Super Rugby Week 6: All the predictions

Rugby pundit Brenden Nel has been pretty accurate when it comes to Super Rugby predictions, but had a forgettable return of 4/8 last week.

 Mind you, 50% is a pretty decent pass mark, so I'm sure he is not too phased.

 He just tried, it seemed, to go bold. I mean really - Force to upset the Crusaders?

 Seriously Brenden, surely there was more chance of a Jewish Pope than the Aussies upsetting the Crusaders juggernaut?

 There are three big matches this week involving South African teams, two of which are local derbies.

 The Bulls face a potentially season-defining match against the Chiefs in Hamilton on Saturday morning SA time.

 Very little can be read into a pre-season win by the Bulls over the Chiefs and the rampant Waikato side remain unbeaten, while the Loftus side have a paltry return of 1/4 this season.

 Nel might not be too far off the mark when he suggests that there is 'panic in Pretoria' and unless the Pretoria side turn the tide very quickly, Loftus may even be a very lonely place to come home to in just over a fortnight.

 The Stormers got a fright in Singapore and had to grind out a win over the improving Sunwolves.

 This week they host the Cheetahs at Newlands.

 Local derbies are always tough affairs, but the Cheetahs are lacking confidence and looking for excuses after last week's defeat to the Sharks.

 The Stormers, by contrast, are continuing to gain in momentum and have yet to taste defeat.

 In what is considered by most to be one of the bigger games of an otherwise lukewarm Super Rugby season so far, it doesn't get any bigger perhaps this week than the Lions-Sharks battle at Ellis Park.

 Nel predicts a massive battle up front between two huge, strong packs and thinks the Lions will shade the 'arm wrestle'.

 Other matches:

 Highlanders vs Rebels - With Aussie rugby in the dumps, Nel backs the New Zealanders by at least 10.

Blues vs Force -- The Blues are riding high on confidence after their mauling of the Bulls last week and have to be favourites to build on that confidence against an Aussie side who never travel well.

 Reds vs Hurricanes -- We all agree that there is more pain coming for the Reds after a disastrous trip to South Africa and Argentina.

 Waratahs vs Crusaders (Sunday) -- Yes the Tah's will be boosted by their incredible comeback victory over the Rebels last week, but general consensus is that the Kiwi domination over Aussie teams will continue here, with the Crusaders set to stretch their unbeaten run to six on the bounce.

 Byes: Jaguares and Kings

 Watch Brenden Nel's predictions here: