The tipping this week is looking pretty one sided with all but two games having close to 90% support to one of the teams. Do you play it safe and stick with the group or do you make a move now and try and jag that inevitable upset?
Too Easy Campese
At half time during the last game of the round there would have been a few nervous punters with the Reds pushing for an upset. It wasn’t to be for them though, but it was for plenty of you with a shed full of you nailing a perfect round. I can’t name you all but will give the virtual high-five to tipper OFFLOAD! for being the highest place perfect tipper for the round.
Round 14
As I mentioned above, the odds are all one way this round indicating that for most, this was a pretty straight forward tipping week. I didn’t really wait for the thinking music on any of my tips either. With that in mind there is probably little I can do to change your thinking on your tips but I’ll offer a bit on each game just to spice it up.
Hurricanes vs Highlanders. Apart from their meeting in round 6 in Dunedin where the Highlanders hung on with 14 men against a fast finishing Hurricanes outfit, 6 of the previous 7 match ups have gone to the visiting side. The Canes have slightly better form leading into this weekend but the Highlanders have probably had a tougher run recently having not long come back from South Africa so there’s little in it. Biggest chance for an win against the odds here.
Crusaders vs Sharks. I struggled to find something to throw in the competition leaders favour on this one. They don’t like to play with the ball and the Crusaders do. The Sharks haven’t been going so well now that their dream start to the season is past them either. The Crusaders are 14 and 4 (with one draw) when playing the Sharks. Ouch.
Reds vs Rebels. After beating the Cheetahs in their first game of the season the Rebels only other wins have come against Australian opposition with wins over both the Brumbies and the Force. Both teams only have 3 wins for the season and the loser of this match may end up with the wooden spoon. Plenty on the line but the Reds are vulnerable. The Rebels will be sensing their first win over the Reds.
Stormers vs Force. The closest match (in terms of tipping support) of the round. The tippers are into the Force while the bookies like the Stormers. Despite being 5th on the log and doing so with one less game than the three conference leaders above them, the Force continue to get no love from the bookies. South Africa is a damn hard place to win in though and Newlands is even tougher. The Stormers are 3 from 4 at home and 0 from 4 away which shows that playing at home makes a difference for them.
Cheetahs vs Brumbies. The team with the least wins in the comp up against one of the teams with the most wins. The only saving grace for the Cheetahs is that whilst they lose regularly, the score points. Lots of points. Curiously though, in each instance when the Brumbies opposition has scored more than 24 points, the Brumbies have lost. The Cheetahs are averaging 24.4 points per game so if they manage that this weekend they could pull off a massive upset.
Waratahs vs Lions. Apart from their back to back wins in the first two rounds, the Waratahs have maintained a perfect record of alternating between wins and losses. Having beaten the Hurricanes in their last outing they will be doing everything in their power to lose this weeks game. Expect lots of dropped pill, forward passes and silly penalties from the boys in blue. That’s really the best I can do. Honestly this isn’t even a two horse race. Its a race between a thoroughbred and a donkey, a lame donkey at that. Which brings me to………
My Lock for the week
Again, I didn’t need to wait for the thinking music for this one. The Lions will struggle against the Tahs at home and that’s being kind. They have lost their past 5 on the trot and the only team in the comp right now with worse form is the Reds. This will be their third game of their Australasian Tour and although their late surge last week against the Highlanders looked good the travel will be starting to take it’s toll. The Tahs will be fresh coming off their bye and will be focussed on making a charge to the finals.
Lock it in. Waratahs with gas left in the tank.
