Super XV Round 2 Preview

Super XV Round 2 Preview

Competition table
Australian Super Rugby Conference
Team P W L D B PF PA PD Bp Ttl
1. Reds 1 1 0 0 0 25 21 4 0 4
2. Brumbies 1 1 0 0 0 19 17 2 0 4
3. Rebels 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 4
4. W.Force 1 0 1 0 0 17 19 -2 1 1
5. Waratahs 1 0 1 0 0 21 25 -4 1 1

New Zealand Super Rugby Conference
Team Nation P W L D B PF PA PD Bp Ttl
1. Highlanders 1 1 0 0 0 23 19 4 0 4
2. Crusaders 1 1 0 0 0 19 18 1 0 4
3. Blues 1 0 1 0 0 18 19 -1 1 1
4. Chiefs 1 0 1 0 0 19 23 -4 1 1
5. Hurricanes 1 0 1 0 0 26 39 -13 0 0

South African Super Rugby Conference
Team Nation P W L D B PF PA PD Bp Ttl
1. Stormers 1 1 0 0 0 39 26 13 0 4
2. Lions 1 1 0 0 0 27 25 2 0 4
3. Bulls 1 1 0 0 0 18 13 5 0 4
4. Cheetahs 1 0 1 0 0 25 27 -2 1 1
5. Sharks 1 0 1 0 0 13 18 -5 1 1


Chiefs vs Blues
Both the Chiefs and Blues suffered narrow losses at home last week, and will want to get a win on board. Injuries mean both teams field re-shuffled front rows, with the Chiefs have also have Tawera Kerr-Barlow and Asaeli Tikoirotuma fill halfback and wing injury vacancies respectively. Ma’a Nonu has returned from Japan but is not yet available so the fans miss out on a mouth-watering clash between him and Sonny Bill Williams. Blues by 5.

Rebels vs Waratahs
The Waratahs suffered a home loss in the big Aussie derby last week, they will be eager to get their season back on track against the Rebels, who had the bye in round 1. Danny Cipriani starts at fly-half inside James O’Connor for the Rebels, while Kurtley Beale and Stirling Mortlock are out injured. Given enough ball the Rebels could sneak this one, Rebels by 4.

Lions vs Hurricanes
The Hurricanes were the only team to not pick up any competition points last week as all the other losing teams finished within 7 points of their opposition. The Lions will be another tough match for the ‘Canes, who are unchanged from the side that lost in Cape Town. Lions by 8.

Highlanders vs Crusaders
Both teams won away in the North Island in round 1 to set up a cracking South Island derby at the new “House of Pain” in Dunedin. Currently, sadly, it is the Otago Rugby Union and Dunedin City Council who are feeling all the (financial) pain of the new stadium. The Crusaders have brought Zac Guildford back onto the bench after his month-long suspension, while Adam Whitelock will replace the injured Ryan Crotty. Crusaders by 5.

Reds vs Force
The defending champions return home fresh of a win over the ‘Tahs in Sydney with 5 positional changes forced by injuries to Scott Higginbotham, Anthony Faingaa and James Hanson. However they should still be too strong at home for the Force, who lost in Canberra last week. Reds by 12.

Cheetahs vs Bulls
The Bulls should have too much power for the Cheetahs in this one after they overpowered Conference favourites the Sharks last weekend, though the Cheetahs did put in a better than expected performance in their loss to the Lions last week. Bulls by 8.

Stormers vs Sharks
A key clash here for the South African conference sees the Sharks visit Cape Town coming off a narrow away loss in Pretoria last week. The Stormers looked good beating an ill-disciplined Hurricanes team in week 1, though they will be disappointed at scoring 39 points without getting a 4-try bonus point. A tough game to call, Sharks by 4.


Bye: Brumbies

Biltong, a couple of lines extra on the SA teams would be helpful if you have some time

Kiwi, just for interest sake, Graham Henry on Re-Union reckoned the Chiefs will take it.

The othermatches he agrees with you.

Sharks vs Stormers.

The Sharks will have added motivation and pressure to come away with a win against the stormers this coming weekend, they would not want to put themselves under the same pressure as what they found themselves in beginning of the season last year. The sharks functioned well last weekend, but lacked discipline in execution and that would be vital in turing over the Stormers.

The stormers on the other hand will have Andries Bekker to control the Lineouts, but will miss the Physicality of Schalk burger.

Lions vs Hurricanes

The Lions would like to follow up their first win at home since 2009 this weekend against a Hurricanes team who inspite of being penalised heavily last saturday made a good challenge against the Stormers. Miitchell will be pleased about the win last weekend, but he will also realise that the longer the competition goes on , the better teams will execute, so he would want his team to strike early and excute well. The hurricanes may not look likea team that is playing well as a collective unit, but individually they have dangerous runners.

Bulls vs Cheetahs
It is very likely that this match will follow much the same pattern as the Bulls vs Sharks game of last weekend. The Bulls have decided due to the instruction of SANZAR to the referees to be very strict at the breakdown that they will play vintage 2009 rugby, kick, chase hard, force errors and strangle teams in their half. Doubtfull whether the cheetahs will be able to cope with that.

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