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Opinionated Rugby Commentary - by Fans for Fans
Spill what you really think about events in the rugby world.
Super Rugby Round Nine Guide - Return of the King! 5 views
14 April 2011 by The Swede Eaters
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Richie McCaw is one of several high profile players who return to rugby action this weekend in Super Rugby Round 9 action.
Super Rugby Round Nine will be interesting for a number of reasons, with plenty of interest surrounding the return from injury of a number of players. All Blacks captains Richie McCaw and Mils Muliaina return to action in the only New Zealand derby this week when the Crusaders tackle the Chiefs. The Chiefs are coming off the bye and desperately need the win. Teams often struggle initially after the week off, so they will have their work cut out for them. The Crusaders have momentum and form, so should be too strong. There are some great matchups with both sets of backs looking exciting, so hopefully the weather will be good. The Crusaders should win on form, but it would be great to see the Chiefs put up a fight, but their tight five will be under pressure all night.
Players to buy: Sonny Bill Williams, Robbie Fruean, Israel Dagg, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Liam Messam, Chris Jack.
Teams: Chiefs vs Crusaders
Time: 15/04/2011 19:35
Venue: Baypark Stadium
Pick: Away team by 13 & above
CHIEFS vs CRUSADERS, TAURANGA, FRI 09:35
Chiefs – 15 Mils Muliaina (c), 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Richard Kahui, 12 Dwayne Sweeney, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Mike Delany, 9 Brendon Leonard, 8 Fritz Lee, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Isaac Ross, 4 Romana Graham, 3 Ben Afeaki, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Toby Smith.
Subs: 16 Aled de Malmanche, 17 Nathan White, 18 Craig Clarke, 19 Scott Waldrom, 20 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 21 Tana Umaga, 22 Tim Nanai-Williams.
Crusaders – 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Matt Berquist, 9 Kahn Fotuali’i, 8 Kieran Read (c), 7 Matt Todd, 6 George Whitelock, 5 Chris Jack, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Ben Franks.
Subs: 16 Quentin MacDonald, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Luke Romano, 19 Richie McCaw, 20 Andy Ellis, 21 Tom Marshall, 22 Adam Whitelock.
Rebels vs Highlanders
Both the Rebels and Highlanders have surpassed expectations this season, but will have targeted this match as must win at the start of the season. The Rebels welcome back former league player Cooper Vuna and have shifted Mark Gerrard into an experienced midfield. This game could be a cracker. Hoani MacDonald will return off the bench against his old team (he is from my home town). The Highlanders need to dominate in the forwards if they are to win this one, but I am hoping that they will. The Rebels will have to hit the ground running after the bye, which is hard to do.
Players to watch: Adam Thomson, Kade Poki, Shaun Treeby, Colin Slade, Jason Rutledge, Alister Campbell, Ged Robinson, Gareth Delve.
Teams: Rebels vs Highlanders
Time: 15/04/2011 21:40
Venue: AAMI Park
Pick: Away team by 12 & under
REBELS vs HIGHLANDERS, MELBOURNE, FRI 11:40
Rebels: Richard Kingi, Lachlan Mitchell, Mark Gerrard, Stirling Mortlock (captain), Cooper Vuna, Danny Cipriani, Nick Phipps, Gareth Delve (vc), Michael Lipman, Jarrod Saffy, Hugh Pyle, Alister Campbell, Greg Somerville, Ged Robinson, Rodney Blake. Reserves: Heath Tessmann, Laurie Weeks, Adam Byrnes, Tim Davidson, Hoani Macdonald, Luke Rooney, Afusipa Taumoepeau
Highlanders – 15 Ben Smith, 14 Kade Poki, 13 Kendrick Lynn, 12 Shaun Treeby, 11 Siale Piutau, 10 Colin Slade, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Nasi Manu, 7 Alando Soakai, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Josh Bekhuis, 4 Jarrad Hoeata, 3 Chris King, 2 Jason Rutledge, 1 Jamie Mackintosh.
Subs: 16 Brayden Mitchell, 17 David Te Moana, 18 Tom Donnelly, 19 Nick Crosswell, 20 Jimmy Cowan, 21 Robbie Robinson, 22 James Paterson
The Blues and Waratahs are sitting in the top six, but would love a win to cement the top spot in their conferences. The Blues have been more consistent this year than previously and if they can hit the ground running after the bye, they should be too strong. The Waratahs will miss Phil Waugh, but have enough firepower outwide and upfront to still be a challenge. I am hoping for an open game and the Blues to win at home.
Players to watch: Keven Mealamu, Totafu Polatau-Nau, Kurtley Beale, Rene Ranger, Luke McAlister, Drew Mitchell, Isaia Toeava (wait until teams are named).
Teams: Blues vs Waratahs
Time: 16/04/2011 19:35
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Pick: Home team by 12 & under
BLUES vs WARATAHS, AUCKLAND, SAT 09:35
The Reds stunned the Stormers last week and carry the form into their home game against the Bulls. The Bulls have made changes to their team after their over the hill tight five was exposed in Timaru by the Crusaders last week. The Reds are at the top of the table and must go into this one as favourites. This game will be a contrast in styles with the forward orientated kicking style of the Bulls faces the fast paced Reds. I am picking the Reds at home.
Players to watch: Quade Cooper, Digby Ioane, Will Genia, Saia Faingaa, Scott Higginbotham, Pierre Spies, Morne Steyn.
Teams: Reds vs Bulls
Time: 16/04/2011 21:40
Venue: Suncorp Stadium
Pick: Home team by 12 & under
REDS vs BULLS, BRISBANE, SAT 11:40
Bulls – 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Stephan Dippenaar, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Derick Kuün, 5 Victor Matfield (c), 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Dean Greyling.
Subs: 16 Gary Botha, 17 Rossouw de Klerk, 18 Danie Rossouw, 19 Deon Stegmann, 20 Francois Brummer, 21 Fourie du Preez, 22 Akona Ndungane.
The Lions are the hard luck story of the South African teams and sit at the foot of the table without going on tour yet. They have been close several times, but just lack that bit of class to win the close matches. The Stormers should be too strong for them. The men from Capetown will be annoyed at losing to the Reds last week, but that could have given them the kick in the pants they needed to lift their game. The Stormers should win this derby.
Players to watch: Bandise Maku, Franco Van Der Merwe, Warren Whitely, Josh Strauss (side is yet to be named), Peter Grant, Deon Fourie, Jacque Fourie, Andries Bekker.
Teams: Lions vs Stormers
Time: 17/04/2011 03:05
Venue: Coca Cola Park
Pick: Away team by 12 & under
LIONS vs STORMERS, JOHANNESBURG, SAT 17:05
Stormers – 15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 Danie Poolman, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Juan de Jongh, 11 Gio Aplon, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Schalk Burger (c), 5 Andries Bekker, 4 De Kock Steenkamp, 3 CJ van der Linde, 2 Deon Fourie, 1 Wicus Blaauw.
Subs: 16 Ethienne Reynecke, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Anton van Zyl, 19 Nick Koster, 20 Ricky Januarie, 21 Gary van Aswegen, 22 Johann Sadie.
Cheetahs vs Hurricanes
It will be tough for both teams to win this one. The Cheetahs are returning home from New Zealand, while the Hurricanes are arriving from the same country. Both teams sit towards the bottom of the table and a probably only playing for pride even at this early stage. The Hurricanes have been one of the disappointments of the season so far with some of their players potentially playing for their All Black aspirations. The Cheetahs will be hard to beat at home and will look to dominate up front. I think the Cheetahs will win, but it depends which Hurricanes team shows up. The Hurricanes could flourish away from home without the weight of expectation. The Hurricanes will be hoping that All Black Piri Weepu will be ready to return asap. He makes his comeback for his club team this weekend and could be a week or two away from making his first Super Rugby appearance this season.
Players to watch: Rayno Barnes, Sarel Pretorius, Hosea Gear, Victor Vito.
Teams: Cheetahs vs Hurricanes
Time: 17/04/2011 05:10
Venue: Free State Rugby Stadium
Pick: Home team by 12 & under
CHEETAHS vs HURRICANES, BLOEMFONTEIN, SAT 19:10
Cheetahs – 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Philip Burger, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Barry Geel, 11 Rayno Benjamin, 10 Sias Ebersohn, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Davon Raubenheimer, 7 Ashley Johnson, 6 Kabamba Floors, 5 Wilhelm Steenkamp (c), 4 Francois Uys, 3 WP Nel, 2 Ryno Barnes, 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.
Subs: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Lourens Adriaanse, 18 Martin Muller, 19 Leon Karemaker, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 Naas Olivier, 22 Corné Uys.
Hurricanes – TBC
Brumbies vs Force
These two teams are battling to avoid the Australian conference wooden spoon when they play in Canberra in Round 9. The Brumbies are looking for two wins in a row, while the Force are looking to halt the skids that threaten to derail their season. The Brumbies should win at home, but I am hoping that the Force at least make a match of it after last week's flogging at the hands of the Waratahs. The Brumbies should be too strong at home.
Players to watch: Matt Giteau, Peter Kimlin, Ita Vaea, James O'Connor
Teams: Brumbies vs Western Force
Time: 17/04/2011 18:10
Venue: Canberra Stadium
Pick: Home team by 12 & under
Who are you picking to win this weekend? Don't forget managers that you get more trades soon! Have your say!
www.superrugbytips.com
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