, 2 Brendan Cannon, 1 Matt Dunning.
Replacements: 16 Adam Freier, 17 Rod Moore, 18 Van Humphries, 19 Jone Tawake, 20 Paul Sheedy, 21 Morgan Turinui, 22 Nathan Blacklock.
::)Comments
Good wins to both sides last weekend. However, the key to the game must be NSW new 5/8 Berne. The sharks feed on a very sloppy brumbie outfit last week. NSW forwards really put in a big effort and it is good to see Tom Bowman looking the goods again.
:oBalls to wall
If NSW can get there backs alight then they should win as they offer more strike power.
