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Playing the Blues, who are so physical and fatigueing to handle? I would think that 6:2 is the sensible option. The Saffers would probably go 7:1.

I was being generous in describing the Waratahs as "thirds". It would probably be more accurate to describe them as fifths with a sprinkling of still-standing firsts.

I think you are grossly underestimating the class difference in the tight fives. Four Wallabies against one, with the Waratah tight five having one Wallaby cap according to Wikipedia, (I thought it was two). Add in the bench and it's 6:2 with Wallaby caps. Waratah tight five caps 8, Brumbies...

That's not a silver lining. Those players that were not expecting to be called upon are, in the coaches opinion, not ready to play Super. Assuming the coach's opinion is correct, all this will do is put players on the field who are not properly prepared and who could be severely damaged...

Is there anyone in the squad who could be selected for 16-23 or will they all be ring-ins. I suppose they could select Tuipolotu and Wilson at 12 and 13, but given what the coach thinks of them based on the rest of the season, that's dubious. Is this just unbelievably bad luck (again) or do we...

Waratahs are on their fourth starting hooker, third or fourth props both sides (except for Johnson-Holmes) so are much worse off than Hurricanes. Season ending injuries to all of them, except maybe Holz. BUT, there is no active player pool for replacements in Australia. You might have thought...

Miles Amatosero is Miles Amatosero, with his own skills and weaknesses. I reckon he's at least two years off his peak and I am still glad he came back to us. He's been fine off the bench. This game will be another good test for him - 50 minutes against a high quality NZ Super pack. Hope he does...

I'd be thinking rotated. Nawaqanitawase was out last game. Neither of those two are playing as well as last year, so more a desire to refresh and refocus both of them.

Scott Barrett back will be a huge lift for the Crusaders forwards and he's an inspirational captain. I fear that the Rebels will face a far different Crusaders at home than the last two weeks away. If the Rebels win big I know I have been translated to an alternate universe. Not too late for...

There's easing him back, but Harrison has had three games off the bench followed by a bye week. Each game he has played he looked like the better flyhalf. The only explanation that I think fits is that DC wants the better goalkicker on for the last 30 to make sure we don't miss kicks to win the...

Season defining game for the Waratahs. A win here could be the start of a run to the finals and us rueing a few close losses because I don't think we can make the top four from here. A loss doesn't technically put us out of it but we'd probably get the Blues or Hurricanes in the quarter final...

While I didn't get to see the semifinal, the same skills were on show against the Reds in the last round. They were a class above that day too. My reservation about the Australian team that will be selected from these teams is not that they don't have the skills but that they don't get enough...

On Superbru the average prediction was a Brumby loss by 9-10. Worst (or best) prediction was a loss by 22. No one came within cooee of the final result. 11% thought it would be a tight Brumbies win. It was a very unexpected result for everyone.

Sort of "if you paid to go, its just like being there?"

He should get another two chances to push himself up the pecking order. Next two games he'll be worth a close look.

Blues and Hurricanes are definitely top two and my prediction to play in the final. The Chiefs, however, have had some poor results: They lost to the Reds and the team coming stone motherless last - the Crusaders. They'll make the quarter finals and maybe the semi's, but I don't expect them to...

The Crusaders are now stone motherless last on the table. This is so unbelievable it does my head in! No wonder I am nearly last in the tipping competition! The Rebels now have the blueprint on how to win next week. If they can read it and implement it then they'll be another 5 points up the...

Easts will only need 25% possession to get them home. The forwards can have a day off.

Not since the very first edition of Super Rugby have we seen the Crusaders amongst the cellar dwellers by round 9. Will home ground advantage pay off? Will the travel impact the visiting team? Will the Crusaders be stone motherless last by next week? Have I been alien-transferred to an alternate...

Mark down 2024 as one of the best ever. Beat the Crusaders twice in the normal season rounds. Has any Australian team done that before? At the game the atmosphere was electric. Neither team played like they were in the bottom four. Two weeks ago the Crusaders beat the Chiefs convincingly and...