Super 14: How will the teams go?

[chook]

Heres my attempt at predicting how the Super 14 will pan out. First, i'm having a bash at the kiwi teams and how they will fare. I will try to add the other teams whenever inspiration hits me.

Do many of you folks follow the S14? And if you do, how do think your team will go? (Im a Tahs supporter, then the Force as a distant 2nd team).

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WAIKATO: Chiefs</font></div>Waikato managed to
win the Air New Zealand Cup versus Wellington.They have centre Richard
Kahui was named Air New Zealand Cup Player of the Year. The following
players came from another franchise for this years team, Richard Kahui
(Highlanders), Roy Kinikinilau (Highlanders) and Tanerau Latimer
(Crusaders). The following players came from the draft, Tasesa Lavea
(Blues) and second five-eighth Tane Tu'ipolotu (Hurricanes) and they
both have extensive Super rugby experience. Byron Kelleher, Mils
Muliaina and Sitiveni Sivivatu are involved in the All Blacks
conditioning programme which will mean they are unavailable for
selection in the the early rounds of the Super 14.

Got some good talent like the experienced Gibbes and Holah. Luaki is a beast and maybe a chance for the ABs this year.



Chooks prediction: Top half of the table.



Team line up:


Jono Gibbes (Captain), Sosene Anesi, Steven Bates, Ben Castle,
Simms Davison, Aled de Malmanche, Stephen Donald, Marty Holah, Richard
Kahui, Byron Kelleher, Roy Kinikinilau, Tanerau Latimer, Sione Lauaki, Tasesa Lavea, Brendon Leonard, Toby Lynn, Lelia Masaga, Liam Messam, Mils Muliaina, Jamie Nutbrown, Kristian Ormsby, Keith Robinson, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Dwayne Sweeney, Niva Ta`auso, Anthony Tahana, Tane Tu`ipulotu, Craig West, Nathan White, Murray Williams, Tom Willis



http://www.footystamps.com/images/Origins/Uni&#111;n/New%20Zealand/ru_nz_bkChiefs.jpg





<div align="center">CANTERBURY: Crusaders</font></div>The
Crusaders will be missing 2 great players in Richie McCaw and Dan
Carter for the early rounds of the competition. Other players in the
conditioning programme are Reuben Thorne, Aaron Mauger, Leon MacDonald,
Chris Jack and Greg Somerville. Rua Tipoki is a newsigning and will add
some mongrel ( remember anything about his elbow Hilgy?). Caleb Ralph
has some sort of record for playing the most games consecutively and he
gets picked with good reason, he's a top player. There is a good chance
this team will have a slow start due to the absence of a lot of quality
players. I still feel they will be the team to beat (other than the
Tahs of course). All the gun players will come back well rested and
raring to kick-ass.





Chooks prediction: They will come second to the Tahs (reality, they will win it , any team with Rico is too good).





Team line up:



Richard McCaw (Captain), Corey Flynn, Tim Bateman, Stephen Brett, Daniel Carter, Wyatt Crockett, Andrew Ellis, Ross Filipo, Ben Franks, Rico Gear, Scott Hamilton, Chris Jack, Campbell Johnstone, Casey Laulala, Johnny Leo'o, Leon MacDonald, Aaron Mauger,
Ben May, Peter Nixon, Kevin O'Neill, Jake Paringatai, Michael Paterson,
Ti'i Paulo, Tusi Pisi, Jonathan Poff, Caleb Ralph, Kieran Read, Isaac
Ross, Kevin Senio, Greg Somerville, Reuben Thorne, Rua Tipoki, Mose Tuiali’i, Brent Ward, Paul Williams





http://www.sarugby.com/news/images/stories/May2006ReubenThorne2.jpg



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OTAGO: Highlanders</div></font>

These guys have stadium problems and are also missing Carl Hayman and
Anton Oliver who will not play until round 8 because of the dreaded
conditioning programme! This team were the runners up in the Air New
Zealand Cup last

[AusMunsterJoe]

Mate I go for South Africa team Cheetahs .. I think this season will same as usual nz team will take the super rugby title.. but QLD red and Force I think this two will make a big improvment .... SA .. cheetahs bulls ...

[chook]

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http://www.gothetahs.com/forum/images/ic&#111;ns/super-14-2.gif

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<div id="post_message_42126"><div align="center">Stormers: </font></div>As
mentioned above this team has some crackajack players. Will they
feature at the end of the competition? The backline includes Gio Aplon,
Sireli Naqelivuki, Conradie (the Annoying), Jean De Villiers, Chavanga,
Paulse and Joe Pietersen. Not too bad! The Stormer back row consists of
Joe Van Niekerk, Schalk Burger and Luke Watson ( a combination to
watch) plus some promising youngsters. The Stormers will suffer from
the draw going back and forth between NZ and AUS in a 5-week spell.
Eddie Andrews hopefully does better at S14 level than he does in
internationals.



The Team

Team yet to be finalised on the web pages I saw, so I grabbed this list of MyAhMee above!

Gio Aplon/Conrad Jantjes, Breyton Paulse, Corne Uys, Jean de Villiers
(vice-captain), Egon Seconds, Brent Russell, Bolla Conradie, Joe van
Niekerk, Schalk Burger, Luke Watson (captain), Andries Bekker, Selborne
Boome, Eddie Andrews, Tiaan Liebenberg, Schalk Ferreira. Reserves:
Schalk Brits, Brok Harris, JD Moller, Ross Skeate, Gerrie Britz, Pieter
Louw, Robbie Diack, JP Joubert, Werner Greeff, Naas Olivier, Conrad
Jantjes.





Chooks Prediction: probably between 9 and 12 for mine.



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<div id="post_message_42128"><div align="center">Bulls:</div></font>

40000 maniacs in blue at Loftus will make these guys tough to beat at
home. A good scrum and lineout should mean that these guys are a good
chance of rolling teams away from home as well. Chilliboy is injured so
we wont see him for some weeks though. Expect Habana to get some more
intercepts though! This team was in the Currie Cup final as well.



The Team

Heini Adams, Stefan Basson, Ruan Boshoff, Bakkies Botha, Gary Botha,
Marius Delport, Danwel Demas, Fourie du Preez, Jaco Engels, Nicholas
Eyer, Adriaan Fondse, Rayno Gerber, Bryan Habana Bryan, Derick
Hougaard, Rocco Jansen, Wayne Julies, Werner Kruger, Derick Kuün,
Hilton Lobberts, John Mametsa, Victor Matfield, Cliffie Milton, Akona
Ndungane, JP Nel, Trompie Nontshinga, Gerrie Odendaal, Wynand Olivier,
Dewald Potgieter, Jacques-Louis Potgieter, Neil Powell, Chiliboy
Ralepelle, Johan Roets, Danie Rossouw, Wessel Roux, Dries Scholtz,
Gurthro Steenkamp, Wilhelm Steenkamp, Morné Steyn, Danie Thiart, James
van der Walt, Wikus van Heerden, Francois van Schouwenburg, Pedrie
Wannenburg, Frikkie Welsh



Chooks Prediction: Im going to be optimistic and say that
although the Bulls will be tough at home they wont travel any better
then last year, maybe a touch worse, between 7th and 5th.



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http://img.ssz.co.za/VodacomBullsChiliboyRalepelleS14Pro07.jpg


<div id="post_message_42129"><div align="center"><div align="center">Sharks: </div></font></div>

Got a good mix of young and old heads. Skinstad back in the team which
should be interesting. I've read somewhere that they are usually get
better results travelling than other saffa teams, which they will need.



The Team:

Team yet to be finalised. Skinstads playing though, so they have one guy.



Chooks Predicition: I think they will do about the same as the
Bulls, I will go as far as saying I think they will place ahead of the
bulls, between 7th and 5th.



<div align="center"><img src="http://www.sharkacademy.com/images/filat

[deise boy]

I feel that the Super 14 majorly disadvantages south african teams. They have to travel alot further to play in new zealand and australia, going through I dont know how many time zones.


My prediction is that the Hurricanes will win it. I feel as though the cursaders will have too many key players missing at the start of the season and will struggle to get into the play off's. I wouldnt write off the stormers either!! They might just surprise a few teams this year. Its an experienced team that knows each other very well.

[Sydneysider]

Stormers to win it - we will see a resurgence of SA Rugby this year with the weakened Kiwi teams! and in world cup year too!


Hurricanes to be the other strong team


Waratahs to be humbled - just the yearwhen i get my season ticket!


Lots of mates just itching for the season to start!

[chook]

Yeah, I cant wait! Off to Wollongong today to watch Tahs v Brumbies at WIN stadium, and might catch the dev Tah game as well.

[Old Dog]

Devastated that Latham is out for the Reds - another bad season coming up, I fear. smileys/c&#111;nfused.gif


Who will win? - It could be the Chiefs if they get a good start.

[chook]

I hope the Tahs win, but they are missing even more players now. Al Kanaar Matt Dunning and Dave Dennis all hurt on Saturdays trial match.

It would be good for the comp if a SA team got up, but im still thinking the Crusaders and Hurricanes will be tough