Super 14 - Round 13 - Part 2

The Blues have the slimmest of chances of making the semi’s and this weekend will be crucial for them.  Blues have an awful track record at House of pain, having only won there once before.  Blues scraped through a great game last weekend against the reds, which won’t exactly fill them with joy.  Highlanders have just made the journey back from SA, so will be tired but at home and with very little play for except pride.  I’m gonna say the Blues by 7 but I reckon odds of 3.65-1 on a Derby game are not bad.

The only thing that’s bound to be interesting about the Reds game is the margin.  Neither side really has much to play for.  Crusaders will be just hoping to avoid any injuries, guaranteed as they are a home semi, and the Reds will be just trying to avoid the wooden spoon. 

An interesting fact about AMI, or Lancaster Park or whatever is that during WW1 when the park had no money it had to dig up its ground and plant potatoes to raise some capital.  With Crusaders’, franchise loosing money and the NZRU needing to find £48M for the IRB for the 2011 RWC, maybe they could turn it into a casino.  That’s a way to make money out of gambling. Speaking of which the only thing that looks interesting here is the 9-1 odds Betfair are offering on a Reds/Crusaders HT/FT score. Which isn’t bad.  Crusaders by 9.

  

Sharks finally back home get the Cheetahs for a welcoming committee.  With Sharks having everything to play for and needing the full 5 points, the sharks should take this.  There really isn’t anything to tell you that the Cheetahs could do it except it’s a Derby and you should never bet on Derby’s cos you’re bound to loose money.  That said Sharks to win by under 12.5 is going for 3.20-1 and this season they have only won 1 game by more than that.

Sharks by 12.

 

Again, you’d need to dig up the pyramids to find some stats that will tell you to go for the Lions.  Chiefs have been the most exciting team of the season in my books and I would like nothing better than a Chiefs v Sharks final.  This is a crucial game for them if they want to make the semi’s.  Chiefs by 15.

 

Stormers take on the Tahs in what should be the game of the weekend.  No doubt, Sky, in their infinite wisdom will be showing the Lions and Reds games live.  Its nuts. They show whatever games are on in their s14 time slots.  How can you expect to generate viewers when you leave your game selection in the hands of chaos theory?

Anyway, I digress.

Rugbyoracle is going for the Tahs this week against the grain, which is brave.  Stormers have won their last 5 games and last week proved they could do it without Schalk.  Tahs will be tired after a long trip.  Plus if you look at pattern of wins, they win each win 2 in row and this year is Stormers 2nd.  Which if you’re looking for patterns means that the Stormers will win by half the points of last year making it by 3. 

Of course, that’s all bullshit.  Did you see Phil Waugh’s face after the game last week?  He looked crazed.  Grass all over his face.  Mountain goat mad.  Altitude sickness.   I’m sticking the Oracle on this one.  Tahs by 4.