Super Rugby Predictions - Round 14

Thanks to his faith in the vastly improved Southern Kings outfit, Brenden Nel fell just one match short of the golden 8/8 last week.

 The Eastern Cape side were always in the match, but in an error-strewn match littered with missed opportunities, they stumbled to a 19-10 defeat  by the Brumbies in Port Elizabeth.

 The Cheetahs are the first SA side in action this weekend, hoping to wrap up what has been a miserable overseas tour against the unpredictable Sunwolves in Tokyo (Saturday 07h15 SA time).

While most pundits encourage the fans to make up their own minds on this one, there is a hint of doubt that the Bloemfontein boys can pull this one off, but a close contest could well be in prospect.

 In the early stages of the South African winter, there are fears of a massive 'Hurricane' hitting Loftus Versveld on Saturday afternoon (Kick-off 15h05 SA time). While it's dark days for the Bulls, the uncertainty surrounding coach Nollis Marais' job right now can't be good for team morale and it is unlikely they will arrest their putrid run of form against the defending champions.

The one that really grabs the attention from a South African fans point of view is the Sharks-Stormers derby at Kings Park (Kick-off 17h15). The Sharks haven't particularly impressed at home, butby the same token, the Stormers have not travelled well. It should be a very close encounter between two hungry teams on an upward curve and both in with a playoff shout.

The Lions host the Kings in a South African derby (Sunday afternoon, Ellis Park 14h30). the match will be played on a Sunday in South Africa for the first time in a number of seasons. If the Kings had  visited Ellis Park six months ago, we would probably have braced ourselves for a huge massacre. But the Kings have endeared themselves to the local fans and it is hoped they put up a fight. Realistically,  the Lions should be too strong, but don't discount a high-scoring match.

Other Games:

Friday: 

Blues vs Chiefs (Eden Park, Auckland 09h35 SA time) -- A tough one to call, but the Chiefs are a touch more experienced and battle-hardened compared to their Kiwi rivals and should 

have enough to win. But the Blues have built an impressive home record in Auckland and may still cause a turn-up for the books.

Reds vs Force (Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane -- 11h45 SA time) -- Not a match to really spark attention, other than for the Aussie diehards. The Reds have been tough to beat at home and the Force

seem to have lost the fight in them with a possible Super Rugby axe still hanging over their heads and that much was eveident in a massive 55-6 hiding by the Highlanders last week.

The Reds should prevail.

Saturday: 

Highlanders vs Waratahs (Forsyth Barr, Dunedin -- 09h35 SA time) -- The Highlanders are back on home turf after a very successful overseas trip and have won eight on the bounce. 

The hot and cold-blowing Tah's have found some form, but the way New Zealand teams are dominating their Aussie rivals across the board, this looks like a potential blow-out for the Sydney boys.

Rebels vs Crusaders (AAMI Park, Melbourne -- 11h45 SA time) -- Bet your house on the rampant Crusaders, also at the tail end of their overseas travels. The Rebels are hurting from a hiding against the Waratahs

and in a mess right now. It could be another day of intense pain this weekend for the Rebels.

Jaguares vs Brumbies (Estadio Jose Amalfitani, Argentina -- 23h40 SA time) -- One for the insomniacs here if you are in South Africa at least. The Brumbies were unimpressive against the Kings last time out, but still

did enough to grind out a victory and hope to at least garner some points on the homeward leg of their journey abroad. But the Jaguares can be destructive on their home patch and may sneak a win.