SArugby.com predictions

[TRF_stormer2010]

So ar they place;

1
2 Sharks http://www.sarugby.com/news.cfm?newsid=19626
3
4
5
6 Waratahs http://www.sarugby.com/news.cfm?newsid=19547
7 Bulls http://www.sarugby.com/news.cfm?newsid=19604
8 Chiefs http://www.sarugby.com/news.cfm?newsid=19615
9 Highlanders http://www.sarugby.com/news.cfm?newsid=19560
10
11 Lions http://www.sarugby.com/news.cfm?newsid=19566
12
13 Rebels http://www.sarugby.com/news.cfm?newsid=19598
14 Hurricanes http://www.sarugby.com/news.cfm?newsid=19589
15 Western force http://www.sarugby.com/news.cfm?newsid=19579

I assume

1 Reds; might struggle early on without their mercurial play-maker but they are probably the clear top team in the easiest conference
3 Crusaders; always there or there about and with some actual home games this year they'll be pushing hard
4 Blues; arguably the scariest looking team on paper but I still have questions about the team mentality and a lot depends on how the 10 goes (whoever it'll be)
5 Stormers; should do okay but we have some obvious weaknesses
10 Cheetahs; the top of the 'making-up-the-numbers-teams' IMO
12 Brumbies; lost a LOT of star players and JW won't turn it around THAT quick (if at all) and they'll struggle with depth

 

[TRF_heineken]

So ar they place;

1
2 Sharks http://www.sarugby.com/news.cfm?newsid=19626
3
4
5
6 Waratahs http://www.sarugby.com/news.cfm?newsid=19547
7 Bulls http://www.sarugby.com/news.cfm?newsid=19604
8 Chiefs http://www.sarugby.com/news.cfm?newsid=19615
9 Highlanders http://www.sarugby.com/news.cfm?newsid=19560
10
11 Lions http://www.sarugby.com/news.cfm?newsid=19566
12
13 Rebels http://www.sarugby.com/news.cfm?newsid=19598
14 Hurricanes http://www.sarugby.com/news.cfm?newsid=19589
15 Western force http://www.sarugby.com/news.cfm?newsid=19579

I assume

1 Reds; might struggle early on without their mercurial play-maker but they are probably the clear top team in the easiest conference
3 Crusaders; always there or there about and with some actual home games this year they'll be pushing hard
4 Blues; arguably the scariest looking team on paper but I still have questions about the team mentality and a lot depends on how the 10 goes (whoever it'll be)
5 Stormers; should do okay but we have some obvious weaknesses
10 Cheetahs; the top of the 'making-up-the-numbers-teams' IMO
12 Brumbies; lost a LOT of star players and JW won't turn it around THAT quick (if at all) and they'll struggle with depth

Both the Reds and the Crusaders are going to be without their talisman in Quade Cooper and Richie McCaw for the biggest part of the season, so I won't be surprized to see them drop down a bit lower... the Brumbies, Cheetahs and the Blues all have the same problem, in that they have immense talent and if they click they are unstoppable, but they are so inconsistent and more often than not the inconsistency is their biggest weakness in finishing strongly in games...

the Blues, now that will be the team to watch out for this year...

 

[TNT88]

LOL don't these guys know David Pocock never gets last at anything. hahahahahahahahaha Amateur mistake!

 

[ExcaLiBuR]

1.Stormers (will go undefeated but then lose 1-2 vs lower teams)
2.Crusaders (they will beat blues and just take 2nd on a bonus point or 2)
3.Reds (would be no.1 if Quade was not hurt, this will make them drop games at start of season)
4.Blues (should be 3rd, but Reds take it on 1st in conference)
5.Sharks (will do very well but lack the x factor to win vs the top teams)
6.Tahs (only get in due to easy conference)
7.Chiefs (miss out on 6th because not in aus conference, harder games in NZ)
8.Rebels (do very well, but dont have exp and JUST miss out of top 6 by 1-2 points)
9.Lions (dark horse)
10.Force (to many problems, no real no.10)
11.Highlanders (will play well but to many hard teams in conference)
12.Hurricanes (season of a low, but will be big again soon!)
13.Bulls (past use by date)
14.Cheetahs (They always suck so they will keep on sucking till the cows come home)
15.Brumbies (They might not even win a game in the easy conference, maybe 1-2 lucky games)

Reds vs Tahs - QF1: Reds win
Blues vs Sharks - QF2: Blues win

Stormers vs Blues: Stormers win (home field)
Crusaders vs Reds: Crusaders win (home field)

Final Stormers vs Crusaders: Stormers win (home field)

 

[TRF_heineken]

1.Stormers (will go undefeated but then lose 1-2 vs lower teams)
2.Crusaders (they will beat blues and just take 2nd on a bonus point or 2)
3.Reds (would be no.1 if Quade was not hurt, this will make them drop games at start of season)
4.Blues (should be 3rd, but Reds take it on 1st in conference)
5.Sharks (will do very well but lack the x factor to win vs the top teams)
6.Tahs (only get in due to easy conference)
7.Chiefs (miss out on 6th because not in aus conference, harder games in NZ)
8.Rebels (do very well, but dont have exp and JUST miss out of top 6 by 1-2 points)
9.Lions (dark horse)
10.Force (to many problems, no real no.10)
11.Highlanders (will play well but to many hard teams in conference)
12.Hurricanes (season of a low, but will be big again soon!)
13.Bulls (past use by date)
14.Cheetahs (They always suck so they will keep on sucking till the cows come home)
15.Brumbies (They might not even win a game in the easy conference, maybe 1-2 lucky games)

Reds vs Tahs - QF1: Reds win
Blues vs Sharks - QF2: Blues win

Stormers vs Blues: Stormers win (home field)
Crusaders vs Reds: Crusaders win (home field)

Final Stormers vs Crusaders: Stormers win (home field)

Please Elaborate what you mean by that...

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Both the Reds and the Crusaders are going to be without their talisman in Quade Cooper and Richie McCaw for the biggest part of the season, so I won't be surprized to see them drop down a bit lower... the Brumbies, Cheetahs and the Blues all have the same problem, in that they have immense talent and if they click they are unstoppable, but they are so inconsistent and more often than not the inconsistency is their biggest weakness in finishing strongly in games...

the Blues, now that will be the team to watch out for this year...

Crusaders have been without both McCaw and Carter for large parts of the last couple of seasons, and have still come top (or thereabouts) in the round robin.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Crusaders have been without both McCaw and Carter for large parts of the last couple of seasons, and have still come top (or thereabouts) in the round robin.

Agreed. Carter and McCaw both didn't play last year for intents and even with that and the tough year the Crusaders had they were still very unlucky not to have won the trophy IMO.

1.Stormers (will go undefeated but then lose 1-2 vs lower teams)
2.Crusaders (they will beat blues and just take 2nd on a bonus point or 2)
3.Reds (would be no.1 if Quade was not hurt, this will make them drop games at start of season)
4.Blues (should be 3rd, but Reds take it on 1st in conference)
5.Sharks (will do very well but lack the x factor to win vs the top teams)
6.Tahs (only get in due to easy conference)
7.Chiefs (miss out on 6th because not in aus conference, harder games in NZ)
8.Rebels (do very well, but dont have exp and JUST miss out of top 6 by 1-2 points)
9.Lions (dark horse)
10.Force (to many problems, no real no.10)
11.Highlanders (will play well but to many hard teams in conference)
12.Hurricanes (season of a low, but will be big again soon!)
13.Bulls (past use by date)
14.Cheetahs (They always suck so they will keep on sucking till the cows come home)
15.Brumbies (They might not even win a game in the easy conference, maybe 1-2 lucky games)

Reds vs Tahs - QF1: Reds win
Blues vs Sharks - QF2: Blues win

Stormers vs Blues: Stormers win (home field)
Crusaders vs Reds: Crusaders win (home field)

Final Stormers vs Crusaders: Stormers win (home field)

I have to say I'd be very surprised if the Rebels managed to end above the Highlanders and Bulls. I see both of those teams in with a chance to reach the 6th spot while I see the Rebels as contenders for the wooden spoon alongside the Lions, Hurricanes and Force.

Stormers would also be VERY lucky to end tops; havn't had any help WRT transfers and are in the worst position WRT injuries of any team by far prior to the kick-off.

 

[FlukeArtist]

I have a feeling that the Lions and Highlanders might be the surprise packages this season.
The Lions because of their Currie Cup success with Mitchell.
The Highlanders because they were ALMOST there last year but probably suffered from a lack of x-factor and experience. They have found that now in the shape of All Blacks Hore and Gear. They also have one of the best coaches in the comp (IMO)

Unfortunately, I have serious doubts about the Blues, and I will continue to do so as long as Lam is at the helm.
And if he fails to deliver a ***le this year then that would have to be the worst case of wasting talent and potential one could hear of. Because simply put, he probably has the best group of players in the competition.
I remain highly doubtful that he can get them to acheive anything though.

Also Rebels won't be as bad as many are predicting.
I reckon the cellar dwellers will likely be Bulls, Cheetahs, Force, Brumbies, Canes, and possibly the Chiefs (depending on how their tight 5 go)

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

I have a feeling that the Lions and Highlanders might be the surprise packages this season.
The Lions because of their Currie Cup success with Mitchell.
The Highlanders because they were ALMOST there last year but probably suffered from a lack of x-factor and experience. They have found that now in the shape of All Blacks Hore and Gear. They also have one of the best coaches in the comp (IMO)

Unfortunately, I have serious doubts about the Blues, and I will continue to do so as long as Lam is at the helm.
And if he fails to deliver a ***le this year then that would have to be the worst case of wasting talent and potential one could hear of. Because simply put, he probably has the best group of players in the competition.
I remain highly doubtful that he can get them to acheive anything though.

Also Rebels won't be as bad as many are predicting.
I reckon the cellar dwellers will likely be Bulls, Cheetahs, Force, Brumbies, Canes, and possibly the Chiefs (depending on how their tight 5 go)

Nah, Bulls and Cheetahs both to finish ahead of the Lions if I know anything about SA rugby. The Lions simply don't the deth to compete for the length of this tournament and the CC result flattered them even though they did pull out a top drawer performance in the CC final the "big" teams were in disarray at the time with patchwork team while the Lions had no injuries and had the benefit of playing teh same team week in and week out and thus had the consistency.

Bulls will surprise a few people I think. They're not in as bad a position as many think and their planning has been good to keep them in a competitive position after losing a raft of world class players. They'll end somewhere from 7th to 9th IMO competing with the Chiefs and Highlanders for position.

Cheetahs have enough for a 11th up to 9th finish; 9th or 8th and they'll have had a good season. 11th, 12th and things would have gone horribly wrong. They'll be competing with the Brumbies and Rebels for places 10th to 12th.

Candidates for wooden spoon IMO would be the Hurricanes, Force and Lions at the bottom of each conference.

 

[ExcaLiBuR]

Please Elaborate what you mean by that...

I think they have won 3 ***les, now to old, lost lots of players and will be 4th in SA conference in 2012. Thats what I ment by 'Past use by date'. They will finish so low on table ONLY because we have conferences, if it was super 14 system they would finish much higher. Teams like Rebels and Force will finish higher due to very very easy games vs Brumbies, and only 2 real hard teams such as Tahs and Reds in conference. Bulls have every team as hard and I believe Lions will be the dark horse making Bulls finish at only 13 on table at end of season.

 

[ExcaLiBuR]

Agreed. Carter and McCaw both didn't play last year for intents and even with that and the tough year the Crusaders had they were still very unlucky not to have won the trophy IMO.



I have to say I'd be very surprised if the Rebels managed to end above the Highlanders and Bulls. I see both of those teams in with a chance to reach the 6th spot while I see the Rebels as contenders for the wooden spoon alongside the Lions, Hurricanes and Force.

Stormers would also be VERY lucky to end tops; havn't had any help WRT transfers and are in the worst position WRT injuries of any team by far prior to the kick-off.

I agree, however we have conferences, I think Highlanders and Bulls should finish higher, but because AUS has easier games they will finish higher at the end of the year. If you work it out mathematically it is most lickly to have 2 aus, 2 nz and 2 sa in finals... unless something drastic happens. So Stormers and Sharks / Reds and Tahs / Blues and Crusaders. However because only 2 top teams in Aus it will make a team with 2 new great signings and the youngest team in competition to push and finish on 8th on table at end of year.

So yes I do agree IF ONLY it was Super 14 system in place, then Hurricanes, Brumbies, Force, Cheatahs, Rebels will finish low ranks of table. I do think Lions will be dark horse still...and finish higher than Bulls (sorry)

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

I think they have won 3 ***les, now to old, lost lots of players and will be 4th in SA conference in 2012. Thats what I ment by 'Past use by date'. They will finish so low on table ONLY because we have conferences, if it was super 14 system they would finish much higher. Teams like Rebels and Force will finish higher due to very very easy games vs Brumbies, and only 2 real hard teams such as Tahs and Reds in conference. Bulls have every team as hard and I believe Lions will be the dark horse making Bulls finish at only 13 on table at end of season.

I agree, however we have conferences, I think Highlanders and Bulls should finish higher, but because AUS has easier games they will finish higher at the end of the year. If you work it out mathematically it is most lickly to have 2 aus, 2 nz and 2 sa in finals... unless something drastic happens. So Stormers and Sharks / Reds and Tahs / Blues and Crusaders. However because only 2 top teams in Aus it will make a team with 2 new great signings and the youngest team in competition to push and finish on 8th on table at end of year.

So yes I do agree IF ONLY it was Super 14 system in place, then Hurricanes, Brumbies, Force, Cheatahs, Rebels will finish low ranks of table. I do think Lions will be dark horse still...and finish higher than Bulls (sorry)

Don't be sorry LOL, predictions are just predictions and every person puts a different weight on different factors.

Personally, at this stage I wish I was a Bulls supporter rather than a Stormers supporter LOL; People are writing off the Bulls to end 10th or lower and are placing the Stormers at the top of the log where i think both will end up in at around 5th to 8th spot mark.

 

[Seaton]

Personally, at this stage I wish I was a Bulls supporter rather than a Stormers supporter.

Go and wash your mouth out with some detergent, preferably Handy Andy.


There are some things you should never lower yourself to, and that is one of them!

 

[TRF_heineken]

Go and wash your mouth out with some detergent, preferably Handy Andy.


There are some things you should never lower yourself to, and that is one of them!

Said the man who supports a ginger nation!

 

[Seaton]

Said the man who supports a ginger nation!

I think you will find our national team contains as many gingers as the Bulls first team.

Basson was once described to me by a bunch of Capetonians as a ginger coloured/ Daywalker

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Go and wash your mouth out with some detergent, preferably Handy Andy.


There are some things you should never lower yourself to, and that is one of them!

Ag, I was born and raised in Pretoria (though I thank the Lord I was able to make the move to Cape Town early on in life) so I do have a little toe still in the Old Transvaal. Half the players in that team (mostly in the backs) are Capies anyway LOL.

 

[Shosoloza]

Well it is really difficult to make predictions this year. In SA the 3 "big" teams lost some key personal and I think one would only have a clearer picture after about 3 rounds. I cant really speak of the oher 2 conferences.

What I am quite certain off is that the Bulls will do better than most give them credit for and the Lions will do worst. I know one can't read to much in warm-up games, but if the bulls can improve on their performance against the cheetas they might end up quite high. Their real test will be when there are injuries to senior palyers especially Morne and Zane.

i.m.o. the SA conference will be the toughest this year and most difficult to call. I guess we will have to wait and see.

CAN THE S15 JUST BEGIN ALLREADY!!!!!

 

[Seaton]

Ag, I was born and raised in Pretoria

My condolences.

 

[Draggs]

Are we really considered second??
Lets see our midfield first of all.

A first week win at Loftus would be a fantastic start, and the following week at Newlands would really give us some points on the SA table.

 

[TRF_heineken]

Are we really considered second??
Lets see our midfield first of all.

A first week win at Loftus would be a fantastic start, and the following week at Newlands would really give us some points on the SA table.

Duh!!