This is the Super Rugby Ultimate Preview, your one-stop shop for everything you need to know for those all-important tips or fantasy transfers. As always the Brown Hornet is on board, providing his well thought-out tips for each fixture.
Saturday 2nd July
Reds v. Blues @ Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane 7:40pm AEST
Reds: 15. Jono Lance, 14. Rod Davies, 13. Anthony Faingaa, 12. Ben Tapuai, 11. Digby Ioane, 10. Quade Cooper, 9. Will Genia, 8. Radike Samo, 7. Beau Robinson, 6. Scott Higginbotham, 5. James Horwill (c), 4. Rob Simmons, 3. Greg Holmes, 2. Saia Faingaa, 1. Ben Daley. Reserves: 16. James Hanson, 17. Guy Shepherdson, 18. Adam Wallace-Harrison, 19. Jake Schatz, 20. Liam Gill, 21. Ian Prior, 22. Will Chambers.
IN: A. Faingaa, Ioane, Samo, Robinson, Holmes, Shepherdson
OUT: Chambers, Shipperley, Schatz, Gill, Slipper, Murphy, Ralph
The Reds regain the services of Ant Faingaa, Digby Ioane and Beau Robinson, but lose James Slipper for the rest of the season. Radike Samo comes back into the starting XV.
Blues: 15 Jared Payne, 14 Joe Rokocoko, 13 Benson Stanley, 12 Luke McAlister, 11 Lachie Munro, 10 Stephen Brett, 9 Alby Mathewson, 8 Peter Saili, 7 Luke Braid, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Chris Lowrey, 3 John Afoa, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Charlie Faumuina. Reserves: 16 Tom McCartney, 17 Tevita Mailau, 18 James King, 19 Daniel Braid, 20 Chris Smylie, 21 Rene Ranger, 22 Sherwin Stowers.
IN: Lowrey, King, Ranger
OUT: Boric, W Stanley
Munro is in after recovering from his rib injury, with Ranger on the bench. Boric is gone for the season and possibly the World Cup after picking up an injury against the Tahs.
Recent History: Reds 2 – 3 Blues. The Reds have the upper hand over the Blues by beating them 37–31 at home in Round 13, with the Blues scoring a late try to make the scoreline look a little closer than it should have been.
Last 5: Reds WLWWx, Blues xLLWW
Hornet’s Tip: The Reds have been quite brilliant this year, varying their game when the need has arisen but mainly playing a high tempo, attacking style of footy. Their battle with the Blues earlier this season was an absolute cracker and one of the best games of the season. The two teams match up pretty well and have a similar style. Fortunately for the Reds, they have had some time to rest their weary bodies and get some key players back. None will be more important than Beau Robinson, in my opinion, as he has raised the physicality of their game severalfold this year. The Blues did what they need to do against the Tahs in pretty poor conditions last week, though it has to be said that they weren’t at the top of their game. They’ll be missing a bit of line-out capability with Boric out, but their pack is otherwise very capable. The backs are dynamite on attack and I expect this to be a pretty high-scoring game, as the Blues’ midfield defence isn’t quite as good. In a shootout, I’m picking the Reds by 8.
Odds: Reds $1.47, Blues $2.72
Sunday 3rd July
Stormers v. Crusaders @ Newlands, Cape Town 1:05am AEST
Stormers: 15. Conrad Jantjes, 14. Gio Aplon, 13. Jaque Fourie, 12. Jean De Villiers, 11. Bryan Habana, 10. Peter Grant, 9. Dewaldt Duvenage, 8. Nick Koster, 7. Francois Louw, 6. Schalk Burger (captain), 5. Andries Bekker, 4. Rynhardt Elstadt, 3. Brok Harris, 2. Tiaan Liebenberg, 1. Wicus Blaauw. Reserves: 16. Deon Fourie, 17. Steven Kitshoff, 18. Anton van Zyl, 19. Schalk Brits, 20. Louis Schreuder, 21. Juan de Jongh, 22. Johann Sadie.
IN: Jantjes, Koster, Kitshoff, Brits
OUT: de Jongh, Vermeulen, Malherbe
The loss of Duane Vermuelen is the big change for the Stormers, with Nick Koster coming in to cover and ring-in hooker Schalk Brits coming onto the bench.
Crusaders: 15 Tom Marshall, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Sonny-Bill Williams, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw, 6 George Whitelock, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Wyatt Crockett. Reserves: 16 Quentin MacDonald, 17 Ben Franks, 18 Luke Romano, 19 Matt Todd, 20 Kahn Fotuali’i, 21 Matt Berquist, 22. Ryan Crotty.
IN: McCaw
OUT: Todd, Poff
Only one change, and it’s a biggie: Richie returns.
Recent History: Stormers 1 – 4 Crusaders. These two sides played out one of the games of the season in Round 12, with the Crusaders holding out wave after wave of Storm troopers to prevail 20–14 at Newlands.
Last 5: Stormers WWLWx, Crusaders LxWWW
Hornet’s Tip: This game is arguably even bigger than the Reds v. Blues. Two teams who have been up near the top of the table nearly all season and found ways to win when they’ve had to. The Stormers looked to have a dose of the late season staggers when on tour, but got the job done in the end, especially against the Blues. They’ve righted the ship and looked settled and solid. They surprisingly dropped two games at Newlands, which will concern them a bit, especially considering that one of them was against a wounded Cru. They have a huge and aggressive pack, good goal-kicking and a very good defence. You’d have them huge favourites at home were it not for their opposition. The Crusaders have overcome all sorts of setbacks this year and have stuck fast when things got tough. Their performance against the Sharks last week was far from vintage, but they took all their opportunities and never seriously looked threatened. They’ve got a good number of their star players back and travel very well, especially this season. I expect that they will be giving the Stormers heart palpitations right now. I think it will be very close, but I’m tipping the Cru by 3.
Odds: Stormers $2.14, Crusaders $1.72
Whom are you tipping?
