Chiefs vs Blues
The Chiefs are on fire, with three bonus point wins from their last four games. The Blues snapped their winless streak with a victory over a depleted Jaguares last weekend, but given their woeful away form it’s looking like there’s only going to be one winner here. The only thing that might keep the scoreline civil is the fact that the Chiefs are at the end of a gruelling tour. Chiefs by 15.
Force vs Crusaders
The Force are another team returning after a reasonably long sojourn away from home – but unlike the Chiefs they have not had a good time of it, picking up precisely zero points from three games in New Zealand. They welcome a Crusaders side that romped home in a brilliant game against the Lions last weekend – if they can overcome fatigue, it looks like a comfortable away win here. Crusaders by 10.
Stormers vs Sunwolves
So close, but so far for the Sunwolves once again last weekend, as they went down by five points to the Kings. They are doing a lot of good things, however, which is encouraging to see. The Stormers are refreshed from a week off, but have a real fly-half crisis with both Robert du Preez and Kurt Coleman out long-term. Regardless of that, they have way too much experience and quality to lose to the newbies at home. Stormers by 21.
Hurricanes vs Jaguares
After a couple of losses in the opening round, the Hurricanes have put together three wins in a row. They welcome a Jaguares side that has yet to fully acclimatise to Super Rugby, you feel, and will likely once again be some way below full strength. It should be a lot of fun, as it always with the Argentinian side, but they’re unlikely to overcome a confident Canes. Hurricanes by 15.
Reds vs Highlanders
The Highlanders gave us all a scare when they threatened to ruin everyone’s GSP in the first game of last weekend, going 0-14 down to the Force early on. They recovered, though, to win comfortably. This week they travel to face a Reds side that, despite not having won a game yet, looks rejuvenated after the departure of Richard Graham. The champions should still be good enough to win, but the margin may not be as big as expected. Highlanders by 8.
Sharks vs Lions
This is probably your most difficult pick this weekend. The Lions don’t have a win at Kings Park against the Sharks for over 12 years, so it’s fair to say this is something of a bogey ground for them. And after last weekend’s loss to the Crusaders, confidence will be low. The Sharks had a week off, but their most recent game was also a home loss to the men from Christchurch. Both need to bounce back, then, but despite a lot of the good stuff the Lions have been doing this season, you cannot ignore their dire record in Durban. Sharks by 5.
Kings vs Bulls
The weekend finishes in Port Elizabeth where the Kings look to back up their first win of the season with another over the Bulls. The visitors are unbeaten in their last four games, but with one draw and two winning margins of five or less, it’s fair to say it hasn’t all been plain sailing for the Bulls. They will likely be too powerful and too experienced for this Kings outfit, however. Bulls by 12.
By Jamie Hosie
Follow Jamie on Twitter: @jhosie43
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I’m bullish about Sunwolves. Stormers have been successful by dragging opposition down to their pedantic and anemic level. Sunwolves will play their enthusiastic brand of rugby and will run Stormers ragged. Had Bulls been able to stamp their experience and quality on Sunwolves last week I might agree with a Stormers win. They didn’t and at times I thought Bulls were liable to lose that one.
Bulls….what a waste of so many quality players. If South Africa could have a team with the backs of the Bulls and the heart and tactics of the Lions there would be hope. So much talk about Bulls changing their style at beginning of season. I believed because why bother to have so much quality in backs if not going to use. Yes they will beat Kings. maybe this will be their breakout game. I shall keep a few of them in my fantasy team again.
Lions may have lost last week but I’m still bullish on them. 2 ridiculously easy Saders tries at beginning shows how difficult it is after a week off.
Wow – “pedantic and anaemic”. Not sure you are right there. The Stormers might have scored fewer tries than the other sides in the SA conference but look at the number of tries scored against them! Their defence is outstanding and with De Allende coming back into the fray off the bench, I don’t think that is going to change against the Sunwolves.
Perhaps we might start a conversation on vagaries of fantasy points system. Tackle points in fantasy are 1pt for every 5 tackles. This is so unfair on forwards. I’m a back so I understand how easy a score 5pts and metres run (0.5 metres per 5 metres) can often be. Yet when tackling the player often then gets up and competes for the ball which is so energy sapping. Hooper last week did 18 tackles and some 30 metres run yet scored 8 pts. This is a travesty. A good yet normal tackle count per ESPN would be 8. Exceptional about 12 and 18 would be like scoring a hat trick of tries and should be rewarded. I say 0.5 pt per 2 tackles to 10 or 12 and then 1pt per tackle after. What does everyone else say?
Not sure that anyone except determined anoraks care much. The only points that really count are the ones on the board at the end of the game.
Hi there, not sure this is the best channel for this, you’re best to get in touch with SuperBru support if you’ve got any thoughts on the scoring system!
Good point (point! See what I did there?!). Good blog too.
Agree with Brit47. Harsh scoring on forwards.
August 2015 the Lions BEAT the Sharks 31 – 16 on Kings Park. It has been done, and will be done again.
I agree pocock made steal after steal against cheetahs couldn’t believe he scored 8 to make a turnover is so hard to do it so often like he did was amazing he had to score atleast 20 in that game the scoring is really bad just rewards running metres and tries scored