Super XV: Round 16 Preview

This is just a quick look at the coming weekend's Super XV matches. I'll add in team selections, bookmaker odds etc as they become available.

It's coming up to the business end of the competition as the 8 top teams scrap over the 6 playoff berths. Last week (see Week 15 preview and discussion) saw the top 3 teams extending their lead, while the Sharks and Bulls made up ground.

This week the Bulls host the Waratahs in a game that could spell an end to the losing side's playoff hopes. Freddie Michalak is expected to play for the Sharks after signing for them yesterday. The Crusaders pick up 4 points for their week off, though Sonny Bill Willians will be in action - he gets to step into a boxing ring and beat up a 43 year old no-hoper who's lost 7 of his last 11 fights.

Top 8
1. Reds Australian Conference Leader 58 (played 13)
2. Blues New Zealand Conference Leader 54 (played 13)
3. Stormers South African Conference Leader 52 (played 13)
4. Crusaders Wildcard 49 (played 14)
5. Sharks 47 Wildcard (played 13)
6. Waratahs Wildcard 46 (played 13)
7. Bulls 45 (played 13)
8. Highlanders 44 (played 13)

Draw
Friday 3 June Venue WST AEST NZ RSA BST
Highlanders v Western Force Carisbrook Stadium 1535 1735 1935 0935 0835
Melbourne Rebels v Stormers AAMI Park 1740 1940 2140 1140
Bulls v Waratahs Loftus Versfeld Stadium 0110* 0310* 0510* 1910 1810
Saturday 4 June Venue WST AEST NZ RSA
Hurricanes v Lions Westpac Stadium 1330 1530 1730 0730 0630
Blues v Chiefs Eden Park 1535 1735 1935 0935 0735
Queensland Reds v ACT Brumbies Suncorp Stadium 1740 1940 2140 1140 1040
Cheetahs v Sharks Vodacom Park 2305 0105** 0305** 1705 1605
*Saturday 4 June
**Sunday 5 June

BYE: Crusaders

Competition Background and links
Full points table
Week 15 Stats
All Blacks RWC selection player form guide

Matches info

Highlanders v Western Force Carisbrook
The Highlanders fell over at home last week and need a win in Carisbrook's farewell game to push their playoff hopes forward. Hard to see past the Southern men in this one. The Highlanders will be debuting their new playing strip too.

Teams
Highlanders:
Ben Smith, Kade Poki, Kendrick Lynn, Shaun Treeby, Siale Piutau, Lima Sopoaga, Jimmy Cowan, Nasi Manu, John Hardie, Adam Thomson, Josh Bekhuis, Jarrad Hoeata, Chris King, Mo Schwwalger, Jamie Mackintosh (captain). Reserves; Jason Rutledge, Bronson Murray, Tom Donnelly, Nick Crosswell, Aaron Smith, Robbie Robinson, Alando Soakai.

Western Force:
Cameron Shepherd, Alfie Mafi, Patrick Dellit, Rory Sidey, David Smith, James Stannard, Mark Swanepoel, Ben McCalman, David Pocock, Matt Hodgson, Nathan Sharpe (capt), Sam Wykes, Tim Fairbrother, Nathan Charles, Kieran Longbottom. Reserves: Ben Whittaker, Matt Dunning, Tom Hockings, Richard Brown, Chris Cottee, Mitch Inman, Nick Cummins.


Melbourne Rebels v Stormers AAMI Park
Word has it Danny Cipriani will be back for the Rebels this week, as they desparately seek to avoid the wooden spoon. The Stormers have had a fairly good tour of the Antipodes and will be looking to seal automatic playoff qualification by winning the Saffa conference.
UPDATE: no return for Cipriani

Teams
Melbourne Rebels:
Richard Kingi, Lachlan Mitchell, Mark Gerrard, Stirling Mortlock (capt), Cooper Vuna, Julian Huxley, Nick Phipps, Gareth Delve, Michael Lipman, Jarrod Saffy, Hugh Pyle, Alister Campbell, Laurie Weeks, Ged Robinson, Nic Henderson. Reserves: Adam Freier, Greg Somerville, Kevin O'Neill, Tim Davidson, Sam Cordingley, Peter Betham, Afusipa Taumoepeau.

Stormers - TBC


Bulls v Waratahs Loftus Versfeld Stadium MATCH OF THE ROUND
The loser of this match will struggle to make the playoffs, so expect a tough-fought match at altitude. Injury has depleted both front rows, though one suspects the Bulls have better depth there.

Teams
Bulls - TBC
Waratahs - TBC


Hurricanes v Lions Westpac Stadium
The Lions upset the Highlanders last week and will be looking to repeat the dose in Wellington, albeit without flanker Michael Rhodes who has been banned for 6 weeks. They may also have some off-field concerns or possibly not, and the 'Canes are due a perfomance.

Teams
Hurricanes - TBC
Lions - TBC


Blues v Chiefs Eden Park
Both teams come off a bye, and players will be looking to impress All Blacks selectors. A win for the Blues will all but tie up the NZ conference before they travel to Timaru to play the Crusaders next weekend.

Teams
Blues - TBC
Chiefs:
Mils Muliaina (capt), Lelia Masaga, Richard Kahui, Tana Umaga, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Stephen Donald, Brendon Leonard, Fritz Lee, Tanerau Latimer, Liam Messam, Romana Graham, Craig Clarke, Nathan White, Hika Elliot, Ben May. Reserves: Aled de Malmanche, Toby Smith, Culum Retalick, Matt Vant Leven, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Mike Delany, Dwayne Sweeney.



Queensland Reds v ACT Brumbies Suncorp Stadium
Expect the Reds to continue their charge towards a home final, unless Jake White can turn the dismal Brumbies around

Teams
Queensland Reds:
Ben Daley, Saia Faingaa, James Slipper, Rob Simmons, James Horwill, Scott Higginbotham, Ben Coridas, Radike Samo, Will Genia, Quade Cooper, Digby Ioane, Ben Tapuai, Anthony Faingaa, Luke Morahan, Ben Lucas. Reserves: James Hanson, Greg Holmes, Adam Wallace-Harrison, Jake Schatz, Ian Prior, Will Chambers, Dom Shipperley.

ACT Brumbies - TBC


Cheetahs v Sharks Vodacom Park
The Cheetahs gave the Bulls a scare last week, and will be looking to improve on that this week, while the Sharks need a win to stay in touch with the competition leaders,

Teams
Cheetahs - TBC
Sharks - TBC

The Reds will win and take 5 points to stretch their lead at number 1.
The Blues will struggle but take 4 points to cement 2nd place.
The Stormers will struggle but take 4 points to stay in 3rd.
The Crusaders will get the benefit of the bye and 4 points so stay in 4th spot.
The Sharks will win and get 4 points to stay in 5th spot
The Bulls will crush the Waratahs and leap frog them with 4 points.
The Highlanders will smash the Force and take five points to lie even with the Bulls.
The Hurricanes will fxxxx it up at home while I cry in the stand because they are the Hurricanes.

nganboy wrote:The Reds will win and take 5 points to stretch their lead at number 1.
The Blues will struggle but take 4 points to cement 2nd place.
The Stormers will struggle but take 4 points to stay in 3rd.
The Crusaders will get the benefit of the bye and 4 points so stay in 4th spot.
The Sharks will win and get 4 points to stay in 5th spot
The Bulls will crush the Waratahs and leap frog them with 4 points.
The Highlanders will smash the Force and take five points to lie even with the Bulls.
The Hurricanes will fxxxx it up at home while I cry in the stand because they are the Hurricanes.

Hmmm, in order:
Agree
Agree
You don't get 4 points for the bye in Super XV, though they're thinking about it as a possible change for next season - it seems to work in the NRL.
Agree on the result, which will put them past the 'saders
Agree - so they'll go level with the 'saders
Agree
In the words of Gibson, BELIEVE!

yes they do

http://www.superxv.com/table/

(where's that old 606 blushing emoticon). I saw an article the other day talking about changing the bye points and assumed ...)

And it appears the SMH scoretable I copied on the weekend had already added on bye points for the Blues etc, but hasn't yet added the Crusaders' for this weekend

Note, I've updated some team selections in the original article. Cipriani is still on the outer for the Rebels.

nganboy wrote:The Reds will win and take 5 points to stretch their lead at number 1.
The Blues will struggle but take 4 points to cement 2nd place.
The Stormers will struggle but take 4 points to stay in 3rd.
The Crusaders will get the benefit of the bye and 4 points so stay in 4th spot.
The Sharks will win and get 4 points to stay in 5th spot
The Bulls will crush the Waratahs and leap frog them with 4 points.
The Highlanders will smash the Force and take five points to lie even with the Bulls.
The Hurricanes will fxxxx it up at home while I cry in the stand because they are the Hurricanes.

So much for the Highlanders smashing the Force. Bit of turn up the Force winning that one, but just goes to show that nothing is a given on a rugby pitch.

This morning the Hurricanes finished strongest to win 38-27. Plucky effort from the Lions after their win at the House of Pain last week - they could be a threat next season. Earlier the Bulls edged the Waratahs 23-17 which could put the Sydneysiders' season on ice.

My picks for the top 6 at this stage;
1 Reds, 2 Stormers, 3 Crusaders, 4 Blues, 5 Sharks, 6 Bulls

Top 8 on the points table;
1. Reds Australian Conference Leader 58 (played 13)
2. Blues New Zealand Conference Leader 54 (played 13)
3. Stormers South African Conference Leader 57 (played 14)
4. Crusaders Wildcard 53 (played 14)
5. Bulls 49 Wildcard (played 14)
6. Sharks 47 Wildcard (played 13)
7. Waratahs 47 (played 14)
8. Highlanders 45 (played 14)

Big result in Aukland and that makes next weeks game in Timaru huge.

Blues have hit some poor form at just the wrong time!

Brumbies on course for an upset in Brisbane....

Plenty of time for the Reds to come still though.

Well my predictions for the weekend were a long ways off! Latest points table is here, but the top 8 looks like:

1. Reds Australian Conference Leader 58 (played 14)
2. Stormers South African Conference Leader 57 (played 14)
3. Blues New Zealand Conference Leader 55 (played 14)
4. Crusaders Wildcard 53 (played 14)
5. Sharks 51 Wildcard (played 14)
6. Bulls 49 Wildcard (played 14)
7. Waratahs 47 (played 14)
8. Highlanders 45 (played 14)

Crusaders vs Blues this weekend should be an epic! There's also Stormers vs Bulls and Waratahs vs Highlanders which will go a long way towards deciding the top 6.

I fancy the Crusaders to beat the Blues and go top of the NZ conference this week Kiwi, and i also think the Stormers will extend their lead in SA by beating the Bulls.

Who do the Reds and Sharks have this week?

Reds are away to the Force and Sharks are away to the Lions. They should both be favourites, but away games can always be banana skins.

I think the Sharks will beat the Lions away, not so sure with the Reds. They are picking up injuries to key players and the Force will be well up for it.

Looking at the tables,Reds will have a home Semi,therefore good bet for Final Home fixture too[unless its neutral final].Western Force no problem,Sharks will beat Lions.Stormers have Sharks and Bulls last two rounds so could be a case of spoiling.If The Crusaders get most of there wounded back they may well beat Blues and Hurricanes,But they have no home advantage this year.Blues v Highlanders could be tricky.I think Reds v Stormers final .Reds at home too therefore Reds to win S15.Then a 3Ns with half the stars in cotton wool saved for the great RWC.Boks did it last time PDV,will probably follow Jake White`s example.Hints form NZ[not the coaching team] they may go same road.Wallabies to take 3Ns as springboard to RWC ?Not a good precedent both 2003,2007 winners failed to secure RWC.