Top 4 - Super 14

[disco]

Of course injuries will play a big part so we can only judge on a full strength team, I think the Brumbies are our best hope & will make the final 4.

The Saffas will have the Sharks & Bulls to fly the flag for them I predict the Sharks to land a home semi this year.

Across the ditch I think the Blues & Canes will be there best but I'm not ready to write off the saders as long as they have McCaw they're a shot.

My prediction 1st:Brumbies 2nd:Sharks 3rd:Blues 4th:Canes

 

[PaarlBok]

Think the Stormers look set to make the top four and maybe the top SA side. Altho the Sharks have at the moment a winning spirit it still remain to see if they can get their act together in S14 rugby. They cant play like in 2008, all the players on paper but never produce. Chopping and changing players like Pienaar and Steyn and keep on winning by narrow margins. They do have the players and debt but myself rate the Stormers to go one better this year. They have only lost Skeate and Liebenberg BUT they have buy some experiense campagners like Percy, genl de Waal & AJ Venter plus talented ones like Duanne Vermeulen & Hilton Lobberts. Players like Bekker, Mujatsi, Grant, Luke Watson & Jantjes have gained international exposure and Jean, Schalk & Januarie look on top form. Throw in youngsters like Blaauw, Fourie, JD Moller, Francois Louw & Chavanga plus internationals like Sereli from Fiji and you sure have a totally vast experiensed squad to 2008. This time Rassie have real debt and the only factor that maybe a negative to them is their tough tour to play Saders, Tahs & Canes. Well last year the sure show they can topple any team and this year wont differs. I expect them nothing less then a semi this time.

I think you can expect a much improve Saffer lot this year and only the Cheetahs & Lions will struggle. The other 3 serious semi contenders. My rating of SA teams will be Stormers, Sharks, Bulls, Lions & Cheetahs.

 

[Spook]

THe Brums will do ok (top 6) if they can keep their 3 world class players fit - Moore, Morty and Smith.

The bookies have both the Tahs and Brums on equal odds at $11

 

[Lee Grant]

The Brumbies deserve a bit of a break with injuries as they have had to process so many backs in recent years.

I just doubt the grunt they have in the forwards. True, I haven't factored in the arrival of Moore, but there were a couple of games I remember last year, the Chiefs game being one, when their tight guys got rumbled, and I don't think that one player will make a huge difference.

I didn't think that the bookies would have the Tahs and Brumbies on par given how the Tahs made the final last year and the placing that the Brumbies ended up at. It obviously takes into account the loss of 4 experienced Wallabies at the Tahs and the lack of tight five cover - or, in other words: the depreciation of their main strength in 2008 - their pack.


PaarlBok

For sure the SAffer sides will improve this year. They suffered by being a bit slow to react to the ELVs. The Kiwis have always been pragmatic in dealing with law changes and the fast pace of the ELVs came natural to the Australian style of rugby. The SAfrican teams took time to adapt, as we thought they would, but we also knew the respite would be short.

Everybody is mentioning the Sharks as the team from the RSA to fear this year, but the Stormers came so close to making the final four in 2008 after making a slow start that I wouldn't be surprised to see them as one of the four finalists in 2009 - especially if they start well.

 

[Scarfman]

I think the AUS sides are in a strange place with their coaches. Two sides have rookie coaches, one a sophmore, and one is insane. I'm tipping 0 Aussies in the 4.

I don't see a single compelling reason to drop the Saders from the 4. I mean, last year they were in a class of their own. No-one got close. They've lost a brilliant coach, but got his assistant. Surely a minor slide is more likely. They'll finish 1st or 2nd.

I like the Stormers, too, Lee. Put me down for:

Crusaders
Stormers
Blues
Hurricanes

Reds to move to mid-table, Bulls to drop to mid-table. Waratahs still the best of the Aussies on paper, so I'll go with that.

 

[Spook]

The Brumbies deserve a bit of a break with injuries as they have had to process so many backs in recent years.

I just doubt the grunt they have in the forwards. True, I haven't factored in the arrival of Moore, but there were a couple of games I remember last year, the Chiefs game being one, when their tight guys got rumbled, and I don't think that one player will make a huge difference.

Lee, the Brumbies got no good ball off their lineout all season - the throwing of Fainga'a and others was atrocious. Moore well help hugely in this regard. I'm also hoping 3 other players will make a difference. Guys who didn't get selected last year - Kimlin, Alexander and Timani plus the transformation of Chisolm. The Brumbies pack was probably the best Aussie one in 07 when they should have been in the top 4. Anyway, time will tell. In 07 the Tahs came second last..last year they nearly won the comp.

 

[disco]

The Brumbies pack looks very strong on paper this year, Chisolm looked the goods on tour last year & Moore & Alexander up front will provide a bit of punch.

 

[RugbyReg]

The Brumbies pack looks very strong on paper this year, Chisolm looked the goods on tour last year & Moore & Alexander up front will provide a bit of punch.

Well it depends on what Friend, Bill Young and Owen Finegan can do to them. But a pack of:

1 Ben Alexander
2 Stephen Moore
3 Guy Shepherdson
4 Peter Kimlin
5 Mark Chisolm
6 Mitchell Chapman
7 George Smith
8 Stephen Hoiles

with:

16 Huia Edmonds
17 Salesi Ma'afu
18 Sitaleki Timani
19 Julian Salvi

Looks pretty bloody good on paper. A lot depends on Alexander and Kimlin maintaining their potential and Chapman and Shepherdson returning to their form of 2 years ago. And Chis playing like he did on the NH tour.

 

[Lindommer]

I'm with Oom on this one, Rassie and the Stormers are an improving side and look very settled. Of the other Saffer sides the Sharks will always threaten, they seem to take a more worldly view of life and aren't overawed by outsiders. Bulls, Lions and Cheetahs to make up the numbers.

From NZ, the Hurricanes are looking to do something special and the Saders are, well, the Saders. The Blues still have a lot of sorting out to do before they're a force again. Clan and Chiefs to bring up the (NZ) rear, as usual.

From Oz, the Force look like they'll go backward this year and will compete for the wooden spoon. The Tahs will need a lot of luck to keep their tight five intact, one or two injuries and they're in deep shit. Getting Foley on board was a masterstroke and may well save our arses. The Brumbies will improve (a front row of Alexander, Moore and Ma'afu impresses me), there's no way other than up without Fisher and Gregan for the ponies. Reds still have a distinct lack of experience and depth and will struggle, again, 7th to 10th would be a good result.

My top 4:
Crusaders
Hurricanes
Stormers
Sharks with Blues, Brumbies and Tahs pressing for 4th spot.

My bottom 4:
Cheetahs
Lions
Force
Highlanders

 

[Rugby Rat]

There is a good historical reason their home ground is called "The House of Pain"

Well not for the Tahs. They've won the last 3 there or was it 4? For them it was the house of gain.

But keep on Rat. You could be right. If Bradbury could win an Olympic gold and Bangladesh beat Oz in an ODI, the Highlanders could surely get into the top 4 teams of the Super14 this year.

But like those happenings: it's not very likely.

LOL. I like your reasoning. Anyways I have stuck my neck out and looking forward to watching the Highlanders win some games.