SUPER 14 - ROUND 3

TABLE: PLD PTS

Hurricanes 3 15
Crusaders 3 14
Brumbies 3 10
Bulls 3 10
Waratahs 3 9
Highlanders 3 8
Stormers 3 7
Cheetahs 3 6
Chiefs 3 5
Cats 3 4
Blues 3 4
Reds 3 2
W.Force 3 0

RESULTS:

Hurricanes 29 Cats 16
Force 9 Chiefs 26
Stormers 15 Brumbies 15
Crusaders 22 Sharks 20
Reds 20 Blues 21
Bulls 26 Waratahs 17
Cheetahs 12 Highlanders 17

For me, being a Blues fan, their win in Brisbane was the result of the round. It was probably the worst game of round 3. The Blues started with a bang and there was three tries in the first 7 mins and that was that, it was like watching paint dry. The Stormers/Brumbies stalemate was a classic compaired to this. These 2 teams were supposed to be contenders, on this showing, not a chance!!
Try of the round went to the Chiefs, Mark Ranby finished it off but it was a great team try, it went through numerous pairs of hands before Ranby dotted down under the posts.

MY TEAM OF THE WEEK:
15. Sam Knorton Knight (Waratahs)
14. Soseni Anesi (Chiefs)
13. Tana Umaga (Hurricanes)
12. Mat Giteau (Brumbies)
11. Bryan Habana (Bulls)
10. Dan Carter (Crusaders)
9. Sam Cordingley (Reds)
8. Rodney So'oialo (Hurricanes)
7. Richie McCaw (Crusaders)
6. Troy Flavell (Blues)
5. Nathan Sharpe (Force)
4. Francois Schowenburg (Bulls)
3. Carl Hayman (Highlander)
2. Anton Oliver (Highlanders)
1. Tony Woodcock (Blues)

SUPER 14 - PREVIEW - ROUND 3

FIXTUERS:

Hurricanes v Cats
Stormers v Brumbies
W.Force v Chiefs
Crusaders v Sharks
Reds v Blues
Bulls v Waratahs
Cheetahs v Highlanders

HOW I THINK THE NZ TEAMS WILL GO?

The Hurricanes kick week 3 off with a home game against the Cats, How will they cope with the loss of All Black centre Conrad Smith? VERDICT: CANES BY 13+pts
The Chiefs have been disapointing so far, they've come close in weeks 1 & 2, but not close enough, but i think they will win their first game of the season, all be it, by just a few points. VERDICT CHIEFS BY 7pts.
The Blues travel to Brisbane. They have been the biggest disapointment, on paper they look like they are one of the favorites for the title, but they have not shown any of their potential. Hopefully they can turn it around against the Reds. Its one i wouldn't like to call. But i will back my home town time, to get their season back on track, fingers crossed!!! VERDICT BLUES BY 4pts
The Crusaders have started with a bang again this year, and have put themselves up there to be the team to beat again. The Sharks just won't have the fire power to trouble them. VERDICT CRUSADERS BY 20+pts.
The Highlanders start their tour of South Africa with a difficult game against the Cheetahs, the Cheetahs have shown that they won't lie down for anyone. This could be the game of the round? VERDICT CHEETAHS BY 2pts.

SUPER 14 - ROUND 2

Team: pld pts
Crusaders 2 10
Hurricanes 2 10
Waratahs 2 9
Brumbies 2 8
Bulls 2 6
Sharks 2 5
Stormers 2 5
Cheetahs 2 5
Cats 2 4
Highlanders 2 4
Chiefs 2 1
Reds 2 1
Blues 2 0
W.Force 2 0

RESULTS:
Highlanders v Blues 25-13
Cats v Chiefs 21-16
Bulls v Brumbies 21-27
Hurricanes v W.Force 29-5
Reds v Crusaders 21-47
Sharks v Cheetahs 26-27
Stormers v Waratahs 26-32

The Cheetahs produced the result of the round, after being 20-10 down at half time to the Sharks in Durban, the odds was stacked against them. But 2 second half tries secured a 26-27 victory. The Cheetahs picked up 5pts. The top of the table looks like its taking shape already, with us only being 2 weeks in. Are these going to be the top four for the playoffs? Lets hope that teams like the Blues can show some of their potential and start turning the top sides over to make it a close race for the playoffs.

MY TEAM OF THE WEEK:
15. Chris Latham (Reds)
14. Rico Gear (Crusaders)
13. Ma'a Nonu (Hurricanes)
12. Mat Giteau (Brumbies)
11. Giscard Pieters (Cheetahs)
10. Dan Carter (Crusaders)
9. Kevin Senio (Crusaders)
8. Ryno van der Merwe (Cheetahs)
7. Juan Smith (Cheetahs)
6. Jerry Collines (Hurricanes)
5. James Ryan (Highlanders)
4. David Pusey (Western Force)
3. Carl Hayman (Highlander)
2. Anton Oliver (Highlanders)
1. Tony Woodcock (Blues)

SUPER 14 - PREVIEW - ROUND 2

TABLE pl pts

Bulls 1 5
Crusaders 1 5
Hurricanes 1 5
Brumbies 1 4
Sharks 1 4
Stormers 1 4
Waratahs 1 4
Reds 1 1
Blues 1 0
Cats 1 0
Cheetahs 1 0
Chiefs 1 0
Highlanders 1 0
Western Force 1 0

FIXTURES -WEEK 2

Highlanders - v - Blues
Cats - v - Chiefs
Bulls - v - Brumbies
Hurricanes - v - Western Force
Reds - v - Crusaders
Sharks - v - Cheetahs
Stormers - v - Waratahs

HOW I THINK THE NZ TEAMS WILL GO?

The Blues, after the poor performance against the Hurricanes, travel to Dunedin, where they will face the Highlanders who were also well beaten in round 1, this is going to be a close one to call, but i think the Highlanders will just edge past the Blues.
The Chiefs will play the Cats and will come away with a good result, they should be match hardened after their narrow week 1 defeat to the Sharks.
The Hurricanes face new kids on the block, but i don't think they will have to much trouble from the Force, this should be the biggest winning margin in week 2.
The Crusaders head to Brisbane to tackle the Reds, after week 1, they showed that they are the team to beat again, the Reds will push them, but it woun't be enough.

SUPER 14 - ROUND 1

RESULTS;
Blues v Hurricanes 19-37
Force v Brumbies 10-25
Cheetahs v Bulls 18-30
Crusaders v Highlanders 38-15
Reds v Waratahs 12-16
Cats v Stormers 12-23
Sharks v Chiefs 30-21


For me the result of the round was the impressive second half of the Hurricanes/Blues match, the Hurricanes completely over ran the Blues, with huge preformances from the Canes backrow trio of Jerry Collins, Rodney So'oialo and Chris Masoe. I think this Hurricanes side could have a big impact on this years tournament.
Try of the round went to Ruan Pienaar the Sharks half back, his individual try against the Chiefs will be hard to topple, he looks a huge prospect for SA Rugby, keep an eye on him for the next World Cup?


MY TEAM OF THE WEEK!
15. Chris Latham (Reds)
14. Wendell Sailor (Waratahs)
13. Ma'a Nonu (Hurricanes)
12. Tana Unaga (Hurricanes)
11. Bryan Habana (Bulls)
10. Dan Carter (Crusaders)
9. Ruan Pienaar (Sharks)
8. Rodney So'oialo (Hurricanes)
7. Chris Masoe (Hurricanes)
6. Jerry Collines (Hurricanes)
5. James Ryan (Highlanders)
4. Mark Chisholm (Brumbies)
3. Carl Hayman (Highlander)
2. Tom Willis (Cheifs)
1. Tony Woodcock (Blues)

SUPER 14- PREVIEW - ROUND 1

Well its here, the new Super 14 is going to kick off this weekend, it been along summer here in New Zealand without any footie.

Fixtures for this weekend:

Blues v Hurricanes
Western Force v Brumbies
Cheetahs v Bulls
Crusaders v Highlanders
Reds v Waratahs
Cats v Stormers
Sharks v Chiefs

HOW I THINK THE NZ TEAMS WILL GO?

At Eden Park i think the Blues will just have the edge over the Hurricanes, the front five for the Blues should do the business and lay the foundations for the Blues to unleash their exciting backline.

In Christchurch the Highlanders will have to be on top of their game if they are to topple the tournament favorites the Crusaders, i can't see it happening, the Crusaders are just stacked with quality players who have proven themselves at the highest level, they will want to start with a bang.

The Chiefs are in South Africa, where they play the Sharks in Durban, this is another close one to call, but i like the look of this Chiefs side and i think they will sneak a close one